News Analysis India

Tag: Agnipath

  • Modi government announces concession to Agniveers amidst the continued protests across the country

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Stung by the continuing violent protests against the Agnipath recruitment scheme for the armed forces, the ministries of Defence and Home, along with others, today announced concessions for Agniveers, indicating that the government will press ahead with the move by assuaging a wide cross-section of aspirants.

    While the Union Home Ministry announced that 10 per cent vacancies in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles would be reserved for Agniveers, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh approved a similar proposal for Agniveers once they complete their initial four-year tenure in the armed forces.

    To be implemented in the Indian Coast Guard and defence civilian posts and “all the 16 Defence public sector undertakings”, this will be in addition to an existing reservation for ex-servicemen. The Defence Minister’s Office announced that “necessary age relaxation provision will also be made”.

    The concessions by the two ministries come close on the heels of the government’s “one-time” relaxation in the upper age limit for aspirants for the armed forces this year, raising it from 21 to 23, especially when there has been no recruitment drive for the last two years. When the Agnipath scheme was announced on June 14, aspirants between 17-and-a-half and 21 years of age were eligible for recruitment.

    The MHA also decided to “give three years age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment to CAPFs and Assam Rifles”. Besides this, “for the first batch of Agniveers, the age relaxation will be for five years beyond the prescribed upper age limit”.

    In addition to the MoD and MHA, the states of Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Assam announced a preference to Agniveers in state police recruitment.

    “The state police forces will greatly benefit from the training and discipline inculcated to Agniveers by the armed forces and their capabilities in tackling insurgency, Naxalism and natural disasters will be hugely augmented.” said the government in a press release.

    As per the government, several corporate houses and industry bodies have welcomed the new and transformative recruitment process for the armed forces. “The well-trained, disciplined and technologically savvy youth who finish their service to the armed forces will be a valuable asset to their organizations, they said.

    Apart from customized certificates, a bachelor’s programme by the Indira Gandhi national Open University has also been planned for the Agniveers.

    ALSO READ | Agnipath: All you need to know about Army recruitment scheme that has India on the boil

    The government said that financial institutions will extend support. In order to identify ways in which the Banks and Financial Institutions can support the Agniveers on completion of their tenure of duty, the Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS) held a meeting with Chief Executives of Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Public Sector Insurance Companies (PSICs) and Financial Institutions (FIs).

    “In the meeting, it was decided that PSBs, PSICs and FIs would explore employment opportunities for Agniveers in suitable capacities based on their educational qualifications and skills through suitable benefits/relaxations, etc.”

    Amidst these announcements, the procession and protests continued across the country.

    While Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi roll back of the Agnipath scheme, APP MP Raghav Chadha wrote to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, calling for a similar step and “redeliberation” over the new recruitment move.

    Congress MPs, the party’s working committee members and AICC office-bearers will be on a ‘satyagraha’ sit-in at Jantar Mantar here on June 19 in solidarity with youth protesting against the Agniveer scheme.

    However, violent protests continued unabated across eight states, with angry youth taking to the streets, burning vehicles and damaging public property, including railway bogies, at Danapur in Patna district and Jehanabad in Bihar, while normal life was affected in Buxar and Gaya.

    A Rashtriya Janata Dal-supported 24-hour bandh by the All India Students’ Association (AISA) has been called across the state in protest against the Agnipath scheme.

    A mob blocked a highway in UP’s Jaunpur where the angry youth torched a UPSRTC bus. The UP police has registered six FIRs in four districts and arrested 260 protestors so far.

    In Delhi, one person was arrested and 18 others detained for protesting against the scheme.

    Hundreds of protestors blocked train tracks in Telangana, where one person died in police firing at Secunderabad on June 17, as well as West Bengal where train services on the Sealdah-Barrackpore segment in North 24 Parganas were disrupted for about an hour.

    Several hundred youths gathered at Thampanoor, in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, before marching to the Raj Bhavan while raising slogans against the Centre.

    While the government is firm on rolling out the Agnipath scheme, the home ministry’s concession, announced over Tweets by Home Minister Amit Shah’s office, said that the 10 percent reservation for vacancies in the CAPFs and Assam Rifles would be applicable for those complete four years under the Agnipath scheme.

  • Agnipath: AAP MP writes to Defence Minister, seeks immediate rollback of scheme

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Saturday urged Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to “immediately” roll back the Agnipath scheme and resume the regular process of recruitment for defence services for the current year, saying the new recruitment plan has “justifiably” caused “great anguish” among the potential recruits across the country.

