Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday announced a 10 per cent reservation for Agniveers in state services like police, forest guards and jail warden. He also announced age relaxation and other incentives.
CM Saini made these announcements while speaking at a press conference in Chandigarh. He said that in direct recruitment made by the state to the posts of constable, mining guards, forest guards, jail warden and special police officers, the state government would provide 10 per cent horizontal reservation for Agniveers.
Moreover, the CM said that in the recruitment for Group C and D posts, an age relaxation of three years will be provided to Agniveers. "However, in the first batch of Agniveers, this age relaxation will be five years," Saini added.
CM Saini also stated that he has made provisions for a 5 per cent reservation for Agniveers in Group C recruitments, while the Agniveers who want to start their own work will be provided with financial assistance in the form of interest-free loans up to Rs 5 lakh.
Heated Parliamentary debate over Agniveer
The announcement by the Haryana government comes at a time when the issue of the Agniveer scheme was raised in Parliament. In the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, citing the Center's Agniveer scheme, had said that he had met the Agniveer family. He said that the central government does not give martyr status to the Agniveer jawan adding that they are used and thrown. He asserted that there is a fear in the minds of the youth. However, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh completely denied Rahul Gandhi's claims of Agniveer recruitment scheme. He said that this scheme was started after taking opinions from 158 organizations. He also said that this scheme is running in many countries.
What is Agniveer Scheme?
The central government launched the Agneepath scheme in June 2022, under which the youth are linked to the defence for a few years. The soldiers recruited under this scheme in the Army, Air Force and Navy are called as Agniveers. In this, the youth are recruited for a total of 4 years. According to provisions of the scheme, 25 per cent of Agniveers will be retained and regularised in forces, while the remaining 75 per cent Agniveers will be given a skill certificate along with a large sum of money so that they can find work as per their capability.
ALSO READ | Former IAF chief explains compensation structure of Agniveers amid recent controversy | WATCH
