10% job quota, easy loans for ex-Agniveers in Haryana

Chandigarh, July 17

Months ahead of the Assembly elections, the BJP government in Haryana today announced a 10 per cent reservation for Agniveers in the recruitment for constables, mining guards, forest guards and jail warders, besides quota in other posts.

The Tribune was the first to break this story in its July 11 edition, mentioning that the Haryana Government was planning to provide 10 per cent quota to Agniveers to stem criticism over the Agnipath scheme.

Addressing the media here, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said the government had also decided to give 5 per cent horizontal reservation for Agniveers in direct recruitment to civil posts in Group C and 1 per cent horizontal reservation in Group B. “An age relaxation of three years will be given for Agniveers in Group B and C posts. However, there will an age relaxation of five years for the first batch of Agniveers,” the CM said.

Announcing another incentive, Saini said the government would provide an interest-free loan of up to Rs 5 lakh if any Agniveer wished to set up own business. If any industrial unit employed an Agniveer at a salary of over Rs 30,000 per month, then the state government would give that unit an annual subsidy of Rs 60,000, the CM said. Besides, Agniveers will get arms licences on priority.

The Agnipath scheme provides that on the completion of four years of service, up to 25 per cent of each specific batch of Agniveers will be enrolled in regular cadre of the armed forces. The CAPFs have also arrangements for 10 per cent quota for Agniveers in constable-level posts.

The compulsory retirement of 75 per cent of Agniveers after four years in job had become a major issue in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The INDIA bloc parties, including the Congress, had said they would repeal the scheme, if voted to power. During its “Haryana Maange Hisab” campaign, the Congress is again demanding scrapping of the scheme.

Three to five-year age relaxation

• Age relaxation of 3 years for Agniveers in Group B, C posts
• Relaxation of five years for the first batch of Agniveers
• 5% horizontal quota in direct recruitment to Group C civil posts; it will be 1% in Group B
• Interest-free loan of up to Rs 5L for setting up business
• Industrial units to get annual Rs 60,000 subsidy for hiring an Agniveer at Rs 30,000/month