Playing with Fire: The Hindu Editorial on Agneepath

All non-official appointments in the three wings of the Indian Armed Forces will be through Agneepath (literally, the path of fire)The Center made the announcement on June 14. The government has enumerated the reasons for the move which fundamentally hampers not only the process of recruitment but also the character of the soldier. Almost signaled, a section of experts has started praising the move as a transformative step in the defense of the country. But many more political observers in the defense community have not shied away from expressing their dismay and shock. Young people are on the streets wanting to join the army Protests are taking place in many states, and in many places violent are also happening. With no recruitment due to COVID-19 in the last two years, these youths were already disappointed. With little education and skills, they fear the new process will block an accessible way to escape poverty. The new recruits, or Agniveers (literally, fire heroes), will have a tenure of four years including six months of training, unlike the lifelong pension after the existing 15 years of service. On completion they will be given opportunity to apply for permanent cadre and up to one fourth will be enrolled as regular cadre. The rest will walk out with a tax-free purse of around ₹11.71 lakh and return to civilian life to aid in ‘nation building’. The recruitment process will start in 90 days with around 46,000 youths recruited.

The government claims that the new scheme will help create a younger, fitter defense force with more trained personnel in the changing technological environment. It said it would inculcate military discipline, ethos and skill as a value addition, improving prospects for those returning to civil society. Initially, there will be no permanent recruitment in the armed forces for the next four years. Critics, including many fellow travellers of the ruling BJP, have raised concerns such as the potential damage to operational preparedness given the crisis at the borders, with personnel hired for short periods, hastily trained and professional forces. Lack of harmony nearby. If a soldier’s job is now converted into a contractual employment, it may not motivate the candidates who hope for job security, pension and honour. The argument that defense should not be treated as an employment guarantee scheme is rhetorically impressive, but the fact remains that from the manufacture of weapons to the employment of soldiers, the sector plays an important role in the economy. For a country like India, where unemployment remains a major policy challenge, the concerns cannot be easily dismissed. There is also a very credible allegation on the government that this is nothing but a cost-cutting plan. Keeping all this in mind, the Center should put the plan on hold and reconsider it in consultation with a wide range of political parties and experts.