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Srinagar: The Agnipath recruitment scheme of the armed forces that was announced on June 15 earlier this year as an attractive employment opportunity for young boys passionate to serve their motherland. The scheme was introduced to benefit the youth in terms of education as well as with terminal financial benefits. Benefits apart it gave the boys an opportunity to switch professions after gaining fruitful experience of donning the uniform for four years.
The Agnipath scheme was new and different from the recruitment scheme of the Armed Forces which were not conducted for two years post worldwide outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.
A massive awareness campaign was started wherein the Commander of 68 Hajipir Brigade and Commanding Officer (CO) of 41Rashtriya Rifles (CO 41RR) briefed firstly the ex-Servicemen and the civil dignitaries about the benefits and to motivate the youth towards becoming an Agniveer.
Thereafter youth were interacted with about the scheme in schools and colleges by the company commanders of respective areas. The most important feedback received from these interactions was to impart guidance and training for the recruitment rally.
Later, on June 26, 1,138 aspiring candidates were screened in respective Collocated Operating Bases (COBs) of the 41RR (Maratha Light Infantry) out of which 976 were selected after a basic medical and document check.
Dates of the recruitment rally were uploaded consequent to which a month-long effective training program for the aspiring candidates was formulated. 904 boys registered for the scheme and 566 attended the rally at Pattan from September 20 to September 27. In all 216 candidates cleared the physicals and the last filter took place after the medicals at Srinagar where in 127 boys were selected for the written exam.
These boys appeared for their exam on November 13 out of which 16 highly motivated boys who have put in persistent efforts for the past five months have been selected to serve the nation.
The curriculum of training was so designed that it catered for the daily routine of the aspirants as most of them were either studying or assisting parents in earning a living. A database of the candidates registered was also made at COB level to decimate information or study material pertaining to the recruitment. It also helped in follow up of candidates as and when any new result was updated and candidates were further shortlisted. This entire process which continued over a period of five months displayed immense motivation of both the trainer and the trainee.
The involvement of the locals for the peers was such that people took time off from their daily schedule to teach these boys during organised classes in the COBs. Participation of the Indian Army and locals together to benefit the youth in clearing a stringent selection procedure speaks volumes of the harmony and positive connect amongst the society.
Any job related to uniformed services adds a glamour quotient for the aspiring youth. A respectable job with a disciplined work culture motivates the younger generation to emulate his elders.
The new Agniveers were felicitated by the Indian Army and civil dignitaries sharing their joy on this momentous occasion. The selection of these 16 candidates will definitely motivate youth both boys and girls to join the Armed Forces and be a respectable citizen.
