Agnipath – another controversial decision by the Modi Government. Image Courtesy – National Herald
There was anger over unemployment since the previous Lok Sabha polls, and Agnipath became the catalyst for the burning fire. Agnipath has now become a burning issue and almost like the ‘Farmers’ Law’ in India.
Narendra Modi promised 20 million jobs a year before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. But, after coming to the power his promise has come to a virtual zero in the last two and a half years.
The opposition parties allege that Prime Minister Narendra Modi realized that his promises against the crisis of unemployment would not last long excusing the pandemic. That is why he announced 10 lakhs “government jobs” in the next year and a half. The “Agnipath” project for the recruitment of 45,000 contract troops was among them. The fire of unrest has already spread to many states in the country.
In the periphery of Indian government services, the army is the mainstay of youth employment other than the railways. The young people from poor and lower-middle-class families opted for railway service or military service because of their job security. But, in the case of “Agnipath”, 75% of the contractual “Agniveers” employed in the three branches of the armed forces (land, water, and navy) will have to retire within 4 years of getting the job. The “Agniveer” (firefighters) will get Rs 11-12 lakh in the Seva Nidhi project. There will be no lifelong pension benefits. In that case, they have to look for a new job after 4 years. As a result, the future of the young people will be just like a private contractual job.
What is Agnipath? Image Courtesy – Bigumbrella
The agitators have questioned why the remaining 75% will not be recruited into the army even if they have the required qualifications. However, several states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have promised to give priority to “Agniveer” (firefighters) in police and other services. The Union Home Ministry has promised to give priority to recruitment in the central paramilitary forces. But it is not clear whether the “Agniveers” will get the same opportunity as the ex-servicemen.
It was said that “Agniveers” will get Rs 11-12 lakhs in the Seva Nidhi project during retirement. But, the question arises as to why the benefits of pension or gratuity do not match even if the contractual troops work at equal risk as to the permanent troops?
Another question arises that recruitment in the army has been stopped for the last two years due to the pandemic situation. Now, why the announcement was done for the appointment of “Agniveer” on a contractual basis before the process of permanent recruitment in the army?
The age of recruitment of “Agniveers” should be 18-23 years. Earlier, the maximum age was declared to be 21 years. It has been increased to 23 since the protests began. According to the previous system, the average age for recruitment of officers and jawans in the Indian Army is 18-25 years.
Many young people are losing their job opportunities in the new age group according to the “Agnipath” project. In addition, the age of job seekers has increased due to the two-year-long suspension of recruitment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the dream of becoming an army will no longer be fulfilled for those young people.
Trains are burning due to agitation. Image Courtesy – Mint
The employment situation in the country has decreased during the last several years. The COVID-19 pandemic has made it ten-fold. So, there has been uncertainty and anger about the unemployment problem among the younger generation for a long time. It has been suppressed in many ways. That suppressed anger is raging for the last few days. The “Agnipath” scheme has worked as a catalyst. More and more protests are occurring in the states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana where a large number of youths usually join the army.
Saturday is the fourth day of protests in Bihar against the Centre’s “Agnipath” scheme. Stone pelting and firing took place near Targena station in Masaudhi, Patna. The protesters started vandalizing the station. Vehicles parked in the parking lot were set on fire. The protesters pelted stones at the police. The police fired several rounds to control it. Among the other states, in West Bengal also protest has been started in several places. The protest is spreading like the farmer’s agitation in the country.
