Pokhara, March 23:

Hundreds of youths have been battling hours of scorching heat, hunger and thirst outside the battalion of Nepal Police for tests are being conducted for recruitment into the Indian Army from March 19-25.

As many as 4,000-5,000 youths can be seen queuing up in long lines waiting for their turn to vie for the job. In the past, youths used to travel as far as Nautanawa and Gorakhpur to join the Indian Army. A recruitment official said the first phase of recruitment has completed.

One should be a SLC graduate and between 17.5 years and 21 years of age to apply in the Indian Army. However, the sons of Indian soldiers or ex-Gurkha soldiers can apply even if they have passed Grade VIII.

Nepal-India Gurkha Former Welfare Committee (NIGFWC) had been lobbying for recruitment of Nepali youths into the Indian Army even as the issue was being fiercely debated in the government.

Recruitment of Nepali youths would help to reduce unemployment in Nepal, said NIGFWC chairman Man Bahadur Gurung. The youths echoed the same feeling.

“I came to compete for the job after having lost hope of getting a good job in the country,” said a Bachelor’s level student Shakhar Khadka.

Around 200,000 Nepalis are serving in the Indian Army.