Chhattisgarh Announces Reservations For Agniveers In State Police, Forest Guards; Check Details

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said Agniveers from Chhattisgarh would be given priority while recruiting police constables and forest and jail guards once they complete their service in the Indian Army.

Chhattisgarh has joined the list of states to have announced reservations in various government jobs for Agniveer soldiers as the state would now provide reservations for Agniveers in recruitments for police constables and forest guards, among other posts.

The announcement was made by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, saying that Agniveers from Chhattisgarh would be given priority while recruiting police constables and forest and jail guards once they complete their service in the Indian Army.

The state government will soon issue necessary guidelines to provide a fixed reservation to Agniveers, Sai said while talking to reporters on the state assembly premises.

Uttarakhand announces reservations for Agniveers

Earlier in the day, a similar announcement was made by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Addressing an event to mark the 25th anniversary of the Kargil Vijay Diwas, Dhami said Agniveers will be granted reservation in government jobs in Uttarakhand upon their return after serving in the armed forces, adding that a legislation will be brought to extend the reservation.

“We will make provisions and bring an Act to give reservation to them in government services. We are working on this plan. We will make use of their skills and discipline in various government departments,” he said.

Dhami also announced that the aid extended to the kin of martyrs will be increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.

“No sacrifice can be bigger than the act of laying down one’s life to secure the country’s borders. No grant or honour can be enough for this supreme sacrifice,” he added.

Agniveer row

The Agnipath scheme — brought by the Centre in 2022 for short-term induction of personnel in the Army, Navy and Air Force — has faced severe criticism from the Opposition parties, who have termed it opposed it implementation.

However, the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre has vociferously defended the scheme, which it claims is aimed to bring down the age profile of the three services.

The scheme provides for recruiting Agniveer soldiers,  youngsters between the age group of 17-and-a-half and 21 for a block period of four years with a provision to retain 25 percent of them for another 15 years.

(With inputs from agencies)