Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, July 11: Army today said that large numbers of Kashmiri youth are turning to their recruitment rallies to defeat the militant designs who ask them not to join the force.
Director General Recruit-ment of Army, Lt General R N Nair, told reporters on the sidelines of Passing Out Parade of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry at Srinagar that Army is making more recruitments in Jammu and Kashmir than its vacancies.
“Jammu and Kashmir recruitment is very strong. We have 1400 vacancies for Jammu and Kashmir but we recruit over 2000 every year”, said Lt Gen Nair.
The Director General said that the response to the Army’s recruitment rallies is overwhelming. “When we conduct recruitment rallies thousands are queuing up”, he added.
Lt General Nair said that there were times in Kashmir when Kashmiri youth were not turning up for Army recruitment rallies. “There were times when we were conducting recruitment rallies here, people were not turning up. Now they come in thousands and they try to get recruited. The motivation to join the Army is there and it has increased”, he added.
The Director General said that militants wanted that Kashmiri youth should not join the Army but they have failed in it. “Unfortunately terrorist groups want that civilians should not join the Army. They have totally failed. You find recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir is much more than what we are expecting and what are the vacancies. So I am sorry to say militants have failed to achieve what they wanted to”, he added.
Lt Gen Nair said that Army is conducting online registration for recruitment rally from July 1. “From Ist of July we are doing online registration for recruitment. Whosoever wants to join Army should register online and whenever there is a recruitment rally they will get a call”, he added.
The Director General said that the militancy has come down in Kashmir as there were times when everything was shutdown here. “Militancy has come down. And today you are free to move. There were times when schools, colleges and other institutions were closed”, he said.
Earlier, the Bana Singh Parade Ground at the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre, showcased its latest batch of 323 passing out recruits from Jammu and Kashmir.
Marching in precise unison to devote their life for the nation, singing their Regimental Song “Balidanam Veer Lakshnam”, the young soldiers inspired one and all as their voice echoed in the Stadium.
These young soldiers completed 42 weeks of strenuous training before being inducted into the Army.
The function was attended by over 2000 parents and relatives of the young soldiers from various parts of the State with a number of civil and military dignitaries. The daunting soldiers of the Regiment hailing from all regions and religions of the State, took oath in unison to serve the supreme cause of the Nation.
Lt Gen congratulated the Young soldiers for their immaculate Parade and impressed upon selfless service towards the nation. He praised their contribution towards encouraging more and more youth from Jammu and Kashmir to come forward to join the Defence forces and also highlighted the vital role played by their parents in motivating their wards to join this noble profession.
Recruit Rahul Sharma of Jammu was the Parade Commander of this Passing out Parade and was also the proud recipient of “Bana Singh Medal” for being adjudged as Best Recruit in Drill. He was also adjusted as the overall Best Recruit in this batch encompassing all facets of training and was awarded “Trivedi Singh Medal” and “the Sher -e -Kashmir Sword of Honour”.
The parents and relatives pipped the soldiers making them ready to join their battalions. As a mark of respect, gratitude and recognition of contribution made by the parents of these young soldiers, they were also presented with the “Gaurav Padaks” instituted by the Indian Army.
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