Army chief meets students from J&K

New Delhi, Feb 17 : Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Friday met students from Jammu and Kashmir, who are on a tour to Delhi, and encouraged them to join the Indian Army, an official said.

The group of 13 students, accompanied by two teachers, met General Rawat, who shared his experiences while serving in various areas with the students and motivated them to work hard and contribute actively in the nation building process.

He also exhorted them to join the Indian armed forces and serve the cause of the nation, a statement said.

The tour is a part of the Indian Army's ongoing outreach programme to foster the spirit of national integration across the entire swathe of the country.

"These National Integration Tours are educational and motivational tours for youth of Jammu and Kashmir and northeastern States, with an aim to provide an insight into the rich heritage of the country as well as various developmental and industry initiatives that are underway," the statement said.

"This initiative will expose them to various career options and enable them to interact with renowned personalities," the statement added.

The tour was flagged off from Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir on February 11, and will end on February 21.

During the course of the tour, participants have visited various cultural and historical places in Chandigarh and Delhi and would be visiting places in Dehradun, Haridwar and Jammu.