Sixth pay commission: 8 armymen to set out on bikes to inspire youth

Sixth pay commission: 8 armymen to set out on bikes to inspire youth

11 Sep 2008, 0418 hrs IST

PUNE: Come September 22 and a team of eight Armymen from the Southern Command will set out for an expedition to inspire the country's youth to join the Indian Armed Forces and serve their nation.

Setting a fine example, four officers and four soldiers, will cover a distance of 4,500 km on their motorbikes, educating people about the benefits offered in the sixth pay commission.

The expedition named Golden Katar Motorcycle Expedition will commence from Pune on September 22 and will traverse the eastern and the western Ghats, touch the southern-most tip of the country and finish here. The expedition will go via Panaji, Kannur, Kanyakumari, Rameshwaram, Punducherry, Chennai, Ongole, Visakhapatnam, Vijaywada, Hyderabad, Nanded, Aurangabad and back to Pune.

Talking to TOI, Captain Sagar Pushpa, the expedition's team leader said that majority of the youngster today choose courses in management and information technology despite the fact that the Army now offers good salaries and there are a lot of added benefits. "Also, working with the armed forces gives you a great sense of satisfaction that you are serving your nation."

He pointed out that the sixth pay commission has changed things for better as far as monetary gains are concerned. "During the tour we will emphasis on this aspect," he said, adding that they are looking forward to tapping, both the rural and the urban talent.

"Hence, we will not only stop in cities and towns, but also villages. We will educate the youth about the various channels to join the armed forces, like the National Defence Academy, Combined Defence Services, College of Military Engineering, Armed Forces Medical College and Officers Training Academy," Pushpa said. Youth will be sensitised about the Short Service Commission and other special initiatives by the armed forces.

"The participants of the rally have been chosen in such a manner that communicating with people in local language would be possible. The group has Armymen who know Tamil, Telugu, Marathi and other regional languages," Pushpa said.

The tour's second motive is to foster the spirit of adventure among Armymen. This army motorcycle expedition is dedicated to the very spirit of brave soldiers who have made supreme sacrifices during various operations.


Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/