As Jat-dominated districts and elsewhere are flooded with candidates for the armed forces, the youth are loudly expressing their displeasure. assembly elections
Hisar: The occupation of Mahabir Stadium, the sweet center of the city, is 52 years old. But these days this huge playground looks extremely aged and in complete disrepair. It has been a bumper monsoon. And the terrible rains have left their mark. The walking tracks are in disarray, the tall grass can delight the cow shed and the broken stands can require masons and house painters to work for weeks.
For decades this multipurpose sports complex has been in Central Haryana It has not only hosted national competitions but has also been the dream theater for those preparing themselves for the armed forces and paramilitary forces. Thousands of young men – including some women – from nearby districts and states, but from everywhere, have come here to work and undergo training.
Sonu Lamba says that however, the number of candidates has been declining for the last few months. Calling himself “a defense coach”, Lamba says he trains prospective soldiers for a fee. He shows an old video of hundreds of army and paramilitary force aspirants on his mobile phone.
“People used to prepare with passion (candidates used to prepare with passion). He left. I once had 1,700 apprentices. They came from Rajasthan, Punjab, even Uttarakhand. Now there are only 44,” he says.
21-year-old Jyoti Saini tells that when she started practicing here for the first time in 2021, a large number of fans had gathered. The crowd has reduced since then. “I used to run with a group of 10-15 girls. Now, it has reduced to about a handful,” she says.
pressing issue
Talking to other hopefuls in Hisar and other districts, it is undeniable that the armed forces path of fire The scheme, which was launched by the central government in 2022, has dealt a blow to their job dreams. And for dissidents – this includes both the candidates and their families – the plan is a major election issue. Even more so in a state where the unemployment rate among 15-29 year olds is slightly higher than India’s national average, according to government data for 2023-24.
There is a great demand for jobs in the armed forces in Haryana. A soldier gets financial benefits and, equally important, social prestige. The entrance gates of the village are built to pay tribute to the soldiers martyred in the service of the country. With Agneepath, jobs and emotions have combined to create a volatile cocktail ahead of the October 5 assembly elections.
between different caste groups, Jats He is most vocal against the scheme in which an Agniveer gets a chance to serve in the army for four years. Only 25% of a batch will get full tenure. Jats are numerically substantial and electorally important in districts like Hisar, Sonipat, Jhajjar, Rohtak and Jind.
“What’s the point of training for years for a four-year job. When this is over you will be neither in the game nor in the army. Does it make sense?” asks Amandeep Pangal, who trains at the Hisar stadium.
Ajit Sehrawat, another Jat from Khandrai village of Sonipat district, also has a similar question. “If an Agniveer spends four years in the army and is then fired, how will he serve his family in the future? He will no longer be eligible for other jobs.” The age limit for Agniveer applicant is between 17.5 to 21 years.
tough choices
In July, CM Nayab Singh Saini’s government announced several concessions for Agniveer, who have to leave after four years of service. This included 10% horizontal reservation in recruitment to the posts of constables, mining guards, forest guards, jail wardens and SPOs (Special Police Officers). This guarantees them a certain proportion of posts in those categories. Those setting up their own businesses can get interest-free loans up to Rs 5 lakh, the announcement said.
But boxing coach Pradeep Sawant insists that changing one’s work ethic is more complicated than it is made out to be. “Despite what the government is saying, it will not be easy for Agniveer to get a new job.”
This is not just a matter of Jats. Ashish Valmiki, a Dalit who works as a sanitation worker in a government office in Gohana in Sonipat district, also does not like the plan. “For every selected candidate, a hundred are rejected. All Agniveer will be capable. Why retain only 25%?” he asks.
Ajay, who uses only his first name, travels every day to train from nearby Fatehabad district. “You are ending the pension of someone who stays away from home 24 hours a day. You are giving pension to the one who goes to office for eight hours.
The merits of such questions are open to debate. And it’s possible to argue that they’re missing the bigger picture. But one thing is clear: By their own admission, none of the Agniveer candidates TOI spoke to is likely to provide support for the plan in the upcoming polling.
