New Delhi: Amid the ongoing protests against the government’s Agnipath recruitment scheme, Department of Military Affairs Additional Secretary Lieutenant General Anil Puri on Sunday said the Agniveers will get a compensation for Rs one crore if he sacrifices his life in service of the nation, news agency ANI reported. Lieutenant General Puri said the Agniveers would get the same allowance in areas like Siachen and other areas which are applicable to the regular soldiers serving at present.
“No discrimination against them in service conditions,” he added.
Lieutenant General Puri said the intake of Agniveers will go up to 1.25 lakh in near future and will not remain at the present figure of 46,000.
“In the next four to five years, our intake (of soldiers) will be 50,000-60,000 and will increase to 90,000 – one lakh subsequently. We have started small at 46,000 to analyse the scheme…and to build up infra capacity,” he said.
Lieutenant General Puri said the announcements regarding the reservations for Agniveers announced by the different ministries and departments was pre-planned and not in reaction to the arson that happened after the Agnipath scheme announcement.
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Asserting “this reform was long pending”, Lieutenant General Puri said: “We want to bring youthfulness and experience with this reform.”
“Today, a large number of jawan are in their 30s and officers are getting command much later than in the past,” he added.
Lieutenant General Puri further said around 17,600 people are taking premature retirement from the three Services every year.
“No one ever tried to ask them what they will do after retirement,” he added.
The Agnipath scheme for recruitment to the armed forces was launched by the three service chiefs earlier this week in Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s presence.
The Union Cabinet earlier on June 14 approved a recruitment scheme called Agnipath for Indian youth to serve in the armed forces. The scheme allows patriotic and motivated youth to serve in the armed forces for a period of four years.
This scheme has, however, sparked protests in many parts of the country.
As protests continue unabated, various Union Ministries have announced job opportunities for the Agniveers after their four-year term ends.