New Delhi, Apr 2 (IANS): The civil authorities can avail the National Cadet Corps' services in the Covid-19 fight, according to the Ministry of Defence, here on Thursday.

The Ministry has issued guidelines for temporary employment of NCC cadets to augment relief efforts and functioning of various agencies, involved in battling the pandemic.

The NCC, which operates under the Ministry of Defence, is the youth wing of armed forces and often engages in various social services, community development activities and aid relief works during natural calamities, like floods and cyclone.

According to the guidelines, cadets should not be employed in handling of law and order or for active military duties or at hot spots. "Only senior division volunteer cadets, above 18 years,will be employed. They should be employed in small cohesive groups of 8-20 under the supervision of permanent instructor staff or/and an associate NCC officer," the ministry said.

To deploy cadets, the state governments and the district administrations will have to send the requisition through state NCC Directorates. "Details will be coordinated at Directorate/Group Headquarters/Unit level with state government/local civil authority," the Ministry said.