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DIMAPUR — A week-long All India NCC trekking camp at Japfu Christian College in Kigwema village under Kohima district concluded on Thursday.
A defence release stated that the trekking camp was first of its kind held in Nagaland as part of the NCC trekking event in the North Eastern Region (NER). It was attended by 510 cadets from senior division and junior division NCC from NCC directorates of Rajasthan, Bihar and Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Sikkim and NER.
The camp, organised by 24 Independent NCC Company, Kohima, under the aegis of NCC Group headquarters, Kohima, was flagged off on January 12 by Sekhose, director of Youth Resources and Sports, and Brig. Dipankar Saha, Group Commander of NCC Group, Kohima.
It stated that on arrival at the Japfu Christian College, Kegwema, the cadets were organised into four mixed groups named after the rivers of Nagaland for all trekking and training events. The idea of training in mixed groups was to facilitate and promote healthy interaction of cadets from different cultural backgrounds.
Report stated that the divisional forest officer of Kohima forest division, Chesavi, addressed the cadets and shared his perspective on environmental concerns and sustainable living practices, giving easy to understand practical advice. The DFO also exhorted the cadets to develop environmental consciousness.
It stated that between January 13 and 16, the four groups were taken on daily treks to Japfu Ridge, Kisama Heritage Village, Kisama potato farm and view point and Zakhama military station.
It informed that the day-hikes in the lap of Mount Japfu were the first exposure for most the cadets to hill-walking. The day-hikes involved daily elevation gain and loss of about 2000 feet, over a distance of 8 to 10 km. The total distance covered over four days of hill walking was about 36 km and was moderately challenging for first-timers in the hills.
It added that the visit to Kisama Heritage Village gave the cadets a glimpse into the Naga culture and the historical significance of the hills during World War-II.
Besides, documentaries and films were screened in the evenings to keep the cadets gainfully engaged.
“Through such trekking camps, the objectives of building resilience and inculcating environmental consciousness, besides a love for the outdoors, cannot be achieved fully. However, the seeds for these objectives have certainly been sown, atleast in some young, impressionable minds,” the statement read.
On January 17, inter-group competitions were organised and culminated with a cultural programme.
It further stated that cadets left for their respective destination from Dimapur railway station on January 18 with good memories of Nagaland, its people and their culture.