FICCI CASCADE (Committee Against Smuggling and Counterfeiting Activities Destroying the Economy) organised an interschool competition around the theme ‘Role of Youth in Making India Free from Smuggling & Counterfeiting’ with the aim to sensitise youth on the threats posed by illicit trading on Aug 26. 600+ students from 70 schools participated in the competition, which was categorized in three categories: Painting, Elocution, and Jingle Writing.
Tanmay Sharma of Abhinav Public School won in the Elocution category. Pranjal Rana from Arvind Gupta DAV Centenary Public School and Kavya Sharma of Mother Marys School, Mayur Vihar were the first runners up and Gaurav Pattanaik from ASN Senior Secondary School, Mayur Vihar as the second runner up in this category.
Similarly, Simone Kaur Makkur from Lotus Valley International School, Gurugram was the winner in painting followed by Pravika Jain of Gurukul The School in the second spot. Deepshikha De from DPS, Noida and Sarika from New Green Fields, Saket came third in the painting competition. The results of Jingle writing are yet to be announced.
The competition was judged by Mr. PC Jha, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE, and Former Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs; Mr. Deep Chand, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE, and Former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi and Mr. P. K. Malhotra, Former Secretary, Ministry of Law & Justice, Govt. of India and Think Tank Member, FICCI CASCADE.
Mr Jha, expressing his views on the occasion aid, “Being the consumers of tomorrow, school children will play a key role in shaping the future of trade, and therefore, it is necessary to help them understand the impact of smuggling and counterfeiting on the economy and development of the nation. FICCI CASCADE has been working towards this goal and organising competitions every year to create awareness and inspire students to lead a youth movement against this growing menace.”
Mr. P. K. Malhotra, Former Secretary, Ministry of Law & Justice, Govt. of India,aded, “Illegal trading not only impacts the present but also the future of our nation. It is imperative that the youth recognise the power they hold and navigate this challenge to shape a better tomorrow. By being vigilant consumers and responsible citizens, they can refuse to support or engage in any form of illegal trade and build a society that thrives on ethical practices.”
FICCI CASCADE is a dedicated forum on the agenda of combating smuggling and counterfeiting. Over the years, FICCI CASCADE has been working relentlessly on creating large-scale awareness about the ill-effects of smuggling among the most impacted segment, the consumer.