    In a letter to the Defence Minister, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader listed a host of deficiencies in the Agnipath scheme and said it negates “regimental honour” and “erodes the quality of our troops”.

    “Unity and coordination amongst troops is what drives our armed forces towards excellence, and with a shorter duration spent with their peers, we are sacrificing the spirit of the forces,” he said.

    It is the ethos of the regiment that keep jawans united and determined, he said, adding, “Any recruitment scheme must respect the regimental honour and ethos built into the system which has been bringing laurels to the country.

    ” Chadha said the Union government, while formulating the Agnipath scheme, “failed” to comprehend that a jawan supports not only himself but his family as well.

    “Only individuals with courage and peace of mind can serve the armed forces. A jawan that is busy contemplating career moves or wondering how his family will survive after his tenure of four years is over, will find it harder to serve our country,” he said.

    An “ill-motivated soldier” is certainly an avoidable proposition, he added.

    The AAP MP said the new recruitment scheme has “overlooked” the issues of inadequate skilling.

    “The Agnipath scheme allows for Agniveers to undergo a crash course in training of six months. An abnormally short period of training will have adverse consequences on the quality of service discharged,” he contended.

    He said the scheme allows for greenhorns to face the nation’s greatest security challenges.

    “Resultantly, we will be saddled without sufficient leadership and experience amongst the troops,” he added.

    ALSO READ | Agnipath: All you need to know about Army recruitment scheme that has India on the boil

    Chadha said the Union government’s financial obligations towards the defence pension bill should not be offset by sacrificing the job security of the jawans.

    “We cannot shy away from our collective responsibility to give those who protect our borders a life of dignity. It is the least we can do for our jawans. This cannot be our solution to budgetary woes,” he said, adding, “Lives cannot be put at stake to balance the budget.”

    Noting that the scheme has been brought in without first implementing it as a pilot, the AAP MP said such “experiments” should not be imposed “en masse”.

    “Pilot schemes, preferably outside of the armed forces, would have provided an opportunity to deliberate before deciding,” he argued.

    A consultative exercise could have followed thereafter to avoid “national embarrassment” and despair amongst the youth, he added.

    AAP MP said the Union government should start with “an immediate” rollback, and a resumption of the regular recruitment process for the current year, taking note of the points that he has raised.

    “With all humility at my command, I implore you to roll back the Agnipath scheme, to stop this ‘trial by fire’ of the youth of the country,” Chadha said in his letter to the Defence Minister.

    The rollback of the scheme should give the Union government “sufficient time” to rethink and consult the aspirants “who are affected the most by this sudden decision”, he said.

    “We are experiencing a great deficit in new recruits, and shortcuts that put our jawans at risk cannot be the solution. We cannot make the opportunity to serve the country in the armed forces a secondary option for anyone,” the AAP leader added.

  • ‘Youth anguished, don’t hold celebrations on my birthday’: Rahul to Congress workers

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has appealed to party leaders and workers not to celebrate his birthday on Sunday.

    In a message to them, he said the youngsters of the country are anguished and are protesting on the streets and the Congress workers should stand with them.

    Gandhi turns 52 on Sunday.

    In a message that was posted on Twitter by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh, Gandhi said the atmosphere in the country is worrisome.

    “The youth are anguished. We should stand with them and their families at this time,” the former Congress chief said, referring to the protests in several parts of the country against the “Agnipath’ scheme for military recruitment.

    “I appeal to all Congress workers and my well wishers across the country not to hold any kind of celebrations on the occasion of my birthday,” he said.

    “The prevailing circumstances in the country are worrying. Crores of youth are anguished. We should share the pain of the youth and their families and stand with them,” Gandhi said in his appeal to his party colleagues.

  • Kolkata: Police arrest anti-Agnipath demonstrators near CM Mamata’s home

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Police on Saturday afternoon clashed with agitating members of the All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) and All India Democratic Youth Organisation (AIDYO) when they tried to block roads protesting against the Centre’s ‘Agnipath’ scheme in the southern part of the city’s Hazra area, a hundred metres from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence.

    Protesting the scheme, the activists demanded that recruits into India’s armed forces be given permanent jobs rather than be taken in under the “Agnipath” scheme which employs a soldier on a contract for four years.

    A huge police force led by senior officers cleared the area, arresting over 20 activists.

    “We will not allow anyone to disturb the law and order here. We will deal with such kinds of attempts very strictly,” the police officer commanding the deployment said.

