Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with three services chiefs General Manoj Pande (Army), Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari and Admiral R Hari Kumar (Navy) during a press conference at National Media Center, in New Delhi, Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
Agnipath protests: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as well as several states have announced that the "Agniveers", after serving the armed forces for four years, will be given preference while filling up vacancies in police forces. Several other departments have also announced support for the Agnipath scheme and promised job opportunities for the "Agniveers" after the completion of their four-year tenure in the three services.
Let us see how the Centre and states plan to assure the youth about their future when their time in the armed forces comes to an end.
Uttar Pradesh
The Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath assured the youth that the successful completion of their term will enable them to get top priority for police and allied forces jobs. Taking to Twitter, he said, "@UPGovt assures that 'Agniveers' post their service will be given priority for accommodation in Police & Police Allied Forces."
Karnataka
Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said that the government has planned to give preference to 'Agniveers', soldiers recruited in the Army, Navy and the Air Force on a short-term contract under the special 'Agnipath' scheme, in recruitment to police services in the State.
"We have planned to induct such personnel (Agniveers) trained with the military into police services, as it will help us. They will also get various job opportunities, and in times of war or emergencies they can be pressed into service," he added.
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Uttarakhand
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday held a press conference at Vidhan Sabha on the Agnipath scheme. Dhami said the state government has decided that after the service to nation under the Agnipath scheme, the state government will give priority to the Agniveers in many services including police, disaster management, Char Dham yatra management, adding that the rules regarding the same will be formulated soon.
Arunachal Pradesh
Chief Minister Pema Khandu assured that the soldiers who complete their stint in the armed forces will get priority in state government jobs as well as police jobs.
Assam
Amid the raging protests against the Centre’s Agnipath Scheme, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Friday that every ‘Agniveer’ who is a permanent resident of the state will be directly absorbed in the state police at the end of their four-year term in the army. He said, “Anybody who comes out of Agnipath and if he is resident of Assam he will be given a job in the state police. We will be in a position to accommodate all Assam police and battalions.”
Haryana
The youth recruited in the armed forces under the Centre's "Agnipath" scheme will be given preference in government jobs in Haryana, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Wednesday. "The Haryana government will give preference in jobs and other works to the youth who complete this service," said Khattar.
He further added, "The youth of the state have the zeal to serve the country and this is the reason that Haryana has the highest number of youths serving in the Army."
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said soldiers recruited under the Agnipath scheme will be given preference in police recruitment in the state. “I heartily thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for starting this scheme. The Indian Army is the pride of the country and its countrymen. The jawans are our heroes and role models. The 'Agnipath' scheme will connect youth with the Indian Army and ensure the protection of the country's borders and strengthen its unity and integrity,” Chouhan said.
Ministry of Home Affairs
The MHA has decided to reserve 10 per cent of job vacancies for recruitment in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Assam Rifles for "Agniveers". The MHA has further announced that it will give a three-year age relaxation to "Agniveers", beyond the prescribed upper-age limit, for recruitment in the CAPFs and the Assam Rifles.
What is the Agnipath Scheme?
The government rolled out the Agnipath scheme under which 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.
The youths to be recruited under the new scheme would be called 'Agniveer'. the main objective of the scheme is to bring down the average age of military personnel and cut the ballooning salary and pension bills.
The announcement of the new scheme came against the backdrop of recruitment in the military being stalled over the coronavirus pandemic for over two years.
(With inputs from PTI)
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