Bathinda/Chandigarh: 02 Dec, 2011: Two more NCC units 3 Punjab Naval Unit and 2 Remount and Veterinary (R&V) Squadron are added to the NCC Directorate of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Both these units were inaugurated by Chief Minister of Punjab Sh. Parkash Singh Badal in Bathinda District today.
R&V Sqadron is at Ghudda (Bathinda District) near proposed location of central university and Naval Unit in Bathinda near Thermal Plant. Both the units are under Group Head Quarter Patiala which is a part of this Directorate. Chisf Minister of Punjab Sh. Parkash Singh Badal expressed his pleasure while the students of Malwa region can now go for horse riding and sailing trainings through NCC. He congratulated Additional Director General (ADG) NCC, Maj Gen MS Virk and Brig HS Brar Group Commander Patiala for their efforts to bring up these units within shortest period.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal assured all necessary help towards converting the R&V Squadron into a R&V regiment. He announced that the allowances of Associate NCC Officers (ANOs) will be doubled. He also assured that refreshment, washing and travelling allowances of the cadets will be enhanced. During the anuguration of these units at different places NCC cadets offered guard of honor to the Chief Minister.
The cadets of 3 Punjab Naval unit displayed NCC activities by establishing a motivation and information gallery, display of static ship models, sailing, pulling and rowing. Cadets of 2 Punjab R&V Squadron presented Horseshow, Cultural dance and Live Band Display during the inauguration.
3 Punjab Naval Unit. The aim of the Naval Unit is to simulate interest among the cadets for the Indian Navy and to create sea mindedness among them. The enrolled strength would be 200 senior and 1700 junior boy and girl cadets. The cadets devote 70 per cent of their training period in learning specialist subjects giving them a comprehensive broad based knowledge of the Navy and seamanship. The most interesting part of training is ship modeling making models with their imagination and copy models of existing ships. The cadets will get to experience practical sea life on board ships during their sea training camps. adventure activities on offer will be scuba diving, sailing, rowing and boat pulling expeditions, wind surfing, yachting, kayaking and white water rafting. The lakes of Bathinda Thermal Plant provide adequate training area. The unit has been temporarily accommodated in the Deaf and Dumb school. Technical infrastructure like boat shelters and jetty are being constructed in the near future. Punjab will now have three NCC Naval Units, the others being at Amritsar and Naya Nangal.
2 Punjab R&V Squadron. The squadron will afford opportunity to 200 Senior Division Cadets in horsemanship training. Sited in the near vicinity of the proposed location of the Central University at Ghudda, the complete infrastructure consisting of offices, accommodation, stores and stables has been constructed in record time by the state government. Besides military training, the cadets will be trained in horsemanship which offers many physical, mental and emotional benefits. Depending upon their respective acumen the cadets will have the opportunity to participate in equestrian events at national and international levels.The R&V Squadron at Ghudda will be the second of its type in Punjab, the first being at Ludhiana.
The NCC plays a vital role in preparing many generations of the country’s youth in becoming responsible citizens. Its curriculum provides opportunities for the youth to channelise their energies in a creative manner, inculcating the much needed qualities of discipline and commitment by exposure to a myriad of training, adventure, cultural and social activities. Therefore, to enlarge the footprint of this dynamic organization, the existing national strength of 13 lakh is being increased to 15 lakh cadets in a phased schedule.
The proactive approach of the state government and the personal and dedicated interest of the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal have besides giving a boost to the yeoman services of the NCC organisation also created a benchmark for other states of the country to follow. It will be appropriate to include the establishment of two NCC academies, the first of their kind in the country, for boys and girls at Ropar and Malout respectively. The academies under construction on fast-track will have adequate infrastructure available for imparting training including shooting ranges in a central location to 500 cadets each at any one time. With camping sites depleting the requirement of such academies were a matter of necessity facilitating better coordination of training and optimum utilisation of resources. It is indeed power to the youth of Punjab to contribute immensely towards the national mainstream.
