JOIN USThe 17th National Jambooree of the Bharat Scouts and Guides, supposed to be hosted by Karnataka this year, has been postponed to next year, owing to acute drought situation in the State. It has been decided to host the Jambooree at Mysuru in November 2016.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is also the president of the Bharat Scouts and Guides, Karnataka, presided over the first meeting in this regard at his home office Krishna on Tuesday, where the decision was taken.
JD(S) leader P G R Sindhia, who is the State Chief Commissioner of Bharat Scouts and Guides, Karnataka, Education department officials and other office-bearers of the Karnataka cadre were present in the meeting.
The 17th National Jambooree was supposed to be hosted by Rajasthan this year. However, as the state expressed that it was unable to host the Jambooree, the National Head Quarters at New Delhi had requested Karnataka to host the same, three months ago.
Owing to the drought situation, Siddaramaiah felt that the event should be hosted next year. Around 20,000 to 25,000 scouts and guides between 11 and 20 years from across the country and the neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and island nation Maldives, will participate in the week-long event.
The office-bearers have requested the State government to bear the expenses of the Jambooree, which might come up to Rs 8 to 10 crore. They have also requested for 100 acres of land to conduct the event. While, drinking water, sanitation and electricity has to be provided by the State, the office-bearers are in the process of procuring tents for the cadets to sleep in, from across the country.
This will be the third time that Karnataka will be hosting the Jambooree. The third National Jambooree was held in Bengaluru in 1960.