The National Cadet Corps (NCC) aims at developing character, comradeship, discipline, a secular outlook, the spirit of adventure and ideals of motivated selfless service amongst young citizens. As part of its Social Service and Community Development Plan, the Maharashtra NCC Directorate has launched an extensive programme under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. The Units under the Maharashtra NCC Directorate have adopted a village to coordinate with the village administration and cooperatively develop a clean and green environment.
In pursuance of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the NCC cadets of Maharashtra State led cleanliness campaign with the commencement of the Swachha Bharat Pakhwada being celebrated across the country from 01 Aug 16 to 15 Aug 16. The programme is in line with the Government’s policy to promote good health and hygiene practices. Accordingly the NCC Cadets have been crusading to sensitize the citizens about safe sanitary practices and Solid Liquid waste management. Given the scale of challenges being faced in the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene, especially in our villages, the engagement of the NCC Cadets in the programme in a spirited manner has enabled to bring alive the idea of a Clean India amongst the masses and to promote good health and hygiene practices.
The campaign by NCC cadets encourages the people to adopt three simple habits namely washing hands at least five times a day, using toilets for defecation and drink clean water. While doing so is a fun learning methods like street plays, the NCC cadets reached out to the people bringing out a behavioural change in them. The cleanliness drive emphasized on the belief that adoption of hygiene habits will lead to creation of a healthy India.
Engaging activities like skits, demos and street plays, debate competitions and sketching and painting competitions are being conducted. Rallies have been taken out by NCC cadets in different parts of the state and lectures were delivered by the Battalion Commanders stressing the indispensible need to keep the areas and environment clean. Intensive door-to-door campaigns were undertaken to spread the message and spirit of Swachh Bharat.
The activities were conducted with support of schools, colleges and governmental bodies like Municipal Corporations and Gram Panchayats so that maximum coordinated effort could be mobilised. The dedicated and enthusiastic efforts by the Cadets of both the Junior and Senior Wings was indeed symbolic of the Core Values of the NCC which instils patriotic pride in young minds.
