Shri Narendra Bhai Modi, Honourable Prime Minister of India, 152-South Block,Raisina Hill, New Delhi-110011
SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM OF DEMAND OF ESME(JCOs/NCOs/Ors)
Respected PM Sir,
We would like to thank our Prime
Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for his acknowledgement of sacrifices of the
Sipahis, the Naiks and the Havaldars. When he mentioned us in his speech
“80-90% militarymen are the personal below officer rank JCOs/NCOs/ORs. They are
the very first person to face the enemy bullets and lay down their lives in the
service to the mother nation. But as it is necessary to keep the forces young
they have to leave the services at a very young age. After completing just
15-17 years in the armed forces.” We reiterate that Shri Narendra Modiji is the
first ever prime minister who has openly acknowledged our services and
sacrifices in line of performance of our duty to the nation.
At
the same time, this is a pity and very sad moment for us the Sipahis, the Naiks
and the Havaldars (JCOs/NCOs/Ors) that despite our selfless services to the
nation we are relegated and sidelined by our own military leaders, ‘the
commissioned officers’. We account for 95% to 97% of total strength of ex-servicemen
of our country. All ex-servicemen organisations, every government department of
sainik welfare and sainik department political parties are headed by retired
military officers hence the issues of JCO/NCO/Ors like their legitimate rights,
discrimination and poor economic condition due to meager pay and allowances,
less service pension these issues never reach properly to the government and
political parties. Even while serving we are totally dependent on officers and
service headquarters. Which has resulted in exploitation of JCO/NCO and ORs as
the high ranked officers, sitting in the Defence headquarters had vested
interests and they were only taking care of their own cadre. After having prolonged
discussions with retired JCOs/NCOs/ORs who reside in various parts of the
country, the following demands are forwarded herewith for your kind
consideration and taking appropriate action to implement our genuine demands
with letter and spirit.
One Rank One Pension (OROP):
We are not accepting
the current formula of OROP as it benefits only commi- ssoned officers this
formula is based on advices by officer centric organisations, who have actually
hijacked the OROP – originally meant for the Jawans.
AN OPEN LETTER TO PM FOR GENUINE DEMANDS OF EX-SERVICEMEN THE JAWANS AND VEER NAARIS
Whereas officers serve
up to the age of 60 including re-employment. Officers work from tents behind
which are air conditioned even in field areas. The officers are also highly
paid with their minimum pension starting at Rs. 56000/- Per Month and going up to
Rs. 100,000/- Per Month.
However the officers
have latched up to the idea of OROP and redefined it into a prestige issue
where, ‘No officer will receive less-pension than his Junior’, irrespective of
date of retirement. We the Jawans condemn, deplore and totally reject this
definition and strong arm tactics of officers. We also condemn all the members
of officer fraternity for continuously publicly abusing the Prime Minister of
our Country Shri Naredra Modiji on various social media platforms like Facebook
(OROP Ex Servicemen group, Mission OROP group) and Twitter. Also we strongly condemn
the IESM’s politically motivated ongoing hunger strike and Dharna at Jantar
Mantar.
In the current formula the Jawans get a benefit
of Rs. 500/- to Rs.1500/- pm, whereas officers get Rs. 20000/- to 40000/- pm in
addition to their minimum pension of Rs. 56000/-
Under these scenarios officers demanding OROP
is totally unethical, illegal and filled with sense of lust for more and more
money.
In order to provide a decent enhancement to
Jawans/JCOs pensions, we demand the following:
Only the Jawans (JCO,
NCO & OR) retire at an early age of 35 to 40 years and only the Jawans live
away from their families in much harsher conditions than the Commissioned
Officers. The Jawans also work as SEWADAR/SAHAYAK (personal house servants) of
Commissioned Officers and their wives and children to keep them comfortable.
Present hullabaloo of
OROP is also eyewash. The JAWANS who form 97% of the ESM contingent are
seriously misinformed, misguided by various OFFICER CENTRIC GROUPS. Our
pensions were revised every 10 years any way. The JAWANS are CHEATED again.
Jawans' support to OROP is the biggest ever mistake of our cadre. Instead we
would have showed fight for proper revision of pre 2006 beneficiaries. Let us expose
the hidden agenda of the whole OFFICER contingent behind drama of OROP at
Jantar Mantar.
THE EXPOSE :
1. Every commissioned OFFICER attains Rank of LTCol/Commander even if suppressed in promotion. No OFFICER takes PMR before reaching Rank of Lt colonel/Commander.
2. The colonial cousins(officers) were always having aspirations of putting their foot in IAS officers shoes. In 6 th CPC officers managed to upgrade themselves to PAY BAND 4(pay grade of IAS officers). Think of an IAS administrating/ managing a city/district consisting of lakhs of people. And a defence officer managing 50-60 highly disciplined soldiers. But due to selective socialism of Congress party now both IAS and Defense officers are on same pay band.
3. Now after implementation of OROP their biggest beneficiaries’ officers every one of them will be getting Pension equivalent to an IAS, as post OROP every EX OFFICER being in pay band 4. Basic rise from Rs 16400/- to 37700/- Nowhere in the world such a rise is given to anyone.
4. OROP is a conspiracy to give each officer staggering Pension rise.
1. Every commissioned OFFICER attains Rank of LTCol/Commander even if suppressed in promotion. No OFFICER takes PMR before reaching Rank of Lt colonel/Commander.
