Veteran vigil: Ex-servicemen guard SSLC exams in Gadag district’s centres

Pic: Ex-servicemen on SSLC examination duty at exam centres in Ron talukGadag: Ex-servicemen in Gadag district joined hands with the education department and the police department to ensure smooth conduct of the SSLC examination, with volunteers deployed for security duty in some centres of Ron taluk.Apart from the police and staff from the department, ex-servicemen voluntarily took up security duty to keep an eye on malpractice in some centres of Ron taluk in Gadag district. The ex-servicemen's association has been volunteering for examination security duty for the past three years.Prabhugouda Patil, president, Akhila Karnataka Ex-Serviceman Unit, Ron, told TOI that they were involved in security duty on request of the school authorities. "Our ex-servicemen are deputed at Holealur, Itagi and Belavaniki examination centres," he said."Earlier, in these centres, there were complaints of mass copying and disturbance by some locals during SSLC examinations. Due to this, the education department decided to shift these centres to some other places to curb malpractice. Finally, school authorities decided to rope in the service of ex-servicemen to keep an eye on malpractices and the entry of unknown persons in the school or centre premises. When they approached us, we requested them to take permission from their department to involve ex-servicemen in examination security duty. They got the permission and allowed us to serve at the examination centre," Patil explained.He also clarified that all the ex-servicemen in uniform with police staff will guard outside, and on the premises of the examination centre and will not enter inside the examination hall as they are not permitted. "We will keep an eye on movement of unknown persons or anyone who tries to pass the copy chit or to create nuisance in and round the examination centre. We will also check the students before letting them inside the hall," he said."After we started guarding these three centres, malpractice has come down drastically and there are no such activities now. We are working with the police staff to ensure that examination goes smoothly. About 10-15 ex-servicemen are deployed at each centre, and we do not charge any remuneration. I am also on duty at Belavaniki centre," Patil added.RS Buradi, DDPI, Gadag said: "When I visited some centres in Ron, I was very happy to see ex-servicemen on examination security duty. We have received good feedback from the school authorities about their service and I will also try to involve ex-servicemen in some more centres in the examination duty next year if they are willing to serve voluntarily."