Army recruitment applicants denied basic amenities

Vizianagaram: Participants of army recruitment rally are struggling here with lack of basic amenities like drinking water, toilets etc. They are forced to sleep on pavements, just besides of mounds of garbage. They don’t have even tents to stand.

Candidates from various districts have appeared for the positions of soldiers, nursing, technical staff in Indian army. Thousands of applicants have reached here with their certificates and clothes like track suit and others but they don't find place to keep their belongings.

Even they are forced to stand under the open sky and even under the rain. They are troubled to protect their documents and certificates from the rain. Most of the applicants are from below middle-class families and they dare not to stay in hotels by paying huge room rents and now they are waiting under the trees and near by the shops till their turn comes.

Some are sitting on the divider of the road and spending time by chitchatting with their co participants. The persons who are tired with the daylong exercises are sleeping on the pavements and just besides the roads too. Some are spending sleepless nights due to mosquitoes.

K.Srinivasa Rao of Srikakulam said "it's my lifetime goal to get into armed forces and I'm facing the troubles and hurdles right from applying for the job. I have no enough money to spend on hotels. So waiting here and there till I get call from the officers" . He said. Even the aspirants can't find toilets for nature's call and they are spoiling the surroundings by open defecation.

A senior officer clarified that "We made arrangements but it's wholly impossible to facilitate every one. We are supplying drinking water, emergency medical services. We can't provide dormitories and others for the thousands of applicants." he said.