Efforts to encourage Udupi Youth join Indian Army through Recruitment Rallies: Col Prashant Petkar
Udupi: Col Prashant Petkar, director, ARO, Mangaluru urged the Udupi district youth to show interest in joining the army. Youth in coastal districts are not aware of the better pay pack, facilities and other benefits available in the Indian Army. When the rally was conducted in 2015, 64 youth had enrolled, while in 2016 there were only 18 candidates from Udupi district for the Army selection Rally.
Addressing the press meet at the DC Office Petkar said that the annual Army Recruitment Rally in 11 districts will be held from May 12 to 18 at the Sainik School, Vijayapura. Candidates from Bagalkot, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Uttar Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Davangere, Gadag, Haveri, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga are eligible to attend the rally which be held at Vijayapura. Udupi district in particular has a poor record of recruitment, he hoped that the number of aspirants from Udupi and the surrounding districts will increase this time.
The candidates should register online at www.joinindianarmy.nic.in once the registration opens, from March 12 to March 25. The recruitment will be conducted for the posts of soldier general (duty and technical), followed by nursing assistant, clerk and store-keeper (technical and tradesmen). While the minimum qualification for general duty and tradesmen is SSLC, candidates should be in the age group of 17-and-a-half to 21 years for general duty and up to 23 years for tradesmen. For other posts, the minimum qualification is PU or any other equivalent course, having studied Physics, Chemistry, Maths and English or Accounts and Book-keeping. Recruitment’s will be conducted in three levels – physical fitness tests and measures where the candidates have to run 1.6 km in 5.30 minutes, followed by a medical exam and written exam.
A soldier earns approximately Rs 25,000 per month, in addition to free clothing, ration, accommodation, medical facilities, free railway warrant to his home every year and canteen facilities. Soldiers are also entitled to avail 90 days of leave every year. The young generation should utilize the golden opportunity by taking part in the recruitment rally and join the army, he said.
Speaking on the occasion Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis said that, to promthe youth of Udupi district to join in Army the district administration will give special training to the Schedule caste and schedule tribe students from April 3. The training will be orgniaised by the respective BEO offices across the district. The district administration has already instructed all the Grama Panchyats to create awareness about the Recruitment rally, she added.