Maj Gen Ranjan Mahajan (Retd)
In the month of November, a Home and Hearth (H&H) Territorial Army (TA) recruitment drive was organized under the aegis of Northern Command from 8th to 27th November for UT of J&K and Ladakh with an aim to provide meaningful job opportunities for the youth. The drive received an overwhelming and unprecedented response, reflecting the Indian Army’s proactive efforts to address unemployment challenges faced by the youth in both the UTs. This remarkable turnout highlights the Army’s commitment to fostering growth and development in the region. The recruitment rallies were conducted at Surankote & Doda in Jammu Region, Panzgam, Ganthmulla (Near Baramulla ) & Srinagar in Kashmir and Leh & Kargil in UT Ladakh.
UT of J&K has been impacted severely by unemployment challenges with both urban and rural populations facing the brunt of this crisis. Complex socio-economic challenges like political instability, limited opportunities to work in the manufacturing and services sector etc. have further acted as a catalyst to strengthen this challenge. The International Labour Organization (ILO) in its employment report 2024, indicates that the unemployment issue in J&K has grown to concerning proportions and stands at 21% indicating a steep increase as it was at 4.21% as per 2001 census report. J&K unemployment rate has always been considerably higher than the national average. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) reports that the unemployment rate in J&K stands at 25%, in stark contrast to the national average of 7.6%. According to this report, among all the Union Territories and states, Haryana has the highest unemployment rate, followed closely by J&K.
The lack of a robust private sector in J&K, forces many people to pursue government jobs and specially the Armed Forces , which is often cited as a major factor contributing to the region’s growing unemployment rate. The desperation among youth for government jobs is evident in the overwhelming response to job postings. Notably, as per the ILO’s estimates, 58.7% of young people are highly qualified, yet only 6.3% are employed in the formal sector, with the majority (around 80.8%) classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training). Therefore, improving the job placement is absolutely critical. The Relevance of H&H TA in J&K H&H TA units are composed primarily of local “Sons of the Soil” who bring critical knowledge of the region’s terrain, culture, and socio-political dynamics, significantly enhancing its operational effectiveness. By leveraging their local expertise and close ties to the region, they complement the efforts of the Army & Rashtriya Rifles and play a vital role in ensuring sustained peace and stability in the region. Major contributions of H&H TA units are:-
* Real Time & accurate Human Intelligence (HUMINT) with their strong local knowledge and trust with communities, facilitating accurate intelligence gathering.
* Counter-Infiltration and Border Security through their presence in forward areas and border regions & deep understanding of terrorists strategies.
* Their recruitment and deployment are cost-effective compared to raising and maintaining new regular Army battalions. This cost effective deployment has reduced the operational burden on the regular Army, enabling them to focus on strategic objectives.
* By virtue of their deep local roots the gap between civilians and the military is bridged more effectively, building goodwill and reducing the potential for misunderstandings or hostility.
* They have played a significant role in many high-profile Counter-Terrorist operations, acting as first responders and intelligence providers.
* They have become a cornerstone of operational excellence in J&K. Their integration exemplifies an effective model of community-oriented defense strategy.
The TA units were actively involved in 1962, 1965 and 1971 operations. The “Terriers” have also taken part in OP PAWAN in Sri Lanka, OP RAKSHAK in Punjab and J&K, OP RHINO and OP BAJRANG in the North East in a most active manner. The Territorial Army is a part of Regular Army and its present role is to relieve the Regular Army from static duties and assist Civil Administration in dealing with natural calamities and maintenance of essential services in situations where life of the communities is affected or the security of the Country is threatened and to provide units for Regular Army as and when required.
The officers and men of the Territorial Army have been decorated for their gallantry and distinguished services with over 400 awards which includes highest peacetime award “Ashok Chakra” and Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakras, Shourya Chakras & Sena Medals. I personally feel proud to be associated with many TA soldiers during my Command of RR Battalion & Machhal Brigade. Lance Naik Nazir Wani’s contribution towards Anti-terrorists operations led to his enrolment into 162 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry in 2003 when the Battalion was raised to rehabilitate the “Ikhwans” and other patriotic youth of Kashmir Valley.
