Despite the successful completion of the selection process and subsequent display of their skills, about 30,000 scouts are yet to receive Rajya Puraskar awards from the Bharat Scouts and Guides movement of Tamil Nadu.
Sources said from 2008, the scouts had not received the award, given to those who participated in scout events and selection camp of Bharat Scouts and Guides movement of Tamil Nadu. Nobody knew the real reasons for the long wait.
Headmasters of a few government schools, not willing to be named, said every year, over 200 students enrolled into the scouts movement to develop skills like first-aid, map preparation, tent fixing and creating awareness among the public on various issues and exhibiting team spirit.
Every year, the district scout officers conduct a three-day selection camp for Rajya Puraskar award. In the camp, the skills of students are evaluated under various disciplines like law, promise, salute and sign, handshake, prayer song, flag song, National Anthem, pioneering, wood graft signs, drill, first aid, distance estimation, trestle making, map making and tent pitching by the external examiners from various districts.
A hundred scouts were selected from every educational district for the award, presented by the Governor.
It is useful for the students to get jobs in Railways, BSNL and Doordarsan as it is considered an additional qualification in Central PSUs.
The award distribution functions had not been conducted in the last four years. But the scout movement had only published the selected candidates list for the last three years.
At least 7,500 students would get the Rajya puraskar every year from 75 educational districts. Dharma Rajendran, joint director, Bharat Scout and Guides, told Express, “For the last three years we got the Governor’s date for the function but they had to be cancelled due to unavoidable engagements of the Governor. Right now, we are ready to provide the provisional certificates to the selected awardees and have informed the respective district officers. Besides, we have sought a date from the Governor for the award function. The function will be held as soon as the Governor gives the date.”