New Delhi: Protests erupted in Bihar and Rajasthan against the government’s latest recruitment scheme in defence services, Agnipath, with concerns over job security and pension.
Protesters in large numbers crowded the streets of Bihar and Rajasthan as they shouted slogans against the Agnipath Yojana.
The aspirants said they were unhappy with the changes introduced under the new recruitment scheme for the Indian defence services — particularly the length of service, no pension provisions for those released early, and the 17.5 to 21 age restriction that now makes many of them ineligible.
The government on Tuesday launched the Agnipath scheme that would enlist soldiers or Agniveers for four years in the Armed Forces and then let most of them go without benefits.
While all Agniveers would be given the option to enroll into the regular cadre after four years, only 25 per cent from each batch would be taken in after their service.
They will also be taken in young, at 17.5 years.
A protester in Munger told news agency ANI: “We demand that recruitment be done as earlier. The tour-of-duty scheme should be rolled back and exams held. Nobody will go to Army just for four years.”
In Bihar’s Jehanabad, another protestor said, “Where will we go after working for only four years? We will be homeless. So we have jammed the roads; the country’s leaders will now get to know that people are aware.”
“We work hard to get inducted into the Armed forces. How can the service be for only four years, with months of training and leaves? How will we protect the nation after getting trained for just three years? The government has to take back this scheme,” another aspirant said.
The protestors also disrupted rail and road traffic in Jehanabad over the recently-announced scheme.
In Chhapra, youth burnt tyres and vandalised a bus in protest against the program.
Instances of protests
On Wednesday, agitators blocked the highway under Jaipur’s Kalwar police station limits for over an hour, leading to a two-kilometre traffic jam. The slow-down was later cleared after police intervention.
Protests in Bihar continued a second day in several districts against the Agnipath scheme.
Protesters blocked the Patna-New Delhi main train route at Buxar and Bhojpur districts. Agitating students gathered in large numbers in Arrah and Buxar railway stations and damaged railway property.
They hurled stones at offices and platforms of these two stations leading to complete chaos. Several trains were stopped at Bihta, Bihiya, Dumraon, Raghunathpur, Chausa and other railway stations.
Baton-wielding protestors smashed glass windows of the intercity express train at Bhabhua Road railway station and set one coach on fire. Holding a banner saying “Indian Army lovers”, they raised slogans rejecting the new recruitment scheme.
Twenty-two trains were cancelled and five stopped after completing partial journeys, East Central Railway said.
Hundreds of Army aspirants on Thursday blocked the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway in Gurugram’s Bilaspur area to protest the Agnipath scheme.
Protests also began in some districts of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday against the defence recruitment strategy.
Students blocked the GT Road in Bulandshahr and raised slogans demanding the withdrawal of the scheme.
Youth in Unnao too held protests.
States announce support for Agnipath retirees
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and several state governments have announced their plans for retired Agniveers.
Home Minister Amit Shah took to Twitter to say his ministry would prefer these men and women when recruiting for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Assam rifles.
The Ministry of Education has said it would recognise in-service training received by Agniveers as credits for graduation. Under IGNOU’s (Indira Gandhi National Open University) specially-designed degree programme, in-service training would count for 50 per cent credit, while choice-based courses would constitute the rest.
There would also be a programme to provide multiple entry-exit points with appropriate certification at every level.
The degree would be granted by IGNOU with recognition in India and abroad for employment and education. “The programme will open up opportunities for Agniveers to pursue civilian careers of their choice,” sources said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said the state would give jobs on priority to Agniveers in policing and related services. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has also promised that Agniveers would be given priority in recruitment of police forces of the state.
Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan recently tweeted that Agniveers would be given priority in the state police recruitment examination after completing their four years in the defence services.
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Source: The Print
