Rs 6 as refreshment allowance, NCC cadets slam govt

Punjab government has failed to enhance the refreshment allowance from Rs 6 to Rs 20 for National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets. However, last year, the Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal had approved to enhance the refreshment allowance but till now the NCC cadets are getting only Rs 6 as their refreshment allowance.

There are a total of 14,400 NCC cadets in Ludhiana district. The cadets are segmented in three wings- army, air and navy.
One of the NCC cadets, at condition of anonymity, said, “Everything is getting expensive and in Rs 6 we just get a cup of tea. The government must enhance the refreshment allowance for NCC cadets. Snacks like samosas, bread pakoras, juice are not available in Rs 6.”

Another NCC cadet, who also wished not to be named, said, “The CM had announced to increase our refreshment allowance last year from Rs 6 to Rs 20 but nothing has changed. We still get only Rs 6 for refreshment. The government had announced the plan but forgot to implement it. Every week the cadets are trained and per parade they get refreshment of only Rs 6.”

Talking to Hindustan Times, wing commander SS Kaila, commanding officer of number 4 (Pb) Air Sqn NCC, Ludhiana, said, “We are waiting for the directions from the Punjab government. We have received no order regarding increasing the refreshment allowance for NCC cadets till now. Moreover, we are paying from our own pockets as the refreshment allowance is insufficient.”

But, unlike Punjab, the picture is not so gloomy for NCC cadets in other states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharshtra.

NCC training officer, Col Mohan Singh, at group headquarters said, “We are getting Rs 6 per cadet per parade for the refreshment and of the same amount is being provided to the cadets. However, in a year, the junior NCC cadets go through training for 45 parades and senior for 50.”

Associate NCC officer, Ft Lt Abraham Vergesh from Kerela, said, “ For the NCC cadets, the refreshment allowance is Rs 90 now and a few years back it was Rs 12. But the government has been enhancing the amount regularly and last year they raised it to Rs 90.”

Associate NCC officer, Sheeba Princess, from Tamil Nadu said, “Last year only the government has enhanced the amount Rs 12 top Rs 20 per parade per cadet.”

An associate NCC officer from Maharashtra, who wished not to be named, said, “The refreshment allowance for the NCC cadets is Rs 33 per parade per cadet.”

Refreshment allowance to NCC cadets in other states
Tamil Nadu: Rs 20.
Maharastra- Rs 33
Kerala- Rs 90