Is this how we treat our military?
At this critical juncture, India needs to demonstrate its resolve, and ensure the strength and morale of its armed forces. Instead, however, the self-pride of the armed forces is being subverted by parochial interests and narrow considerations. If some planted stories in the media are to be believed, the revised pay demands of the armed forces have not only been met, but enhanced by the government.
This is a travesty of truth. In reality, the basic demand of the armed forces for pre-Sixth Pay Commission status quo has been brushed aside with complete disdain. There are three major demands of the armed forces: one, a hike in pension (70 percent of the last pay drawn) in respect of personnel other than officers; two, restoration of the status of Lt Cols in the higher pay band (Pay Band-IV); and three, restoration in the status of Lt Generals vis-à-vis Director Generals of Police (DGPs).
In the United Kingdom, the males of the Royal family invariably serve in the armed forces. In the US, a military past is a political asset, with most Presidents proudly proclaiming their military background. The Indian politicians and bureaucrats, leave alone sending their sons, discourage even their sons-in-law from the military.
The government’s willingness to enhance pension for lower ranks does not actually translate in an actual raise, as the reduced slab announced earlier was based on the flawed premise that post-retirement they would be absorbed in the paramilitary forces, something which is still on the drawing board.
The other two demands, for restoration in status of Lt Cols and Lt Generals have either been rejected or have come with riders. The most ridiculous clause is the pay package of Lt Cols and their equivalent in the other two services. While their pay package have been upgraded to Pay Band-IV, it has been stipulated that their status in this Pay Band with regards to their Grade Pay, which determines their status, would be only applicable when they are serving on combat duties and not when on deputation. The term ‘combat duties’ has confounded all ranks. This smacks of a disdainful ‘take the money and forget about status’ attitude on part of the government.
The junior officers, that includes Lt Cols and their equivalents in the other two services, form the cutting edge of the armed forces. It is the same grade of officers, who dislodged Pakistani troops from the Kargil heights, by some most tenacious and daring assaults, without any parallel in the history of high altitude warfare. The demand for status parity for Lieutenant Generals with the DGP Police has been rejected. In Uttar Pradesh alone, there are more than two-dozen officers in the rank of DGP.
Is this the way to treat the Indian Armed Forces, which are respected for their professionalism in most parts of the world? Our vote-bank driven politicians have no direct stake in the armed forces. In the United Kingdom, the males of the Royal family invariably serve in the armed forces. In the US, a military past is a political asset, with most Presidents proudly proclaiming their military background. The Indian politicians and bureaucrats, leave alone sending their sons, discourage even their sons-in-law from the military.
A leader of the country like India, which aspires to be a great power, must enjoy the respect of the armed forces. He must realise that diplomacy and military strength are the two sides of the same coin.
Time and again, the Indian Armed Forces have drawn applause in bilateral and multilateral military exercises involving several nations. When India wins a cricket match, the Speaker does not fail to mention it in the Parliament. However, a few years ago when the Special Forces of the Indian Army stood first in a professional competition organised in South Africa, where more than two-dozen countries had participated, it did not find any mention. Our politicians including our Prime Minister and the concerned bureaucrats, I am sure, were even not aware of it.
The bureaucrats and the police hierarchy, relics of our colonial past, have over the years been systematically denigrating the armed forces out of sheer inferiority complex and to promote their own vested interests. The only hope for the armed forces personnel was the politicians. The politicians, however, have allowed their minds to be subverted by wily bureaucrats.
To make matters worse the Prime Minister too seems to relish the role of a bureaucrat rather than the leader of the country. In the Sixth Pay Commission, he had refused the military’s demand to appoint an armed forces member in the commission. Now he conveniently concedes that the military is entitled to a separate pay commission, which ironically will be constituted in 2018!
A leader of the country like India, which aspires to be a great power, must enjoy the respect of the armed forces. He must realise that diplomacy and military strength are the two sides of the same coin. He must also realise that the ‘argument of power’ is as, if not more, important than the ‘power of argument’. And the ‘argument of power’ is based on the strength and efficacy of a country’s armed forces. During his visit to India, US President George Bush told the Andhra Chief Minister that military should always be kept happy for the well-being of the nation.
Also read: Leadership in the 21st Century: Sam Manekshaw, MC
Yet our leaders, abetted by the bureaucrats, for reasons best known to them, thrive on sowing seeds of inter-service rivalry in the armed forces. A Minister of State for Defence with a police background was candid in telling me that to be a successful defence minister, one has to generate inter-service rivalry, and the best way to do it was by making the three service chiefs squabble over budgetary allocations.
With such an attitude, one wonders if the Indian Armed Forces can ever hope to find their legitimate status, and the institution of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) will ever see the light of the day.
About the author
RSN Singh, Associate Editor IDR and author of the book Asian Strategic and Military Perspective and The Military Factor in Pakistan. His latest book is The Unmaking of Nepal.
