Job crunch may turn youth to join forces, says Army chief

Updated on: 15 January,2009 06:46 AM IST |
Agencies |

There might be a silver lining to the global economic meltdown.

forward march: An officer conducts a parade rehearsal yesterday ahead of the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. pic/ap

Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor said yesterday the recession may result in more youngsters opting for armed forces as a career. "With the recession in the civil side, the demand to have a career in the army in the service of the nation may go up. Besides we are taking a series of steps so that people do not leave the army and more numbers join it," said Kapoor.

The army's sanctioned strength is 46,615 officers, but it faces a shortage of 11,238 officers.

The problem has further aggravated as about 3,000 army officers sought premature retirement in the last three years, with most of them moving to the lucrative corporate sector.

The army chief said the sixth pay commission, which raised salaries for all government employees, including those in the armed forces, has also helped in bringing down the number of people seeking premature retirement.

Join the army

"Post the sixth pay commission announcement, there is somewhat of a declining trend in the number of people leaving the army. I see it as happy augury," said Kapoor.

In a bid to attract an adequate number of people to the forces, the army plans to "liberalise the study leave rule" which will enable an officer to educate himself and improve his career chances after the army job.

The army will also open a second Officer Training Academy to increase the intake. The army will need to provide 300-odd officers, to the NSG that will be establishing more hubs shortly in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

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