MANGALORE:

NCC Directorate, Karnataka and Goa is ready to allot more funds to increase the number of air wing cadets in institutions in the region under Mangalore Group Headquarters (GHQ), but it is yet to get state government’s nod to go ahead with the plans.

Mangalore GHQ can increase the number of cadets from existing 900 to 1,200 if the state education department agrees to bear 25% of the expenses. A proposal in this regard sent by the Mangalore GHQ to the department in June 2011 is still pending in Bangalore.

Only seven institutes in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu, which come under Mangalore GHQ, have NCC Air Wings. St Aloysius High School, Milagres High School and Kittel High School in Mangalore, St Philomena High School in Puttur, Jain PU College in Moodbidri, St Michael’s High School in Madikeri and St Anne’s School in Virajpet are the institutions, which have NCC Air Wing currently. Students in schools, where there is no NCC Air Wing, may join the open admission wing at St Aloysius School, but admission here is restricted to 200.

Meanwhile, NCC Army Wing has separate units for Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu districts. The 18 Karnataka Battalion NCC of Dakshina Kannada district has 13 schools and 11 colleges with a total strength of 2,150 cadets.

Mangalore GHQ master warrant officer Suresh Atri told TOI that more students should be given opportunity to join NCC Air Wing. “We have submitted a proposal, but we have not received any communication from the government so far,” he added.

It is a fact that students are motivated towards Indian military through NCC activities in schools. At the same time, Indian Air Force (IAF) too agrees a fact that they find it very difficult to attract youth from South India towards the force. IAF has already launched massive campaigns in South India to create awareness and to attract young to choose airmen’s job.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Collection / by Vinobha KT / TNN