1 week ago
Returning Agniveers' Uncertain Future Fuels Punjab Election Politics
Agniveers are young people recruited into India's armed forces for a short period of four years.
Most of the first group will leave the forces by the end of this year.
Many of them do not yet know what jobs they will get afterward.
Punjab has proposed reserving some police and office guard jobs for them, but the plan has not started.
Political opponents are using this uncertainty to criticize the state and central governments.
Some veterans say the short service period is also making young people less interested in joining the Army.
Others say young people prefer private jobs or work abroad, while poor fitness and drug problems are also factors.
Punjab leaders are especially worried about fewer young people joining the Sikh Regiment.
Veterans want clear job plans, training and stronger action against fraudulent overseas recruiters.
About 34,500 Agniveers, including more than 1,000 from Punjab, are expected to leave the armed forces by the end of this year.
Punjab's draft policy proposes reserving 10% of police constable posts and 20% of office guard posts for returning Agniveers.
The proposed re-employment measures announced by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on May 12 have not yet been implemented.
Opposition leaders and army veterans say the four-year service period, lack of pensions and uncertain employment are discouraging Punjab's youth from joining the Army.
Army recruitment from Punjab has reportedly declined by 60% to 70%, while veterans have called for time-bound jobs, skills training and action against recruitment fraud.
- Who
- Returning Agniveers, Punjab's youth, political parties, army veterans and the Punjab government are central to the issue.
- What
- The uncertain employment prospects of Agniveers leaving the armed forces are becoming a political issue amid declining Army recruitment in Punjab.
- Where
- Punjab, with wider implications for recruitment into the Indian Armed Forces.
- When
- About 75% of the first Agniveer batch is expected to leave by the end of this year; Bhagwant Mann announced re-employment measures on May 12.
- Why
- The proposed rehabilitation policy remains unimplemented, while critics and veterans cite the four-year service term, lack of pensions and limited post-service opportunities.
Critics and Veterans
Punjab Government Position
Effect of the short-service scheme
Critics and Veterans
Congress leaders and veterans say four years is too short, weakens regimental cohesion, removes pension security and discourages young people from joining the Army.
Punjab Government Position
Bhagwant Mann has focused on protecting the Sikh Regiment's legacy and says his government will work to prevent it from declining.
Reasons for declining recruitment
Critics and Veterans
Opposition leaders primarily blame the Agnipath scheme and its uncertain post-service future for Punjab's falling enlistment.
Punjab Government Position
Army veteran Daljeet Singh Cheema also attributes the decline to foreign and private-sector employment, harsh military life, reduced fitness, addiction and the attraction of illegal drug networks.
Re-employment policy
Critics and Veterans
Opposition parties say the promised rehabilitation measures remain only on paper and plan to use the issue against the ruling AAP.
Punjab Government Position
The Punjab government's draft policy proposes job reservations for returning Agniveers, although the article says implementation is still pending.
Key facts
- First-batch exits
- Around 75% of the first Agniveer batch, or approximately 34,500 personnel, are expected to leave by the end of this year.
- Punjab representation
- More than 1,000 of those exiting personnel are from Punjab.
- Draft job reservations
- The proposed Punjab policy includes 10% reservation in police constable posts and 20% in office guard posts.
- Recruitment decline
- The Centre for Training and Development of Punjab Youth says Army recruitment from Punjab has fallen by 60% to 70%.
- Army representation
- Pratap Singh Bajwa said Punjab's Army representation could fall from 7.8% to 2.3% under the new recruitment scheme.
- Recruitment disruption
- Recruitment rallies were halted during 2020-21 and 2021-22 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Proposed support
- Veterans have called for reserved posts in police, forest, fire services and Home Guards, along with skills certification and entrepreneurship support.
Quotes
Pratap Singh Bajwa
Leader of the Opposition in Punjab and Congress politician
“Recently, the Chief of the Western Command Army met me and shared a matter of great concern. He said, 'Please help us; we are not getting children to enlist for the Sikh Regiment, and the Sikh Regiment is at risk'.”
NDTV
“It will dilute the long-existing distinct ethos of regiments. Four-year service is too short for a soldier.”
NDTV
Sources
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