2. The colonial cousins(officers) were always having aspirations of putting their foot in IAS officers shoes. In 6 th CPC officers managed to upgrade themselves to PAY BAND 4(pay grade of IAS officers). Think of an IAS administrating/ managing a city/district consisting of lakhs of people. And a defence officer managing 50-60 highly disciplined soldiers. But due to selective socialism of Congress party now both IAS and Defense officers are on same pay band.
3. Now after implementation of OROP their biggest beneficiaries’ officers every one of them will be getting Pension equivalent to an IAS, as post OROP every EX OFFICER being in pay band 4. Basic rise from Rs 16400/- to 37700/- Nowhere in the world such a rise is given to anyone.
4. OROP is a conspiracy to give each officer staggering Pension rise.
In last few years since Timescale promotion
policy is in effect. A breed of useless unprofessional morons have been
promoted. Worthless posts are created to accommodate them. It is mockery of
natural justice. At one place u don't promote JAWANS equate them to a Jhaduwala
of municipality. On the other hand free hand is being give to OFFICER
promotion. And also declare deficit of officers!!!!
NFU and TIMESCALE are ways to kill competence
of individuals. That makes jack a dull boy. Now a days top leadership of ARMED
FORCES is acting like vampires to drain the life out of Indian youth.
Healthy competition is
must for any institution to succeed, thrive be it a country or ARMED FORCES.
But when in the name of selection. You have this so called Service Selection
Board that is actually Service Rejection Board. Your SSB doesn't want sons of
soil to be officers. SSB in principal is against Indianness and INDIANs in
general. They want to recruit people who are either dumb or can be converted
into a dumber fellow later in ACADEMIES. The Desi robust fellow INDIAN (the
Kisan) is simply not welcome and faces outright Rejection. The cult of defence
ACADEMIES has succeeded in mass conversation of fellow INDIAN and turned them
into COLONIAL COUSINS.
In India we have blood sucker vampires
everywhere. They can drain blood from our veins in the name of patriotism,
nationalism. Now a days its true with most of the officers and jawans joining
in Defence. Once u are in there is no competition. Top Defence leadership is
busy demanding NFU (Non Functional Upgradation) and timescale
promotions Socialism is good in principle but has never
been successfully implemented. Likewise outright capitalism is also draining
mother earth of all its resources. We must find a middle path. Sustainable
development, and sustainable living equal rights to all were principles
developed by one Mr MK Gandhi.
PENSION, PAY AND
ALLOWANCES :
Place the Diploma
Holders in same PB 2 after completion of training (as the Central Government
Diploma Engineers are). As per 6 CPC report, the Military institutes award
Diploma in Nursing and those diploma holder Nurses are commissioned as Officers
and are placed in PB-3. The Diploma Civil Engineers were place in the Rank of
Naib Subedar before 3rd CPC.
Control the PCDA and
CDAs from modifying the government orders/letters and going against the
Government's polices designed to benefit the JCOs, NCOs and ORs. Several Jawans
are not paid the pension of the LAST RANK from which they were
discharged/retired before completing 10 months in that rank. This is in spite
of the ruling from AFT and several Court Judgements which favoured the Jawans.
Please instruct the PCDA/CDAs to pay the Pension of the Last Rank held from 5th
CPC onwards.
Accommodation should
be allotted by rainbow system every building and residential area should have
officer’s and Jawans quarters. No separate accommodation area for officers as
this move will bring in more camaraderie amongst men and officers. Unlike their
civilian counterparts the Officers and Jawans are employed to protact the
Nation and thus are supposed to be buddies of each other in the times of war
and peace. This in turn remove tag of untouchables from us Jawan’s foreheads.
Same Roster of accommodation should be maintained in terms of Officers and
soldiers.
Huge gap of pay
between officers and Jawans should be normalised as per Government Norms
(Compare pay of officers in Public sector Banks and Clerks). This will also
enable the Government to remove anomalies in terms of allotment of government
married accommodation. By equalising Salaries of NCOs (havildar/Sargent/Petty
officer) to that of a commissioned officer as it is in the Royal Navy of United
Kingdom government will be able to extend accommodations specially made for and
made by the officers to the Jawans.
Equal Military Service Pay for Jawans/JCOs as
paid to Officers
Restoration of 75% of
last pay drawn as pension which was in vague till the year 1973. This was
reduced to 50% and further brought down to 38%. Equal widow (family) pension to
be enhanced from Rs. 3500/- to Rs. 35000/- as currently paid to officer’s
widows. Equal disability pension to all ranks – without differentiating
injuries on rank structure. We the JCOs / NCOs /ORs are the rightful owners of
One rank one pension and the officers may be excluded from this purview, as
unethical and illegal claim. The amounts saved thus may be utilised for
betterment of widows and disabled jawans/JCOs and their kin’s welfare.
Provide Fixed Time
promotion or Pay Up-gradation to Jawans at the same rate by upgrading his Pay
to the 6th higher rank of Subedar in 14 years or earlier. The Havildars must be
placed in PB 2 and every Jawan should be up-graded to the pay of Naik in 3
years, to the pay of Havildar in 6 years, to the pay of Naib Subedar in 10
years or earlier and to the pay of Subedar before 16 years. Those who are
promoted to the JCO ranks must be placed in PB-3 and every Jawan (JCO, NCO
& OR) must get the pay and pension of the next higher rank from which he is
discharged/ retired.
