Nagpur: Army recruitment office recently scanned the interiors of Gadchiroli for potential soldiers while reaching out to over 1,500 youths, including girls, in the district. This was the first-of-its-kind outreach in the once Maoist-affected district.Covering remote areas of the district from Aug 10 to 12, the team came across youths with excellent physical stamina, with some even clocking 100 metres in a mere 10.3 to 10.4 seconds, a feat which even many athletes may find tough to accomplish. The purpose of the visit was to make the youths aware of the job opportunities in the armed forces.The district has seen meagre registrations for recruitment rallies in the past. In 2024, only 26 candidates registered for a recruitment rally. By 2026, it touched 384, yet much of the potential remained untapped, said officials.“Many who interacted with the team had little knowledge of Army or its recruitment process. The main source of employment so far was the police, the forest department. Others were forced to join the Maoist ranks earlier,” said Colonel Anshit Shrivastava, director of Army Recruitment Office (ARO), who went to Gadchiroli along with his junior, Havaldar Sandeep.“I came across a girl who is a Paralympic archer. She had been to Dubai, but also came across many who had not even been to the district headquarters,” said the Colonel. He said Army had tied up with the district administration and local educational institutions for the outreach programme.He also urged social worker Prakash Amte, who runs Lok Biradari Prakalp in Hemalkasa, to help youths prepare for written exams which need to be cleared during the recruitment tests.“The youths were not only told about Agniveer recruitment but also about other avenues, including National Defence Academy, where the officers are trained,” said Colonel Anshit Shrivastava.
