The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Youth from tsunami-hit areas ready to join Army

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 09, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Youth from tsunami-hit areas ready to join Army

By A. V. Ragunathan

CUDDALORE, JAN. 7. The deployment of the Army for relief work in the tsunami-affected areas has made a positive impact on the youth in fishermen communities. Inspired by the Army's work , many youths have expressed a willingness to serve in the defence services.

The youths said they had had enough of a seafaring life that exposed them to constant danger and alienated them from the mainstream. Moved by the humaneness of people from various walks of life who had come from far off places to extend a helping hand in their hour of crisis, they think it was time they took up other vocations on the mainland.

The Army officers, who rank from Major to Colonel, 15 Junior Commissioner Officers and 160 jawans who have been working in close coordination with the local people for the past four days, have greatly impressed the youths. Many of them have approached the officers, expressing their wish to join the Army .

Youths identified

Colonel Diwaker Dogra from the Madras Regimental Centre, Wellington, who is overseeing the relief operations of the Army in Cuddalore, told The Hindu that 30 youths who were keen on joining the military had been identified at Sonankuppam, one of the badly hit coastal villages. People in other places were equally enthusiastic, Col. Dogra added.

Initially, residents were reluctant to interact with the Army personnel, but later shed their inhibitions and started assisting them in removing the debris and clearing the approach roads.

Gradually, the youths mustered enough courage to ask the officers whether they could join the Army. Three youths, Vidhuram, Vimal and Murugan, in their early 20s, said they were ready to join the Armed forces. .

Counselling provided

Col. Dogra said they were being counselled on how to prepare for joining the services, and on the necessary norms.

Col. Dogra said along with Major K. L. Roy and G. Sanjay, the jawans had been involved in the relief work. A technical team from Bangalore would soon arrive for repairing the boats and the over board motors, he said.

As the tsunami had battered the coastal villages, all aid had to be moved over land. Besides removing the debris, the Army sprayed disinfectants in waterlogged areas to avert the outbreak of epidemics.

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