    All police stations in the city and the districts of West Bengal have been alerted and asked to keep tight vigil on areas under their jurisdiction to avoid any untoward incident, he said.

    The Centre on Tuesday unveiled ‘Agnipath’ scheme for the recruitment in the Army, Navy and the Air Force, in a major overhaul of the decades-old selection process.

    Protestors continued to target railway properties in Bihar and West Bengal on Saturday to vent their ire against the scheme disrupting train services in the eastern region for the fourth day in a row, while demonstrations were held on roads in Odisha and Jharkhand.

    Job aspirants also did push-ups on a road in Bihar capital Patna and on railway tracks in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas, while one youth ran 60 kilometres in Odisha’s Nabarangpur as marks of their opposition to the ‘Agnipath’ short-term recruitment scheme.

    In Bihar, protestors torched the Taregana railway station in Patna district and a GRP vehicle while several law enforcers were injured in stone-throwing in Jehanabad when a bandh was also called to press for the demand for rollback of the new scheme for recruitment in armed forces.

    ALSO READ | Agnipath: All you need to know about Army recruitment scheme that has India on the boil

    They also exchanged gunshots with GRP personnel, engaged in heavy stone-pelting and beat up journalists covering the clash.

    In Danapur sub-division, bandh supporters vandalised an ambulance and the driver alleged that a patient and attendants inside were also beaten up by the mob.

    The ECR headquarters in Hajipur said that in view of the prevailing situation, 32 trains have been cancelled.

    The railways have suffered massive losses in Bihar during protests in the last three days.

    More than 60 train coaches, 10 engines and some stations have been torched by groups protesting against the introduction of the new recruitment system wherein 75 per cent of jawans will be retired after four years of service, with no pension benefits.

    Bandh supporters had attacked a police outpost in Jehanabad district, leaving several police personnel injured.

    A large police contingent was deployed in front of the state headquarters of the BJP, which has been at the receiving end of the protests, with many of its senior leaders having been physically attacked and its offices in at least three districts being set ablaze since Thursday.

    In West Bengal, train services on the Sealdah-Barrackpore route in North 24 Parganas district were disrupted for around an hour as a group of anti-Agnipath agitators blocked railway tracks and did push-ups.

    Around 20 protesters blocked both up and down lines at a level crossing from around 10 AM thus also affecting vehicular traffic, a spokesperson of the Eastern Railway said.

    The demonstration affected railway services during office hours, and many commuters waiting at Barrackpore station reached the protest site and an altercation ensued with the agitators.

    The police on Saturday afternoon clashed with agitating members of the All India Democratic Students Organisation and All India Democratic Youth Organisation when they tried to block roads near Kolkata’s Hazra area, a hundred metres from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence.

    In Odisha, a job aspirant ran 60 km in Nabarangpur while a large number of agitators sat in dharna near the revenue divisional commissioner’s office in Berhampur in Ganjam district.

    The agitators including many who cleared the physical tests held earlier, raised slogans at Berhampur demanding withdrawal of the ‘Agnipath’ scheme and demanded at least 15 years of service in the Armed Forces instead of four after selection.

    East Coast Railways has cancelled or short terminated several trains passing through Odisha from Visakhapatnam in view of the protests.

    In Jharkhand, demonstrations were held at Dhanbad and Morabadi in Ranchi while security was intensified in the state BJP headquarters with the deployment of RAF personnel, officials said.

  • Agnipath protest: Police vehicle, roadways buses torched in UP’s Jaunpur; nine coaching institute operators among 35 arrested in Aligarh

    By PTI

    LUCKNOW: A police vehicle was torched and two Uttar Pradesh Roadways buses vandalised in Jaunpur as the agitation against the Centre’s Agnipath scheme spread in the state.

    Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers protested in Meerut over the issue.

    As many as 340 people have been arrested till now, including those who have been taken in custody as a preventive measure.

    In Kannauj, youths staged a protest at Saurikh on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway demanding the withdrawal of the scheme.

    Jaunpur District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said hundreds of youths gathered on the Jaunpur-Prayagraj highway on Saturday morning and damaged vehicles, including two roadways buses and a police car.

    Around 9.30 am, one of the damaged buses and the police vehicle were set ablaze.

    Some motorcycles were also torched in the Lal Bazar area, he said, adding the protesters were chased by police.

    According to Superintendent of Police Ajay Sahni, the protesters resorted to stone-pelting and a vehicle of a local BJP leader was damaged.

    Varanasi Divisional Commissioner Deepak Agarwal and Inspector General K Satyanarayan inspected the spot.

