The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : More students show interest in NCC and NSS city pulse

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Monday, Sep 07, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

More students show interest in NCC and NSS city pulse

Aloysius Xavier Lopez

The activities of voluntary organisations help in personality development

— Photo: V.Ganesan

CULTIVATING SERVICE-MINDEDNESS: The NCC cadets are able to understand the problems of society better.

CHENNAI: Increased awareness on the potential of voluntary organisations such as National Cadet Corps (NCC) and National Service Scheme (NSS) in shaping their personality has resulted in many students showing interest in taking up membership and enthusiastically participating in activities.

Students from colleges in urban centres are showing inclination to join the organisation as a means to personality development, said Lt. S.Santhosh Baboo, ANO 1(TN) Armd Sqnn NCC, D.G.Vaishnav College.

The activities of the cadets involve community development, institutional training, adventure activities and taking part in youth exchange programmes. Some think that these activities may have an adverse impact on the academic requirements of students, but studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between academic performance and extracurricular activities, said S. Narasimhan, Principal of D.G.Vaishnav College.

Mr. Narasimhan said more students were coming forward to join such activities. “NCC is not just drills, exercises and tests of endurance. It conditions the emotions of students and shapes positive attitude,” he said.

NSS is engaged in grooming the youth into disciplined and patriotic citizens.

The scheme has enhanced the understanding of the students about the problems of the people and the issues facing the community, said Mr. Narasimhan.

S. Aravind, a human resource executive who was part of the NCC during his college days, says the activities improve the leadership qualities. A. Harikrishnan, an undergraduate volunteer of NSS, says consistent involvement in social service activities has readied him to face the challenges in life successfully. “NSS volunteers are given more responsibility in organising events at college. This improves our level of confidence,” he says.

Tiwari Dinesh Rajendrakumar, a student of A.M. Jain College in Meenambakkam, says: “NCC teaches us English communication skills and I have confidence to face any personality test.”

Deputy Director-General, NCC Directorate TN,P&AN Commodore Sartaj Imam said the initiative of teaching English was taken to improve communication among the 13 lakh cadets in the country.

The cadets also enjoy expensive activities such as parajumping, gliding and mountaineering, as the government is spending large amounts of money on making the cadets a complete human being, he said.

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