Form a Cabinet
Committee to study the Organizational and Pay/ Pension structure of US Military
and modernize our Military in the same order to bring up the status and
confidence of the Jawans who have never failed in sacrificing their life for
the nation.
The MSP element of a
soldier is very cleverly structured & arranged by the 7th CPC comprised of
Babus to deprive the soldiers of the parity with their civilian counterparts,
they have calculated at the parity in the pay scale of soldiers ranks with
civil post including the MSP .
The analogy & grant of MSP to a soldier is
due to the following reasons.
1) The hazardous working condition of
soldiers, including war, war like situation, insurgency operation, Pledged to
sacrifice life in defending nation & living in adverse climatic conditions.
2) Performs 24 hrs duty in comparison with
civilian who works for 8 hrs a day & 5 days in a week. The civilian
employee Draws overtime allowance beyond that, Most of the Soldiers are staying
away from their family & children in forward areas deprived of family life
3) The soldiers have given an undertaking to
serve and safeguard the country for a specific period of time surrendering
their fundamental rights unlike civilian counterparts who have trade union
& right to strike.
Hence this is an additional benefit granted to
soldiers only due to unique working environment & it is in addition to
parity with civilian counterparts but not inclusive.
Further the element of
MSP is given to soldiers in such a way to discriminate the JCO/OR who
constitute a major chunk of armed forces. If we take an example of an infantry
division, the real threat to life is more for JCO/OR who is in the forefront of
war field & a mere MSP of Rs 5200/is recommended for them. In short lives
of different categories are differently valued.
7CPC regarding M S P - SOLDIERS’
HARDSHIP ALLOWANCE.
In the seventh pay
commission the report recommended to grant of M S P @ ₹5200/- only for the
Jawan / JCO's , who are directly involve in hostile operation / LoC/ Insurgency
area and deployed along the "Siachen glacier ", the world coldest and
highest battle field.where as Officers who are sitting in comfort ACs/ Heaters
and full support of Sahayaks around them recommended M S P@ ₹15500/-. Nursing
Officers who are never involved in any hostile operations and employed
with secured Hospital recommended for ₹10800/- for holding Officer status. What
a injustice again created by the Govt due to silence mode of Officers , is it
correct are they fighting for Jawan/JCOs no they all are creating a drama only
for their requirements , that's why we are against such type of
activities/people's.
A soldier who is fighting at border and facing live bullets gets Military
Service Pay (An allowance for danger to his life) Rs. 2000 / 5200 as per 7th
CPC, and when he is hurt by bullet or wounded in operation a Nurse In Hospital
who treats his wounds Gets Rs. 4200 / 10800 (7th CPC) and an officer who sits
in AC / Heater fitted war rooms and plans how a war will be fought gets Rs.
6000 / 15500 as an allowance for threat one faces for his life
MSP of Rs 10500 is
recommended for MNS who have no threat at all to life & working in
hospitals in much better conditions.
MSP of Rs 15000 is recommended for
commissioned officers.
It is to be noted that life is invaluable to
everyone & discriminatory treatment in this regard is highly inhuman.
Let us hope that some sense of humanity will
prevail on the political junta to do away with this inhuman treatment given to
soldiers of the country by bureaucracy.
COLONIAL LAWS
All the rules and
regulations like REGS NAVY AND NAVY ACT 1957 are colonial laws (which you our
beloved PM have already started abolishing) are made to harass the soldiers.
These rules and regulations are made by the British to rule this country.
Divide and rule policy adopted by the British is still continued in the Indian
Armed Forces. After Independence, no change has been made in these rules and
regulations. Officers of the Indian Armed Forces are like British and they
behaving with soldiers like their slaves. The soldiers became the puppets in
the hand of all these officers. "Boss is always right" phenomenon is
going on in the defence forces. If any superior officer harass or abuse any
soldier and the victim soldier complains against that officer, there is no
legal action taken against the guilty officer, but if any soldier speaks
against any officer then whole set of rules and regulations are referred. The
false charges are framed against that soldiers and he may be thrown out of
service by means of court martial.
Total Removal of
colonial laws i.e. Navy Act 1957 REGS Navy as these laws and rule books were
conceptulised by the erstwhile Royal Navy(British) and are tilted in favor of
officers. These colonial laws are one of the major reasons for present
untouchable status of the Jawans. We the Jawans of Indian Armed Forces need an
Ambedkar a Gandhi to bring us out of these sewage dump created by using British
system of divide and Rule. After Independence it is the Black Britishers who
are ruling the Soldiers of India.
Time and again when we
continuously talking about the deterioration in relations of officers and
SOLDIERS of armed forces, it is a huge surprise that nobody speaks about a
solution....
