Every year, thousands of youth from across India try their luck at an open Army recruitment drive in Dehradun. Recently, the 108 Infantry battalion Mahar Regiment had one such drive for a few vacancies (ground duty) which included the posts of ‘cook, hair dresser and washerman’. These recruitment rallies are organised every year in the cantonment area of Dehradun. For residents, it is a common sight to find young men occupying almost every square inch of the area in the competition to get the job. There are some who are kind-hearted enough to offer them food and shelter for free, but there are others who use this as an opportunity to earn some money. At times the weather turns inclement and the youngsters are forced to spend their time in the open. The issue is that these rallies are organised for recruitments but does the responsibility of the Army end here? Is it so difficult to put up tents and provide mobile washrooms? One can well imagine the sanitary conditions after these recruitment drives. When no less than the Prime Minister is actively involved in spreading awareness about the need to maintain cleanliness, why does the Army fail to observe these standards? These are the little social issues that need to be addressed.

Shriya Gupta,

Dehradun, Uttarakhand