Despite a dearth of sports infrastructure in their respective villages, these young, self-motivated girls have trained on roads and in fields, spurred on only by a burning desire and passion to serve the country
Ambala: As many as 750 girls from Haryana’s and its adjoining villages are participating in a recruitment rally under the Agnipath scheme at Kharga Stadium in Ambala Cantonment on Monday and Tuesday (Nov7 and 8), a special report by Nitish Sharma in The tribune, Chandigarh, says
Despite a dearth of sports infrastructure in their respective village, these young, self-motivated girls have trained on roads and in fields, spurred on only by a burning desire and passion to serve the country on battlefronts, wherever it may take them and no matter what.
They are required to meet specified physical standards in events like long jump, high jump and a 1,600-metre run. While most of them were from Haryana, there were others from Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh as well.
Shiksha from Jind, said, “I am impressed with the Army’s discipline. Even after a short service, disciplined soldiers will go back to society and make a lot of difference. There is neither a track nor stadium in our village. We prepared for the physical test by running on roads. My father, who is a cop, motivated me.”
Priyanka of Fatehabad said, “My father is a farmer, but I want to join the Army. I am pursuing MSc in chemistry.
Another candidate Jyoti said: “Four girls from our village had applied, but only I managed to clear the physical test. I will try my best to get selected. I can’t wait to wear the Army uniform. It will be a proud moment for me and my family.”
Anuja of Jhajjar said, “Both my father and brother wanted to join the armed forces, but couldn’t. I want to fulfil their dream by getting selected.”
Shiksha from Jind, said, “I am impressed with the Army’s discipline. Even after a short service, disciplined soldiers will go back to society and make a lot of difference.
Commenting on their drive and motivation, Major General Ranjan Mahajan said, “We have received a good response. The candidates have shown good all-round performance. Our aim is to pick the best through a transparent process.”
The Army plans to induct about 1,700 women soldiers over the next few years under the recently introduced Agnipath scheme. The Air Force and the Navy too are in the process of inducting women soldiers.
Although the intake of women officers into the armed forces started in 1992, their recruitment as Agniveers is a recent development. The first batch of women soldiers was inducted into the Corps of Military Police in May 2021, after a 61-week intensive training. (Rewrite David Solomon)
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