The Agnipath scheme supposed to make the Indian army future combat ready and capable of the full spectrum of conflict is fraught with danger. If young militarily trained conscripts are released after four years of service, apart from it’s impact on the morale of the standing army personnel, it could create a huge threat to law and order especially when there are not enough jobs to absorb them. This scheme was earlier labelled as ‘tour of duty’ but subsequently junked as the costs far outweighed the benefits. I suspect that it has been reactivated with an eye on the 2024 elections.
Imagine the amount of frustration those released after four years of government service would feel; most of them would go back to joining the ranks of the unemployed as only 25% of the recruits would be reabsorbed in regular service subject to stiff conditions and need. The consequent damage to society they would be capable of on account of this harebrained plan is unimaginable. There is an urgent need to rethink this path of fire lest it singes our country already engulfed in the flames of hate and bigotry.
