The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Physical fitness training raises spirits of tribal, rural youths

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 30, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Others

Physical fitness training raises spirits of tribal, rural youths

Santosh Patnaik

250 trained youngsters will attend Army recruitment rally to be held in Vizag

IN FINE FETTLE: Tribal and rural youths having a workout at the gym at Anakapalle on Wednesday. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

ANAKAPALLE: Krutadi Rama Rao (21), an Intermediate dropout, had no ambition before he came to know about pre-Army training programme by the Society for Employment and Training, Visakhapatnam (SETVIS).

Boost to self-confidence

``I was moving like a vagabond, before our mandal president, Kondaiah, told me to apply for a training programme imparted free of cost on physical fitness and written test skills in the jaggery town,'' Rama Rao, a native of Aradakota hamlet in Pedabayalu mandal, said.

As many as 250 girijan and rural youths are undergoing training being conducted on the AMAL College campus here from June 12 to July 15. All of them will appear for the Army recruitment rally being organised in Visakhapatnam from July 8 to 15 for recruitment as soldiers (technical, general duty, non-matric general duty and clerical grade).

Rama Rao, his childhood friend, Bonda Purushottam, and several other youths have now 100 per cent confidence of getting decent jobs. In fact, some of them were also declared qualified in the 5-km run conducted as part of the APSP constable recruitment test.

For the all the trainees, a rigorous training is given with free lodging and boarding facility. Emphasis is laid on physical fitness with regular weight control exercises at the hi-tech University Grants Commission-funded gym set up at AMAL College.

Their day starts at 6.30 a.m. with an assembly at the parade grounds. After breakfast at 8.30 a.m., they get ready for theory classes on general knowledge and general awareness at 10 a.m., lunch at 1.30 p.m., followed by tests on theory classes taught to them at 2.30 p.m., assembly at 4 p.m. and drill at 6 p.m. After evening refreshment at 6 p.m. and dinner at 8.30 p.m., they are asked to study for an hour or two in a most conducive atmosphere.

``Yes, it's a gruelling session for them. But the syllabus has been evolved in such a way that the boy can qualify in the Army as well as in recruitments conducted by the police, paramilitary forces and private security agencies,'' the Chief Executive Officer of SETVIS, V.N. Rao, told a team of reporters from Visakhapatnam.

The youths are divided into six groups and imparted training. On completion of the training, the SETVIS will conduct a test and give certificates to them on behalf of the Department of Youth Services.

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