21 Aug 2019  |   06:11am IST

Efforts underway to recruit Goan youth in armed forces: Shripad

Team Herald

PANJIM: Minister of State for Defence Shripad Naik conceded lack of awareness among the Goan youth to join the defense forces. Addressing a press conference to announce special recruitment drive for the Goans in the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday, the minister said that the focus earlier was limited to strengthening the Goa police force but now an attempt is being made to encourage the young blood to join armed forces too. 

“Earlier, there wasn’t much focus towards joining the armed forces. We are now creating awareness to encourage them to join the defence forces, because many of our youth are intelligent as well as physically fit. I am certain we will have more and more Goans to serve the nation once the present recruitment drive begins,” he stated. 

The Lok Sabha MP added that awareness particularly in the villages has been lacking but it would soon be taken care of.  “We are holding ‘Know Your Army’ camps in the next 5-6 months. This is another step to create awareness among the Goans to come forward to join the defence forces,” he added. 

Ex-Indian Navy Anant Joshi, who is assisting the ministry with the upcoming recruitment drive, cited lack of confidence and physical fitness as the two reasons for the low number of locals in the armed forces. Notwithstanding these reasons, Joshi has been imparting training to nearly 200 boys to prepare for various posts in the defence. 

For the very first time in the State, the IAF is holding a special recruitment drive exclusively for Goans to join the IAF as ‘Airmen’ and the selection process will be held from August 27-30. Despite the poor response to previous recruitment drives in the State, Naik is optimistic that at least 500 young boys will turn up for the camp, which will be held at the athletic stadium in Bambolim. 

The drive is conducted only for Goan boys born between July 19, 1999 and July 1, 2003 (both days included) and passed Class 12th examination in any stream with 50 percent marks. Naik has appealed the Goan youth to join the drive in big numbers and make use of this opportunity.  The posts also comprise of medical assistant, auto technician and IAF (police).

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar