Command and control of red tabs over troops decline by the day

Ordered to do menial tasks, Army jawans desert Patiala unit
Last Updated: Friday, November 02, 2012, 18:40
Zeenews Bureau
Chandigarh: In yet another breach of discipline in the Indian Army, around 16 soldiers of an armoured regiment based in Patiala left their unit after being forced by their seniors to perform 'menial tasks'.
As per reports, the jawans were part of the 56 Armoured Regiment stationed at Patiala as part of the elite 1 Armoured Division.
The jawans were allegedly asked by some officers to carry out 'menial tasks'. They allegedly protested stating that they belonged to Army's clerk cadres and were supposed to do specific tasks only, The Indian Express reported.
Reports stated that the soldiers returned to their regimental centre in Ahmednagar after the Commanding Officer (CO) issued orders to punish them for showing dissent.
CO had the jawans put through a 'Battle Physical and Proficiency Test (BPET) which requires one to run several kilometres and cross obstacles in full battle gear. They were then forced to do a 'route march’.
The newspaper added that queries to Western Command's Chandimandir-based headquarters went unanswered and no statement was issued in this regard.
Over a 1,000 soldiers have committed suicide since 2003, with the yearly toll regularly climbing over 100. Incidents of fragging (to kill or wound a fellow soldier) have also become a regular phenomenon in the 1.13-million strong Army.
A report by the Defence Institute of Psychological Research had held that "perceived humiliation and harassment, over and above occupational and familial causes", by their superiors often serves as the final "trigger" for jawans in stress-related cases in the forces.
The Army has, meanwhile, ordered a probe into the matter.
Ordered to do menial tasks, Army jawans desert Patiala unit
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Comment: The red tabs (only the symbols on uniforms) of all full colonels need to be done away with immediately to reduce the psychological barrier between the troops and unit commanding officers. This gesture is likely to assuage the feelings of the troops under command. The VIP status and VIP culture ingrained in Officers must be slowly got ridden off. Generals need to meet the expenses of batmen, dhobis cooks and waiters from their own funds. No appointment comes with free services and privileges. Now a days there are adequate high tech gadgets to do away with combatants working in Generals houses needlessly in peace areas especially in AHQ and all Command/ Area HQ's.

Rising Suicides by Jawans

Thursday, September 6, 2012, Chandigarh, India
Alarmed at rising suicides by jawans, Antony to consult Services
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 5, 2012
Alarmed at seeing almost 100 Army soldiers commit suicide annually since 2006, Defence Minister AK Antony has asked the three Services to come up with additional suggestions to improve living conditions and methods to curb suicidal tendencies among jawans.
He has asked the Vice-Chief’s of the three services, the Defence Secretary and the head of the Defence Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR) to be present at a brain storming session tomorrow.
Sources said the latest trigger to Antony’s reaction is the August 8 suicide of a jawan of the 16th cavalry regiment. Arun V, who hailed from Thiruvananthapuram, committed suicide with his service weapon. The incident occurred in the Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir. His angered mates later raised slogans against officers and surrounded their residences in protest. The Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry into the incident. The jawan had been reportedly refused leave to go home.
In 2010, the DIPR was tasked to provide parameters to enable officers to identify and spot the “at risk” soldiers. One of the studies was a psychological autopsy of suicides.
In all, 1,018 soldiers have committed suicide since 2003. This year alone, 62 suicides have been reported in the forces till July 31. The number of suicides over the past few years is: 2003 (96), 2004 (100), 2005 (77), 2006 (129), 2007 (118), 2008 (123), 2008 (96), 2010 (115), 2011 (102).
Antony told Parliament last month “the major causes of suicides were domestic problems, marital discord, stress and financial problems”.
In the past, the government has taken several steps to prevent such incidents. These included counselling, improvement in food and clothing, married accommodation, leave concession, air travel for movement of troops from border areas and establishing a grievance redressing mechanism in states.
Senior officials, however, admit the number of suicides is worrisome, especially when several steps have been initiated over the past few years to improve the quality of life for the troops.
Alarmed at rising suicides by jawans, Antony to consult Services

Indian Military: Abolish Sahayaks

Par panel asks Army to abolish Sahayaks for officers
New Delhi: A Parliamentary Committee on Defence on Thursday asked the Army to take a leaf out of the Navy and the Air Force to abolish the "demeaning and humiliating" practice of employing jawans as sahayaks of officers.

The strong recommendation from the committee comes after the Defence Ministry in its reply to a 2008 report on "stress management in the armed forces" had virtually rejected the suggestion that the sahayak system be done away with.

In an action taken report tabled in both the Houses of the Parliament, the committee said it was unable to comprehend why it was necessary to continue with the sahayak system that "lowers the self-esteem of a jawan" when the Navy and Air Force have abandoned it.
Par panel asks Army to abolish Sahayaks for officers

Join the Army, be a Batman
There’s no denying that our Army is professional and well-trained and prides itself on its war record. But fighting abilities somehow don’t seem to go with dish-washing talents. But with an employment crunch staring India in the face, perhaps institutions could come up with diplomas in sweeping, gardening, car-washing, dog-walking etc and the gentlemen holding these diplomas could get a direct entry as brave Batmen ready to show 'courage under fire'. I guess the only fire some of them may face may be in the kitchen.

