No Guts: No Glory
We witnessed violent protests, since mid-June; after the announcement of the ‘Agnipath-Yojana’, an Armed Forces transformative reform in the recruitment policy. The violence appears to be politically motivated, based on half-truths and lacks understanding of the national needs. Interestingly, the IAF received, almost 2 lakh applications within a week and must be seen as a vindication of the Services decision. There are level headed youth too who are busy preparing for the tough selection process rather than indulge in rioting. In a democracy, nonviolent protests may be acceptable but criminal acts of destruction dent the nation’s image.
More than 46000 ‘Agniveers’ will be recruited this year, with 10th, 12th and ITI qualifications. They are entitled to a good monthly package along with risk and hardship allowances as applicable in the Services. On release, they will receive ‘Seva-Nidhi’ of Rs 11.71 Lakhs. This will comprise their contribution, the accrued interest and a matching Government contribution including interest. ‘Seva-Nidhi’ will financially empower the ‘Agniveers’ being released and can be used for higher education, investments or as initial capital for Start Ups. The youth after an intense four year ‘Rashtra-Sewa’ will be empowered with operational on the job experience and a financial package. They will not be a burden on their family members. The nation needs empowered and confident youth rather than a generation of entitlement seekers.
‘Seva-Nidhi’ is exempt from Income Tax. Even as there will be no pensionary benefits, the tag of ‘retirees’ in the prime youth will neither do good to the self-esteem of the youth nor to the society. The training they received will stand them in good stead and find them an appropriate employment. Even as India cannot afford to create lakhs of pensioners after a four-year short stint in ‘Rashtra-Sewa’, a non-contributory Life Insurance Cover of Rs 48 lakhs for the duration of the military engagement period will help subsequent to the four-year stint and during emergencies. The biggest advantage to the nation of the four-year military service coming in the prime of youth, will ensure national focus, contributory satisfaction, self-discipline and personal development with a tremendous sense of pride to the families and communities on sending their wards for national service. The Armed Forces will henceforth be more youthful and a technically capable force. The ambition to be in the top layer will extract the best out of the youth. ‘Agneepath’ is for individuals below the rank of officers and will deploy fitter, energetic and younger troops on the front lines.
‘Agniveers’ will imbibe various military skills, discipline, physical fitness lifestyle, leadership qualities, courage and unconditional patriotism, all essential in nation building. This is the best form of Military Civil Fusion of our national human capital. The education system currently has limited focus on nation building and moulding the youth to be contributors to society. A few organisations like NCC, NSS etc do contribute. However, ‘Agniveers’ are expected to selflessly and effortlessly contribute to the nation building process. These skills will ensure employment or entrepreneurship too. Additionally, the nation will have more young Armed Forces reservists for overcoming national crises as a result of a two and a half front threat. Currently, the Reservists are less in numbers and are aged. It is for a nation to have a second line of qualified, experienced, fitter and motivated human capital ready to be inducted into military service when the need is felt.
The exceptionally meritorious ‘Agniveers’ will be selected for permanent retention. The released youth trained as they are, can get back to their parental business or get to a second vocation with an advantage of four years’ experience giving them a distinct edge in civil society. The 25% retained youth would serve for a further engagement period of 15 years, governed by the existing terms and conditions of service in vogue. Thus, the subordinate cadre base will be wider and younger while the higher echelons will be lean and thin but with experience.
The scheme is to reduce the Armed Forces average age. The nation has a youth bulge but the military is aging, a paradox. This is not new for the Armed Forces. Similar system exists for Short Service Officer (SSO) streams with some variations. Even in the officer cadre the plan has always been to have a bigger support cadre. However, it has not succeeded so far due to the neglect of the Government in making severance packages better. Other reasons like the Services themselves dealing with SSO entrants and the Indian mindset of seeking a permanent Government job also contribute.
Why did the youngsters protest? Were they ill informed, misguided or manipulated? Does the scheme turn military work into contractual work? Is the scheme meddling with National security and its priorities? Is the concern that there is no job security after the four-year training real? Is contractual work something new in India or in the world? Whatever be the rationale, there can be no place for stone-pelting, arson and unruly behaviour in a civilised society. In a democracy, there is a justified expectation for transparency in development and governance. This must be different for the security of the nation because the adversary is ever watchful of our challenges and sentiments whereas agitational dynamics would only expose the fault lines to the adversary. Damage to public and private property is unfair to the honest tax payer’s hard earned income. This should be compensated by the mob, especially the instigators and the perpetrators. The injuries to the police personnel also need to be compensated by the rogues, many of whom appeared to be well past their prime in age or character to be considered for a career in the military.
A certain argument is that the pension and salary burden is high. The allocation for the military is to be balanced for sustenance and modernisation. An optimisation for security and development; both are essential facets for conflict avoidance. When a war is waged, the only consideration is that of protection of people, men, material and security of sovereignty. Nothing else. Be it ‘Operation Rakshak II’, ‘Operation Goodwill’, ‘Operation Good Samaritan’, or ‘Operation All Out Kashmir’ or any other, all prove this. New wars need security well beyond physical territory safeguards. A strong economy is needed for maintaining a strong military and vice versa.
A numerically strong military is not the only definition of a strong military. Technology empowerment of the military has to be timely, in adequate numbers and of quality which also needs money. Indigenisation also needs money which ensures strategic autonomy for us. Thus, a fine balance is needed at national level, a responsibility well understood and is being ensured with hard decisions being taken by the Apex level authorities in the military as well as in the nation.
A democracy allows a multiplicity of viewpoints. Those viewpoints must result in healthy debate and seek answers to the really vexed problems or concerns and not take convoluted or motivated positions. These are serious issues and should not be expected to be solved on the streets under the constant focus of global media.
Some Corporates and Government Departments have assured hiring of ‘Agniveers’ over others based on merit. This must be lauded. However, the Civil society and the States must also introspect on the number of ex-servicemen they employ each year. 65% of our youth are in the age group of 20 to 35. They all need to be good citizens, well trained and skilled. It's a huge challenge for the nation, not for the Armed Forces alone.
The scheme is certainly innovative and transformative. The lingering questions however, are related to meritorious youth not opting for the military and the ones getting released being a burden. Doubts about wastage of effort and resources in training more people than the requirement is another query. In fact, training the youth can never be a waste. The current plan envisages specialised training for the selected 25% only. A national approach is needed from participating States and all Sectors to make the military better for current and future wars. We may never fight the past wars, so be prepared for the future, the recipe of such preparation must be self-created; solutions are not available commercially off the shelf. Let the nation be self-sufficient in its indigenous brilliance for the threats that are looming large. Internal pressures should not compel the planners to compromise on national security. Those at the helm of affairs especially in the military have risen on merit, they are professionals who know the way to go.
Trust their decision making and execution capabilities. The responsibility to handle the outflow after four years is of the rest of the Government and the civil society at large. Let everyone take that ownership rather than protecting turfs or being critical of transformative measures. Let this not become an easy option for arm chair strategists and fence sitters to oppose, any and everything done, based on perceptions and individual interests. Remember what Alexander Hamilton, the founding father of United States said once. “Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.”
