‘Agnipath will create pool of trained civilians’ – Times of India

Kolkata: The chief of staff, Eastern Command, Lieutenant General K K Repswal, said in Kolkata on Wednesday that defence forces’ Agnipath recruitment scheme was meant to create a pool of trained young civilians who might be called back to join the forces in case of an emergency.
He was speaking on the scheme that was approved by the Union cabinet on Tuesday.
The scheme is meant for short-term employment of youths aged between 17.5 and 21 years to the forces. Under the scheme, youths — who will be known as Agniveers — will be recruited for a period of four years.
After this, 75% of the trained personnel will be released to continue with civilian life while 25% of the top performers will be recruited in the forces. They will serve for a full term of another 15 years. The other 75% Agniveers will be demobilised, with an exit package of Rs 11.71 lakhs, skill certificates and bank loans.
“The generation of a large pool of trained personnel will help the country when there is an emergency, be it a war-like situation or a natural disaster when these personnel can be called back to join the forces if needed,” Lieutenant-General Repswal said. at Fort William.
He clarified that 46,000 Agniveers will be recruited this year while more recruitments will follow in the coming years.
In the first year, Agniveers will get Rs 30,000 per month but they will receive only Rs 21,000 as 30% of their remuneration or Rs 9,000 will be their contribution to Agniveer Corpus Fund while the government will contribute the same amount to the corpus fund. Agniveers will receive Rs 33,000 in the second year, Rs 36,500 in the third year and Rs 40,000 in the fourth year.