Agnipath good for modernisation but needs relook

|
  • 2

Agnipath good for modernisation but needs relook

Wednesday, 29 June 2022 | PK Vasudeva

The scheme is advantageous for youth and national defence but it should be changed with inputs from armed forces

The Government announced on June 14 that all soldiers below the officer ranks of the three wings of the military would

be recruited through the Agnipath Scheme. The Government has taken this decision to keep the armed forces young, making the youth

disciplined, and rendering them highly skilled after four years of service, besides of course saving money for the modernisation.

The Scheme has been praised by a large number of experts and veterans, but many in the defence community and also the Opposition parties and political observers have expressed their reservations about the scheme, resulting in protests and violent demonstrations all over the country. It is sad that the government property like railways, buses and cars have been burnt by the youth who should be debarred from the recruitment at one and made to pay for the damage to the public property. Nobody can be allowed to indulge in arson whatever the cause.

As opposed to the existing 15 plus years’ service, followed by a lifelong pension, the new recruits, Agniveers, will have a four-year tenure, including six months’ training. On completion of four years of service, 25 per cent of them will get the permanent cadre, while the rest will be given opportunities in other organisations at the national and state levels.

They will exit with a tax-free purse of approximately Rs 11.71 lakh and return to civil life. Excellent army training, food, clothing, boarding and lodging, a regimented life of four years, a disciplined lifestyle, and a matured mindset will be the hallmarks for the Agniveers.

Over the years, Agniveers would emerge as a strong second line of defence in the country.

The government has announced 10 per cent reservation packages for the retiree Agniveers in Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CARF), Ministry of Defence Undertakings, and Railways after the completion of four years term.

Overall, the scheme is excellent for nation building. It will help build a younger, healthier, and fitter defence military, highly skilled in the changing technological environment. It will also inculcate military discipline, ethos and skilling as a value addition, improving the prospects for those who return to civil society. It will encourage youth to become entrepreneurs for the economic growth of the country.

Yet, it seems that the Centre was not thorough in its homework before launching this scheme. A study known as ‘Tour of Duty’ (TOD) was carried out about two years ago at the Training Command; all stakeholders gave their inputs.

The scheme needed to be launched as India is emerging as a major pivot in the global order, being a key nation in two security arrangements—one in the Indo-Pacific and another with the US, the UAE, and Israel. The Indian military has to adapt to the changing strategic interests keeping in view the threat perception from across the borders.

The presentations were made at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) level; the blueprint of the Agnipath Scheme was drawn out for implementation at a suitable time. The army recruitment methodology of leading military nations was kept in mind while framing it. The main planners of this scheme were Training Command, the late CDS General Bipin Rawat, NSA Ajit Doval, Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh, and Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, along with the Finance Ministry.

The three service Chiefs had a very limited role to play in formulating the scheme. The committee so constituted was bureaucratic in nature, which gave the recommendations for a younger and leaner force with reduced financial liability for modernisation.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved this Scheme. However, it was not put up in Parliament. The NSA, who is highly capable in security issues may not be well-versed with the nuances of the armed forces, represented the three services and CDS.

The whole scheme needs to be refurbished by an expert committee which must have members from the armed forces too. The government is making amends to the scheme in a piecemeal manner. The youth of the country is completely confused.

Instead of strengthening the armed forces, the scheme will weaken their strength if not implemented properly. The committee must go through the pensions of the defence civilians who get one-third of the total defence pensions. They need to be replaced by armed forces personnel.

Politician’s pensions have a serious flaw. These also need to be looked into and pruned.

The violent reactions by the youth in the country could have been avoided and a

number of lives saved if had been passed by Parliament and discussed at length at the Armed Forces Commanders Conference, before announcing it piecemeal.

The interest of the armed forces cannot be compromised at any cost.

(The author is a retired senior professor, International Trade.)

Sunday Edition

CAA PASSPORT TO FREEDOM

24 March 2024 | Kumar Chellappan | Agenda

CHENNAI EXPRESS IN GURUGRAM

24 March 2024 | Pawan Soni | Agenda

The Way of Bengal

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

The Pizza Philosopher

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

Astroturf | Lord Shiva calls for all-inclusiveness

24 March 2024 | Bharat Bhushan Padmadeo | Agenda

Interconnected narrative l Forest conservation l Agriculture l Food security

24 March 2024 | BKP Sinha/ Arvind K jha | Agenda