Moodbidri: The youth of the country are in prime focus during the nation’s ‘Amrit Kaal’, the 75th year of independence, Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot said.
The governor, inaugurating the Bharat Scouts and Guides International Cultural Jamboree at Alva’s campus, Vidyagiri, on Wednesday, urged participants to seize the opportunity to achieve physical, psychological, spiritual growth and to contribute towards the welfare of the nation.
“Scouts and Guides International Cultural Jamboree has provided a platform for exchange of ideas and to learn about each other’s culture,” the governor, who is also the patron of Bharat Scouts and Guides Karnataka, said.
Gehlot lauded the voluntary works carried out by Scouts and Guides during the Covid-19 pandemic and said that through its selfless service, the organisation is working towards universal peace and harmony.
Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari and Rajya Sabha member D Veerendra Heggade said the international jamboree has shown that India is a mini world, with the coming together of Scouts and Guides from different parts of the world. Programmes like these unite us by undoing barriers of race, origin, creed and eliminates discrimination of all sorts, he said. “A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, friend, protector of animals, nature and public property,” he emphasised.
World Organisation of the Scout Movement secretary General Ahmed Alhendawi said that Scouts and Guides is a big voluntary organisations in the world with 70 million members. It is a community which makes the world a better place, he added.
Scouts and Guides has its presence in 173 countries and involves itself in community activities, he said.
Ahmed Alhendawi was presented the ‘Silver Elephant’ award. Bharat Scouts and Guides chief national commissioner Dr K K Khandelwal said that it is a matter of pride that the first International Scouts and Guides Jamboree is being held in the land of literature and Jain Philosophy, Moodbidri. The programme, with 55,000 Scouts and Guides, has created a history, he added.