Mysuru: President of India Pranab Kumar Mukherjee will inaugurate the 17th National Scouts and Guides Jamboree at Mysore on Thursday, December 29.
Adakanahalli on the outskirts of the city is bedecked for the week long jamboree. The 350-acre ground at Adakanahalli off Mysuru-Nanjanagudu road resembles a township and ready to house over 25000 scouts and guides cadets taking part in the weeklong celebrations representing 52 different zones of the country.
Around 2250 tents have been built to accommodate cadets from India and abroad. Cadets from countries like Srilanka, Bangladesh, China, Saudi Arabia and Canada will be taking part in the event.
President will inaugurate the jamboree at 3.15 pm and the convention will strive to instill civic values, patriotism, essence of service and the confidence of soldiers guarding nation’s borders, among participating cadets.
The jamboree takes place once in four years and adventurous sports like rock climbing, tyre wall, crawling, log crossing, commando bridge, monkey bridge, big-jog crossing and tunnel crossing are included in the weeklong event.
Best performing cadets will get equal opportunities to exhibit their talent. They will be awarded with certificates in the end.
The state government is spending Rs 9 Crore towards the scout and guide convention to provide temporary accommodation, food, drinking water and travel facilities.
Former home minister PGR Scindia is the president of the organising committee and has been closely monitoring the arrangements made in the jamboree village for the comfortable stay of the cadets, since one month.
The jamboree village is fully equipped with 2250 tents to accommodate cadets, 250 tents to accommodate staff, 10 tents to accommodate VIPs, 16 base game venues, 10 funny game spots and a 50-bed hospital. Around 25000 cadets including 500 from abroad will be taking part in the weeklong celebrations. Around 1500 police personnel and 400 staff members have been deployed to oversee security and other arrangements.
History behind jamboree:
Lord Baden Powell established scouts in the year 1907 and wanted all to gather in one location to keep count of the active cadets. If 1000 cadets gather then it will be termed as jammed pack and in this case it will be called jamboree since around 25000 cadets are likely to take part. Jamboree means fair or fest, meant to unite cadets from different areas and learn to lead cordial life. Children in the age group of 10-17 years will take part in the celebrations which has a catchy slogan, “Together for a better tomorrow”.
