Indian Punjab to encourage youth to join Armed forces

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Chandigarh, March 16
Punjab has come out with an innovative incentive scheme to encourage youngsters for a career in the defence forces.

Since the defence forces continue to have a huge shortage of middle-rank officers, the Punjab Government has not only decided to set up Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Institute in Mohali but also announced an incentive scheme for those selected for the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy.

Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal said those selected for the NDA and the IMA would be given incentive money of Rs 1 lakh a year for the duration of their stay in the academies. Besides, those aspiring to join the defence forces would be given training at the new institute proposed to be set up in Mohali. A budgetary provision of Rs 2 crore had been made for this centre.

The government has also decided to raise the number of C-PYTE training centres from 13 to 20. These centres train able-bodied boys for absorption in the defence forces and security agencies.

The Finance Minister also talked about specialised training centres set up in Mahuana, Abul Khurana, Jahan Khelan and Amritsar. besides emphasising the need for growth in the service sector. He also announced Rs 600 crore for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme against Rs 200 crore during the current year.

He said allocations under the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, the midday meal scheme, EDUSAT and the ICT had also been substantially increased. Besides Rs 60 crore had been earmarked for setting up of 21 model schools, Rs 40 crore for the construction of 21 girls’ hostels and Rs 4 crore for the Sakshar Bhart Mission.

To save the Urdu language from extinction, the honorarium for part-time teachers has been raised from Rs 500 to Rs 2,500 a month. Sufficient allocations have been made for strengthening and upgrading technical education in the state. Seven new polytechnics will be opened. A new engineering institute will also be set up at Lehragaga in Sangrur.
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab
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