Shillong, July 25: The National Cadet Corps is expecting to get over one lakh youths from the Northeast by 2020 though no educational institution in the region has introduced NCC as an elective subject that could attract the youths and sow in them values, including a sense of unity and patriotism.

The UGC, however, had issued a circular last year to all affiliated universities to offer NCC training course as an elective subject.

At present, the NCC has around 89,000 cadets spreading across all the northeastern states.

On the sidelines of his two-day visit to the NCC directorate in the Northeast here today, NCC director-general Lt Gen. Vinod Vishisht today told reporters that so far no educational institute in the Northeast has offered NCC as an elective subject.

"This is a choice of the state governments. Though we have made plans and compiled books, there are only 49 colleges in the country that have NCC as elective subject," he said.

The NCC's elective course imparts strategic, military and policy-based education, helping youths choose a career in defence services. Apart from regular training, the cadets will be trained in personality development and communication skills.

Asked about the strength of the NCC in the Northeast, Gen. Vishisht said: "At present there are 89,000 NCC cadets. By 2020, their number will exceed one lakh."

On the perception that the Northeast is militant-infested, he said: "Our role is to train our youths national integration, value system and patriotism. I am sure each cadet touches the lives of 10 more and inspired many more youths. Even in Manipur for example or other areas, the NCC is making good headway despite these circumstances (militancy problem). We can do more if we get support from the state governments in the region."

On creation of the NCC's infantry units, Gen. Vishisht said Tripura already has one such unit.

"In Meghalaya we are going to do that in Garo hills and for the NCC to flourish, there has to be educational institutions. Unless there are educational institutions, it is not possible to form such units. There are also areas in the Northeast that require much more attention than Meghalaya."

Gen. Vishisht said despite remoteness of some areas, security situation and difficult terrains, the NCC would make its best effort to reach out to more and more people in the Northeast, do more things that help them become better citizens of the country and make them leaders of tomorrow.

"I hope the Northeast will be proud of NCC cadets in days to come," he said.

He also emphasised the need to train NCC cadets to be ready to serve the nation at any time, be it national disasters such as floods and landslides.

"NCC boys and girls from schools and colleges by themselves cannot do this. We have to train them and support anybody who wants to be assigned during such eventualities," the NCC chief said.

Stating that out of 108 districts in the Northeast, around eight have not received adequate attention due to remoteness and lack of educational institutions, Gen. Vishisht said the districts yet to be reached out include one in Meghalaya's Garo hills region, three in Arunachal Pradesh and four in Manipur.

He also called for joint efforts between the NCC, officers of state governments and school authorities to reach out to those staying in far-flung areas.

Air and naval units

On the NCC's air and naval units Gen. Vishisht said four air units in the Northeast would get new aircraft, including a hydroplane aircraft, and flying operations would commence within two months after monsoon.

The NCC has air squadrons in Tezpur, Guwahati, Jorhat, Imphal and Dimapur.

Gen. Vishisht said old naval equipment would be replaced within one year and naval training in Sivasagar and Guwahati would also commence.

"We want to see our boys and girls do well within or after six months' training. In the country we have 60 air squadrons and we are giving equal importance to all regions," he said.