SHILLONG, Aug 23 - Seven border districts of Meghalaya have been identified as part of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) expansion to cover 173 border and coastal districts across India.
The seven districts include East Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, South Garo Hills, West Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills.
As part of the expansion, 5445 additional vacancies would be created in the State, taking the total strength to 11621 over the next three years, officials said here.
Under this expansion plan two minor units 41 Artillery Battalion and 42 Meghalaya Signal Company will be upgraded to Battalion strength, where more officers and permanent instructional staff will be posted.
Under this Central funded scheme, 40 higher secondary schools and 15 Colleges have been identified in these seven border districts. The actual allotment of NCC vacancies of cadets will be done on merit .
The expansion scheme was approved by the defense ministry based on a proposal of the NCC for a major expansion scheme to meet the aspirations of youth in all the border and coastal districts.
The proposals of the scheme were announced by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address on August 15.
A total of one lakh cadets from 173 border and coastal districts will be inducted in the NCC. One-third of the cadets would be girl cadets. More than 1,000 schools and colleges have been identified in border and coastal districts where NCC will be introduced across the country. As part of the expansion plan, a total of 83 NCC units will be upgraded (Army 53, Navy 20, Air Force 10,) to impart NCC training to the cadets in the border and coastal areas. The NCC expansion plan will be implemented in partnership with the States.