In a significant development, the State Government and the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Northeastern Region are planning to expand the reach of the National Cadet Corps across the state, with particular focus on schools and colleges located in remote and rural areas. The proposal was highlighted during the NCC North Region Annual Awards held at the Rhino Eastern Auditorium on Tuesday.
At present, the NCC’s presence in Meghalaya remains largely concentrated in educational institutions in urban centers. Both the state government and the NCC believe that extending the organization’s footprint to rural areas would create broader opportunities for young people by promoting leadership, discipline, community service and national integration.
Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said the government is keen to ensure that the NCC expands beyond towns and reaches remote parts of the state. He informed that the Director General of the NCC is expected to visit Shillong shortly for discussions on increasing enrolment and strengthening the organization’s presence in rural Meghalaya.
Shylla noted that nearly 59 per cent of Meghalaya’s population is below the age of 25 and said the youth represent a significant force in the state’s development and nation-building efforts. Additional Director General of the NCC Northeastern Region, Anurag Vij, appealed to parents, schools and colleges to support greater enrolment of students in the NCC.