Young people in India are burning tires, vandalizing buses and disrupting rail and road traffic in response to a new recruitment scheme that requires time for guaranteed lifelong employment.
The protests took place in Rajasthan, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh following the announcement on Tuesday of the Agnipath (“Fire Road”) scheme, which aims to hire people between the ages of 17 and 21 on four-year contracts.
Once the contract is over, 25% of the proposed 45,000 recruits will be allowed to stay and the rest must leave. Those who do not qualify to pursue a military career will receive a lump sum of Rs 1.2 million (about £ 12,000) in lieu of a pension or benefits.
The announcement came as a shock to young villagers, accustomed to the idea of joining the army to get a secure job, a stable income and social status.
The protests were further fueled by rising unemployment and inflation.
There was no conscription during the pandemic and young Indian people are looking forward to its resumption.
“What should I do in four years?” How will the training I receive as a soldier benefit me as a civilian? ”A young man in Patna, Bihar, asked reporters.
Under the old system, those who passed the entrance exams are selected for a minimum of 15 years of service and will receive a pension when they retire.
The protests began in Bihar on Wednesday and spread to other states on Thursday. A train was set on fire in Bihar, and police had to use tear gas at several railway stations to disperse crowds throwing stones at them.
The government says the scheme will give the military a consistently younger profile, reduce its pensions and payroll, and free up funds to buy more technology.
Defense Minister Rajnat Singh tweeted: “Agnipat … is a truly transformative reform that will improve the combat potential of the armed forces, with a younger profile and technologically skilled soldiers.”
Speaking during a statement in Delhi on Tuesday, Lieutenant General Anil Puri said the scheme would inspire confidence and skill. After four years in the army, he said, the Agnipath rookie will have a unique resume to help them stand out from the crowd.
However, a retired army officer, who did not want to be named, said he thought the scheme was wrong. “The least the government can do is extend four years of service to seven and increase the number of those who must be allowed to continue serving after the contract expires from 25 to 50%.
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