Jehanabad/Buxar/Nawada (Bihar), June 16
Protests continued in Bihar for the second consecutive day on Thursday against the Centre’s ‘Agneepath’ scheme for hiring jawans on short-term contract basis, as candidates preparing for jobs in the defense forces marched to Jehanabad, Buxar and Nawada districts. Railway and road traffic was disrupted.
The protesters, lying on railway tracks in Jehanabad and Buxar districts, blocked the movement of trains on Patna-Gaya and Patna-Buxar routes. However, the Bihar Police along with their railway counterparts immediately cleared the protesters from the tracks.
Hundreds of agitators blocked National Highway 83 in Jehanabad and burnt tyres, demanding the cancellation of the scheme. Angry protesters took out processions in three districts and other parts of the state. Protesters on Wednesday also disrupted rail and road traffic in different parts of the state.
Under the ‘Agneepath’ scheme, around 45,000 people in the age group of 17.5 to 21 years would be inducted into the armed forces for a period of four years, after which most of them would have to take compulsory retirement without pension or gratuity benefits, though some retained.
Out of the total annual recruitment, only 25 per cent will be allowed to continue under permanent commission for the next 15 years.
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved a “transformative” scheme.
Under the old system, youth in the age group of 16.5 to 21 years were selected to serve for a minimum of 15 years and would get pension after retirement.