"Only 7 people from Ladakh in Navy, we want at least 700 more" : Navy Chief R Hari Kumar

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Navy in Ladakh, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Thursday said the Navy presently has only seven people from Ladakh in its ranks at present but wants that it should at least 700 of them. The Indian Navy has started an outreach program in the Union Territory Ladakh to get more recruits from this area in the Indian Navy for which the Navy chief reached here after a 14-hour road drive. The Navy at present has only 7 members from Ladakh including 6 sailors & 1 officer.

I would want that this number should at least be 700," the Navy chief told ANI. He said that in line with Prime Minister's vision, the Navy wants that in the near future, it should have one soldier from every block of the country and after that from every village of the country. The Admiral informed that he came to Ladakh for spreading the message of the outreach from the Navy.

The main reason is that the force realized that there is hardly anybody from that region in the Navy. «I have come here also for spreading the message of the outreach from the Navy. The main reason is that we realized that there is hardly anybody from this region in the Navy.

We have a total number of seven people, one officer, and six sailors. That is all out of a force of 70,000 personnel which I feel is very less,» Admiral Harikumar said. So, the Indian Navy came up with a team that has been deployed in Leh-Ladakh for almost 30 days.

«They are doing various programs, visiting schools, and colleges. They already covered nine schools and two colleges to bring awareness about the Navy. I would say the need is for more and more of the youth to join the armed forces.