Now we compare our
civilian counterparts!! Let us speak about SSC and UPSC. Entry-level
qualification for Staff Selection Commission - Combined Graduate Level Exam and
UPSC civil services is graduation in any stream. No bar on percentage% and no
bar on subjects. Now when an individual qualifies for SSC CGL He or she can get
the posts ranging from 2400 Grade Pay to 4600 Grade Pay, all are non gazetted
posts. Whereas qualification in UPSC exam yields you a group A gazetted post. There
are some facts to consider. A 15-20 yr senior SSC CGL aspirant (2400 GP) earns
the same payment that of a group A gazetted officer ( starting pay), when he
retires his pay and allowances is more than a 5-6 yr senior UPSC aspirant. The
above case is of a tax assistant and have not appeared a single professional
exam in his life, if u compare with 4600 GP it is often more interesting. The
career development opportunities offered is also great. After 2 Yrs u r
eligible to appear a professional exam (no interview) and on passing that departmental
Professional Exam you will be promoted to group B gazzetted officer and in next
18-20 Yrs group A gazzetted officer ( time scale). ( 30% of vacancies in group
A filled from service and 70% direct selection)
What I find surprising
in the above is the directly selected officers does not have any grievance with
this system ( because they are Indians and thinks all are Indians) and the
second funny thing is 50% of CGL aspirants does not appear for the exam due to
the heavy responsibility shouldered by officers.
You all must be thinking why I am speaking
this here!! Think entry level qualification for NDA and SOLDIERS recruitment is
same and funny part is percentage is fixed for Jawans’ entry level exam but not
for NDA but the difference in pay and perks are so high that a Jawan whose top most
grade is JCO cannot even touch the starting salary of a junior most officer in
his entire career (probably due to huge difference in allowances with DA
admissible)
A directly recruited officer when joins the
forces normally he sees his future in his own Commanding Officer and there are
many more avenues open to him when he performs. If he is not performing then
also he gets an assured job up to 54 Yrs of age!! Assured promotion up to the
rank of Lt Colonel in 13 Yrs followed by Colonel in timescale (26 Yrs).
In other hand when a soldier joins he sees his
future in his coy. JCO and compares the difference!! Everyone knows how much it
is!! And sees if not performed nobody knows when he will be sent out. No job
security... Even if promoted to the highest rank of A Jawan than also he may be
sent out in 52-54 Yr depending on his enrolment age. Despite giving the best he
is not assured what is in the career for him... Half of the Jawans start
thinking life beyond initial engagement and gets into preparation for life
beyond Defence. Forget the enthusiasm, zeal and creativity for service, those
who think to continue in service their condition is more deteriorating. Half of
the time they don't even know what is going happen with them!!! Life with full
of surprise, on a day when your daughter is in graduation son in 12th Standerd your
service is terminated!!! “Contract Not Renewed.” I have seen people were full
of tears in discharge centre. Why this double standards?
If thousands of grounded officers can be
accommodated in the Forces then why not Jawans? If it is IMPOSSIBLE then make
the same rules for both fraternity. There should be two groups -- one selected
officers for future service and two the selected Jawans for further service.
Rest all be sent out irrespective of the Cadre! This will keep the Forces competitive,
young and more fighting fit.
Where is group B gazzetted status in
Defence??? Why not the JCOs get that status? Forget branch commission (special
duty) officer and honorary officer status for Jawans. They are purely British
thought of divide and rule.
Tough JCO cadre exams should be conducted
under CCTV surveillance to deny the Chamchaas of officers to get promoted.
There should be a significant difference in pay and facilities of a JCO so that
a smart NCOs strive for it rather than preparing for 2nd career in civil.
Officer centric policies of previous
governments have hurt the jawans the most. These policies are due to selective
socialism of previous ruling party. Their brand of governance is RED TAPISM
give officers everything. They won't let the rest to rise. Neither the
governments of past nor the pay commissions of the past ever bothered to do
their duties rightfully. Instead they towed to eyewash presented by officers. That
Ruling party’s selective Socialism is very simple "APPEASEMENT OF OFFICERS".
THE NO PROMOTION /NEVER PROMOTION POLICY FROM
JAWAN CADRE TO OFFICER CADRE:
The Jawans:
The Jawans aren’t
actualy retiring but they are forced to leave the services. May be it is the
government’s wish that they want the forces to be young. But than the Jawan
should be given more opportunities, to get promoted to officer’s ranks, and to
continue their services to the nation. Does a single citizen of this country think that only less
than only 1% out of around 15 lakh soldiers are good enough to become officers?
And the rest of us are useless and needed to be thrown into wilderness.
This is really strange
that the same Integrated Headquarters who have recommended timescale promotions
instead of merit based promotions for the officer cadre is not at all promoting
the Jawans to officer’s cadre even on merit and discarding them like a toilet
paper, after completion of their initial contract of engagement of 15 -17-20
years.
No time scale
promotions for soilders. A Corporal/Leading Seaman/Naik can only serve till 17
years. A Petty Officer can only serve the nation till 23 years of service. If a
Jawan does not have a good Annual Confidentiol Report and is not promoted to
next rank. He will be thrown out of the service once he has completed maximum
years permissible in his rank. This policy is devised to keep the armed forces
young. Agree! That we need fresh legs to protect the country. But why deserving
Jawans are not being promoted to the post of officers. In all central
government and PSUs 50% of the posts are filled by promotion. But in the armed
forces they have this hugely biased Service Selection Board (SSB) interview
system. The entire concept of SSB is colonial and corrupt favourism and
nepotism at all time high. Most members of SSB are defence officers and no
wonder that more than 70% of serving officers are relatives of defence officers.
We call is uncle colonel syndrome. Where they never promote even 1% soldiers to
officer’s Ranks. This in turn results in 95% of Jawans of each batch leaving
services after completion of their initial engagement.
