Govt must thoroughly review the scheme

THE Agnipath scheme has been under intense scrutiny ever since it was launched two years ago. From time to time, retired defence officers have voiced concerns over the scheme for short-term recruitment into the armed forces, flagging issues such as inadequate retention — only 25 per cent of the Agniveers will be absorbed in the permanent cadre — and manpower shortage. Recent incidents of Agniveers reportedly being involved in criminal activities are worrisome, even as questions remain over the prospects of recruits after they are released from service. Some veterans have even stated that the time-tested recruitment system should not have been tinkered with.

Apart from the disagreement within the military community, Agnipath has become a bone of contention in the political arena. In his address on Kargil Vijay Diwas last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only stoutly defended the scheme but also accused the Opposition of playing politics over the recruitment process. Asserting that Agnipath was aimed at making the forces younger and fitter, he trashed the claims that the scheme was launched to save pension money. Led by the Congress, several Opposition parties have demanded that the scheme be scrapped. Notably, some allies of the ruling BJP, especially the Janata Dal (United), have sought its comprehensive review.

The government cannot afford to let things drift as the lack of consensus will have a bearing on the combat preparedness of the armed forces. Several BJP-ruled states have announced reservation or preference for former Agniveers for jobs in uniformed services like the police. However, this may not be enough to silence the naysayers. The Centre must be receptive to the feedback and take pains to remove the scheme’s shortcomings. An inflexible attitude can be counter-productive, as shown by the year-long protests that followed the enactment of the three Central farm laws (which were eventually repealed). At stake are national security and the morale of the troops. Political grandstanding must take a back seat.