Youth can boost ‘vocal for local’ campaign: PM

Modi calls on NCC cadets to ensure their schools, colleges are free from drugs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during Prime Minister's NCC rally, at Cariappa Parade Ground in New Delhi on January 28, 2022.

The youth of the country can play a big role in “vocal for local” and to make India become self-reliant, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday.

Addressing the annual PM’s National Cadet Corps (NCC) rally at the Delhi Cantonment, Mr. Modi said steps are being taken to empower the Corps and a high-level review committee has been formed.

Over one lakh new NCC cadets have been added in border areas in the last two years, Mr. Modi said, calling on more girls to join the organisation.

Calling on NCC cadets to ensure that their schools and colleges are free from the menace of drugs, Mr. Modi said, “You know very well how much drug addiction ruins our young generation. Therefore, how can drugs reach the school-college where there is NCC-NSS? As a cadet, you yourself should be free from drugs, as well as make your campus free from drugs.”

The Prime Minister said India’s youth has taken the nation to the top 3 in the world in terms of start-ups and unicorns created during COVID showing their strength. Over 50 unicorns came into existence during COVID, Mr. Modi stated.

“It is your responsibility to ensure that the things you’ve learned in the NCC are put into action not only when you’re in your uniform, but also in society. You can form several teams in your areas, apply it in your societies and make changes at the ground level,” he said.

Referring to the NCC as an elective course in academic curriculum, the PM said 90 universities across the country have chosen the NCC as an elective subject.

Stating that the number of girl cadets shows that India’s ideas are changing, Mr. Modi said the nation needs their participation and service and there are immense opportunities for women in several sectors.

“Now the daughters of the country are taking admission in Sainik Schools. The daughters of the country are flying fighter planes in the Air Force. It should be our effort that more girls be included in NCC,” he said.

Noting that in an era of possibilities relating to digital technology and information sector, there are also dangers of misinformation, Mr. Modi said NCC cadets can run awareness campaign to counter this.