Punjab Govt to give jobs to Agniveers after retirement, says minister

Punjab Defence Services Welfare Minister Mohinder Bhagat today said the State Government was committed to providing employment opportunities to Agniveers after they retire from the Army. Bhagat met ex-servicemen at a public meeting held under the ‘Punjab Sarkar Aap De Dwar’ initiative in Patiala.

Bhagat highlighted that the first cohort of 800 Agniveers is expected to retire in 2027. Since they will not be eligible for ex-servicemen benefits, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has called for preparing a proposal to ensure jobs for these “young veterans”.

Addressing a gathering of ex-servicemen, Veer Naris, widows and gallantry award recipients at the District Defence Services Welfare Office, Bhagat emphasised that the State Government will engage with the Centre and Ministry of Defence to address difficulties arising from the issuance of life certificates under the Sparsh programme.

To ensure a systematic approach to grievance redressal, the minister said district administrations across Punjab had been instructed to convene monthly coordination meetings with the Defence Services Welfare Department.

Brig Bhupinder Singh Dhillon (retd), Director of the Defence Services Welfare Department, accompanied Cabinet Minister at the event.