There is a ruckus in the country regarding the Agneepath scheme. Now the government is also seen in action mode regarding this. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is holding regular review meetings. At the same time, on Sunday, the three army chiefs of the country came forward regarding the Agneepath scheme and said that this scheme is to reduce the average age of the armed forces.
Addressing the press conference, Lt Gen Arun Puri said that the government is going to implement the Agneepath scheme and he wants to appeal to the youth of the country to end the agitation. Defending the Agneepath scheme, he said that the scheme would help in reducing the average age of the army personnel, which was one of the main observations of the Kargil Review Committee.
He further said that in today’s time, a large number of soldiers in the Indian Army are around the age of 30, through this scheme our aim is to connect the youth with us. In defense of the Agneepath scheme, he said that every year around 17,600 people are taking premature retirement from the three services. No one ever tried to ask him what he would do after retirement.
Puri said that all the Agniveers on going to Siachen and other areas will get all the allowances which are available to a common soldier at present. There will be no discrimination against them. If an Agniveer dies in the line of duty, his family will be given a compensation of Rs 1 crore.
Puri further said that there is no place in the army to indulge in violence and create disturbance. A young man joining the army has to produce a certificate that he has not been involved in any demonstration and disturbance before.
Navy Vice Admiral D.K. Tripathi said that we have started our recruitment process. By June 25, our advertisement will reach the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The recruitment process will start within a month. Our first Agniveer will report at our training institute on 21st November.
Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi said that from November 21 this year the first batch of naval ‘Agniveers’ will be trained on board INS Chilka in Odisha. Both female and male Agniveer are eligible for this.
Vice Admiral Tripathi also said that there are currently 30 women officers in the Indian Navy who are posted on various Indian Navy ships. He said, “We have decided that we will also recruit women under the Agneepath scheme. They will also be deployed on warships.”