Army scores 6,500 new recruits with rallies targeting Maoist hotbeds



The Army is on a recruitment drive in the Naxal-affected districts of Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand as part of the government's strategy to generate employment for the local youth in one of the remotest parts of the country.



In the past year, the Army has inducted over 6,500 youths at 22 recruitment rallies in Naxal dominated areas - Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh, Chaibasa in Jharkhand and Balangir and Subarnapur in Orissa.



Employment in the Army can help draw local youths away from joining the Maoists in insurgency-hit areas

Out of the 160 rallies held across the country, 22 were in Naxal areas. However, the intake from across the country was just over 63,000 against the projected demand of 73,000 soldiers.

Despite this, the Army is satisfied that it achieved more than 80 per cent of its target.



Officials said the Army has received an encouraging response in these areas and that employment in the Army would draw the local youth away from the Naxals.



For the Army too, it is an important catchment area as the people from these areas are well-built and suitable for the tough job. In the absence of jobs, overall economic development in these areas was one of the major causes for the rise of Left-wing extremism.



Officials said more rallies will be organised in the future and in the coming years the region could emerge as a prominent contributor to the Army.



The Army has opposed direct involvement in anti-Naxal operations but has been providing assistance to the state governments by training police and para-military personnel in counter-insurgency operations. The recruitment drive is also an attempt to help deal with the problem.



The Army has set up a training facility in Narayanpur district which was seen as its first major presence in the region. The officials said there was no change in the policy of non-intervention in the Naxal problem.

The army has trained around 200 units of the para-military forces and will continue the effort. Although there was pressure on the Army to contribute to anti-Naxal operations, the process has not gained ground.



