Nature Integration Programme Organised by Member of Parliament for NCC Cadets Showcases Islands’ Breath-taking Beauty

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Port Blair, Nov. 26:  The Member of Parliament, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, who is also the Member of the Central Advisory Committee for National Cadet Corps (NCC), organised a Nature Integration Programme for NCC cadets, participating in the Special National Integration Camp (SNIC 23).

The event, which took place on November 23, 2023, witnessed the participation of a total of 190 cadets of SNIC-23, comprising 95 from Andaman & Nicobar Islands and 85 from mainland India. The cadets were accompanied by Commodore Atul Kumar Rastogi, Deputy Director General, National Cadet Corps Directorate (Tamilnadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar), and Col Arindham Majumder, Group Commander, National Cadet Corps Group, Chennai ‘A’. Lt. Col Pankaj Modgil, Commanding Officer 1 (AN) INDEP INF Coy, Lt. Cdr . Ankit Pant, Commanding Officer, Naval NCC, Local NCC officers and seasoned instructors from both Andaman & Nicobar and outstation NCC Units were also in attendance.

Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma the Member of Parliament flagged off the trekking to Mount Manipur.

The primary objective of the programme was to provide an exposure to all participating cadets to the rich flora and fauna of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, transforming them into ambassadors for the Andaman’s unparalleled natural beauty in Mainland India. Initiated by Member of Parliament Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, the event also aimed to raise awareness about nature by providing direct interaction with the environmentalists, researchers, nature lovers, and experts.

A notable highlight of the programme was a trek led by Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma and the participating cadets to the summit of Mount Manipur. The journey was accompanied by members and representatives of organizations, including the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Andaman and Nicobar Environmental Team (ANET), Andaman Avians Club, PhD Students of Pondicherry University Campus of Brooshabad, and Mr. Chanchal Singha Roy, a dedicated teacher and environmentalist. The entire programme was coordinated by Shri. Denis Giles, Editor of Andaman Chronicle Daily, also a Nature lover and a tribal right activist.

During the gathering, Shri. Kuldeep Rai Sharma addressed the NCC students, providing insightful information about the rich natural resources of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Additionally, he delved into detailed descriptions of the indigenous tribes residing in the archipelago.

He stressed on the need to first understand and appreciate nature so that we can think about the larger picture of conservation of nature. Informing the visiting NCC cadets about the rich bio diversity of A & N Island, he urged every cadets to give their best to conserve ecology and be mindful about natural resources.

Cmde Atul Kumar Rastogi, Deputy Director General, National Cadet Corps Directorate (Tamilnadu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar) also spoke on the occasion motivated the cadets.

All the NCC cadets, especially those who came from other states, appreciated the efforts of Kuldeep Rai Sharma for organising such a meaningful and thoughtful event for them.