Southern States
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Andhra Pradesh
Pre-Army recruitment camp for rural youth
By K. M. Dayashankar
KARIMNAGAR, DEC. 11. To wean away rural youth from joining the naxalite-fold and create an employment opportunity in the Armed forces, the district administration and the 9 Andhra National Cadet Corps (NCC) battalion, Karimnagar, have jointly launched a unique programme of Pre-Army recruitment training for rural youth in Karimnagar.
Following poor representation of rural youth on the Armed forces from the district due to lack of awareness and proper guidance for the Army recruitment camps, the district administration had decided to give special training to rural youth in physical fitness and conducted classes to clear the written examination.
Accordingly, the district administration in collaboration with the NCC battalion had chalked out a month-long intensive training programme to about 400 rural youths from December 10 to January 10, 2002 at the NCC training camp at Malkapur village on the outskirts of Karimnagar town. The Revevue divisional officers selected the interested candidates in the age group of 16 to 21 and SSC pass candidates by conducting screening tests, medical examination with a panel of doctors and physical fitness.
Then the candidates were sent to participate in the pre-Army recruitment camp in Malkapur village. At the camp, the NCC officials were conducting physical fitness tests in 1.6 kilometer run, beams, ditch jumping, zig-zag balance etc. They were training all measures to ensure that the candidates clear the running of 1.6 kilometers between 5.45 minutes and 6.30 minutes time.
The camp was providing free boarding and lodging to students in an NCC camp atmosphere in the make-shift tents. The rural youth were provided with proper diet to maintain stamina to participate in physical tests. On the academic front, the authorities had selected 14 teaching staff from various junior colleges to teach Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, English and General Knowledge of NCERT 10th standard to students to appear in the written examination for armed forces.
Everyday the camp starts with the early morning exercises for fitness, breakfast and from 8 am to 10 first session of classes, 11 to 1 pm second session of classes and third session from 3 to 5 pm. In the evening, the youth would have entertainment and other outdoor games, such as volleyball, badminton, kho-kho etc. The NCC authorities were also planning to organise some guest lectures to participants by inviting eminent personalities from various walks of life.
Talking to The Hindu, the participants of the camp suggested that the rural youth of the interior naxalite affected villages be encouraged to participate in the camp to be selected into the armed forces. Mr Naresh, a resident of interior naxalite dominated Sanugula village of Chandurthi mandal, says that ``If we join the armed forces, we will get national recognition and fame in the village for serving the nation''. He said that the interior naxalite-affected village youth should be motivated to join the armed forces instead going on a wrong path of joining naxalite movement.
Another youth, Mr Raji Reddy of Huzurabad, mandal says that the training at the pre-Army recruitment camp would develop their personality in all spheres to cope up with the situation. ``Even if we are not selected in the armed forces selection, we are confident of securing job in para-military forces or other forces in the country,'' he noted. Majority of the youth urged the Government to include Telugu as the medium of instruction for the written examination as they were unable to clear examination which is in English or Hindi.
The Lt Col and NCC Commanding officer, Mr A.G Thatte, said the aim of NCC training was to motivate the youth to join the defence forces. "By just organising NCC camps and participating in Republic Day parades will not benefit the students,'' he said adding that the NCC could develop the personality of college students to ensure employment in armed forces also.
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