Bhubaneswar: Seeking recruitment of more youths from the southern parts of state in the Army, the Odisha government today demanded setting up of a recruitment office at Koraput and a Brigade headquarters at Amarda Road in Balasore district.
The state government made the demands at a liaison conference between civil and Army administration here at the state secretariat.
Seven senior Army officers led by Major General DVS Rana participated in the conference, while Chief Secretary A P Padhi and Home Secretary Asit Tripathy represented the state.
Padhi raised the issue relating to need for establishment of a recruitment office at Koraput, setting up of a Brigade headquarters at Amarda Road in Balasore district and recruitment of more youths from southern Odisha.
He also requested the Army to consider relaxation of selection norms for tribal youths.
Home secretary Tripathy said during last year's recruitment, the Army had taken less youths against the state's quota.
"We have requested them to carry forward the balance quota and organise more recruitment rallies in the state," Tripathy said adding the district administration would provide all support for organisation of recruitment rallies.
"We target recruitment of about 1,300 youths during the current calendar year," he said.
Tripathy said he has raised the issue related to establishment of more ECHS (Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme) hospitals in the state to provide medical treatment facilities to ex-servicemen and their dependants.
"There was mutual sharing of views on various issues relating to hinterland security, coastal security and use of military in disaster management. The administrative issues relating to land allocations for military establishments like military station at Sambalpur, defence unit at Gopalpur, ex-gratia to next kin of the martyrs and others were discussed and possible solutions were worked out," an official release said.