Rajnath confers Raksha Mantri Padak to NCC cadets
Agencies. Updated: 1/22/2021 11:01:00 AM
National
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conferred the Raksha Mantri Padak and Commendation Cards to the cadets of National Cadet Corps (NCC) for their exemplary performance and devotion to duty, at an impressive 'Investiture Ceremony', held here at Delhi Cantonment.
During his visit to NCC Republic Day Camp 2021, he awarded 'Raksha Mantri Padak' to Senior Under Officer (SUO) Prashant Kumar Tiwari of Bihar and Jharkhand Directorate and Lt Commander Jitendra Pal Singh of Uttar Pradesh Directorate.
The Padak was instituted in 1989. Since then, it is awarded to the most deserving cadet every year for bravery or exceptional service of the highest order.
The 'Raksha Mantri Commendation Cards' have also been awarded to Lt Shivani Sharma of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Directorate, SUO Shreeshma Hegde of Karnataka and Goa Directorate, Cadet Syed Shajeed, West Bengal & Sikkim Directorate and Senior GCI Neeva Singh of Delhi Directorate.
While addressing the cadets, Mr Singh complimented the NCC for its contribution as frontline Corona Warriors through 'Exercise NCC Yogdan,' in which 1,39,961 cadets and 21,380 staff from all over the country participated in prevention of COVID-19 pandemic by taking up various activities like traffic management, distribution of food and essential items, queue management, preparation and distribution of mask to needy people.
The Defence Minister also praised NCC for taking up initiative towards digitisation by launching NCC Training App and Digital Forum for benefits of all its cadets and associate NCC officers.
Referring to the expansion of NCC by one lakh cadets in the border and coastal areas announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from the rampart of Red Fort on August 15, 2020, he expressed his happiness and complimented NCC for completing the target of enrollment of one lakh cadets in a short span of time in 1,104 schools and colleges in the border and coastal areas.
Mr Singh also complimented the NCC fraternity, for making invaluable contributions towards Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, National integration and Nation Building, through multifarious activities.
He said the NCC is doing an yeoman service to the Nation by transforming the youth of the Nation into a cohesive and disciplined force.