The central government
places its diploma engineers at Pay Band 2 with Rs.4200/- grade pay. Whereas
military diploma holders are paid what the central govt. pays to its peons and
safaiwala!!! 5200(Basic)+2000(grade pay)
The officers:
All commissioned officers got pay and pension of Lt. Col rank for the
rank of Major by placing them in higher pay Band PB-4 on completion of 21 years
service (time scale Promotion policy). The commissioned officers arranged to
upgrade the Lt. Colonels from PB3 to PB 4 by nexus with ministry personnel and
defence headquarters. Before every pay commission the officers start hue and
cry about shortage of officers in armed forces.
RECRUITMENT IN THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES : ARMY/NAVY/AIRFORCE):
As our Prime Minister
Shri Narendra Modi Sir had said, we have to keep the forces young. We request
the prime minister to intervene in the biased internal promotional exams and
the match fixing happening in Service Selection Board (SSB). How on earth can
someone explain that majority of the current crop of officers are kins and
relatives of serving/retired officers.
The Recruitment
process in the Armed forces has to change. We cannot go on following British
pattern. All recruitments should start from soldier level and from there
deserving should be promoted to commissioned officer rank. Pay structure should
be as it is followed by other developed countries like USA and UK in those
countries the pay package of JCOs are higher than that of Major.
In the Central
Government the Staff selection commission (SSC) is the authority which conducts
interviews and written examinations of all the graduate level posts for initial
selection and Promotion. The SSC (Staff selection commission) is an unbiased
organisation of great stature in India. The SSC should be made the organisation
which will conduct written tests and Interviews for selection and promotion all
the posts (officers and Soldiers) in the Indian Armed Forces. The SSC conducts
a Combined Graduate level examination (CGL) every year for recruitment in all
posts where minimum qualification is Graduation. Even departmental promotional
exams are conducted by the SSC and has resulted in a selection system that is
truly unbiased and trust worthy.
As we all know in
Indian Navy and Indian Air Force initial joining qualification is 10+2 for
officers and Sailors both. Recruitment and selection should be carried out by
the Staff Selection Commission and not the internal biased bodies. Just as in
CGL candidates qualifying will have to fill online option form to choose different
posts
The officers have been
spreading rumors about their strength in service and how so many officers are
leaving the services. But this is a white Lie. If one checks the records of
Jawan leaving the services one can find more than 90% of jawan are leaving the
services on expiry of their initial engagement. (In case of Indian Navy that is
15 years). It is shocking that maximum numbers of Jawan are not ready to serve
the Mother Nation once their initial Contract is over. I am sure that if
equality, equal opportunities, respect will be provided. The Jawan will not
leave the services in these many numbers.
Crying wolf “shortage of officers”
Absolutely there is no shortage of officers especially
in Army. Every time there is a pay Commission then shortage is at highest
level. Due to misuse of officers for useless jobs of mess parties, this and
that worthless visit of seniors coming on private visits, attending useless
whimsical meetings called by commanders, waste all their duty time. It is just
wasting of highly paid manpower due to mismanagement and then crying for
shortage as usual. Practically officers are detailed for jobs which can be done
by any peon even. Getting bouquet, purchasing gifts for visiting senior morons
every other day, then one officer with his wife to entertain her has become a
routine job. Instead of doing his assigned job for which he was selected they
are engaged in such petty jobs below their standard level. System is totally
rotten. If a free and secret survey is carried out I am sure all junior
officers will vote against the current system prevailing in forces.
Shortage of Officers in the Indian Armed Forces
– A Sign of Serious Class Prejudice?
The Indian army has been facing a shortage of
officers for some time now. This BBC report says that the Indian army is more
than 11,000 officers short. The Indian Navy and Indian Air Force too face a
similar shortage. The Air Force needs another 6,000 officers and the Navy
another 3,000.
Ever since the private sector in India started
to boom, the Armed forces have not been topping the list of favored careers for
India’s youth. India’s generals, admirals and air marshals complain that the
armed services cannot compete with the private sector in terms of pay and
perks.
However, the above is just one side of the
story. Here’s the other side. Whenever the Indian army wants to recruit men
(that is jawans or privates, not officers), they do so through a recruitment
rally. Very large numbers of Indian youth throng these rallies. Not everyone gets
recruited. For example, a month ago, more than 50,000 young men came forward to
enroll themselves in the Indian Army at a recruitment rally organised in the
Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. Of the 50,000 who turned up, only 10,000 were
found to be fit enough to be hired.
Once in a while, there are stampedes at these rallies and young men get killed.
Yes, there is no shortage of men willing to join the army as privates or Jawans.
The obvious question which arises is, why some of the non-officer personnel don’t get promoted as officers? I don’t have statistics, but I don’t think many of our Jawans get promoted to ranks beyond Subedar Major
Once in a while, there are stampedes at these rallies and young men get killed.
Yes, there is no shortage of men willing to join the army as privates or Jawans.
The obvious question which arises is, why some of the non-officer personnel don’t get promoted as officers? I don’t have statistics, but I don’t think many of our Jawans get promoted to ranks beyond Subedar Major
(Sergeant Major).
The Indian army has not got over its colonial hangover. In officers' messes, privates serve the officers. The Indian armed forces have not made a serious attempt to make themselves more egalitarian. For example, officers are still provided with batmen. In this day and age, making privates/naval ratings and airmen work for their officers as servants is so disgusting!
