THE KERALA STATE BHARAT SCOUTS & GUIDES

The Bharat Scouts & Guides is a voluntary, educational movement to shape and build the character of young people through inculcating the values of self-discipline, social service and patriotism. Scouting and guiding aim to develop young people, giving them the ability to make moral choices and strengthen their characters through commitment to a set of values. Scouting and Guiding is as diverse now as it has ever been, reflecting the world in all its variety. But there are some things that cannot be changed: Scouting’s values are timeless and universal. They lie at the heart of our Movement and provide us with a vision for the future. It is an educational movement for young people, accessible to all without distinction of gender, origin, race or creed. Its purpose is to contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities. Scouting and Guiding is a deliberate educational scheme, and its aim is the development of character with a view to useful citizenship. The Scouts and Guides are organized into sections according to age. Each section has an ideal Scout Law, Promise and Motto which they endeavor to attain. The programmes are designed in such a way as to develop leadership qualities and community service.

The Scout Movement which was founded by Lord Baden Powell in 1907 is now spread in almost 153 countries. Millions & millions of Boys and Girls all over the World have been brought into the fold of this character building movement. Participation in the development of Society with recognition and respect for the dignity of one’s fellowmen and for integrity of the natural world. The progressive self-education through a promise and Law, learning by doing, acceptance of responsibility and training towards self government directed to the development of character and the acquisition of competence, self reliance, dependability and capacities both to co-operate and lead.

Progressive and stimulating programmes of various activities based on the interests of the participants including games, useful skills and service to the community taking place largely in an outdoor setting in contact with the nature. Registered Society under Societies Registrations Act. It is totally voluntary, non-political and secular Organisation.

Kerala’s geography is unique; the State has dense forests and enormous backwaters, with exotic and virgin territories. The Government of Kerala and Department of Education is supporting the Scout/Guide movement in its functioning in Schools, by aiding and releasing grant for the organizational, administrative and training purposes. The government also added Scouting and Guiding one of the CoCurricular activity in the Kerala Educational Rules. All these make the State ideal for Scouting and Guiding. The Scout-Guide Movement in Kerala has a rich past. In 1915 Dr. Annie Besant organized Indian Boy Scout Association in South India meant for the Indian boys. The international participation of Kerala in scouting activity can be traced to a Maharaja’s College girl who participated in the first World Scout Jamboree which was held at Olympia, London in 1920. Miss Uthram Thirunal Padmini Bayi, daughter of the then, Maharaja of Travancore, Sri. Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma went to the Jamboree with her sister and their governess. After coming back home she started a girls’ troop in Nagercoil in 1922 under the patronage of Shri. C. P. Ramaswami Iyer, Dewan of Travancore, with help from A. E. Benson and Denys Rosoman, both ICS Officers holding important positions in Travancore at that time. Before integration of States, the present Kerala State was in three parts viz; Travancore, Cochin and Malabar. In 1957 all the above provincial organizations were integrated as Kerala State Bharat Scouts & Guides, with a Headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.