Friday, 22 NOVEMBER 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The sudden cancellation of the recruitment rally in Danapur (Bihar) for the Territorial Army (TA), coupled with a lack of communication to the officials, led to the massive chaos that unfolded during the recent recruitment rally in Pithoragarh, according to district magistrate Vinod Goswami. He said this in response to the confusion faced by candidates at the TA recruitment rally, where a large number of youths stormed the recruitment site after encountering difficulties in reaching the location.
Goswami explained that a preliminary meeting to prepare for the recruitment rally was held with colonel Uttam Kumar Singh on November 8. During this meeting, Singh had said that while fewer candidates were expected on the days scheduled for other States, a larger turnout was anticipated on the dates set for Uttarakhand, the DM said. Consequently, additional arrangements would be necessary since recruitment was taking place nearby, potentially increasing the number of local candidates.
Colonel Singh also added that recruitment would occur in Sagar (Madhya Pradesh), Danapur (Bihar) and Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand). However, Goswami further revealed that the recruitment scheduled in Danapur was abruptly cancelled by the TA on November 17 and the district administration was informed the following day via letter. There was no phone call or email communication from the Army officials regarding this cancellation.
Due to the sudden cancellation in Danapur, candidates from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh who were supposed to participate there arrived in Tanakpur by train on November 18 and 19 to take part in the recruitment scheduled for Pithoragarh. Upon learning about the large crowd of candidates in Tanakpur on November 18, He asked the officials of the Transport department to arrange additional buses for the estimated 10,000 to 15,000 candidates.
From November 12 to 17, 30 buses from the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation were available daily. As a result, the recruitment process proceeded smoothly until November 17. He further added that till November 19, transport and other arrangements remained efficient in the district.
He further added that due to the sudden cancellation of the recruitment in Danapur, the failure to communicate this change to the administration in a timely manner resulted in all candidates from the places flocking to Pithoragarh.
He further added that if the administration had been promptly informed of the TA’s decision to cancel the Danapur recruitment, the candidates would not have faced such inconvenience.
Goswami noted that as of now, approximately 25,000 candidates have arrived in Pithoragarh, of which 18,000 candidates had returned by the afternoon of Thursday after completing the recruitment process.
