The National Service (Dhivehi Vathanee Khidhumaiy) is the first program conducted by a government to date to build a robust young generation, and it will be operated in a manner that achieves the goals set by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, according to Minister of Defence Hassan Rasheed.
Speaking at the ceremony marking the 134th anniversary of the MNDF, the Minister stated that it is necessary to move away from policies that could harm the nation and that President Muizzu believes it is important to produce people who are useful to the country. To that end, special attention must be given to the upbringing and discipline of the country's youth, the Minister said.
Referring to the National Service introduced last year, the Minister noted that the program is a high priority for the President and is the most extensive and complete program started by a Maldivian government to date to end the long-term neglect of youth and build a robust young generation.
The Minister stated that the purpose of the National Service program is to ensure that every youth who graduates from it is self-confident, healthy, patriotic, thinks positively about matters, and is a responsible person.
"The most important objective of this program is to make every youth who graduates from it a responsible Maldivian citizen who is self-confident, has a strong spiritual foundation, is physically and mentally healthy, loves nationalism, and thinks positively about matters."
The Minister stated that the President is facilitating everything to make the program sustainable and noted that the word "National" was added to the name of the Ministry due to the special attention the President gives to this program.
"The change of the name of the Ministry of Defence to the Ministry of Defence and National Security also reveals the special attention the President gives to the National Service program," he said.
Therefore, the Minister stated that the program would proceed in accordance with the President’s vision.
"Thus, I assure the President that the affairs of this system will be managed and carried out so that all the goals you wish to achieve through the National Service system are met, in line with your vision," he said.
The Minister noted that when the President entrusted him with the post last month, he requested that work be done to improve the condition of the military beyond its current state. He mentioned that the President asked for the procurement of equipment needed for military operations, the improvement of the condition of centers, and the acquisition of items such as uniforms and safety gear for the soldiers.
Minister Rasheed stated that the President wished to change the poor condition of the military that existed when this government took over and improve it, requesting that this work be carried out swiftly.
Therefore, he stated that this work has now begun and that technical teams within the military are currently working on it.
