Amid continuing protests across the country against the central government’s reform to the way soldiers are inducted into the armed forces, the Agnipath Scheme, several Indian Army aspirants today staged a sit-in demonstration here.
The state capital saw protests against the scheme after it was announced on June 14. Today, the youths demanded that the Common Entrance Exam (CEE) for induction into the armed forces be carried out.
The exam was not held since 2019, ostensibly due to the Covid-19 pandemic, before the Centre introduced Agnipath, which will provide only short term, four years recruitment for most soldiers of the lower ranks.
While previously kept waiting to sit the CEE because of the pandemic, the aspirants informed that now they are being told that the exam has been cancelled due to the introduction of Agnipath.
Evaldus Marshillong, a resident of Markasa in West Khasi Hills, said that there are about 800 youths from Meghalaya who were selected for the medical tests.
“We demand the government to pursue our case. We want to be in the Indian Army and have been longing to appear for the CEE,” he said.
However, he is not against the Agnipath Scheme in toto; rather he wants the exam to take place so that he can join the army.
“Once they complete the four-year period, the agniveers will be well-trained and the scheme will be very useful for our country,” Marshillong said.
One of the many reasons for opposition to Agnipath is the short-term service – critics worry about future employment options for soldiers once released from the armed forces. Being in the armed forces also guaranteed a pension and other benefits, which will not be applicable to agniveers.
