ARUNACHAL PRADESH TO TRAIN YOUTHS FOR AGNIPATH SCHEME, RETIRED AGNIVEERS TO GET PREFERENCE IN STATE SERVICES
The Arunachal Pradesh government will offer training for local youths to prepare them for recruitment under the Agnipath scheme, Chief Minister Pema Khandu announced. Additionally, retired Agniveers from the state will be given priority in recruitment for the Arunachal Pradesh Police, AP Battalions, and Emergency and Fire Services.
"The government of Arunachal Pradesh will facilitate training for local youths to prepare them for recruitment as Agniveers under the AGNIPATH scheme," the chief minister said in a post on X.
"Additionally, retired Agniveers from Arunachal Pradesh will be given preference in recruitment for the Arunachal Pradesh Police, AP Battalions, and Emergency and Fire Services," he added.
Khandu highlighted that this initiative will allow Arunachal Pradesh's youth to serve the nation and improve local services.
The Agnipath scheme, introduced by the Centre in 2022, recruits individuals aged 17-and-a-half to 21 into the Army, Navy, and Air Force on a four-year contractual basis. After completing their tenure, 25 percent of Agniveers will be offered regular service.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has reserved 10% of vacancies in Central Armed Police Forces for ex-Agniveers, with several state governments also implementing similar policies for their police forces.
This comes at a time when the BJP-led central government and the opposition are involved in a political tussle over the Agnipath scheme. On Friday, PM Modi was on his visit to Kargil on the 25th anniversary of the victory in the Kargil War of 1999. Speaking in Drass, Modi criticised opposition parties for politicising the scheme and dismissed claims that it was introduced to reduce pension costs. He said that the Agnipath scheme aims to maintain a young and fit army.
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In response, opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, condemned Modi's comments, especially during the Kargil Vijay Diwas tributes. They accused the Prime Minister of using the occasion for political gains and demanded a review of the Agnipath scheme. Kharge called Modi's actions "unfortunate" and "deplorable," asserting that no previous Prime Minister has engaged in such political maneuvering on a day meant to honor war martyrs.
(With inputs from agencies)