His military life post 2003 is replete with acts of valour and raw courage. For displaying exemplary courage, intelligence and comradeship. Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani was awarded ‘Sena Medal’ in an operation in Jan 2007 while I was the Commanding officer. He was later awarded the ‘Bar to Sena Medal’ for his outstanding bravery, presence of mind and dedication towards duty during an operation on 14 Nov 2017. For his yet another unparalleled bravery and the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Nov 2018, Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, SM was awarded the ASHOK CHAKRA (POSTHUMOUSLY).
Recruitment Drive Under the leadership of Lt Gen M.V. Suchendra, Army Commander, Northern Command, a new approach was implemented to enhance outreach and ensure fair opportunities for all candidates through professionally conducted recruitment rallies. This strategy focused on identifying and selecting the most suitable candidates to meet the evolving operational needs of the Indian Army, aligning talent with future requirements. By adopting innovative outreach methods, Northern Command successfully attracted the right talent for the right roles, ensuring the highest standards of preparedness and efficiency. All those who missed out on the opportunity to get enrolled in TA due to non conduct of recruitment ever since COVID-19 pandemic have finally got an opportunity to try their luck for recruitment into TA and “Live Life Extraordinary”. Seeking and selecting the best candidates has always been the endeavour of the Indian Army and so was the case with recently held TA recruitment rallies. Awareness amongst the candidates was spread & they were advised not to fall prey to any of the touting activities and refrain from using performance enhancing drugs during the rally.
Northern Command has consistently been proactive in its publicity efforts, which significantly boosted participation in the recruitment drive. These initiatives have effectively countered the perception of diminishing appeal in pursuing a career in the Army, reaffirming its status as a lucrative and honorable profession. This dynamic approach underscores the Command’s commitment to engaging with communities and strengthening the nation’s defense forces with skilled and motivated personnel.
The three categories for which the recruitment was undertaken includes Soldier (General Duty), Soldier (Clerk) and Soldier Tradesmen. Chef, Cook Mess, Chef Special, Equipment Repairer, Steward, Artisan Metallurgy, Artisan Woodwork, Dresser, Masalchi, Tailor, Housekeeper & Washer Man are the different trades for which even 8th pass individuals could apply for select trades.
The TA recruitment drive in J&K has garnered an extraordinary response, showcasing the enthusiasm of the region’s youth to serve the nation while seizing new opportunities for personal and professional growth. As a special provision, 1,901 vacancies, almost four times of previous, were allocated for this recruitment cycle in J&K, attracting over 91,000 applicants. Among them, nearly 12,000 candidates successfully cleared the rigorous Physical Fitness Test. Subsequently, over 6,400 candidates were declared medically fit, while the remaining are undergoing further evaluations with specialists at various Military and Command Hospitals. Once fully cleared, the qualified candidates will now proceed to the written examination, the final phase of the selection process. It was earlier scheduled to be held in the second week of Jan 2025 which now stands postponed & fresh dates will be announced in the due course of time. Those who excel & come in the merit will soon join their designated Regimental Training Centres, embarking on their journey to serve in the TA & the nation. These are JAKLI Regimental Centre (Srinagar), JAKRIF Regimental Centre (Jabalpur), PUNJAB Regimental Centre (Ramgarh), SIKHLI Regimental Centre (Fatehgarh), DOGRA Regimental Centre (Faizabad), BEG Centre, Kirkee, Pune and Ladakh Scout Regiment Centre (Leh).
The overwhelming response not only highlights the dedication of the youth in J&K but also underscores the significant impact of such initiatives in fostering employment and national integration. This remarkable participation highlights the growing trust in initiatives aimed at fostering peace and development in the region. The TA offers a unique platform for youth to channel their energy constructively while contributing to the socio-economic transformation of J&K and Ladakh. Beyond employment, it instills a sense of pride and belonging, motivating young individuals to play an active role in the progress of their communities. The success of this recruitment drive reaffirms the potential of such initiatives to inspire confidence, promote inclusivity, and drive positive change in the region.
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