As Tide Of Armed Forces Aspirants Turns Into A Trickle In Jat-Dominated Districts And Elsewhere, Youths Make Their Displeasure Loud And Clear Ahead Of Assembly Polls
HISAR: Occupying the town’s sweet centre, Mahabir Stadium is 52 years of age. But these days the sprawling sports arena looks unmistakably geriatric and utterly unkempt. It’s been an abundant monsoon. And the punishing rains have left their mark. The running tracks are a mess, the tall weeds could delight a goshala of cows and the battered stands might employ masons and house painters for weeks.
Over the decades, this multipurpose sports complex in central Haryana has not only played host to national competitions but also been a theatre of dreams for those readying themselves for the armed forces and the paramilitary. Thousands of young men — also a few women — have come here from nearby districts and states, indeed from everywhere, to toil and train.
For months now though, the number of aspirants has kept plummeting, says Sonu Lamba. Describing himself as “a defence coach”, Lamba says he trains would-be soldiers for a fee. He shows an old video on his mobile phone of hundreds of army and paramilitary aspirants.
“Log junoon ke saath taiyyari karte thhey (Aspirants used to prepare with passion). That is gone. Once I had 1,700 trainees. They came from Rajasthan, Punjab, even Uttarakhand. Now there are only 44,” he says.
Jyoti Saini, 21, talks about the large gathering of enthusiasts when she first started practising here in 2021. The crowd has since dwindled. “I used to run with a group of 10-15 girls. Now, that is down to just about a handful,” she says.
Pressing issue
Talking to other hopefuls in Hisar and other districts, it is undeniable that the armed forces’ Agnipath scheme, which the Union govt launched in 2022, has dealt a harsh blow to their job dreams. And for the disgruntled — it includes both the aspirants and their families — the scheme is a major election issue. More so in a state where the unemployment rate among 15-29 years-old is marginally higher than India’s national average, per 2023-24 govt data.
Jobs in the armed forces are much sought-after in Haryana. A fauji gets economic benefits and, equally importantly, social prestige. Village gateways are erected to pay homage to soldiers martyred in the service of the nation. With Agnipath, jobs and emotions have combined to create a volatile cocktail ahead of the Oct 5 assembly polls.
Among different caste groups, Jats are the most vocal against the scheme in which an Agniveer gets to serve in the army for four years. Only 25% of a batch will get a full tenure. The Jats are numerically substantial and electorally crucial in districts like Hisar, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Rohtak and Jind.
“What’s the point in training for years for a four-year job. When it is over, you are neither in sports nor in the army. Does it make sense?” asks Amandeep Pangal, who trains at the Hisar stadium.
Another Jat, Ajit Sehrawat of Khandrai village in Sonipat district, has a similar question. “If an Agniveer spends four years in the army and then is made to quit, how will he serve his family in the future? He will no longer be eligible for other jobs.” The age limit for an Agniveer applicant is between 17.5 and 21 years.
Tough choices
In July, CM Nayab Singh Saini’s govt announced a series of concessions for Agniveers who have to leave after serving for four years. It included a 10% horizontal reservation in recruitment for posts of constable, mining guard, forest guard, jail warden, and SPO (special police officer). That guarantees them a fixed proportion of positions in those categories. Those establishing their own business, the announcement said, can receive an interest free loan of up to Rs 5 lakh.
But boxing coach Pradeep Sawant insists that changing one’s line of work is far more complicated than is being made out. “Despite what the govt is saying, it won’t be easy for an Agniveer to get a new job.”
It isn’t just the Jats. Ashish Valmiki, a Dalit who works as a sweeper in a govt office in Gohana in Sonipat district, doesn’t like the scheme either. “For every selected candidate, a hundred are rejected. All Agniveers will be capable. Why retain only 25%?” he asks.
Ajay, who uses only his first name, travels back and forth every day for training from nearby Fatehabad district. “Jo choubees ghante ghar se door rahega uski pension khatam kar rahe ho. Jo aath ghante ke liye office jaata hai, usko pension de rahe ho (those who stay away from home totally will not be eligible for pension. And those who work for eight hours in office will get it).”
The merit of such questions is open to debate. And it is possible to argue that they are missing the big picture. But one thing is clear: by their own admission, none of the Agniveer aspirants that TOI spoke to are likely to provide endorsement for the scheme in the upcoming vote.
