A state level Academy would be set up in Himachal Pradesh to impart training to the common youth for the posts of officers and soldiers in Indian Army. Sainik Welfare Minister Mahender Singh Thakur disclosed this here today while chairing a meeting of officers of Sainik Welfare Board.He said opening of this Academy was the brainchild of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur and the work had already been started in this regard. The main objective of this Academy would be to ensure recruitment of maximum youth of the state in Indian Army. He said the Academy would motivate the educated youth having poor and rural background to join Army and coaching facility would be provided for the posts of soldier up to officer.The Minister said that the coaching would be provided by the trained Army officers which would help the youth to prepare themselves for recruitment in Army. He said committees had already been constituted at district level in the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners in this regard in which Superintendent of Police, Chief Medical Officers and Deputy Director, Higher Education would be members. He said the Sainik Welfare Board bear the expenses occurring on various activities like coaching and assistance in recruitment rallies.Mahender Singh Thakur directed the State School Education Board to provide verified certificates to the in a time bound manner and also to reduce the verification charges from existing Rs. 600 to Rs. 300.Secretary, Sainik Kalyan Board Dr. R.N Batta assured that all formalities for opening of the Academy would be completed soon and a review meeting would be held in November this year.Director, Sainik Kalyan Board Brig. S.K Verma said that recruitment rallies would be organised in October, 2018 in Mandi and Chamba districts and in January, 2019 at Hamirpur.