Centre, states promise jobs amid Agnipath stir
NEW DELHI: At least 10% of the jobs in central paramilitary forces, civilian defence posts and a host of defence sector public companies will be reserved for people after exiting the Agnipath programme, the government announced on Saturday, as it scrambled to defuse anger against the new military recruitment scheme along with similar steps disclosed by some state governments.
Violent protests against the Agnipath scheme continued for the fourth day on Saturday, with more cases of arson and rail blockades being reported. In one of the most severe fallouts, the Indian Railways suspended train services during the daytime in Bihar and several services on the southern network were re-routed to avoid regions where protests have been intense.
“The ministry of home affairs decides to reserve 10% vacancies for recruitment in CAPFs (central armed police forces) and Assam Rifles for Agniveers, completing four years under the Agnipath scheme announced by the government of India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Union home minister Amit Shah said in a tweet on Saturday.
Hours later, defence minister Rajnath Singh held a meeting with the three military service chiefs, the defence secretary and senior officials of the department of military affairs where it was decided that a similar quota will be kept in the organisations under the ministry, which includes the Indian Coast Guard and 16 public sector defence companies. “This reservation would be in addition to existing reservation for ex-servicemen,” the minister said. The jobs set aside under the home ministry in the central paramilitary forces will also be in addition to the quota for former defence personnel.
Last year, after a pandemic-triggered slowdown, close to 58,000 jobs were given in the lower ranks in CAPFs and the Assam Rifles. According to data shared by the home ministry in Rajya Sabha on March 16 this year, there were 73,219 vacancies in CAPFs and Assam Rifles — including 43,121 in the other ranks category. This category includes the constabulary, the group to which Agniveers will be eligible to apply.
Three ministries separately announced other forms of support: the civil aviation ministry indicated it will give Agniveers priority in roles of air traffic management, logistics and maintenance; the ministry of shipping said there will be opportunities in the merchant navy and recognition of “ratings” that Agniveers earn in the navy; and the education ministry said it plans to recognise in-service training as credits in courses.