Statesman News Service NEW DELHI, Oct. 20: The three wings of the defence forces face a shortage of 13,830 officers largely due to the socio- economic environment, the resultant change in career preferences, better employment opportunities in other sectors and tough selection procedures, the Lok Sabha was told today.
The defence minister, Mr AK Antony, said the officer shortage in the army is 11,119, in the navy 1359 and in the air force 1352. He said a number of steps have been taken to motivate the service personnel with all officers including those in Short Service Commission (SSC) being made eligible to hold substantive rank of Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel and equivalents after 2, 6 and 13 years of reckonable service respectively.
Joint exercises: The Indian defence forces have in the last three years conducted joint military exercises with China, Maldives, Mongolia, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Thailand, Oman, Sri Lanka, Brazil, South Africa, UK, USA and France, Mr Antony said.
On pre-mature retirement over the pay commission report, he said no officer in any of the three defence forces have done so though in the Army since March 2008, a total of 584 officers (less Army Medical Corps, Army Dental Corps and Military Nursing Service) have applied for pre- mature retirement or resignation but it cannot be ascertained that it was due to resentment against Sixth Pay Commission Report.
Ceasefire violations: Since January this year, 34 incidents of firing on Indian positions have taken place on the LOC, Mr Antony said. The minister said 58 incidents of ceasefire violations by Pakistan have taken place since the ceasefire came into effect in November 2003. Indian troops suffered four fatal and 13 non-fatal casualties due to such firings.
Defence equipment: During 2007-08, the expenditure incurred on import of defence equipment was Rs 15,026.68 crore with the imports being from Russia, USA, UK, France, Germany and Israel. On an average, the expenditure on capital acquisition from indigenous sources has been above 71 per cent during last three years, Mr Antony said.
Antony blames socio-economic milieu for officer shortage
Defence ministry pulled up for ‘insensitivity’
NEW DELHI, Oct. 21: The defence ministry has been pulled up by a parliamentary committee for having “made an attempt to downplay the problem” of stress on the plea that “the overall psychiatric morbidity in the Armed Forces has been less than the national figures”. In a report tabled in Parliament, the committee said: “This attitude of the ministry not only displays insensitivity towards the problem but also highlights their inaction to improve conditions in the Armed Forces where soldiers are trained enough to fight under adverse situations.”
The standing committee chaired by Mr Balasaheb Vikhe Patil said there were as many as 635 cases of suicide, including attempted suicides, and 67 cases of fratricidal killings in the three services of the Armed Forces between 2003 and 2007. The committee in its 40-page report said the issue had not been perceived by the defence ministry in “its entirety with a view to devising appropriate and timely strategies to minimize the stress level of serving personnel of Armed Forces”. It also sought abolition of the practice of using the services of jawans as Sahayaks at the residence of some senior officers making them do domestic work and to serve the family members of officers. n SNS
Defence ministry pulled up for ‘insensitivity’
Comment: There should be no restraint whatsoever on officers or PBORs who seek pre- mature release after completion of the minimum number of stipulated years of service. On the pretext of Officer's shortages pre- mature release is not generally granted to officers in the normal course unless the officer is superceded for further promotion. 65 army officers quit after pay panel report
Thanks to the Parliament Committee who have rightly pictured the "insensitivity" of MOD Bureaucrats who are proficient in munching out statistical data of lies! Similarly the Anomalies Committee of SCPC too have churned out number crunching degradation of the Armed Forces by way of Rank, Honour and Pay Parity. All need to expose the lies of the Bureaucrats who are literally taking the Politicians and the Nation for a eternal ride.
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