    Officials said the protesters are being identified and if needed, the Gangster Act may be imposed against them.

    Police force has been deployed at the railway and bus stations.

    In Kannauj, youths protested at Saurikh on the Agra-Lucknow Expressway and handed over a memorandum to officials.

    Additional District Magistrate Gajendra Singh said the protesters were sent back after explaining the Agnipath scheme to them.

    Leaders of the Rashtriya Lok Dal and Aam Aadmi Party staged protests in Meerut and demanded that the recruitment scheme for defence services be withdrawn.

    As many as 340 people have been arrested and police have lodged 29 FIRs in connection with the protest till Saturday, Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said.

    The number included 145 those who have been arrested as a preventive measure under Section 151 of the CrPC.

    “They can be kept in police custody for a maximum of 24 hours,” explained Kumar.

    The arrests have been made from nine districts, including Ballia (109), Mathura (70), Jaunpur (41), Varanasi (36), Aligarh (35).

    The 29 cases have lodged in 12 districts, the maximum seven in Jaunpur (7), four cases each in Aligarh, Mathura and Varanasi and two cases each in Ballia Mirzapur.

    ALSO READ | Agnipath: All you need to know about Army recruitment scheme that has India on the boil

    A case each have also been lodged in Gorakhpur, Deoria, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Chandauli, Agra and Firozabad.

    Police in Aligarh have so far taken around 80 people in custody in connection with the violent protests in the district, officials said on Saturday.

    Of those held since the protests on Friday, 35 people, including nine operators of coaching institutes, were arrested for their role in the violence, Aligarh Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kalanidhi Naithani said.

    “Four FIRs have been registered under serious charges of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the violence during the protests in the district. Two of these FIRs have been lodged on complaint by police personnel, one by the UP roadways and another by a civilian,” Naithani said.

    “Efforts for arresting those engaged in violence had started on Friday itself. So far, around 80 people have been taken into custody,” he said.

    Police are keeping a close eye on social media and the role of the nine operators of the coaching institutes emerged during the protest by youngsters, the IPS officer said.

    “The coaching operators had provoked the anti-social elements and triggered to carry out such acts during the protests amidst the (armed forces) aspirants,” Naithani said.

    The other people in police custody are being questioned and further action will be taken on the basis of evidence in the case, he said.

    He said the law and order situation which had taken a hit due to the protests on Friday remained under control on Saturday as police conducted flag marches in view of the tense condition.

    Police are conducting peace meetings and also taking support of prominent people in maintaining an atmosphere of calm in Aligarh, the officer added.

  • Plea in SC for SIT probe into violent protests against Agnipath scheme, damage to properties

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the damage to public properties including that of railways and violent protests against the Centre’s Agnipath scheme.

    The PIL has been filed by advocate Vishal Tiwari, who also sought directions to the Centre and Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Haryana and Rajasthan governments to submit a status report on the violent protests.

    Tiwari in his plea also sought a direction to set up an expert committee under the chairmanship of retired apex court judge to examine the scheme and its impact on national security and Army.

    He further sought directions to the Centre and the states arrayed as parties to appoint claim commissioners under the guidelines laid down by the apex court in its verdict of 2009 passed in a suo motu case initiated after incidents of damages to public properties.

    “The petitioner through this present Public Interest Litigation (Civil) under Article 32 of the Constitution of India would like to bring to the court’s attention the devastated condition of the country resulting from the Agnipath scheme launched by the Respondent No. 1 (Union of India) through its Ministry of Defence,” the plea said.

    It said that the consequence has been far-reaching for the citizens of this country resulting in intensified vandalism and protest leading to severe destruction of public property and goods.

    “The country is yet again witnessing another such societal upset and fatal condition due to the recent launch of the Agnipath scheme dated June 14, 2022 by the Respondent No.1 through its Ministry of Defence. The Agnipath scheme was designed for the recruitment of young personnel in the all three armed forces divisions. It is a scheme which entails a recruitment process for individuals with ranks below that of the officer with the goal of deploying fitter and younger troops on the front lines which will be based on a four year contract,” it said.

    ALSO READ | Agnipath: All you need to know about Army recruitment scheme that has India on the boil

    The plea said that since the launch of the scheme, the country is facing severe and uncontrolled mass violence and protests against the scheme.

    “The concern which rises through this scheme is primarily the length of service that is 4 years is not reasonable and there remains no pension benefits. The defence aspirants during their protests have alleged that this Agnipath scheme leads to a road of uncertainty for soldiers who will have to leave the services after 4 years. After the completion of the 4 years contract, 25 percent of the total force will be retained and the rest of the personnel will have to leave which puts a serious uncertainty on their future,” it said.

