Miles and miles of water. Rooftops seem to float alongside bloating humans and animals. Stink in the air and scarcity of food and drinking water were nearly taking the lives out of the remaining breathers. There was hardly any ray of hope for the super cyclone-hit victims in Orissa. But soon there was a silver lining in the dark sky -the NCC cadets started the relief work. The state authorities were also relieved. The scene in Rajasthan and Gujarat was just the reverse. Vast expanse of country land was dry and thirsty. The NCC cadets took their vehicles in the drought-hit areas and supplied water.

"Our cadets were the only ones in certain areas in Orissa. They even cleared carcasses", says a proud Lt Gen AS Rao, Director General of NCC. Other than distributing food, evacuating personnel, cleaning of water sources and providing first-aid in Orissa, the NCC cadets were also at the forefront in the recent floods in West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. What drives the cadets to plunge in such selfless service? Unity and discipline -the motto of NCC. Trained in self-discipline, a cadet develops a feeling to serve the nation.

A cadet in NCC gets an opportunity to get exposed to a large number of activities. Fifty thousand young people from allover the country get together in at least seventy national integration camps each year, interact amongst themselves and also with the local people. This July a total of 251 cadets from senior and junior divisions were airlifted by the Indian Air Force to Leh. They travelled from there by road to Kargil, Drass and Srinagar interacting with the locals and getting acquainted with the battle areas of Kargil. This was the first time in the history of NCC that the cadets got to see a forward area and stayed there too. Again in October at Bomdila (Arunachal Pradesh) there was a similar camp. The weather was inclement yet it could not dampen the spirit and the Defence Minister made a visit. Here too the cadets interacted with the local public who in turn asked why such camps were not held earlier. Interaction with people fosters a sense of oneness with the community. The NCC takes up a large number of community development programmes, which include blood donation, tree plantation, adult education and anti-dowry campaign, anti-dowry and eye donation pledge campaigns.

The NCC cadets interact with lot of foreign cadets. Recently Maldives has agreed to conduct a reciprocal youth exchange programme. "For the first time there is a plan to invite 20 Vietnam cadets in January 2001. These cadets will also be living with the villagers and take part in the ongoing community development programmes," said Lt Gen Rao. If the training camps make a cadet disciplined and skilled, the community development programmes inculcate in them a spirit of national service. At the time of Kargil crisis the NCC cadets throughout the country expressed solidarity with the brave soldiers by donating Rs 66.2 lakh and invaluable blood. They also went to the remote areas and visited the separated families and war widows.

The NCC programmes seems to be an adventure in itself. Apart from adventures like mountaineering, motor-cycle expedition and parasailing there is perhaps something more exciting in NCC, otherwise why would 3.60 lakh youth of the country want to join NCC. The blessings of the countrymen must be the real incentive. And thus goes the NCC soaring high at 52!