BY : Merinews


THERE IS a shortage of over 11,000 officers in the Indian Army. Lieutenant General Thomas Mathew told the media in a recruitment rally at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on September 26. He expressed satisfaction at the tremendous turnout at the recruitment rally for soldiers.

Explaining the shortage, Major General MN Kashid, additional director general (recruiting) told that the shortfall is in the Short Service Commission grades. “We have a huge demand for captains and majors. The Army has initiated a four pronged approach to fill this gap. A widespread publicity campaign targetted at youth about the life in the Army, is also in process.

The Army is in advanced stages of discussion with the Ministry of Human Resource Development regarding introduction of Army-related lessons in the NCERT curriculum. Inspirational and real life stories will be a part of class VIII to XII books. A touching story of flying officer Anil Kumar of the Indian Air Force and an NDA product, has been included in class X English textbook of the Maharashtra State Board.
Kumar, who was commissioned as a fighter pilot is totally paralysed below neck after a major road traffic accident.

Lieutenant General Thomas Mathew hoped that the Pay Commission review should also attract more young men and women to take up a career in the armed forces. A strategy is also being worked out to enable Short Service Commission officers to integrate into civilian jobs later. He also drew attention to the fool-proof and transparent system being followed at the recruitment rallies where middlemen and touts can not pay any role in this process.

In 2007, the Indian Army recruited about 38,000 soldiers. An open recruitment rally for male candidates from seven south districts of Kerala has been undergoing since September 25 by the Army recruitment office, Trivandrum. Rally is open till October 1. About 2,000 candidates took part in the first day’s selection programme. Good physical characteristics, good education, a strong will and commitment is all that is needed to be a part of the Indian Army.