Maharashtra’s ‘Military village’ gets learning centre, gym to motivate youths to join armed forces – Times of India

Pune: Southern Army Commander Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh on Monday inaugurated a learning centre and gymnasium to facilitate youths of Military Apshinge village, which is known for having either retired or serving person in the Indian armed forces in each house in Satara district of Maharashtra, about 125 km from Pune.
A total of 46 soldiers from Apsinghe village sacrificed their lives during World War I. In recognition of their services, British Government built a Vijay Sthambh (Victory pillar) in the main square of the village.
Several men from the village sacrificed their lives during the Indo-China War of 1962 and the two wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971.
The children of the village are encouraged from an early age to pursue a career in the Indian Armed Forces and are trained accordingly.
The recently introduced Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the Indian Armed Forces requires exacting standards of eligibility beyond physical fitness.
Sri Shanmukhananda fine arts and Sangeetha Sabha and the South Indian Education Society (SIES) have jointly set up the facility centre at the cost of about Rs. 80 lakhs. These facilities will help the aspirants to prepare well for the Agnipath scheme, said the army officials.
Districts of Satara, Sangli, Karad, Solapur, and Kolhapur have been the traditional catchment areas for recruitment to the Indian Army.