• Shyam Shankar Shrivastava

Agnipath Scheme’ approved by the Government of India in April 2022 and implemented since September 2022 is harmful for Indian Armed Forces, for Agnivirs and for the country. This scheme is against the basic concept, framework, role and traditions of the Indian Armed Forces.

This scheme was not recommended, accepted and approved in its present form by any senior officer of the three services. Gen. M.M. Narwane (Retd.), who was the Chief of Army staff during that time has mentioned in his book that this scheme shocked all the three chiefs when it got approved and brought to their notice from PMO office. Indian Armed Forces are guarding over 15200 kms of land borders and nearly 7000 kms of maritime borders. We have 14.5 lakh Armed Force personnel to undertake this duty out of which 13.69 lakhs are PBOR (Personnel below Officers rank) including JCOs, NCOs and jawans. After 10 years or so, out of these PBOR approx. 75 percent (10.27 Lakhs) would be Agnivirs of less than 4 years of service with low wages, with less training, with less experience, with lower facilities, with lower recognition and on contract. Would they be able to safeguard our borders; secondly our Armed Forces are equipped with many high-tech weapon systems and equipment? Who would operate these high-tech weapon systems; who would maintain them and who would repair them? Less than 4 years experienced Agnivirs would not even be able to know the full capabilities and effectiveness of weapon systems and efficient use of these against the face of the enemy.

As far as the emoluments are concerned, the Agnivirs will be the worst affected. Their wages are low; they will have no facilities compared to their counterpart jawans. The Rs. 12 lakh they are going to get after retirement, out of that 50 percent will be contributed by them only. This amount in today’s high-cost environment would be too low. As far as alternative job is concerned 80 percent of their counterparts who are ESM and have more experience and knowledge are unemployed. How will they get jobs with less educational qualification and experience?

As far as the country is concerned, there would be another army of unemployed youth adding to the already existing numbers. Such unemployed youth in such a large number can create serious problems to the environment. Country can face turmoil from inside, and perhaps outside too.

The government by having this scheme is playing with fire. We still have some time. I shall recommend that government should roll back this scheme immediately and all the Agnivirs who are inducted must be made permanent and made the part of Indian Armed forces as other personnel below officer rank.

(The author, a retired Major General, is Chairman Madhya Pradesh PCC Ex-Serviceman Department)