As agitation against the Agnipath scheme continued on Saturday, the Government tried to pacify protesters by announcing a ten per cent reservation for demobilised Agniveers in Central paramilitary forces, Defence Ministry and its public sector undertakings.
The Ministry of Home also decided to give three-year age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles. For the first batch of Agniveer, the age relaxation will be for 5 years beyond the prescribed upper age limit.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh strongly defended the new recruitment model for the Armed forces saying it was announced after wide-ranging consultations, including with the ex-servicemen and said a misunderstanding is being spread for political reasons.
The reservation in his Ministry was announced soon after Rajnath reviewed the implementation of Agnipath with the three Services Chiefs and other senior officials.
Rajnath said the scheme will bring revolutionary changes in the enrolment process for soldiers, asserting that there will be no compromise on the quality of training to be imparted to the personnel to be recruited under the scheme.
Similar initiatives to induct Agniveers after a four-year stint in the Armed forces were announced by Petroleum and Housing Minister Hardeep Puri. The Civil Aviation Ministry too said it will provide jobs to the retiring soldiers.
The most number of inductions will be undertaken by the Assam Rifles and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) including the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
In a series of tweets, the Home Minister’s Office said, “The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decides to reserve 10 per cent vacancies for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles for Agniveers, completing four years under the Agnipath scheme announced by the Government of India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
It also said, “The MHA also decides to give 3 years age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit to Agniveers for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles. Further, for the first batch of Agniveer, the age relaxation will be for 5 years beyond the prescribed upper age limit.”
The Centre has already announced a “one-time” waiver in the age limit for the new military recruitment scheme to 23 from 21.
The decision was taken as no recruitment has taken place in the last two years due to the corona pandemic.
As regards the paramilitary forces, over 73,000 posts are vacant in five wings of the paramilitary forces — BSF, CRPF, ITBP, SSB, and CISF.
Besides, 18,124 posts are also vacant in police forces in Union Territories. The 10-lakh-strong CAPF is one of the largest job providers in the country.
Meanwhile, Rajnath approved a proposal to reserve 10 per cent of the job vacancies in the Ministry of Defence for Agniveers meeting requisite eligibility criteria, officials said.
The 10 per cent reservation will be implemented in the Indian Coast Guard, defence civilian posts and all the 16 Defence Public Sector Undertakings — Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Limited, Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL), Mishra Dhatu Nigam (MIDHANI) Limited, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), Advanced Weapons & Equipment India Ltd. (AW&EIL), Munitions India Limited (MIL), Yantra India Limited (YIL), Gliders India Limited (GIL), India Optel Limited (IOL) and Troop Comforts Limited (TCL).
This reservation would be in addition to existing reservations for ex-servicemen.
Necessary amendments to relevant recruitment rules will be undertaken to implement these provisions. The DPSUs will be advised to make similar amendments to their respective recruitment rules. Necessary age relaxation provision will also be made to enable recruitment of Agniveers to the above posts, the Defence Ministry said.
Defending the new policy earlier in the day, Rajnath said, “It is bringing revolutionary changes in the recruitment process in the Armed forces. Some people are spreading misunderstanding about it. Maybe, there could be some confusion among the people as it is a new scheme.”
He made these comments at a conclave organised by the TV9 media group.
Without taking the name of any political party, the Defence Minister suggested that some of the protests against the Agnipath scheme could be based on political considerations.
“There are so many issues to show any political party in poor light. But whatever politics we do, whether remaining in the opposition or in the government, it is for the country,” he said.
The Defence Minister further added, “Should we lower the morale of the soldiers of the country? This is not justice.”
In his address, the Defence Minister said the personnel to be recruited under the Agnipath scheme will be given priority in the selection for various jobs by State Governments, private industries, public sector undertakings and paramilitary forces.
Referring to the financial package of Rs 11.71 lakh to be given to each of the Agniveeers after completion of the four-year tenure, Rajnath said the Government will also facilitate providing loans at a low-interest rate if they need additional resources to start new ventures.