New Delhi: Amid the ongoing protests across several states against the new Agnipath scheme for recruiting soldiers across the three services, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday termed the scheme as "controversial". "Agnipath scheme is controversial, carries multiple risks, subverts the long-standing traditions & ethos of armed forces & there's no guarantee that soldiers recruited under the scheme will be better trained & motivated to defend the country," he said.
“We have read and heard the views expressed by retired defence officers. Almost unanimously, they have opposed the scheme and we believe that many serving officers share the same reservations about the scheme,” he said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced the launch of the Agnipath scheme on June 14. Under the scheme, youngsters will be recruited into the armed forces for four years and given priority in some jobs later. The youth selected under the scheme will be called 'Agniveer' and there are plans to induct nearly 46,000 youths this year. The announcement by the central government, however, has not gone down well with everyone, with protests being reported from different states.
The Opposition and some military experts have said the scheme would adversely impact the functioning of the armed forces.
“Our first concern is that the Agnipath soldier will be trained for six months and will serve for another 42 months when 75 per cent of the recruits will be discharged. It appears to us that the scheme makes a mockery of training; inducts into the defence forces an ill-trained and ill-motivated soldier; and discharges a disappointed and unhappy ex-soldier into society. The age of recruitment — 17 to 21 years — raises numerous questions. A large part of our youth will be totally excluded from serving in the defence forces,” Chidambaram said.
While the scheme was announced on Tuesday, students in many parts of the country hit the streets in protest by Wednesday morning.
“...the short period of training (6 months) and the unusually short period of service (42 months) may have negative consequences on quality, efficiency and effectiveness. We fear that the scheme may turn out to be a case of ‘penny wise and security foolish’,” said the Congress leader.
The age criterion for Agniveers will be 17-21 years, and they will get a salary of Rs 30,000 to 40,000 a month. According to the plan, 25 percent of the recruited youth will get further opportunities in the Army and the remaining 75 percent will have to leave the job.