Anand Mahindra offers to recruit Agniveers

Billionaire Anand Mahindra on Monday said he was saddened by the violence over the central government's Agnipath military recruitment scheme which allows youth to serve in the armed forces for the period of four years.

"The Mahindra Group welcomes the opportunity to recruit such trained, capable young people," chairman Anand Mahindra tweeted.

"Large potential for employment of Agniveers in the corporate sector. With leadership, teamwork and physical training, Agniveers provide market-ready professional solutions to industry, covering the full spectrum from operations to administration and supply chain management," Mahindra said while responding to a question on what posts will be given to Agniveers at the conglomerate.

This comes at a time when a countrywide shutdown call has been given by some groups on Monday. Over 10 states have seen protests against the proposed military recruitment scheme.

After protests turned violent last week, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decided to reserve 10% vacancies for recruitment in Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and Assam Rifles for Agniveers who complete four years under the Agnipath scheme announced by the Centre. The MHA also gave three years age relaxation beyond the prescribed upper age limit, to Agniveers for recruitment in CAPFs and Assam Rifles. For the first batch of Agniveers, the age relaxation will be for 5 years beyond the prescribed upper age limit.

Home minister Rajnath Singh has also approved a proposal to reserve 10% of the job vacancies in the Ministry of Defence for Agniveers meeting requisite eligibility criteria. The 10% reservation will be implemented in the Indian Coast Guard, defence civilian posts and all the 16 defence public sector undertakings - Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL), Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML), Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders (MDL), Mishra Dhatu Nigam (Midhani) Ltd, Armoured Vehicles Nigam Ltd (AVNL), Advanced Weapons & Equipment India Ltd (AW&EIL), Munitions India Ltd (MIL), Yantra India Ltd (YIL), Gliders India Ltd (GIL), India Optel Ltd (IOL), and Troop Comforts Ltd (TCL). This reservation would be in addition to existing reservations for ex-servicemen.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways also announced six service avenues for smooth transition of Agniveers in various roles of the merchant navy, post their stint with the Indian Navy. The scheme will enable Agniveers to acquire necessary training, with rich naval experience and professional certification to join the remunerative merchant navy across the world, the ministry said.

Earlier on June 16, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) held a meeting with chief executives of public sector banks (PSBs), public sector insurance companies (PSICs) and financial institutions (FIs) in order to identify ways in which the banks can support the Agniveers on completion of their tenure of duty.

During the meeting, it was decided that PSBs, PSICs and FIs would explore employment opportunities for Agniveers in suitable capacities based on their educational qualifications and skills through benefits.

It was also decided that banks would explore possibilities of supporting Agniveers through suitable credit facilities for skill upgradation, education for setting up businesses and to take up self-employment.