The Haryana government has announced a 10% job reservation for Agniveers in specific roles. Chief Minister Nayab Saini made the announcement on Wednesday, outlining the reservation policy that will apply to the direct recruitment of constables, mining guards, forest guards, jail wardens, and Special Police Officers (SPO) in the state.
According to the announcement, a 10% horizontal quota will be implemented for Agniveers in the aforementioned positions. Additionally, there is a three-year age waiver for Group B and C employment, and a five-year age waiver for the first batch of Agniveers. Furthermore, the reservation scheme provides a 5% horizontal reservation for Group C civil posts and a 1% reservation for Group B jobs.
Chief Minister Saini elaborated on the incentives for industrial units that hire Agniveers. Units offering a salary above Rs 30,000 per month to Agniveers will receive an annual subsidy of Rs 60,000 from the state government. Moreover, Agniveers will be eligible for a Rs 5 lakh loan if they wish to start their own business.
Key aspects of the policy include:
- A five-year age waiver for the first batch of Agniveers.
- An annual subsidy of Rs 60,000 for industrial units offering Agniveers a salary above Rs 30,000 per month.
- A Rs 5 lakh loan for Agniveers who want to start a business.
Chief Minister Saini emphasized that the Agnipath scheme, introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2022, aims to benefit the youth. “Our government has decided to allocate a quota for these youth (Agniveers) after they complete their four years in the Army,” he said.
This decision aligns with recent announcements by the chiefs of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), who stated that 10% of posts would be reserved for former Agniveers in their respective forces, following a decision by the Union Home Ministry. At that time, a Ministry of Defence (MoD) official noted that no physical test would be required for recruiting former Agniveers into paramilitary forces, only a physical fitness certificate.
The Agnipath scheme has been a subject of controversy, with the Congress party criticizing it as creating “use-and-throw” laborers. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh countered these criticisms, stating that the scheme was developed with input from 158 organizations and after thorough consideration.
Congress leader Deepender Hooda has been particularly vocal against the scheme, arguing that it is not beneficial for the youth or the country and calling for its abolition in favor of permanent recruitment in the army. Hooda noted that while about 5,500 youths in Haryana were previously recruited permanently into the army each year, now only 900 Agniveers are being inducted, with only around 225 expected to receive permanent positions.
Despite the controversies, the Haryana government is moving forward with its reservation policy for Agniveers, aiming to provide them with more opportunities and support as they transition from military to civilian life.
