Proud to serve mother land

Ichoda: When almost all the youth are dreaming about flying abroad and IT jobs with a great pay package, here the youth of Narsapur village thinks of only one career – that is army, defence and police departments. Narsapur village is in Ichoda mandal of Adilabad district.

Patriotism runs through their veins and the parents feel honoured to have their wards serve for the country. In a village with a population of 500, at least 60 are serving the Indian Army and 10 in the State police force. There are five retired army personnel in the village.

According to a soldier, Vithal, he and his younger brother are working for the army. In some families, there are at least three members working in armed forces.

Comparing other jobs with army or defence jobs, Sachin, a soldier working in Himachal Pradesh, said, “We may get more salary with other jobs. But not the satisfaction”.

Since high school days, the village youth will train themselves hard practicing long jump, high jump, 5-km run and do extensive workouts getting up at 5 am daily.

There were no special coaches to train them, but soldiers from the village, whoever is on leave, takes care of the training sessions.

A villager, Ravi said nine youngsters from the village were selected in one of the army recruitments. At least five from the village will get selected whenever a recruitment rally is held.

The village youth are eagerly waiting for recruitment notification after completing their physical training.

A village elder, Panduranga Rao said that they have decided to intensify training sessions to take the number of youth serving the army to 200.

The parents are desirous to see their sons serving the motherland by joining in the army. A soldier’s father, Gitta Maruti said that serving the country would mean serving one’s mother.

The soldiers from the village have been extending support to the enthusiastic youth, who derive inspiration from the soldiers.