INDIAN ARMY'S NEW BATTLEFRONT

The Indian Army has for the first time entered the new war-zone of cut throat marketing and is trying to win over students to its ranks.

Here at the two-day Assam Tribune-organised Edufair that began on May 20 at the All Saint’s Hall, the Indian Army has set up stalls and homing in on youths from the region to guide them in joining the Armed forces.

“This is a new idea to get into education fairs. We are trying to encourage students from the Northeast to join the Indian Army, either after their 12th or Graduation,” Colonel MK Singh, officiating Director of Army’s recruiting head office of the Northeast region here, said.

Response from the student community has been upbeat on the first day. They have marched up to the stall, not just male, but equally joined by female students, and are inquiring about career prospects available in the armed forces.

“The female students are enquiring about the women entry scheme and also the Military Nursing Service. The male about the National Defence Academy (NDA),” Hawaldar, Nemji Kathal and Rajesh Rana, the Army career counsellors at the fair said.

Abhijit Das, a 12th pass student, said, he has not made up his mind on what courses to take up, but NDA to him seemed exciting and adventurous.

“I am not yet decided, but the NDA seems to be offering quite an exciting career. Besides, it would also qualify me as a graduate while making me an officer,” the lanky six-footer said, while figuring out his camouflaged career options.

Meanwhile, Col. Singh informed, there is a lot of vacancy in the Army, especially for the youths of the Northeast. “There are special concessions for the students from the northeast to join the Indian Army and we are therefore trying to create awareness on it,” the Army officer said.

Shillong is the northeast headquarters of the Army’s recruiting office. There are five other centres under this headquarter in Jorhat, Narangi, Rangapahar, Silchar and Aizwal.

However, the response of northeast youth in joining the armed forces has been lukewarm over the years. In Meghalaya, the most visible face of the Indian Army is Late Captain Clifford Nongrum of 12 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry. He sacrificed his life during the Kargil War and was posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.

“If this experience of setting up stalls at education fair works, the idea would definitely be emulated in other parts of the region,” Col. Singh vowed.