THE insistence of Vice President Mr. C P Radhakrishnan that each State in the Indian Union must have at least three to five Sainik Schools, should be taken seriously by all stake-holders including the Governments at the Centre and at the States. As he received a briefing on the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and the Sainik Schools in the country, the Vice President felt that the country should have more Sainik -- or military schools -- for the young generations to get appropriate introduction to training in various Armed Forces. Mr. Radhakrishnan assured the authorities that he would play his part to encourage launch of more Sainik Schools and a better attention to detail for the improvement in the quality of the NCC. The very feeling that the Vice President of India is taking a keen interest in the matter, is very satisfying. Both the concepts -- the National Cadet Corps and the Sainik Schools -- have made a positive difference to the country over the years.

 

The country has gained tremendously by way of good numbers of young people joining various Armed Forces, thus adding a young edge to the idea of national defence. The utility of the NCC has been proved time and again as countless numbers of young officers of the Armed Forces owe their basic orientation to their training in the NCC. India’s NCC cadets have proved their worth in other career-paths as well, proving themselves to be smart enough for the challenges of different callings. That appeal of the NCC still continues -- though some experts feel that the idea needs a greater push by way of better resources and improved quality of training as per the changing defence needs of the country. The concept of Sainik Schools, too, has proved its worth for the nation over time. All pass-outs of the Sainik Schools do not necessarily join the Armed Forces. Like the NCC cadets, they, too, join different career paths. Yet, their basic orientation to sense of focus and discipline makes a lot of positive difference to what is generally described as a strategic culture of the larger Indian society.

 

With this background in the mind, Vice President Mr. C P Radhakrishnan appears to have insisted that every State in the country should have at least three to five Sainik Schools so that more numbers of young people -- boys and girls -- get a better orientation to the career in Armed Forces. Over time, countless career opportunities, too, have opened up for India’s young generation in fields related to Defence -- for combat or non- combat roles. With the background of education in Sainik Schools, more numbers of young Indians would get ready for those careers. This would help young people enter good career lines as well as help the country’s need for defence personnel with proper basic orientation. If every State of the country has three to five Sainik Schools and also adds a greater emphasis on NCC training for school and college students, there would be a positive surge of young interest in Defence careers. Mr. C P Radhakrishnan has understood this need correctly, and has insisted upon a greater push to the concepts of the NCC and the Sainik Schools in each State.

 

The NCC already claims a membership of 20 lakh young people. If this number grows, the country will have a properly oriented youth force to join the Armed Forces in different roles -- combat or non-combat. The increase in the numbers of Sainik Schools, too, will offer similar benefits. The Vice President has insisted that strengthening the NCC should be treated as a shared national responsibility. It is out of that motivation that he has suggested special efforts to spruce up the NCC ecosystem and step up the numbers of Sainik Schools in all the States of the country. This will prove to be a great initiative in national interest, and the Central and State Governments must take it up as a new national priority. The country’s educational ecosystem, too, should push for this positive change -- so that the Government feels appropriately pressured to think positively about the Vice President’s idea.