Protest against Agnipath scheme in Lakhimpur district

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: At a time when massive protest against the Centre's new army recruitment scheme 'Agnipath' has rocked the nation, several organizations have taken to the street in Lakhimpur district to protest against the same. These organizations have demanded the Union Government that the controversial scheme should be withdrawn for the interest of the country.

The Agnipath Scheme was approved by the Union Government in the current month to be implemented from September for the recruitment of soldiers into the three services of the Armed forces. The announcement of the scheme was made on June 14. The scheme is for both male and female aspirants of age group 17.5 to 21 years. In the midst of widespread protests against the Agnipath scheme, the Union Government has raised the upper limit from 21 to 23, but only for recruitment in the year 2022. The recruitment through this scheme is twice a year for the Indian Army, the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. The posts available are below the officer cadre. The Agnipath Scheme is the only route to serve in the military. The recruits named Agniveers will serve for a tenure of four years that includes training for six months followed by 3.5 years deployment. After retirement from the service, they will have the opportunity to apply to continue in the armed forces and up to 25 percent of the Agniveers will be selected for the permanent cadre. Personnel who retire after 4 years of service will not be eligible for pension, but will reportedly receive a lump sum amount of approximately 11.71 lakh at the end of tenure. The Union government plans to recruit 45,000 to 50,000 new personnel every year through this scheme.

Strongly opposing the scheme, the Lakhimpur district units of All India Democratic Youths' Organisation (AIDYO), All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) and All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan (AIMSS) demonstrated in North Lakhimpur town near Adarsha Bazaar premises on Monday. The members of the organizations burnt the dummy copy of the Agnipath Scheme during the demonstration. Attending the protest programme, AIDYO State secretary called upon the public to oppose the scheme and to strengthen the stir against the alleged anti-public, anti-youth policy. The organizations demanded the Union Government to roll back the scheme and to retain the permanent recruitment system in the Indian Armed Forces.

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