250 youths from Maoist-affected areas join army

Two hundred fifty youths from the 'Red Corridor' of West Bengal joined the Army today and regular recruitment drives have now been started in the area to bring youngsters of Maoist affected areas in the state into the mainstream.
Colonel Sanjay Kochhar, Director, Recruiting, Kolkata, said "We are working along with the state government to have recruitment rallies for Maoist affected areas. This will give the youth the chance to be a part of the mainstream society."
He said the first drive was conducted in February this year at Kharagpur in West Midnapore district where 40,000 candidates appeared for the tests out of whom 250 were selected.

All the 250 have joined the Army as 'sipahi' today, he said adding they were being sent out to different parts of the country.
From this year the Army will have two annual recruitment drives in LWE districts of West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia, he said.
21-year-old Sudip Haldar, one of the new recruits hailing from one of the worst LWE-hit area of Belpahari, said it was his childhood dream to be a soldier.

Brig S S Prasad, Deputy Director General, Recruiting (West Bengal) said the Army had recently conducted a recruitment rally in Purulia where 20,000 candidates participated and over 80 were selected.

"We will have one rally at Bankura in January and another one again at Kharagpur in February," officials said.
The Recruiting Office conducts 13-14 such rallies each year in the state out of which two would be in LWE-affected areas, he said.
Good physique and simplicity of the youth have left the recruiters impressed.
"They are very tall, tough and strong because they are the sons of the soil. But their mind is simple, unspoilt, honest and loyal. Their self discipline is also very high," Prasad said.