Thousands of Youth Turn Out for Recruitment Rally in Baramulla
Suhail khan
Baramulla, Nov 11: The Indian Army’s job recruitment rally has become a beacon of hope for thousands of unemployed youth in Kashmir, with the long-awaited recruitment rally held on Monday in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Khurshid Ahmad, a resident of Baramulla village and an aspiring candidate, told Kashmir Despatch,
“I have been waiting for this day for the past month; I counted the days, eagerly anticipating the recruitment. Half of my wish was fulfilled when this day arrived. Now, I only hope to be selected so that I can serve my country and my Kashmir.”
He expressed that his desire to join the Indian Army has been with him since childhood.
“I did not study much, and perhaps one reason for this is the job struggles here, as this issue has persisted for centuries. However, I have held onto hope with this army recruitment, believing that if I am selected, I can not only earn for my family but also serve my country, especially by protecting it from enemies.
I can lead the fight against terrorism in my homeland and advocate for a brighter future for the younger generation in Kashmir.”
Another aspirant, Sajad, expressed his financial struggles, saying, “I am very poor and live far from Baramulla town. I don’t think there’s any kind of labor I haven’t done to support my family, whether it’s sweeping, manual labor, house cleaning, or other odd jobs. Now, with this recruitment, I am hopeful that I will be selected so I can bring happiness to my family and also contribute to the security of India.”
Mumtaz, another army aspirant, told Kashmir Despatch, “We Kashmiris have faced many challenges regarding job opportunities for decades. Regardless of which government is in power, they have never been serious about employment. Despite common misconceptions about the army in Kashmir, they consistently bring hope to the people, especially during tough times.
Today’s recruitment rally is another opportunity for Kashmiri youth to pursue a decent living. We are truly thankful to the army for organizing this recruitment rally.” He further appealed to those Kashmiris who have strayed onto the wrong path:
“Please do not choose the path of terrorism, which has already devastated our people and my generations.”
He further said that Kashmiri youth will choose the Army to earn a respectful livelihood and serve the nation.
A defense official told Kashmir Despatch that this recruitment rally represents hope for Kashmiri youth, offering opportunities for young individuals to showcase their skills and contribute to the nation’s defense.
He stated that the Indian Army and the civil administration of Jammu and Kashmir have collaborated to ensure the smooth conduct of this rally and expects this rally to be a grand success, enabling the youth of the region to earn the honor of serving their motherland as “Sons of the Soil.”
The official noted that this week-long drive aims to recruit candidates for various roles, including Soldier General Duty, Clerk, Chef, and trades such as Artisan Woodworker and Equipment Repairer. The rally is systematically structured to screen eligible candidates from Baramulla, Kupwara, Ganderbal, Budgam, and Bandipora.
Candidates from Baramulla are being screened on November 11-12, Ganderbal and Budgam on November 13, and Kupwara and Bandipora on November 14, with two reserved days on November 16-17 for pending medical examinations.
The recruitment process involves document verification, physical screening, and medical assessments. The Territorial Army has clarified that some roles, including clerks and specific tradesman positions, are available exclusively to residents of the Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory.
