The Haryana government has announced 10 per cent quota for Agniveers in posts of constable, mining guard, forest guard, jail warden and special police officer. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also announced that the government will offer a subsidy of ₹60,000 per annum to the industrial unit that pays an Agniveer a salary of ₹30,000 per month.
Amid rising controversy about the Agnipath scheme, the Haryana Government introduced schemes and job quota aimed to assuage fears of uncertain fear among Agniveers.
At a press conference in Chandigarh, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that in direct recruitment to posts of constable, mining guard, forest guard, jail warden and special police officer made by the state government, there will be a 10 per cent horizontal reservation for Agniveers.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini mentioned that the Agnipath scheme was implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 June 2022.
Under this scheme, Agniveer is deployed in the Indian Army for 4 years.
CM Saini announced, “Our government will provide 10% horizontal reservation to Agniveers in Haryana in direct recruitment to the posts of Constable, Mining Guard, Forest Guard, Jail Warden and SPO recruited by the state government…”
Haryana Govt announces benefits for Agniveers
–The Haryana government promised an age relaxation of 3 years in the maximum age prescribed for government posts in Group B and C for Agniveers
-In the case of the first batch of Agniveers, this age relaxation will be 5 years.
-The Haryana government will provide 5% horizontal reservation for Agniveers in direct recruitment to civil posts in Group C and 1% horizontal reservation in Group B
-If Agniveer is given a salary of more than ₹30,000 per month by any industrial unit, then our government will give a subsidy of ₹60,000 per annum to that industrial unit
What is Agnipath Scheme?
Agnipath Scheme is a tour of duty style scheme approved by the Government of India on 14 June 2022 and implemented in the country in September 2022, for recruitment of soldiers below the rank of commissioned officers into the Army, Navy, and Air Force services of the armed forces.
All recruits are hired only for a four year period. Personnel recruited under this system are called Agniveers.
The introduction of the scheme has been criticised for lack of consultation and public debate.
Agniveer controversy
A recent controversy arose regarding compensation of the slain Agniveers. Leader of Opposiiton Rahul Gandhi has criticised the BJP-led government for failing to compensate the family of Agniveer Ajay Kumar, who died in a landmine explosion in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Congress leader had shared a video, wherein, Ajay Kumar’s father expressed that they had received no support from the Centre, only some help from the Punjab government.
Ajay Kumar’s father noted that the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had claimed in Parliament that ₹1 crore is given to the family if an Agniveer dies, but they had received nothing.
The Indian Army refuted the claims, emphasising that the last rites were conducted with full military honors and that the family has already received ₹98.39 lakhs.
Additionally, ex-gratia and other benefits totaling approximately ₹67 lakhs, in accordance with the provisions of the Agniveer Scheme, will be paid upon final account settlement following due police verification, bringing the total amount to approximately ₹1.65 crore.
