Modi government’s Agnipath scheme for armed forces has reactions from the Indian Army and they are not happy.
Major General Gagan Deep Bakshi, retired, (the picture shows him in his younger days in the Army) sent out a word of caution and advice against the Agnipath scheme and said, “Let’s not destroy our institutions in a time of great threats from China&Pak. Armed forces have performed well . Just for Saving money let us not destroy what we have. Armed forces need a mixture of youth & Experience.4 year tenure forces could be risk-averse. learn from Russia
Lets not destroy our institutions in a time of great threatsfrom China&Pak .Armed forces have performed well .Just for Saving money let us not destroy what we have. Armed forces need a mixture of youth & Experience.4 year tenure forces could be risk averse. learnfromRussia
— Maj Gen (Dr)GD Bakshi SM,VSM(retd) (@GeneralBakshi) June 14, 2022
He also tweeted, “With high threat From China and Pak this is NOT the opportune time to generate great ORGANISATIONAL TURBULENCE.
This new model will badly affect the popularity of the armed forces as a career
Accountants cant be allowed to run amok with the OPERATIONAL Effectiveness of a force. this is being done to save money.”
He went on to say, “In Revenue budget to enhance capital budget. Please don’t destroy effective organisations to save money. Increase defence budget to 3% of GDP.
if trained & young military manpower released is not absorbed it could join terrorists or insurgents. 4-year contractual period militates against Integration in unit & could make men RISK AVERSE. Cater for 6 months training period & 8 months annual leave residual service will be just 3 years.”
He cautions, “Problem areas:-1. Ukraine war has shown conscripts to be the weakest link in the chain. Their lack of integration & experience was fatal. Russia has no lack of equipment – it lacks manpower. 2. We were releasing men at 30 years of age earlier. Were never absorbed in CPOs or found jobs in the industry.
All militaries have their organisational culture and Ethos. India has had a tradition of All volunteer full-colour service armies. Switching to a 4-year virtual tour of duty model overnight would be a highly disruptive change.”
In opposition to the Modi government’s Agnipath scheme, defence experts are also unhappy
What is the Agnipath scheme?
The Modi government has started the Agnipath Scheme to recruit the youth of the country in the army for four years only. Recruitment rallies will commence in 90 days and about 46,000 soldiers will be recruited under the scheme this year.
The scheme seeks to replace the existing recruitment model under which soldiers are recruited as sepoys into specific regiments, based on class patterns.
Sources in the defence and security establishment explained that soldiers under the Agnipath scheme — referred to as Agniveers — will be enrolled for a duration of four years, including the training period, and will get a salary of Rs 30,000 – Rs 40,000 per month, and allowances as applicable.
Those recruited under this scheme will have to meet the medical eligibility conditions as applicable for respective categories/trades within the armed forces.
Sources added that while all Agniveers will be given the option to enrol into the regular cadre after four years, only 25 per cent from each batch will be enrolled in the regular cadre of the armed forces, after their four-year service duration.
Sources explained that Agniveers can be posted to any regiment, unit and establishment and would be entitled to honours and awards under extant guidelines on the subject.
The soldiers recruited under this scheme will also get a post-release ‘Seva Nidhi Package’, of Rs 11.71 lakhs including interest (tax-free), besides a non-contributory insurance cover of Rs 48 Lakhs.
The Rs 11.71 lakh will include 30 per cent of salary as a contribution to the scheme and an equal amount put in by the government. An additional ex-gratia of Rs 44 lakh will be given in case of death attributable to service, and compensation under existing rules will be given in case of disability.
They will also get an Agniveer Skill Certificate, which will aim to assist them in finding post-release job opportunities.
Agniveers will also have an option of accessing a bank loan of Rs 18.2 lakhs over three years or more, against the Seva Nidhi package.
However, Agniveers who leave after four years will not get ex-servicemen status and no entitlement to gratuity and pension benefits.
The eventual aim of the scheme is to keep the three services younger and agile while reducing the overall pension burden.
A normal soldier serves in Army for 17 years and may continue if their health is good.. It seems a waste of time, training and money! And after that, where will they go?. Perhaps leaving them in a state of joblessness after this is one of the greatest dangers to the nation. Did Prime Minister Modi think through this one well?