``Coast Guard needs tough young men and women with an adventurous spirit who wish to serve our nation and also have a prestigious and secure career.'' There is not a single factor here that needs reiteration. One has to be tough to be a coast guard and the spirit of adventure is another prerequisite. There is not an iota of doubt about the prestige involved in the career. If all these factors are real, then why has there been a decline in the popularity of this career option among the youth in India?

Commandant S B S Chauhan differs with the view that a career as a coast guard has declined in popularity. Says he, ``There is no dearth of those looking for a career here and we usually get as many as 25,000 applications for 50 vacancies, but tough norms have to be followed as there can be no compromise on the standards.''

Only people who can be trained to become tough officers get absorbed with the Coast Guard. Aspirants have to face rigorous tests in the preliminary selection rounds. Those who get shortlisted face a final selection round in Delhi.

The recruitment is conducted by the Defence Institute of Psychological Research and the tests focus on the adaptability, courage and determination of the candidates. Needless to say, all the aforesaid requirements are necessary for becoming a coast guard.

A major motivating factor that draws a youth towards this career is the lucrative pay scale an officer enjoys. An Assistant Commandant grade is in the league of Rs 8,000-13,500, a Commandant gets between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,200. An Inspector General (after 6 years as DIG) gets between Rs 18,400 to Rs 22,400, while the Director General's pay-scale is in the range of Rs 22,400-525-24,500.

What add credence to a career as a coast guard are the perks found in the form of additional privileges and facilities. These include travel concessions, accommodation, food, insurance, loans, gratuity, pension, etc. Such facilities ensure economic security to the officers.

Interestingly, the officers also get the opportunity to attend various semi-professional courses such as a `Search Rescue and Pollution Control' course in the US, defence management, computer programming, and so on.

The recruitment for the position of the Assistant Commandant is done under four separate categories. Apart from the General Duty and Pilot/Navigator segments, there are also positions for the Asstt Comdt (Law) and Asstt Comdt (Technical). Those seeking entry into the law grade should be between 21 to 25 years of age with a degree in law. Preference is given to those who are qualified for enrollment in a High Court. For the technical section, a degree in naval architecture or mechanical/ marine/ electrical/ telecommunications/ electronics/ design/ production/ aeronautical control engineering or an equivalent qualification is required.

The equivalent qualification recognised by the Institute of Engineers (India) or Marine Engineering graduates of IMET Calcutta or the Union ministry of surface transport, certificate of competency as Ist class engineer of Motorship or any similar certificate recognised by the government can also serve the purpose.

It has been rightly said that service in the Coast Guard is not just employment --it involves very hard work, professionalism, risk and adventure. Life at sea is tough and gives a wonderful opportunity to officers to move around the globe as well as within the country.

Going by the kind of qualities that are required for being a coast guard, one thing has to be kept in mind --``first deserve, then desire''.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.