VELLORE: Due to a short supply of uniforms and other accessories for students joining the National Cadet Corps students have been forced to opt for torn and old uniforms used by their seniors.
A cross section of troop commanders and company commanders in Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts said there was shortage or no supply of clothing items (two pairs of uniforms, socks, a cap, DMS shoe, hackles, pompom, belt, metal badge and arm title) for junior and senior wings of NCC. According to sources, a similar situation prevails not just in TN but also across the country. According to rules, each student who volunteers and joins the NCC should be given uniforms. “The uniforms are to be retained by cadets on completion of their tenure. It can’t be reissued to another batch as per government policy. We received official communication in this regard in 2005,” said a company commander citing information from the Directorate General of NCC, Ministry of Defence.
Of late, those joining NCC have been forced to collect the uniforms, shoes and caps from their seniors due to short supply during the last three years. The worst affected are the senior NCC cadets. “While junior NCC cadets receive less than 50 per cent of the clothes they actually need, the senior NCC wing has not received any clothes for the last two years,” he added.
A NCC Officer said the collected items were being issued to newcomers for the last four years. “Last year, we received uniforms for freshers alone. This year, we have received nothing,” said company commanding officer of a woman’s college in Vellore.To avoid wearing torn uniforms and worn-out shoes, most newcomers are spending money from their pockets . “We received worn-out clothes when we joined NCC two years ago. So, we stitched our own uniforms and bought shoes,” said a Senior Under Officer, representative of NCC cadets at a college in the city.