The answer to the problem of officer shortage seems simple and straightforward. The armed forces should make it possible for its non-commissioned ranks to enter the hallowed officer class. The emphasis should be less on speaking perfect English and more on having the necessary skill-set and willingness and ability to learn. The Indian armed forces are almost a million strong and of this, the majority are non-officers. Surely it will be possible to select a few thousand of the brightest and best NCOs and JCOs and make officers out of them?
The Indian army has not got over its colonial hangover. In officers' messes, privates serve the officers. The Indian armed forces have not made a serious attempt to make themselves more egalitarian. For example, officers are still provided with batmen. In this day and age, making privates/naval ratings and airmen work for their officers as servants is so disgusting!
The answer to the problem of officer shortage seems simple and straightforward. The armed forces should make it possible for its non-commissioned ranks to enter the hallowed officer class. The emphasis should be less on speaking perfect English and more on having the necessary skill-set and willingness and ability to learn. The Indian armed forces are almost a million strong and of this, the majority are non-officers. Surely it will be possible to select a few thousand of the brightest and best NCOs and JCOs and make officers out of them?
EMPLOYMENT OF JAWANS:
Today in the times of
Skill India of Shri Narendra Modi, the Jawan are still ill-treated as
un-skilled labourers. They are forced to do household chores of officers. This is
sheer wastage of skilled manpower and this jawan who is hired to protect our
Nation from enemies. He is paid salary for that from pockets of the taxpayers
of our country. His skill, abilities, time and honor is wasted by this officer
fraternity. Employment of Jawans for polishing boots of officers and washing
dirty linens of their families in officer’s residences should be stopped
forthwith. It is affecting morale of the jawans. A soldier’s prime duty is to fight War and
protect the nation, to get the solider to do menial household chores of
officers and their families. The exchequer can save more than Rs 3600 Crores annually
just by completely abolishing Sewadari system prevalent in the forces. It is
further requested that severe punishment and fine of Rs. 10,00,000/- be
introduced for violation of this rule.
In Indian Armed Forces
all technical jobs are done by Sailors/Solders/Airmen. Technical officers do
Admin jobs. I don't have any grudge for that. Administration must be done by
the superiors. But they projected the technical people as cleaners and tool
handlers where as in truth all the major equipment are maintained and repaired
by the technical sailors. This made the CPC to down grade the people who were
highly skilled.
The
Soldiers/Sailors/Airmen, who join the services in different trades, The
mechanics who keep the fighter aircraft airworthy or the Indian Naval Warships
Sea ready to be treated as fighter plane mechanic Marine Engine Mechanic not
“scooter mechanic” that’s injustice. When that happens people would definitely
come heavily saying “discrimination”.
SKILL INDIAN ARMED FORCES MISSION: UNIVERSITY OF NATIONAL
DEFENCE
Skill, Knowledge and
Exposure : In modern society, anyone who selects Armed
Forces as a career is well informed and educated. However the Recruits who join
The Indian Armed Forces as Jawans are categorically denied chances and exposure
to keep them below officer ranks. Instead of honing and developing leadership
qualities in Jawans they are kept at bay and not allowed to take decisions. The
officers should be directed to reinforce the confidence of a NCO / JCO. Middle
level leadership in the Armed Forces should give adequate freedom to NCOs/ JCOs
to perform their duties confidently. Competence comes with knowledge because experience
alone does not make a man to grow to his full potential. A NCO / JCO should be
given adequate opportunities to improve knowledge relevant to his service and
trade. He should be encouraged to keep abreast with the younger generation by
being open to new ideas. This would enhance his ability and confidence to work
with subordinates. Even as a young jawan he should be exposed to take right
decisions in complex situations, as part of a detachment to carry out important
tasks. This methodology will pave the way for developing his leadership
qualities.
The officers of armed
forces seem to be having malicious intensions and are responsible for the
social stigma of the Jawan who are labeled as un-educated and un-skilled.
The Jawans are
recruited and trained in their allotted trades by the Defence. Young aspirants
are taken in, trained throughout the service and are rewarded with FAKE Degrees
from the MILITARY INSTITUTES. The biggest irony is that none of the
courses and training offered are recognised by the UGC nor these are affiliated
to any university. “Equivalent to Diploma” or “Equivalent to Degree”.
Now, what is this EQUIVALENT without a value? These EQUIVALENT certificates
from military institutes are not worthier than a fake one purchased from the
market. These certificates and the words therein are so horrific and
meaningless that it is better to leave them for Military Chiefs than to hang in
the drawing rooms. So the highly trained and skilled Jawan when retires at an
early age of 32-35 years, his qualification is ZERO. He gets nothing. 15 years
numerous training and some papers also known as certificates but are of no
value in civil, when one finds any Tom dick and Harry running a university
affiliated colleges and engineering and medical admissions @35%. Everyone is a
graduate in civil world. Why DEMEQ, LMEQ, POMEQ, NBCDIQ are not affiliated to a
central university?? Why A highly skilled trained combatant soldier is more
illiterate than a civilian graduate?? The record office issues us Jawans,
with some FAKE equivalent to graduate certificate and some even more FAKE NCO
codes and Sea Service Certificates. I feel pity on my silent tongue due to
compulsions and on people who were supposed to look after me. My request to you
is that A “NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF DEFENCE” be established just as #RAKSHA
SHAKTI UNIVERSITY was established by Gujarat's than CM now our PM in
Gandhinagar, GUJARAT. This historic move will place our government back into
the hearts of the jawans. A bad image of our PM has been created by some rogue
elements on OROP issue. The jawans retiring after 15 years or more are being
given some funny 'equivalent to graduation' certificate which has no
educational value. Jawans are being cheated by the system so that they will not
face competition from them in higher posts after retirement.