The army feels an officer gets a sahayak for the upkeep of his uniform, weapons and other equipment, as also act as his radio operator and ‘‘buddy’’ during combat. So, let me get this straight. An Army officer, who undergoes such rigorous training and is responsible for a large body of men under his command, can’t even take care of his own uniform? He needs his ‘sahayak’ to polish his shoes and iron his clothes? Anyway, why would your 'radio operator' be with you 24x7 dusting your drawing room or getting 'baba' from school. Maybe he'll radio from school to inform 'sahab' that his son has reached school.

I don’t want to deride the courageous officers of the Indian Army. We all know how bravely many of them fought on the borders. But that doesn’t mean his perks should include treating a fellow soldier as a personal servant. All Army formations have been told to ensure sahayaks are not employed for ‘‘menial household work’’ since as combatant soldiers they should not be used for anything which adversely impacts their dignity and self-respect. Question is who’s following this new rule?

In the late 90s, I was staying in Army Cantonment, Jaipur. The Army Chief came on a visit and in his speech advised the officers to avoid treating soldiers as orderlies and misusing Army rules and benefits. At that very time, barely a km from the venue, three tents had been set up outside a 'separated family accommodation'. In these tents were staying 4 soldiers of a particular regiment sent from J&K by the commanding officer of their unit to look after his family in Jaipur. What medals would they have taken home?
Read more:
Join the Army, be a Batman

ABOUT MANAS GUPTA
Manas Gupta believes an article is incomplete without a dose of humour. An Assistant News Editor with the Times of India. His interests include defence, cricket and the bizarre world of international news.

Sixth Pay Commission Update

This a hot topic which is most talked about by all serving personnel and ESM. The Commission is itself a morale booster for the very reason that the economy is booming and everyone aspires a share in the pie. Should the salaries and perks of Government servants rise to levels of advanced nations or for that matter to scales in the Private Sector in India? The commission report is expected to be announced by 31 Mar 2008.

Economic Contribution
Government Servants are mostly non productive and contribute little to the National economy. The Armed Forces in peacetime contribute nothing except to train for war (assist in natural calamity/ IS duties). Well Armed Forces are vital and is a necessity to protect the National Borders and no one can estimate its economic value. Here too, in the peace time Defence Forces could have been better utilised for nation building- Infrastructure Development like the China Model or US Army Engineers who designed and built the biggest Colorado Dam in the world. The Defence Forces can take on a mega national infrastructure projects like linking all the rivers of India. The Border Roads Organisation is doing a magnificent job but no way comparable to Chinese Railways now at Roof of the the World.

Media Reports
From Media reports the pay scales of soldiers are likely to be enhanced substantially, to at least double the present pay scale. How is it going to satisfy all, that is a big question, and the IAS are capable of putting on the platter a magical solution. The pay scale of Chief Secretary is rumoured to be pegged at Rs 80,000 a month. Defence Minister AK Anthony has already announced and enforced some concessions to the Defence Forces.

Existing Perks
Let us examine the existing perks for serving officers and PBOR and attempt to quantify it on monthly basis.

Officers
Dwelling: Fully furnished house: Rs 15,000
Rations: Free rations home delivered: Rs 10,000
CSD Canteen: Approx Rs 5000 (savings on monthly purchases including car)
Driver/ Batman: Rs 5000
Services and facilities: From unit/ cantonments/ officers mess/ entertainment/ schooling/ library/ transport/: Rs 5000
LTC for self and family: Rs 1000 conservative estimate
Medical including family: Rs 1000 (free medicines)
Field Area allowances: Tax free ( not included )
(Additional perks for Generals not quantified)
Perks alone work out per Officer: Rs 45,000 (approx)

PBOR
Dwelling: Fully furnished house: Rs 5000
Rations and clothing: Free rations home delivered & clothing: Rs 10,000
Services and facilities: Rs 3000
LTC for self and family: Rs 500
Medical including family: Rs 500
Field area allowances: Not included
Total perks soldiers: Rs 18,000 (approx)

Service Pensioners
No substantial relief for pensioners. Periodic relief is already being given as DA depending on the cost of living Index. This will be merged to pension and a marginal increase of 20 to 25 percent is expected. The pensioners are already entitled to facilities of the CSD and ECHS.

New formulae for Serving Personnel
Double the present scale of pay and add the perks.
Double the existing number of Generals (equivalent rank AF and Navy).
Cadre review: Promotions and up gradation are an ongoing process. We have a new Command Theatre and one more cardinal point can be expected shortly to employ the additional General Officers. Bingo you have the pay scales up- scaled to Industry standard! Also you have doubled the promotional chances in the Army, Navy and Air Force by twofold. Can you expect more? The IAS have succeeded in down playing the status of the Armed Forces.