New Delhi. 15 July 2024. The Maharashtra Naval Area of the Indian Navy’s Western Naval Command is currently conducting the “Maha Connect” Rally 2024 from 08 July 24 to 18 July 24. This expansive rally is being held along three routes covering the Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Konkan regions of Maharashtra. Spanning a total of 33 districts, the rally will cover over 5,500 kilometers. The Vidarbha leg of the rally, which includes 13 Naval personnel comprising officers, sailors, and Agni Veers, was flagged off from Mumbai on July 8th. After making stops in Vasai, Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon, Akola and Amravati, the team arrived in Nagpur.
The rally’s primary aim is to interact with students from various schools and colleges, as well as local NCC units, to inspire and encourage them to join the Indian Navy. Additionally, it seeks to educate the youth about the role and functions of the Navy, while also introducing them to India’s rich maritime heritage. Interactions with veterans of the armed forces and coastal awareness campaigns are integral parts of the rally, taking place at various locations. Furthermore, the rally promotes environmental consciousness through initiatives such as tree plantation, environmental awareness, and cleanliness drives. Emphasizing the nation’s and the Indian Navy’s commitment to ‘Naari Shakti’ (Women Empowerment), the rally includes a woman officer and two women Agniveers.
On 14 Jul 2024, the rally reached Nagpur and received a warm welcome at the 4 (Mah) Naval Unit premises from Commander Ankit Batra, Commanding Officer, 4 (Mah) Naval Unit NCC, Officers from Naval Armament Inspectorate (Nagpur), and Cadets of 4 (Mah) Naval Unit NCC, 2 Air Squadron and 20 Battalion.
The NCC cadets had an extensive interaction session with the personnel from the rally. The cadets were educated about various entry schemes available to join Indian Navy. Personal experiences were also shared by the Agniveers, part of the rally team, which motivated the cadets. It was followed by refreshment with cadets and local veterans of the Indian Navy.
After the event, Commodore Abhayankar (Rtd) flagged off the rally for its next leg, wishing the crew success in their mission. The rally is set to proceed to Aurangabad and Pune before concluding in Mumbai on 18 July 2024.
