Wait for shelter, food continues
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Over the last weekend, about 6,000 youngsters landed in this city dreaming of an Army career. For most of them, the night before the tests was hell as they had to go without proper accommodation in the city or food. This is not something new. It happens during every recruitment rally.
On Tuesday, a senior Army officer in charge of recruiting said it was simply impossible for the Army to provide stay and food for thousands of candidates on the eve of the tests, but added that it would take up the matter with the district administration.
‘’Only if a candidate is inside our area does he fall under our responsibility. Before that, we can’t do anything,’’ said Brigadier M M Gupta, Deputy Director General, Recruiting (States), HQ Recruiting Zone, Bangalore, who was in the city for the latest rally.
Gupta said he would take up the matter with the district administration to see if schools or other institutions can be allotted for the candidates, but it would be ideal, he said, if NGOs, civil agencies or even individuals were to offer assistance to the candidates.
‘’It is impossible for us. The number of candidates who turn up is very huge, around 3,000 per day. We are providing them with a job. Between 2,500 and 3,000 candidates get selected every year from across Kerala. Anything outside our area, someone else has to pitch in and help,’’ Gupta said.
Normally, two major recruitment drives are conducted in the State. One for the seven southern districts - usually at Pangode - and another for the northern districts; the next one will open in Palakkad on December 8. Candidates, many of them accompanied by parents, arrive in Thiruvananthapuram from other districts the evening before the rally since they have to report at 5 am to get tested. Until they report to the Army officials, they have to fend for themselves. Many spend the night at the bus stand. Some are not even as lucky.
The district administration, when contacted, said it was in the same plight as the Army in this matter. ‘’We are not in a position to provide accommodation for thousands of people. The Army has not approached us so far,’’ District Collector Sanjay Kaul said.
trivandrum@expressbuzz.com