New Delhi: The three service chiefs are expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi separately on Tuesday to brief them about the Centre’s Agneepath plan as well as their plan for its implementation. The meetings are being planned amid widespread protests in several states against the new military recruitment scheme. It is learned that the chief will apprise the prime minister about various aspects of the implementation of the scheme. However, there is no official word about the meetings between the prime minister and the army chiefs.
Violent protests erupted in many parts of the country after the new military recruitment model was announced on June 14. There is a provision to recruit youth in the age group of 17 साढ़े years to 21 years only for four years with the provision of Agneepath scheme. Retain 25 percent of them for 15 more years.
A few days later, the government raised the upper age limit for recruitment to 23 years in 2022. The personnel to be recruited under the new scheme will be known as ‘Agnivar’. Several opposition parties as well as military veterans criticized the plan, questioning the four-year term of 75 percent of the recruits. The government has been strongly defending the scheme, saying the “transformative reform” measure for recruitment into the armed forces will provide an opportunity to the youth to serve the nation.
Amid criticism by some opposition parties of the government’s Agneepath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said some decisions “may sound bitter at first” but will bear fruit in the days to come.
Speaking at the inauguration of several rail and road infrastructure projects in Kommaghatta, Karnataka, PM Modi said, “Some of our initiatives may seem bitter at the present time. But, they will bear fruit in the days to come.”
What is Agneepath Scheme?
The Agneepath scheme was launched last week and following protests, the central government has announced several support measures over the past few days to allay the apprehensions around the new recruitment scheme in the armed forces.
Unveiling the Agneepath scheme in the presence of the chiefs of the three services, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on June 14 said that it is a transformative initiative that will provide a youth profile to the armed forces. The Union Cabinet had also approved this scheme on June 14.
The youth selected under this scheme will be known as Agniveer. Listing out the benefits of the scheme, the government said it is a “transformative reform in the recruitment policy” of the armed forces and a unique opportunity for the youth to serve the country and contribute to nation building.
The scheme allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the armed forces for a period of four years. The government said that the scheme offers an attractive financial package, will provide a more youthful profile to the armed forces and provide an opportunity to Agniveers to train in the best institutions and enhance their skills and qualifications.