Understanding the Agnipath Scheme and Protests Across India

• There are so many aspirants who have been waiting for the army recruitment process for the last 2 years.
• The army without a pension will stand. There are a lot of job shortages in India.
• Can you send your younger brother or child to die by bullets for 20 to 21 lakhs?
• After 4 years, when these people will sit in the interview. So the first question will be the same as the typical cooperative one: Why did you get rejected there?

What is the Agneepath Scheme ?

The Indian Armed Forces will enroll selected applicants as Agniveers for a four-year period under the Agneepath Scheme, a recruitment scheme initiated by the central government. 46,000 Agniveers will be recruited by the Armed Forces this year through the Agnipath/Agneepath program. After the four years are out, Aginveers will return to society as a disciplined, vibrant, motivated, and talented workforce to pursue careers in other industries.

The Agneepath Scheme is a move taken to recruit 46,000+ Agniveers into the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. Agneepath Scheme entries would first be made for a period of four years. The military would teach the recruits in the necessary abilities throughout the course of these four years. The Agnipath recruitment programme is a revolutionary project that will give the armed forces a more modern appearance. Women will also be recruited under the programme, according to Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, depending on the requirements of the various forces.

Only 25% of applicants will be permitted to remain for the following 15 years under permanent commission after completing 4 years of service. The decision will result in far more permanent force levels learning for the nation’s nearly 13 lakh-strong armed forces. As a result, the defence pension expense, which has long been a key issue for governments, will be significantly reduced.

What is an Agniveer?

The youths chosen for the Agneepath scheme will be referred to as Agniveers. After four years, agniveers will be given the chance to apply for permanent enlistment in the armed forces. Young people between the ages of 17.5 and 23 (revised upper age limit) who value patriotism, teamwork, improving physical fitness, deep-seated loyalty to the nation, and the availability of trained personnel to strengthen national security in times of external threats, internal threats, and natural disasters are encouraged to apply to become Agniveers through the Agneepath Yojna.

What are the key changes made by Centre?

In other headlines, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced that after ‘Agniveers’ complete their four-year enlistment, his government will offer “assured” employment to them. Khattar declared, “I announce that anyone (the Agniveers) who wishes to work for the Haryana government will be given a job guarantee; nobody will be out of a job. We provide a guarantee for it. The “Agniveers,” according to the chief minister, would be integrated into the state’s Group C services and the police force. On Monday, BJP leader Harduik Patel and Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Arjun Meghwal both endorsed the programme and pledged to personally assist 10 Agniveers.

The Agniveers would receive a monthly wage between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000, and 75% of them will receive a “Seva Nidhi” exit package worth Rs 1.17 million when they are demobilised after four years. In view of the continuous protests and youth misunderstanding, the government has made some adjustments to the plan. Due to difficulties in hiring as a result of the pandemic, the maximum age limit has now been raised to 23 exclusively for this year. Additionally, the proposal to reserve 10% of the open positions in the Ministry of Defence was approved. Amit Shah, a minister in the Union, also declared that his department will give “Agniveers” who had finished their four years priority.

Why is the youth protesting against the scheme?

Since the scheme was announced on June 14, protests have spread across the nation, with some including the burning of trains, buses, and cars. We also need to comprehend the significance of these protests. This protest has a few key factors. Let us know these causes.

Misinformation spreading on social media is one of the primary causes of protests. States like Haryana and Bihar have also halted internet service. However, the administration and the military forces are working to dispel rumours about the plan. The scheme’s potential to demobilise 75% of recruits, disqualify them from receiving pensions, and leave them with a future filled with uncertainty is the main source of worry among young people. It is also criticised for failing to offer retirees stable employment or healthcare coverage.

The economics of a nation is impacted by any violent protest. 500+ trains have been cancelled. In various regions of the nation, including Rajasthan, roads have been blocked. Public property has been damaged during the Agneepath protests, and police officers and others have also been hurt. Due to the continued commotion, hundreds of trains had to be cancelled, causing the railway department to incur significant costs. In many Indian states, trains were set on fire and rails were damaged. Many police officers also suffered injuries. The Bharat Bandh has caused many workers to be inconvenienced. Officials’ homes from the party have also been assaulted.

Additional Major Reasons for this Protest. The discrepancy between how the government and police have handled these protestors and how Muslim protesters were handled just a week earlier has been quickly brought up by numerous people. While the police shot at people objecting to Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal’s comments, these demonstrators have been referred to as “our children” and told to “not ruin their futures” by taking part in demonstrations.

No bulldozers have come for their homes, and they have not been detained under anti-terror laws like the UAPA. The use of violence against them has not caused television hosts to feel the need to applaud it.

The Indian government ruined the prospects of young people who were passionate about the Indian army and wanted to join it. And who is accountable if these young people join any separatist organisations?

Why did the government take this step?

India included 5.25 trillion rupees in its Union Budget for military spending this year. Additionally, 1.19 trillion rupees was used to pay ex-pensions. servicemen’s Over 70% of defence spending, according to experts, is allocated to salaries and pensions. India would have 32 lakh defence pensioners by the year 2020, an increase of 55,000 each year. It gives the army limited room for capital expenditures, such as the purchase of expensive weaponry, contemporary military equipment, fighter jets, etc.

The one-rank-one-pension programme was approved for implementation by the government in 2015. Regardless of the date of retirement, it guaranteed equal pension to military members retiring from the same rank with the same number of years of service. It increased the state’s “great fiscal load,” according to Manohar Parrikar, who was the defence minister at the time. Therefore, it is clear that the government intends to permanently reduce the pension budget through the “Agneepath” scheme.

The administration also noted the scheme’s ability to lower the average age of the army as an advantage. The world’s greatest young population resides in India. The age range for about 40% is 13 to 35. According to Rajnath Singh, the initiative will progressively reduce the average age of soldiers from the current 36 to 24-26 years.

However, the plan strained relations among defence professionals. Some people support it, but others claim that it could reduce the military’s ability to fight effectively.

Meanwhile, other sources claim that army aspirants in the north Indian towns were pessimistic. The majority of them questioned what they would do after serving for four years. An army career is associated with honour in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, etc. Even though work opportunities in other areas are decreasing, job security and retirement benefits afforded young people some comfort.

Several former soldiers were also critical. They claimed that the foundation of all combat was bonding. And it takes time to build. The cadets from “Agniveer” might be treated as guests or worse, like tourists. They added that making comparisons with other nations was improper. Because there aren’t enough recruits in some countries, their periods of duty are brief. Others allow for voluntary enlistment.

Conclusion

Whether the government plan is successful in making the Indian army a more professional and well-equipped force will only become clear over time.

This plan could still be improved. All you need to do in this situation is use the soldiers you paid a lot of money to train. rather than abandoning society after 4 years. You can use them in the CAPF, BSF, or ITBP, among other places. Nobody will object, and everyone will support your choice. People will be happy, and your goal will also be accomplished.

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Ramiz Raja Malik