    It added that along with no job security and protection, there will be no pension benefits including the disability pension, the soldiers will get a lump sum of a little more than Rs 11 lakh when they end their fourth tenure.

    “As opined by various experienced military veterans, this scheme of contractual fixed recruitment could compromise on training, morale and commitment in comparison to the permanent recruits. Such experimental radical change in the structure and pattern of the military can lead to severe strategic uncertainties which could compromise the national security of the country,” it said.

    The petition said that this issue have led to severe protest in various parts of the country and as the agitation intensified in Bihar on June 17, the angry aspirants of Army has set fire to at least 20 bogies of the New Delhi-Bhagalpur Vikramshila Express and New Delhi-Darbhanga Bihar Sampark Kranti Express at Lakhisarai and Samastipur stations and blocked several highways of the state.

    “The intensity of such protest has been hard-hitting as the consequence has resulted in Eastern Central Railway has cancelled 164 trains, the official reports have also confirmed that a large number of passengers were seen stranded on the different railway stations including Patna Junction, people are also standing in bus terminals waiting for buses as the highways are also blocked due to the protest,” the plea said.

  • Pinarayi urges Modi to put Agnipath on hold in the interest of country

    By Express News Service

    THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the country witnessing widespread protests against the Agnipath scheme, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put the scheme on hold.

    In a tweet on Saturday, the CM pointed out that the raging protests against the scheme are a clear indication of the sentiments of youngsters in the country. In the interest of the country, the scheme should be put on hold, in addition to addressing the criticism raised by professionals and the apprehensions of the youth, Pinarayi said. On Saturday, Kerala too witnessed major protests in front of the Raj Bhavan and at Ernakulam and Kozhikode.

    Meanwhile, the CPM leadership too urged the Union Government to withdraw the scheme.  The CPM will support protests against Agnipath scheme, said party general secretary Sitaram Yechury. Stating that the new scheme for recruitment to Armed forces will adversely affect the nation’s security. It will also impede the employment opportunities of youngsters.

    The CPM leadership has demanded immediate withdrawal of the new scheme. The recruitment to Armed Forces should continue to be conducted as per status quo, he said. Protests against Agnipath have been going on across the country for two days.

    Speaking to reporters after the central committee meet, Yechury said the Opposition parties will field a common candidate for the Presidential election. He added that the party central committee had discussed the matter.

  • Terms and Conditions under Agnipath include 30 days leave and a distinct uniform

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The candidates joining under the newly proposed Agnipath recruitment scheme for the armed forces will have lesser leaves and will be donning a distinct uniform as per the terms and conditions stipulated.

    Of the perks, Agnipath scheme gives four years term of service with a “Seva Nidhi” of around 12 lakhs. There are other points that will make the soldier/sailor/ airman serving under the scheme different.

    As per the Terms and conditions applicable for the scheme, “The Agniveers would have a distinct rank in the Army, Navy and Air Force which will be different from any other existing rank.” They will have a distinctive insignia to be worn by Agniveers on their uniform during their engagement period.

    When it comes to grant of leave, it will be subject to the exigencies of the organization. “They will be having 30 days of annual leave. Sick leave would be given on the basis of medical advice.”

    Apart from the uniform and the service conditions, there will be the Medical and CSD Facilities that come with the service, including the candidate’s parents. The Agniveers will be entitled to both facilities for four years only.

    When it comes to leaving the services before the term of four years is over, Agniveers will not be permitted to be released at their own request, except in exceptional cases.

    At present, the youth falling in the bracket of 17 and half years and 23 will be joining the individual services for a period of four years which also will include a six-month training period.

  • Agnipath scheme will shatter our dreams, spoil our careers: Jarkhand army aspirants

    By PTI

    RANCHI: Rohit Kumar Singh is a worried young man. He fears his dreams of carving out a life as a soldier in the Indian Army may well be a chimera once the new Agnipath scheme rolls out.

    The son of a fruit seller in Jharia area of Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district, Singh has strived for three years and cleared the physical and medical examinations for recruitment in the armed forces.

    He was waiting for the written examination, which was pending due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, he is worried that his dream of joining the armed forces will be shattered due to the Agnipath scheme.

    Under the scheme, youngsters between 17.5 and 23 years of age will be recruited for a period of four years, following which 75 per cent of them will have to take compulsory retirement sans pension while the remainder will continue serving.

