New Delhi: Its recently-announced Agnipath scheme, to recruit soldiers in the three Armed forces, having run into a barrage of violent protests across the country, the Central government is on a damage-control mode.
In an effort to pacify the angry youths, who have been demanding a withdrawal of Agnipath, the government has rolled out a slew of additional offers for Agniveers.
In the latest announcement, Union Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the government has cleared a proposal to reserve 10% of jobs in organizations under the ministry, for those recruited under the Agnipath model, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for subsequent employment.
“The 10% reservation will be implemented in the Indian Coast Guard and defence civilian posts, and all the 16 defence public sector undertakings. This reservation would be in addition to existing reservation for ex-servicemen,” Rajnath stated.
The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the minister and attended by the three Service chiefs, Defence secretary and senior officials of the department of Military Affairs.
The 16 DPSUs are — Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Bharat Earth Movers Limited, Bharat Dynamics Limited, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited, Goa Shipyard Limited, Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited, Advanced Weapons & Equipment India Ltd, Munitions India Limited, Yantra India Limited, Gliders India Limited, India Optel Limited and Troop Comforts Limited.
Merchant Navy scheme for Agniveers
There was another ‘sop’ from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Airways (MoPSW).
Agniveers who will serve the Indian Navy under Agnipath scheme will be inducted into Merchant Navy through a new scheme launched by the Directorate General of Shipping under MoPSW and Indian Navy, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.