To cover all this up, the
Jawans are offered pre release courses but they too are of no educational value. Retiring Officers are offered coursesin IIMs an IITs. The jawans are allotted hair cutting technology course.
These places have
become heavens of corruption for grounded officers. Some Anti Government/ Anti
National elements are holding rallies all over INDIA and misguiding the unsuspecting
EX SERVICEMEN against our PM, government and ruling party.
On social media also they
are busy spreading venom. Despite of announcement of OROP by the PM the retired officer fraternity is busy protesting and maligning the PM's and government's image in media and
amongst general public.
amongst general public.
By announcing a
centralised National Defence University where all Jawan's courses will be
legally affiliated to UGC/AICTE/NAGPUR FIRE COLLEGE/ DG SHIPPING the PM will
forever write his name into the hearts of the serving and retired Jawans.
The Director General
Resettlement eats into so much of defence budget actually meant for
Resettlement of JAWANS and does only eye wash. Instead of reaching out to the root
cause of unemployment of ex JAWANS in civil world and empowering the JAWANS. My
recommendation shut the shop of DGR DESA etc. These places have become havens
of corruption for grounded officers.
A so called EX
SERVICEMEN organization is holding rallies all over INDIA and misleading the
unsuspecting EX SERVICEMEN towards a Non issue OROP for personal political
gains.
This is our top most
demand that a new University of National Defence be established and all the
courses and their curriculum run by defence establishments should be approved
by and affiliated to the University of National Defence.
In modern armies the
concept of having competent NCOs has survived; but the concept of JCO has met
with moderate success. The systems being followed in some foreign armies are
enumerated below :-
(a) The US Armed Forces. Comparing the United States (US) Army with Indian
Armed Forces would be an inaccurate hypothesis. In the US Army the role of NCOs
in combat is vital. As a young NCO, he is given responsibility equal to, if not
more, than our JCOs. 3 The NCO would be assessed for this on various occasions
(to reach this level in his unit /sub unit). His position is quite well defined
in the organisation, along with his role, responsibilities and duties.4 The JCO
like appointments in the US Armed forces are more at the formation and
administrative level. The percentage of such appointments is very low in
comparison to the Indian Armed Forces.
(b) Armed Forces of NATO Nations. Being a forerunner to the Indian Armed
Forces, most of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) nations are still
following the concept of JCO rank. Functioning and grooming aspects of their
leaders below officer levels are very concisely explained in their tactical /
operational doctrines, studying these concepts indicate where we have failed in
our Armed Forces.
(c) Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). SAF may be smaller in size; but, there are
some aspects which we need to learn from them for betterment of our Armed
Forces. In SAF the concept of JCO is given very less weightage. Induction of
NCOs in SAF starts with a ‘Reasoning and Psychological Test’ at the age of 17
to 19 years. After selection they attend three years Graduation Program in
Defence Institutes. These NCOs, being backbone of SAF, become ‘Specialists’ or
‘Subject Matter Experts’ (SME) on completion of studies.6 These SMEs are young in
age with high potential and are able to carry out all kind of tasks during
operations and peace time. After 10 years of physical service SMEs are promoted
to the rank of Warrant Officers (WOs) who are equivalent to our JCOs. On
becoming WOs, they are mostly employed in administrative duties; unlike the
Indian Armed Forces where a JCO is expected to lead a platoon in battle. This
system in SAF ensures that an NCO is competent, intelligent and young to lead a
platoon during operations.
MISUSE OF NON PUBLIC FUNDS (CSD CANTEEN FUNDS
The colonial Laws and
rule books have made the officers invincible to the rule of law. There are
various welfare organisations in the Indian Armed forces for welfare of
soldiers such as NGIS, CSD Canteens, NWWA, Canteens onboard Indian Naval Ships,
and Gas Agencies etc. These orgnisations are registered with central government
on the basis of "NO PROFIT NO LOSS" but superior officers are using
this organisation for their personal benefits. There is no tax imposed on these
organisations as these organizations are registered as welfare organisations.
These organizations are earning huge profits and a large amount of money is
being distributed among the officer’s messes and golf courses. The soldiers are
looted by means of these welfare-organisations. Only internal audit of this
organisations are being carried out and funds are siphoned to various officer
welfare organisations for maintaining their party life. It is our demand that
CAG Audit of all these so called Non Public funds should be carried out and
should be made public. In its 75th report the Public Accounts committee
(2012-13) (Fifteenth Lok Sabha) has recommended that audit of the CSD Canteens
should be carried out by the CAG.
The Officers have Big bash
parties around the year All CSD Canteen profits are diverted to officer’s
welfare funds and to add to that Big Liquor suppliers like Kingfisher and big
CSD supplier companies like Nestle are asked to pay huge donations for
organising events such as Navy Ball. I will give you a very recent example of a
CSD canteen where kingfisher products were not available for three to four
months. The Reason behind? Canteen officer asked kingfisher to pay up sponsorship
money amounting to Rs. 500,00,000/-(Five Crore) for organising Navy Ball event.
