By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 16 Jul: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today made a big announcement on the Agnipath scheme. Addressing a press conference at the Prakash Pant Bhawan in the Vidhan Sabha here, he said that after retiring from the army, Agniveers (those joining the army under Agnipath Scheme) would be given employment opportunities in various services of the state on a priority basis. The Chief Minister said that Agniveers would be provided employment in the police, fire fighting and disaster management departments. A Service Manual would be prepared for this.
During the Press Conference, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also appealed to the youth to take benefit of the scheme and added that they had an opportunity to make the state and the country proud of them by choosing to become Agniveers.
Dhami declared that this was a golden opportunity for the youth to join the army and added that those from Uttarakhand ought to take advantage of this scheme. He reminded that Uttarakhand had always been leading other states in providing warriors to the country.The Chief Minister said the youth of the state would become Agniveers and bring laurels to the nation and the state and hoist the flag of their valour across the country.
The Chief Minister said that, after serving in the Army for four years, other opportunities would be given to the youth to secure their future. A service fund package would be available after four years of service to the Agniveers retiring after four years of service. They would get special opportunities in jobs in the state. Employment opportunities would be provided to them on priority basis in various services of the state. Dhami claimed that, along with strengthening the military strength of the country through the Agnipath scheme, the skills of the youth as well as their commitment towards the nation would also improve significantly. In the past few years, several major reforms had been seen in the Indian defence sector. The decision taken to implement the Agnipath scheme would enable the youth of the country serve in the army for four years. With this scheme, Agniveers would be groomed and trained to serve the country. They would be trained in use of new technology and the country would get highly skilled manpower.
The Chief Minister claimed that this historic decision had been taken with a view to making the Armed Forces among the best in the world. He added that the educational qualifications required to join the armed forces under Agnipath scheme had been fixed at matriculation and senior secondary and the age had been fixed between 17 years 6 months and 21 years. In case of the death of any Agniveer during service to the country, his family members would get an amount of more than Rs 1 crores along with interest under the service fund. Apart from this, the salary of the remaining service would also be given. In case of disablement of any Agniveer during the course of service, he would be provided a compensatory amount up to Rs 44 lakhs. Apart from this, the salary of the remaining job would also be provided. The CM also reminded that recruitment under the scheme would begin in the next three months. He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always worked to boost the morale of the soldiers of the country and ceded many pending demands of soldiers. Now, India is rapidly moving towards self-reliance in the field of defence. He expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister on behalf of the 1.25 crore people of the state for the Agnipath scheme.
