Ramgarh: The home guard recruitment drive has turned into a fitness movement in Ramgarh, with thousands of youths, particularly women, taking to running tracks after Kavita Kumari, a daily wager, completed her 1.6-km trial run barefoot in a sari.From Sidhu-Kanhu ground to the CCL ground in Rajrappa and a rural ground in Dulmi, aspirants are training for the endurance test. Women in tracksuits, shorts, salwar suits and in burqas are running alongside one another. The rush has also attracted school and college students and girls preparing for Army recruitment.Kavita (32) from Soso village in Dulmi block, completed the race in about six minutes — well within the prescribed 10-minute limit — at a running competition organised by a fitness academy at Sidhu-Kanhu ground on Oct 2.After her husband died three years ago, Kavita started working at a brick kiln to support her two children. Her story has since inspired thousands. Visitors from Jharkhand and neighbouring states have been reaching her home to take photographs and record videos. Crowds also gather at Sidhu-Kanhu ground whenever she arrives.At Rajrappa, 24-year-old married aspirant Sumanti Kumari said even women who had not applied for home guard posts were joining the practice sessions. Girls preparing for Army recruitment were also running alongside them.C D Singh of the District Olympic Association, who trains aspirants at Rajrappa, said rural women were seeking financial independence and greater ability to stand on their own feet. “Many were working hard to secure a home guard job and reduce their dependence on husbands and parents,” he said.Sporting outfits, fitness academies and other organisations have begun organising 1.6-km races for men and women, further widening the movement.The district administration will recruit 284 home guards between Oct 24 and Nov 5. Of these posts, 50% are reserved for women and 5% for widows. A total of 15,249 applications have been found valid, while more than 30,000 youths are reportedly practising, including non-applicants.
