Honourable Chairperson and my colleagues, I Mahua Moitra, A

representative of the All India TMC, stand before you to speak

on the Deliberation on the Agnipath Scheme.

Firstly, what is the Agnipath scheme? Last year, The Union

Cabinet took a historic decision approving a recruitment scheme
for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces for which a
scheme has been introduced with the name AGNEEPATH
(AGNIPATH). The youth selected under the Agneepath scheme
will be categorised as Agniveers.

Large protests have broken out in India against the recently

introduced Agnipath scheme. Many young people nationwide
have taken to the streets, asking for the reversal of job contract
changes in the Indian Army. Opposition parties, trade unions,
farmers' groups, youth organizations, and students from different
political backgrounds have joined in solidarity to back the
protests against the Agnipath scheme, which involves recruiting
soldiers on four-year contracts.

This scheme has many disadvantages. First, it offers

employment for a mere 4-year period, with only 25% of
candidates gaining permanent positions after training, leaving
the remaining 75% without jobs.
Defence is a profession that requires dedicated service, but how
can you expect a person coming only for 4 years to be trained
and motivated to be on the front lines? What would he know
what to do after 4 years?

Moreover, individuals appointed under this scheme won't be

eligible for a pension. The Agniveers selected will receive a
lump sum of 11 lakh rupees after 4 years through the
government's Seva Nidhi Scheme, although certain deductions
from their monthly salaries contribute to this amount.
Additionally, the scheme confines recruitment to non-
commissioned ranks like Sepoy, Naik, and Lance Naik, and is
only open to candidates aged 17.5 to 23 years. Job security is
virtually absent, they lose on education. As candidates face
unemployment again post their 4-year service, without the extra
or basic benefits enjoyed in other government positions, they'll
be hanging in between, na idhar ke, na udhar ke.

Na jhukne diya tirange ko

Na yuddh kabhi yeh hare hai
Bharat Mata tere veeron ne
Dushman chun chun kar maare hain!
Lekin ye sarkar ab unko maar rahi hai. Thank you.