Our Correspondent
Kohima | June 25
Altogether, 21 scouts and 17 guides from Kohima and Dimapur districts have been awarded with the prestigious Rajya Puraskar here today for the year 2019.
Nagaland’s Governor PB Acharya handed over the award at a function organized by Nagaland State Bharat Scouts & Guides (NSBSG) at the Conference hall, Life Members’ Building State Headquarters here.
The awardees are from Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Dimapur, Goraggio Guide Company Kohima, Alpine Open Guide Company Kohima, Vidhya Bhawan Company Dimapur, Mezhur Higher Secondary School Kohima, Eastern Academy ‘Coy’ Dimapur, Vidhya Bhawan Charlie Troop Dimapur, Eastern Academy Troop Dimapur, Highland Hall School Dimapur and Alpine Open Scout Troop Kohima.
Citation and cash awards were also given to units which have produced Governor’s awardees this year.
Rajya Puraskar award is the highest award Scouts/Guides can earn at the state level. The awardees have been tested by a team of qualified examiners in a testing camp organized at State Training Centre, Nerhema from May 31 to June 4 this year.
The scouts and guides have been tested orally and practically all the skills acquired as per the prescribed syllabus framed by the National Headquarters.
The awardees are to work hard for another 12 months to add another feather to their caps by working on the syllabus prescribed by Rastrapati Scouts/Guides which will be tested at the National level camps.
‘Serving the people is the spirit of scouts and guides’
Speaking on the occasion, Acharya said that education empowers a person to become better and contribute back to the society.
He added that education is not only about receiving a degree and earning more money but the end goal should be to serve the society.
Acharya said that in spite of all the efforts, so far many schools and students are not lucky enough to be members of scouts and guide movement. He stressed on the need to strengthen the weakest link in order to spread to scout and guides movement to all the schools giving special attention to the government schools across the state.
He encouraged the students to join the scouts and guides movement with the intention to serve the society. ‘Serving the people is the spirit of scouts and guides’ said Acharya.
He also that it is the duty of all to strengthen the family, tribes, community and the nation.
He encouraged the younger generation to change their mindset adding that they are fortunate to get supplementary education through scouts and guides movements.
He further appealed to the authority to go to the interior parts of the state and start the movement so that every deserving student will get the opportunity to be part of this movement.
Around 5000 scouts and guides in Nagaland
Youth Resources & Sports Advisor Er Zale Neikha said that Bharat Scouts & Guides is a voluntary, non- political educational movement for young people open to all without distinction of origin, race or creed, in accordance with the purpose, principles and methods conceived by the founder Lord Baden Powell in 1907.
He said that the objective of the movement is to contribute to the education of young people, through a value system, to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and plays a constructive role in society.
Stating that there are around 5000 Scouts and Guides enrolled as members in Nagaland, he was optimistic that more students will take interest and join the movement.
Er. Neikha, who is also president of the NSBSG, congratulated all the awardees for achieving this prestigious award and at the same time urged them to strive for Rashtrapati or President's Award, which is the highest in the country.
Meanwhile, he thanked Acharya, who with all his acquaintance about the state, people and culture, since taking over as 19th Governor of Nagaland on 19th July 2014, has been taking various initiatives for the welfare of the people- including promoting of water harvesting, use of solar energy, construction of vermin compose- pits and introduction of self-governance.
“He rightly has been remarked as 'People's Governor,” Er. Neikha said.
Earlier, Thejazeü Khruomo, scout commissioner (G) delivered welcome address while vote of thanks was proposed by NSBSG state chief commissioner Atuo Mezhür Sekhose.
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