At NCC camp, Valley cadets upbeat about ‘real azadi’

Tribune News Service/PTI

Jammu, August 21

As they made it to the NCC camp here, leaving behind stones-scattered streets and youths raising azadi slogans, the girl cadets echoed one message – “Shun stone-throwing, sloganeering and enjoy the ‘real azadi’ in India”.

As many as 500 cadets, including 147 girls, are undergoing training at a National Cadet Corps (NCC) camp at Sainik school, Nagrota, on the outskirts of Jammu city.

They are participating in the 10-day camp to select a 40-member J&K Directorate Thal Sainik team, which will take part in a national-level camp in New Delhi soon. Aneesa of the first J&K Battalion, Srinagar, and a student of Government Women’s Degree College in Anantnag, said she was the only girl representing her college at the camp. “Most of the girls wanted to come. But were not allowed by their parents, citing the prevailing situation in south Kashmir,” she said. Addressing those advocating ‘azadi’ and taking the path of violent protests, the cadets asked them to “taste the freedom enjoyed by them outside Kashmir”.

“I would like to appeal to the youth studying in schools and colleges across the Valley to come forward and join the NCC. It is only through the NCC that we have been able to visit different parts of the country and got acquainted with cultures and traditions after interacting with other NCC cadets from different states,” she added. Another cadet Syed Rabia, a Class X student of Army Goodwill Higher Secondary School at Uri in Baramulla district of north Kashmir, said she along with two other girls from the same school had come to attend the camp.

“We are lucky to be part of the NCC because we are not only learning discipline and unity here, but it is also helping us in our overall development,” she added.

Rabia said: “Earlier, we were unaware about the NCC activities at school level and there was no enrolment of girls for such camps. It was only after the matter was taken up with the school principal the girls started taking part in the NCC camps.”

Another cadet from Ladakh Sonum Angu said she belongs to the first J&K pro-company and was accompanied by 12 other cadets. “I am feeling proud to be part of this camp. We get a lot of experience here and the confidence reaches new heights. All girls are requested to join this camp,” she added. Meanwhile, Lt Col Ravindra Singh, Commanding Officer, Second J&K Independent Company, NCC, Bhaderwah, said this was the first phase of the Thal Sainik camp, which was being run by his unit. “The second and third phase will also be organised. In the third phase, the final J&K Directorate Thal Sainik team will be selected, which will take part in the national competition in Delhi later,” he said. The camp will conclude on August 27.