Kingfisher refused to pay up the amount. After three months of No-sell
kingfisher policy the company budged and paid up around Rs. 400,00,000/- and
their products were ordered and made available for sale at CSD liquor counter.
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN INDIAN ARMED FORCES
The Indian Armed
Forces have a very painfully Racial and undemocratic tradition of having
separate toilets for Officers. Separate kitchens and messes with better food
amenities for officers. We the solders and the officers are in one service than
why are they allowed to maintain so much difference. The officers have separate
ques for them in all facilities like CSD Canteen, Military Hospitals. Even
after retirement the same biased attitude and colonial rules continue.
The officers have
Exclusive recreational Clubs where the Soldiers are not allowed entry. These
clubs are located on defence land and are run by profits earned from CSD
canteens. There is a famous club in Colaba Mumbai-United Services Club they
used to have a sign board outside their gates “SAILORS AND DOGS NOT ALLOWED
INSIDE” The constitution of India gives Every Indian Soldier equal rights to
Use all Public places.
It is our Humble
request and one of our top most demand that in a democratic country like ours,
all this special status and special treatment available to the officers and
their families to be totally scrapped and all the exclusive Clubs of officers
to be made public to the Jawan and their families.
The officer’s
residential areas are also made ‘OUT OF BOUND’ for the Jawans. Such policies
create so much dissent among the Jawans and officers.
We should do away with
all colonial practices. Instead Rainbow residential areas should be developed
where kids of both the cadres will play together. Unified Messes where everyone
eats drinks and merry, same kitchen, same dining, same toilets, no separate
ques. Each one of both the cadres is the same VIP for the Forces. The officer fraternity
should remove their mentality of keeping distance from their fellow countrymen
– the jawans. The jawan is no longer Indian and they are no longer british. We
all are Indians and we deserve EQUALITY, HUMANITY, COMPASSION, RESPECT, HUMAN
RIGHTS.
There are hundreds of
Jawans who die in harness in the line of duty but only officers are made Heroes
by spreading propaganda of their martyrdom. There is discrimination in awarding
Gallantry/Distinguished service medals.
PEACE TIME AWARDS (AGAIN
INJUSTICE WITH JAWAN/JCO's)
Strength of Jawan/JCO's is 97% then, why
should they limited to commendation cards and Honorary commission. Why they
were not consider for VSM, AVSM, PVSM etc, when war time decoration is for them, then why not in peace time. There
is a requirement of a review of the whole system of Peace time decoration for
Jawan/ JCO's. Maximum parts of these awards distributed to Army Commanders and
PSOs at Army /AF/Naval HQs. Senior Officer's sitting in respective
HQs, there is a Committee of top brass for recommending these awards, but
mostly they look after their own people. Now this is a requirement of time that
these awards be banned for top brasses and be given maximum to Junior Officers
and Jawan/JCO's, those who are directly working on the ground. Again this year
Jawan/JCOs cheated by these Officers and again projected the wrong information
to MOD. Given below the complete list of awards, see the awards given to those
whose representation is 97% of the total strength(Jawan/JCOs) and awards given
to Officers those represent only 3% of the total strength. 1)PVSM--Offrs-20.
Jawan/ JCOs—Nil, 2)Kirti Chakra--Offrs--Nil. Jawan/JCOs—2, 3)UYSM--Offrs-5.
Jawan/JCOs-Nil, 4)Bar to ATI -VSM Offrs-3 Jawan/JCOs-Nil, 5) ATI-VSM--Offrs
--29 Jawan/JCOs—Nil, 6) Shaurya Chakra--Offrs-5 Jawan/JCOs-3, 7)YSM--Offrs-14
Jawan/JCOs-Nil , 8)Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry) --Offrs-22 Jawan/JCOs-26,
9)Bar to Sena Medal (Distinguished)--Offrs-3 Jawan/JCOs –Nil, 10)Sena Medal
(Distinguished)--Offrs-37 Jawan/JCOs –Nil, 11)Bar toVSM -- Offrs-5
Jawan/JCOs-Nil, 12) VSM--Offrs-71 Jawan/JCOs-Nil, 13)Mention in Despatches--a)Operation
Meghdoot --Offrs-2 Jawan/JCOs-1, b)Operation Rakshak--Offrs-3 Jawan/JCOs-6,
c)Operation Rhino--Offrs-1 Jawan/JCOs-1 Now this is our humble request to
Defence Minister and Prime Minister to look in the matter and give justice to
Jawan/ JCOs , those who are facing this injustice. During active service they
are unable to rise their Voice against this discrimination. (The NCOs/ORs are the maximum number of casualty (the
Martyrs)in action). The Indian Army should learn lesson from American Army who
justify in awarding Medals to JCOs/NCOs/ORs. These awards fly in the face when
compared to the ratio of men and officers martyred in any operation.
It is our Humble
request that our genuine demands should to be looked into to make the Indian
Armed Forces Invincible, that once we were.
We the Jawans of this Nation request the political leadership to show
the will for bringing in the changes that are overdue since an eternity. And
thus bestow #SainikSwaraj onto us all.
Jai Hind! Jai Jawan!
Jai Sainik Swaraj!
Regards from
(SOURCE : VIA E_MAIL FROM MANAN BHATT EX -INDIAN NAVY)
