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| ‘We’re fed up’: Unemployment drives huge turnout at army recruitment rally in Baramulla | | From fresh graduates to PhDs, aspirants seek chance to secure their future | | |  Baramulla, Nov 11 (KNO): Thousands of hopeful
youths gathered at the Gantamulla grounds in
Baramulla on Monday for an Indian Army
recruitment rally organised by the 161 Infantry
Battalion Territorial Army (J&K Light Infantry,
JAKLI). The rally, aimed at providing job
opportunities in the Indian Army, saw a massive
turnout from across the district, including areas
like Uri, Pattan, Gulmarg, Kreeri, Rafiabad and
Sopore.
The recruitment drive, which began early on
Monday morning, was a reflection of the ongoing
unemployment crisis in Kashmir.
News agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO)
correspondent present at the event, which kicked
off at 6 am, said that long queues had already
formed, with many candidates arriving as early
as midnight.
Despite heavy security arrangements by the
Jammu & Kashmir Police and army personnel,
the sheer volume of participants presented
significant challenges in crowd control.
The rally, which is expected to conclude on
Tuesday, aims to select around 350 youths from
the thousands who attended.
Participants ranged from recent high school
graduates to postgraduate degree holders, with
some even possessing MPhils and PhDs.
One participant, wishing anonymity, said he was
frustrated by the lack of job opportunities. “We
are fed up with unemployment,” he said
“I have been waiting for something like this for
years,” said a graduate from Limber village. “This
is our chance to change our lives, earn a living
and help our families," he added, his voice filled
with hope and determination.
For many, the recruitment rally is a beacon of
hope in a region where job opportunities are
scarce, especially for educated youth. Mubashir,
a graduate from Boniyar, said that recruitment
drives like this are few and far between. “The
turnout is so high because of the severe
unemployment here. Many of us are competing
for just a few positions, but we have no choice.
We need this,” he said.
Despite the optimism, the rally was not without
its challenges. Several participants expressed
frustration over the lack of proper crowd control,
citing long hours of waiting and difficult
conditions.
“We were all eager for this opportunity, but
standing for hours in such conditions was
difficult,” said one youth, who had travelled from a
neighbouring area. Another participant from
Kaman Post, Uri, said he waited in line from
midnight until midday and is still unsure if he
would be able to participate. “I've been preparing
for three months, focusing on fitness and
specific requirements, but the sheer number of
people here makes it overwhelming,” he said.
A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) was
seen appealing to the crowd for discipline and
patience, as the overcrowding and lack of
organisation led to complaints of jostling and
chaos among the participants.
Many participants view such events as a rare
chance to secure a stable livelihood. “This is not
just about a job; it's about survival,” said one
young man. “There are so few opportunities here,
and we have been waiting for years for
something like this to happen. We don’t have the
luxury of waiting anymore
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