Agniveer aspirants rush to remove tattoos ahead of recruitment rally

Henlly Phom Odyuo
Dimapur, Aug. 17 (EMN): Many young people aspiring to join the Indian armed forces under the newly launched Agnipath scheme are said to be rushing to hospitals to get their tattoos removed, as indelible imprints are not allowed in the military.

Consultant dermatologist at Eden Medical Centre, Dimapur, Dr. Atoka Sumi told Eastern Mirror that many young men have been reporting to him for removal of tattoos of late. He said the number has increased though people do come on other days as well.

Dr. Leishiwon Kumrah, Department of Dermatology Head, Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR) in Dimapur, also said that there has been an increase in the number patients coming for removal of tattoo of late.

However, she said the number of such patients surge whenever there is a recruitment, not just in defence but in hospitality sector as well. Even during college and school admission time, young students rush to get their tattoos removed, she added.

This time, the surge has been witnessed amid commencement of registration for ‘Agniveer’ in the armed forces after massive protests in many states, and the recruitment rally in Nagaland scheduled to be held next month.

The age for ‘Agniveer’ candidates is between 17.5 and 23 years, after a one-time relaxation of the upper age limit by two years for the 2022 batch, indicating that many get inked at a young age.

Removal process

Dr. Atoka said that it is not very easy to remove a tattoo, adding that it is 10 times harder than getting inked.

‘Tattoo removal also involves many sessions with each laser session done with a gap of maximum two months. People think removing tattoo with laser is very easy, but depending on how deep the tattoo is and on the colour, the session depends,’ he said, adding that blue colour is easier to remove than other hues.

On the cost of removing tattoos, the dermatologist said it depends on the quality of laser used, the size and colour of the tattoo and the number of session involved.

‘However, tattoo removal is not so easy and on the expensive side although the exact cost can never be ascertained. Removal of tattoo with laser does not leave scar but removal through surgical procedure does leave scar,’ he informed.

Narrating a recent incident, he said a patient who ‘desperately’ wanted to get a tattoo removed, opted for a surgical removal as the process through laser involved several sessions.

Dr. Leishiwon also said that getting a tattoo removed is expensive and painful, while the cost depends on the age of the tattoo, the ink used and the colour.

She pointed out that it can cause scaring of skin through reaction to the colour and reaction to the procedure, and if a person has both, it is more difficult to remove.

Health risk

Dr. Leishiwon lamented social media misleading the younger generation by advertising and promoting tattoo without mentioning the health risks associated with it, and young people getting inked due to peer pressure.

“Why do people get tattoos and what is so great about it?” she asked, while pointing out that no one talks about the health issues that can result from the process of inking.

“Tattooing can cause health risks including infection and allergic reactions, diseases may be transmitted if the instruments are used on more than one person without being sterilised,” the dermatologist cautioned.

She added that it should be clear to everyone that many sectors follow no tattoo policy in recruitment.

Dr. Atoka also said that ‘tattoos are permanent so one should think wisely before getting inked as there are many industries, including the hospitality sector where many Nagas work, that do not allow tattoos.

One should consider the health risk and their career path before getting inked to be on the safer side, she advised.

Exemption on tattoo policy

While tattoos are restricted in recruitment to the Indian army, there is an exemption for the tribal communities that have inking tradition.

The terms and conditions for enrollment in the Indian Army through the Agnipath scheme, which has been made available to this newspaper by a defence official, stated that “candidates belonging to tribal communities/ from tribal areas, are permitted to have permanent body tattoos on any part of the body, as per existing customs and traditions of the said tribe to which a candidate belongs”.

However, it said, such candidates will only be permitted on producing two certificates:

(i) Self certification certificate to be signed by the candidates.

(ii) Certificate of belonging to a tribal community and permissibility of permanent body tattoo(s) to be signed by DC/ DM or SDM of the District/ Tehsil where the tribe of the candidates is presently settled. They should produce ‘one certificate for each tattoo’ with the name and designation of the concerned official clearly mentioned.

The terms and conditions of recruitment also stated that “permanent body tattoos of religious sentiment are only permitted on inner face of forearms, i.e. from inside of elbow to the wrist and on the reverse side of palm/ back (dorsal) side of hand. Permanent body tattoos on any other part of the body are not acceptable and candidates will be barred from further selection”.

Director of Army Recruiting Officer, Rangapahar, Col. Rajesh, had earlier informed that around 5000 candidates has registered from Nagaland for the Agniveer army recruitment rally to be held from September 7 to the 15th at Bhagat Stadium Rangapahar military station, Dimapur.

The candidates who are selected in the rally will appear for the common entrance examination on October 16, 2022 and results will be declared by the end of October, after which the candidates selected on merit basis will be dispatched to different training centres by December this year.