Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal of the National Cadet Corps for a major expansion scheme to meet the aspirations of youth in all the border and coastal districts after the proposals of the scheme were announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address on 15 August.
A total of one lakh cadets from 173 border and coastal districts will be inducted in the NCC. Onethird of the Cadets would be girl Cadets. More than 1,000 schools and colleges have been identified in border and coastal districts where NCC will be introduced. As part of the expansion plan, a total of 83 NCC units will be upgraded (Army 53, Navy 20, Air Force 10), to impart NCC training to the cadets in the border and coastal areas.
The Army will provide training and administrative support to the NCC units located in the border areas, Navy shall provide support to NCC units in the coastal areas and similarly Air Force will provide support to the NCC units located close to the Air Force stations. This will not only provide exposure to the youth of the border and coastal areas to military training and disciplined way of life but will also motivate them to join the armed forces. The NCC expansion plan will be implemented in partnership with the States.
Seven border districts have been identified in Meghalya. They are: East Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, South Garo Hills, West Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills. These seven districts will be getting 5,445 additional vacancies for Meghalaya, taking the strength to 11,621 over next three years.
Under this scheme two minor units 41 Arty Bty and 42 Megh Sig coy will be upgraded to a battalion strength, where more officers and PI staff will be posted. 2 Megh NCC Bn will be getting additional manpower. It is 100% central funded scheme. 40 higher secondary schools Schools & 15 Colleges are identified in these seven border districts. The actual allotment of NCC vacancies of cadets will be done on merit.
Big expansion in Gujarat
In Gujarat Directorate, three units in border areas/Air Force Station have been earmarked for expansion. These units are 2 Gujarat Independent Company Bhuj, 7 Gujarat Bn NCC Mehsana and 2 Gujarat Air Squadron NCC Ahmedabad. A total of 980 Senior Division/Senior Wing and 2,650 Junior Division/Junior Wing cadets will be enrolled into NCC in the border Talukas of Abdasa, Nakhatrana, Lakhpat, Bhuj Bhachau, Santalpur and Air Force Taluka of Gandhinagar. In the coastal areas, six Naval NCC units have already been raised in the year 2017 in 3rd phase of expansion at Porbandar, Bhuj, Gandhidham, Veraval, Jamnagarand Navsari. A total of 15,000 additional vacancies were released. The naval cadets of NCC would also be trained for coastal areas patrolling in coordination with Marine Police. The expansion plan is being implemented in coordination with the state government and till now 34 Institutions have been identified where NCC will be introduced. The liaisoning with other institutions is under progress. This will not only provide exposure to the youth of border areas to military training and disciplined way of life, but will also encourage them to join the armed forces.