    The selection will be made based on their performance. “I have cleared physical and medical examinations in 2019 and 2020 respectively. We were told that the written test will be conducted once the COVID-19 situation normalises.”

    “We were hopeful that the examination will be conducted soon as the pandemic situation is normal now. However, suddenly we see that the government has introduced this new Agnipath scheme, under which all examinations will be conducted,” Singh said.

    The aspirant said he has prepared for several years for the permanent service commission, and not for contractual employment of only four years. Singh is not alone in expressing his grievances.

    He and 10 other aspirants who practice together at Jharia’s Lodhna Ground and have qualified for the written examination, face a similar fate.

    These aspirants, along with hundreds of others, had staged protests against the Agnipath scheme in different parts of Dhanbad district on Friday. They had also blocked railway tracks, forcing railway authorities to cancel five trains.

    Sagar Kumar, another aspirant, said, “We demand rollback of the new scheme as it will not only shatter our dreams of serving the nation but also spoil our careers.” Similar protests were witnessed in other districts including Bokaro, Palamu and East Singhbhum.

    Railway and road traffic were disrupted in many areas. In Palamu, protesters pelted a goods train with stones at Daltonganj Railway Station, prompting the police to resort to lathi-charge to control the situation.

    Agitators had also blocked railway tracks in Bokaro station. A similar protest was witnessed in Jamshedpur. Sociologists, however, feel the protests are a natural reaction because of shrinking employment opportunities.

    “Armed and police forces have been a major source of employment for youths, especially those from rural areas. These jobs also contributed to their economic and social upliftment. “They don’t find Agnipath scheme lucrative as they fear they won’t find jobs after four years of service amid rising unemployment. The protests are natural reaction and not politically motivated although political parties may try to cash in on the situation,” Dr Prabhat Kumar Singh, associate professor at the Sociology Department of Ranchi University said.

    As per monthly unemployment data provided by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), Jharkhand’s unemployment rate in May was 13.1 per cent.

    Meanwhile, the state’s ruling alliance partners JMM and Congress have protested against the scheme and demanded its rollback. “We see our jawans with pride.But the Centre is trying to undermine that pride by employing them for only four years, after which 75 per cent will have to work as security guards at ATMs or man the gates of restaurants,” JMM spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said.

    State Congress chief Rajesh Thakur said, “The Centre is playing with the future of the youths by introducing this short-term recruitment scheme.”

  • Agnipath protests: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh meets top brass of Army, Navy and IAF

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday held a meeting with the top brass of the Army, Navy and the Air Force on the overall situation arising out of the rollout of the ‘Agnipath’ military recruitment scheme as protests against it intensified in several parts of the country.

    The meeting was attended by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar and Vice Chief of Army Staff Gen B S Raju.

    It is learnt that the focus of the meeting was to ensure a quick rollout of the ‘Agnipath’ scheme and ways to pacify the agitators. Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande could not attend the meeting as he is in Hyderabad on an official tour.

    ALSO READ: Kerala too witnesses Agnipath protests at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode

    The Army, Navy and the Air Force on Friday announced to start the enrolment process under the new model by next week.

    Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari told PTI that the selection process by the Indian Air Force for recruitment under the new scheme will start from June 24 while the Army said it will begin the initial exercise within two days.

    While the Indian Navy said it will start the recruitment process “very soon”, a senior naval commander said the notification for the recruitment would be out within a week.

    ALSO READ: Violent anti-Agnipath protests continue rocking Bihar; agitators torch vehicles in police outpost

    The three services are planning to deploy the first batches of recruits under the new scheme both in operational and non-operational roles by June next year, senior military officials said.

    In an attempt to pacify the protesters, the government on Thursday night increased the upper age limit for recruitment under the ‘Agnipath’ scheme to 23 years from 21 for the year 2022.

    Unveiling the scheme on Tuesday, the government said youths between the ages of 17 and-a-half and 21 years would be inducted for a four-year tenure while 25 per cent of them will be subsequently inducted for regular service.

    ALSO READ: Congress announces solidarity ‘Satyagrah’ at Jantar Mantar

    The youths to be recruited under the new scheme would be called ‘Agniveer’. A major objective of the scheme is to bring down the average age of military personnel and cut ballooning salary and pension bills.

    The announcement of the new scheme came in the backdrop of recruitments into the military remaining stalled over the coronavirus pandemic for over two years.

    The Army annually recruit 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers annually. However, the recruitment could not take place for the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.