Turmoil in the Defence Services

Two issues were raised by a delegation of War decorated officers with the PM at the Punjab Raj Bhawan. One pertained to ‘one rank- one pension’ where some relief had been given to Other Ranks, while JCOs and officers had been left out. Since then this relief was extended to JCOs but apparently the PMO sent the point concerning officers to the 6th CPC, where it has been given a final burial.

The second pertained to brigadiers being given higher pension than major generals consequent to the 5th CPC recommendations. It was pointed out that we had spent three long years doing the rounds of Punjab High Court and succeeded in obtaining a favourable verdict and instead of accepting this order in good grace the MoD had gone in appeal to the Supreme Court. We had requested that the MoD be instructed to withdraw the case from the Apex Court. This did not happen.

When none of those on the CPCs have any knowledge of the travails and tribulations of military life in India, which has seen no peace since 1947, and none of their sons, daughters, sons-in-law etc join this profession, then how can they know the issues which plague those in the services. When amongst hundreds of officers, and office staff assembled to assist the 5th and 6th CPCs, in working out the nitty-gritty of pay, perks and allowances etc no one from the armed forces was acceptable, then prejudice, bias and discrimination becomes palpably apparent.

In the last two decades 540 officers have fallen ( 169 during the last five years ) and 1258 wounded in various counter-insurgency operations ( CI Ops ). The number of JCOs and ORs killed/ wounded are 571/ 7923 and 769/ 11102 respectively. These figures do not include the 5000 odd servicemen, including officers, who annually suffer ailments including psychological disorders, due to postings to uncongenial and high altitude areas, and normal stress and strain of CI Ops. They are either medically boarded out or down graded.

The ratio of officer to ORs killed is 1 to 14.6. These casualties and ratios relate to counter-insurgency and related tasks. That is perhaps the highest anywhere in the world and does reflect on the dedication and quality of leadership. The CPOs and the state police is operating alongside the military in CI Ops and by itself in those 160 Maoist controlled districts where large number of policemen have been killed.

How many IPS officers have died and what is their ratio to policemen killed in the last five years. The civilian officers (IAS) too operate in areas plagued by insurgency and in all of those 160 districts where Maoists are in control. How is it that the IAS officers in these areas suffer no casualties; do not even run into an ambush, their vehicle go over a land mine or into an IED. Do these officers have some supernatural survival skills! The fact is that they live under heavy security, have offices at home and work from there and don’t even stir out. That is all those grandiose poverty alleviation and a host of other such lofty schemes, do not work but get soaked halfway down the line. Yet they eat the cake and keep it too.

The emerging security scene is rather disturbing and FM’s allocation of 1.8 percent of GDP for defence confirms his views that economic development and national security are mutually exclusive. Lack of strategic capabilities coupled with the de-motivation of defence forces would be a recipe for disaster.

The 6th CPC, in line with earlier Commissions, has delivered a body blow to the defence services. The anomalies and disadvantages are far too many to list, but suffice to mention just one, which is representative of the attitude of the 6th CPC, and its lack of sensitivity and understanding.

The Commission has introduced Assured Career Progression (ACP) for employees at 12 and 24 years service. 90 percent of army personnel retire on completion of 17/ 19 years service. So for them the second ACP does not work. It should be 8 and 12 years or 8 and 16 years, as suggested. The pay commission made an exception for defence services and accepted ACPs at 10 and 20 years of service, once again leaving the second ACP out of reach of the same 90 percent of servicemen. One wonders if this was out of cussedness or simply to taunt the defence forces.

There are a whole range of dispensations which places the services at great disadvantage, lowers their status and there is not even a semblance of equity in life time earning between a military man and a civilian employee in each category. Equally serious is the ‘divide and rule policy’ devised by the government between juniors and seniors in the defence services.

The ground situation is that few want to join the defence service and those already in want to quit. Only the brightest Cols are given the chance to attend the Higher Command Course and is essential stepping stone to rise in service. However one has to sign an undertaking not to quit service for 5 years after the course. 15 officers detailed on this course have declined to attend it.

Military is a service apart and there is no parallel to it in the civil there is no common yard stick. Armed forces are still an effective instrument of the state, whereas some others are busy merely picking up the spoils. So why destroy them when they are still functional.

Lt Gen Harwant Singh (Retd)