Job seekers in Armed Forces protest, demand recruitment rallies

New Delhi, April 5 (IANS) Hundreds of aspirants seeking jobs in the Indian Armed Forces from across the country gathered at the Jantar Mantar here on Tuesday demanding the government to conduct military recruitment rallies, as well as the declaration of pending airmen results.

The aspirants had on numerous occasions tried to draw the attention of the Centre and top officials of the Armed Forces towards the issue.

"We have been making all efforts to convince the government to start the recruitment rallies as our career would be destroyed," one of the aspirants said.

As the protest is underway amid the ongoing Parliament session, the aspirants hope that the lawmakers will listen to their grievances and come up with a detailed roadmap so that they get an opportunity to join Armed Forces.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, recruitment rallies are not being carried out in various command centres leaving the job aspirants hopeless.

Further adding to the woes, the Indian Air Force had conducted examinations in July last year and the results were expected in the following three week. But they are not out yet.



This matter was taken up several times but to no avail.

"It has been more than nine months and we have received no communication from the Defence Ministry and Indian Air Force," another aspirant said.

The Indian Army had informed Parliament's Standing Committee about the no recruitment of troops for two years citing the pandemic.

The agitating job seekers further said that the government can conduct election rallies but no recruitment rally.

On being asked about their further course of action, the protesters said they were carrying out a signature campaign and will try to meet Defence Ministry officials on Tuesday evening.

Earlier, about 100 recruitment rallies used to be held annually, covering all regions.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt had informed that 97 rallies were planned in 2020-21, of which only 47 could be conducted.

He also said that in 2021-22, of 87 planned rallies but only four were held.

Further as no Common Entrance Exam was held during pandemic so there was no recruitment.