[itisK]

Originally Posted by Sandy Damodaran

Also, there is no mention anywhere that any pension benefits coming in from this scheme would be used entirely for some defence related purposes. Who is to stop a politician to take this money saved as revenue and shore up the gaping holes in the Budgetary deficits. A tactic already used by IB folks during 2008/9

How can a politician take money out of the allotted defence budget and use it for some other purpose? Pensions paid every year are from the allocated defence budget itself, so how can the money saved be misused by some politician? Whatever amount would be saved, it will be used by the Armed forces only.

Either I have misunderstood your post, or if you meant something else, please elaborate. Because what you've written above doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

For those interested in reading the stats related to it, here's an article with some basic stats.
https://https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-agnipath-34-lakh-military-pensioners-pensions-form-50-defence-budget/article65545319.ece

Originally Posted by Sandy Damodaran

Given that I do not identify myself as a "Nationalist" and have a pure transactional attitude towards citizenship, I cannot talk about the benefit or cons of this move. But calling a budgetary exercise as a revolution in the way armed forces work is treading thin.

In the tri-services press conference held yesterday, they clearly mentioned that similar suggestions have been made by several committees in the past as well. So it doesn't really matter whether people call it a budgetary exercise or whatever they want to, it's something that has been long overdue AND the Armed forces themselves have been recommending this.



I can't understand how can people be so worried for the potential recruits and not think about about the organisation they are aiming to join? Needs of Armed forces come before the wants of to-be Agniveers, and that's the way it should be too.
If anything, this seems to be a case of putting cart before the horse, doesn't it?

[sushantr5]

As far as my thinking goes, the craze among youths for army is because of stable job and social security it offers even after retirement. Many people join army because it is well recognized and respected job in the society, but more than that it is the only respectful job for the people who have professionaly unemlpoyable education. Army is the only chance to raise their family from the poverty and endless struggle. Other option is to migrate to industrialized state and city and do some kind of labourized works. Which does not give social security and respect. It can be only helpful for survival. I am not talking about officer ranks, it is altogether different category.

Meanwhile, Government has a responsibility to provide social security for all the citizens. People who served for Government and Country should get precedence in this decision. So I think Army is the last section where Government can avoid the responsbility of social security.

Now coming to Agnipath, Government is doing this only for Budgetory reasons and robbing youth from their important period of their age. In this age life is made or destroyed for majority of people. Enough has been discussed about this. After the service apart from army descipline, the personal will not have technical or employable skills other than chowkidars. Imagine at the age of 22-25 you are out of Agnipath without markatable skills, how will be you feel in this situation?

IMHO, if there are enough job opportunities for youths then I am sure there would not have been such a craze for Army and such a protest for Agnipath. This army path would have been for people who really are interested. Then only Government can say, those whoever do not like, please do not apply.

[.sushilkumar]

Originally Posted by Lowflyer23

This was just one such example, they have allowances for everything ranging from water supply to home maintenance (again already free). This was confirmed to me by a senior IRS officer as well.

So, the pension well deserved by the armed forces personnels is nothing in front of these expenses.

Not denying what you said. There are many wasteful expenditures being incurred by babu's in south block and govt could easily save thousand of crores if it want to be austere in spending's but a start need to be made some where.

Problem is that all these pensions / salaries get budgeted as part of annual defense ministry budget & that's where it starts hurting more.

Source -
https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-a...le65545319.ece

More than half the defence budget is allocated for pensions every year while less than 5% is allocated for research and development (R&D). Over 70% of the defence budget is being used for revenue expenditure (operating expenses), while only about 30% is spent on capital expenditure, meant for the modernisation of the forces.

Govt is spending insane amount on pensions / salaries than spending money on better equipment. If govt increases defense budgets socialists will cry no money for "health" & "education" & they will cry too when a soldier gets martyred due to being ill equipped. Now govt is trying to do a balancing act than they are crying again for pension et all.

Certainly, we need defense forces since we are surrounded by hostilities from all sides. IMO, with limited resource, this is best way to ensure Armed forces gets the regular supply of officers and have young fighting blood at same time. It does help that these chosen one's get adequate benefits and are getting quota's et all in various CAPF under MOH & other state govt jobs.

Originally Posted by sushantr5

Now coming to Agnipath, Government is doing this only for Budgetory reasons and robbing youth from their important period of their age. In this age life is made or destroyed for majority of people. Enough has been discussed about this. After the service apart from army descipline, the personal will not have technical or employable skills other than chowkidars.

It is not that army man only become "chowkidar" in real life post retirement. That's a common build by media/SM arm chair experts. Army trains you in multiple skills across the life cycle. You just need to ready to learn.

My Dad retired from one of CAPF under MOH. He joined as boat man in water wing & did his 25 years of service. During this time, he become a qualified electrician, got trained in M & M Nashik plant to work on Mahindra jeeps, worked as a Jonga / shaktimaan driver / mechanic for good ten + years and spend last few years in office administrative job. He can type on old typewriters at much faster pace than what we can do on membrane keyboards. This is BSF to be more precise. This is in addition to various weapon trainings he got during his 25+ years in service. He still have those M & M plant notebooks preserved carefully in that metal trunk. You think person with so many skills is fit to be a "chowkidar" only. Now imagine the skills army imparts in you.

Post service, 25% will be absorbed as regulars. For remaining 75%, Govt is ensuring their employability via various schemes being run via IGNOU / JNU and they do get preference in various job options.

On top both State govts, CAPF & Pvt sectors ( Mahindra & Tata so far) have announced their plans to help these 75% gets regular jobs once they have served.

https://www.india.com/explainer/agni...reers-5461672/

[GTO]

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