A five-day rally for army recruitment organised by the Indian Army at the District Stadium here from Wednesday to Saturday drew 7,500 youth, said Army officials.
Addressing presspersons here on Monday, Col. Vishwanath, Director, Recruitment, Mangaluru, said that the 7,500 youth who participated in the recruitment process underwent various physical fitness tests.
Of them, 350 were selected immediately. Another 350 youth were referred to the Command Hospital in Bengaluru for further fitness tests. Usually, nearly 50 per cent of youth who apply clear the tests.
The total number of youth passing the physical fitness tests is expected to reach 450. Next, these youth will have to pass a written Common Entrance Examination that will be held in Bengaluru, Mangaluru and Belagavi on March 1.
The Indian Army officials’ original plan was to organised the army recruitment rally in Chikkamagaluru. But due to poor response from the district administration there, the recruitment rally was shifted to Udupi. The Udupi district administration had fully cooperated with the army in holding the recruitment rally here, he said.
But when compared to the districts of North Karnataka, the response from the districts of South Karnataka for army recruitment was poor. Had the same rally been held in Belagavi, the response would have been 7,500 candidates per day, Col. Vishwanath said.
R. Vishal, Deputy Commissioner, said that the poor response in the districts of South Karnataka was due to lack of awareness. Hence the district administration had agreed to hold the rally here as it would create awareness. Once awareness was created, there would be a good response.
The last army recruitment rally was held here four years ago.
The youth should be aware that a sepoy or soldier in the army gets a salary of Rs. 15,000 per month, plus ration and other benefits amounting to another Rs. 5,000. After retirement, they get pension and could be recruited for other jobs, he said.
Army officers R.S. Chauhan, Dushyant Singh and Jaideep Sharma were present.
