A two-day scouts and guides Standard Judging Competition organised by Tamil Nadu Bharat Scouts and Guides was held at Wenlock Park - The Bharat Scouts and Guides Headquarters - Tamil Nadu on Feb. 20 & Feb.21.
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The event saw participation of more than 40 scout members in the junior and senior categories, and 56 junior and 48 senior guides members from Mayiladuthurai, East Chennai, Thiruvarur, Madurai, Udayarpalayam and Maharishi districts in the age group of 12-15.
Preparing students
“The event is being held annually to prepare the scouts and guides members for the Rajya Puraskar (Governor’s Award) and Rashtrapathi Puraskar (President’s Award). This (competition) is a preparation test for students. It is an aid to observe the standard of students in scouting in many aspects.
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M. Srinivasavaradan, Leader of Scouts, Thiruvannamalai district, said, “The syllabus for the competition would encompass Pravesh to Dwitya Sopan (pioneering, first-aid, tracking science, signaling, nature study), for scouts and guides members in the junior category and Pravesh to Tritiya Sopan (prayers, knotting, lashings, and camp life) for scouts and guides members in the senior category”.
The event is held to showcase the talent and skills of scouts and guides members in projects, tent pitching, flag erection, making gadgets out of waste materials, signalling tower, handicrafts, first-aid, self-defence and cooking.
The aim of scouts and guides is to develop the skills of an individual, foster personality development, and imbibe social responsibility.
Activities
Tamil Nadu State Organising Commissioner (Guides), P. Ramathayammal, said, “The Founders day of Scouts and Guides was observed on February 22, which is the birth anniversary of Sir Robert Stephenson Baden Powell and his wife Lady Baden Powell.”
A stamp was released (February 22, Friday) in the memory of Robert Stephenson by K. Devarajan, Director of School Education. The Tamil Nadu Bharat Scouts and Guides is an international and voluntary movement, she added.
Other events in the competition include self-cooking, playing musical instruments, singing prayer songs and bonfire, cooking competition among the guide members, march past, honouring and receiving the dignitaries, map making and reading.
Projects
J. Sakthivel, Assistant Leader-Trainer, Tamil Nadu Bharat Scouts and Guides, said, “The scouts and guides members were involved in projects such as signalling tower, dining table, camp crafts, pen stand, and mirror stands, slings and bandages. The Tamil Nadu Bharat Scouts and Guides has nine zones across the State. The participants in the two-day competition are winners of various competitions held in nine zones.”
Demonstrations on first-aid techniques such as bandaging hand and foot, bandaging head, arm sling, first-aid for burns, fire-man lifting, lifting a person with fractured leg carrying a person on stretcher, back lifting, and front and back lifting were also conducted.