Agniveers should have seamless absorption in Central Police Forces

Those Agniveers who volunteer to join the Central Police Forces after their release from the Indian Army must be given 100% guarantee and facilitation for transition from military to Central Police services. For this the Cabinet must issue an Ordinance immediately and then turn it into a law within the stipulated time. Only then the true spirit of article 51 A ( d ) of the Constitution will be fulfilled.

The political turmoil and the acidic debate involving the Agniveer Scheme for the Indian Army has occurred because of bureaucratic apathy or may be even Scheming. The Army study Group had made comprehensive recommendations on this Scheme more than 30 years back. However the very spirit of the Scheme was destroyed by implementing only selective parts.

After all till 1972 Army was functioning more or less with Agniveers only. Men had 7 years colour service after which most got released and went back to civil life in their villages.

 To stem opposition to the Agniveer Scheme, the Govt has rolled out a half hearted initiative to facilitate the transition of Agniveers from military service to service in the Central Police forces, apart from regular civilian life. One of the half way measures is the introduction of a 10% reservation in the recruitment for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), specifically for former Agniveers. This move, exempts them from the mandatory physical test required for other aspirants.

The above is again a bureaucratic trap which needs to be destroyed through a political decision.

All Agniveers on release and volunteering to join the CAPF must have a seamless transit provided they have a Good Discipline record and are medically fit. For this there needs to be cross affiliation between Group Centres of CAPF and the Infantry Regimental / Corps Training Centres if the Army. Thus on release an Agniveer can be given a Movement Order to one of the CAPF Group Centre as per worked out vacancy.

A compulsory military service Scheme can be introduced but it will create more management problems than solving them. Agnipath Scheme is a better one ….those joining Govt Service must first render military service.

The Agnipath Scheme, thus recruiting young Indians for short-term military service, provides them enhanced skills, foster patriotism and instills discipline. After completing four years of dedicated service, Agniveers are also provided with an array of benefits designed to support their reintegration into civilian society. This includes the Agniveer Skill Certificate, which highlights their acquired competencies, a 12th-equivalent certification, and an Ex-Agniveer Card to facilitate their entry into various sectors.

Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) are the Central Police Forces. These forces Police our International borders and look after the internal security. The 100% reservation policy for Agniveers in CAPF recruitment will therefore be a superb move to leverage the skills and discipline of former military personnel for these vital roles. The policy will fulfill the veryspirit of Article 51 A ( D ) of the Constitution,

Once the above procedure stabilized then Agneeveer service may be made compulsory even for State Police Forces and other Govt services.