HISAR: Occupying the town’s sweet centre, Mahabir Stadium is 52 years of age. But these days the sprawling sports arena looks unmistakably geriatric and utterly unkempt. It’s been an abundant monsoon. And the punishing rains have left their mark. The running tracks are a mess, the tall weeds could delight a goshala of cows and the battered stands might employ masons and house painters for weeks.
Over the decades, this multipurpose sports complex in central Haryana has not only played host to national competitions but also been a theatre of dreams for those readying themselves for the armed forces and the paramilitary. Thousands of young men — also a few women — have come here from nearby districts and states, indeed from everywhere, to toil and train.
For months now though, the number of aspirants has kept plummeting, says Sonu Lamba. Describing himself as “a defence coach”, Lamba says he trains would-be soldiers for a fee. He shows an old video on his mobile phone of hundreds of army and paramilitary aspirants.
“Log junoon ke saath taiyyari karte thhey (Aspirants used to prepare with passion). That is gone. Once I had 1,700 trainees. They came from Rajasthan, Punjab, even Uttarakhand. Now there are only 44,” he says.
Jyoti Saini, 21, talks about the large gathering of enthusiasts when she first started practising here in 2021. The crowd has since dwindled. “I used to run with a group of 10-15 girls. Now, that is down to just about a handful,” she says.
Pressing issue
Talking to other hopefuls in Hisar and other districts, it is undeniable that the armed forces’ Agnipath scheme, which the Union govt launched in 2022, has dealt a harsh blow to their job dreams. And for the disgruntled — it includes both the aspirants and their families — the scheme is a major election issue. More so in a state where the unemployment rate among 15-29 years-old is marginally higher than India’s national average, per 2023-24 govt data.
Jobs in the armed forces are much sought-after in Haryana. A fauji gets economic benefits and, equally importantly, social prestige. Village gateways are erected to pay homage to soldiers martyred in the service of the nation. With Agnipath, jobs and emotions have combined to create a volatile cocktail ahead of the Oct 5 assembly polls.
Among different caste groups, Jats are the most vocal against the scheme in which an Agniveer gets to serve in the army for four years. Only 25% of a batch will get a full tenure. The Jats are numerically substantial and electorally crucial in districts like Hisar, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Rohtak and Jind.
“What’s the point in training for years for a four-year job. When it is over, you are neither in sports nor in the army. Does it make sense?” asks Amandeep Pangal, who trains at the Hisar stadium.
Another Jat, Ajit Sehrawat of Khandrai village in Sonipat district, has a similar question. “If an Agniveer spends four years in the army and then is made to quit, how will he serve his family in the future? He will no longer be eligible for other jobs.” The age limit for an Agniveer applicant is between 17.5 and 21 years.
Tough choices
In July, CM Nayab Singh Saini’s govt announced a series of concessions for Agniveers who have to leave after serving for four years. It included a 10% horizontal reservation in recruitment for posts of constable, mining guard, forest guard, jail warden, and SPO (special police officer). That guarantees them a fixed proportion of positions in those categories. Those establishing their own business, the announcement said, can receive an interest free loan of up to Rs 5 lakh.
But boxing coach Pradeep Sawant insists that changing one’s line of work is far more complicated than is being made out. “Despite what the govt is saying, it won’t be easy for an Agniveer to get a new job.”
It isn’t just the Jats. Ashish Valmiki, a Dalit who works as a sweeper in a govt office in Gohana in Sonipat district, doesn’t like the scheme either. “For every selected candidate, a hundred are rejected. All Agniveers will be capable. Why retain only 25%?” he asks.
Ajay, who uses only his first name, travels back and forth every day for training from nearby Fatehabad district. “Jo choubees ghante ghar se door rahega uski pension khatam kar rahe ho. Jo aath ghante ke liye office jaata hai, usko pension de rahe ho (those who stay away from home totally will not be eligible for pension. And those who work for eight hours in office will get it).”
The merit of such questions is open to debate. And it is possible to argue that they are missing the big picture. But one thing is clear: by their own admission, none of the Agniveer aspirants that TOI spoke to are likely to provide endorsement for the scheme in the upcoming vote.