Most Popular
Lancer Military Bookshop
Interviews / Spotlight
Our racial memory has, with good reason, always been obsessed by the perpetual threat of invasion from the Himalayan passes; the Pakistani marauders who came across Uri in 1947 and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) hordes who swarmed down the...
Read More
Archives
© Copyright 2012 Indian Defence Review
really loved reading your thoughts, obviously you know what are you talking about! Your site is so easy to use too, I’ve bookmark it in my folder logo design competition
Thank you for this great information, you write very well which i like very much. I am really impressed by your post. Essay Writing | Write My Essay For Me | University Essays
I will be sure to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back from now on. I want to encourage that you continue your great job, have a nice day!phd dissertation | dissertation editing | undergraduate dissertation | dissertation advice | nursing dissertation | do my dissertation | cheap dissertation | dissertation editing service | masters dissertation
This post is written in a very good manner and it includes many useful information for me. I am glad to find your unique way of writing the post. essays help , essay writers online , write my essay for me , analysis essay , cheap custom essays , buy essay online.
Well its so glad to see this information in your post, i was looking this information on different sites but there was not any proper resource, thanks to you because after see your site now i have the thing which i was looking for my research.masters dissertation , phd dissertation , marketing dissertation , dissertation editing , help with dissertation , MBA dissertation , uk dissertation.
The post is written in a very good manner and it entails many useful information for me. I am glad to find your distinguished way of writing the post. Now you make it easy for me to understand and implement the concept.custom logo design|cheap logo design|logo design service|brochure design
It is so lucky to read your blog,it is full of useful message.I wish we both can do better in the future.It great honour if you can visit our website,and give us some suggession.Writing Services | Speech Writing Service | Coursework Writing Service | CV Writing Service UK | Personal Statement Writing Service
I think this is one of the most important information for me. And i am glad reading your article. Logo Design Contests
Such posts are amazing And They Always Enlighten You With Something New.Essay Writing Service UK||Cheap Custom Essays UK||Write My Essay|| Buy Essay Online||University Essays UK|| UK Essay Writing
Where else could anyone get that kind of info written in such a perfect way? I have a presentation that I am presently working on, and I have been on the look out for such information.Essay Writing Help||Buy An Essay|| Dissertation Proposal Writing Service|| Write My Essay For Me
I think more people need to read blogs like this.Buy Essay online || write my research paper || essay help
Here is the part 2:11) Now for Lt Gen : Is there any rank that is equivalent to chief of staff in IPS.? The Answer is No . In the order of precedence the Genral 4 star is high. So how can you compare it with IPS . Should we make General Equivalent to DG IB who is also a four star?How many DGP are there in Kerala? and please check the number of 3 star rank in kerala of armed forces?UP has almost 20 percent popolution of india . so even if they have two dozen . So 12 for 20% of population then for 100% we have 60 Lt general .fair deal !!!12) comparing with America and UK . Stop doing that. In India we have a huge population base. The UK and USA have hard timing finding people for services. so they give more perks so that youth can join them. India is giving more that it could , being a poor ( economically off-course) country we cannot compare ourself with US and UK. Their case is best for their society. 13) I love the armed forces I spend 24 year with them. So please work with Honesty and Integrity which is lot to be desired from you guys, instead of being a lobbies in political system for perks.
I read this article and i guess i wasted my time in reading it: 1) this whole article is written with emotion in mind and with no or little research: word like kargil heights and leadership are used only to show the symbols in the minds reader.2) first thing first armed forces are extension of political will. What cannot be achieved by diplomacy is achieved by war.There job is limited to protect the country from external aggression and to some exception with counter insurgencies and disaster managements etc.3) earlier the LT col used to command battalion now he command a company!! so instead of going up, you guys are diluting the rank. A LT Col is no better that a Major as far as his duties are concerned.4) A BSF commandant does not have pension, he does not have luxury of living in cantonment, he does not even have free ration. and He does not complain , why ? but your LT Col only want more perks and NO responsibility.5) Few year back Adm surresh mehta wrote that Armed forces are superior force? how because they carry heavy weapon or because they are in MOD and have excellent funding and luxury. I will say it luxury because please compare your quality of life with a IAS office or IPS office. They don't get pension now. No free ration. Almost no sport facilities and all responsibility from hell. compare it with CPO officer. They work with you guys still don't have even half of what you get.even they don't have benefit of being called a ex-service men6) Armed forces selection is too easy. look at the standerd. Look at the data. if 1 is highest rating of intelligence and 10 lowest . DISR take 3,4,5, and 6 for selection.. What the verdicts... compare with Indian foreign service or IAS or IPS10 )India Dont want to become Pakistan. Military has a role with no responsibility . And India is a developing nation we don't have so much resonance that we can waste just because some body want to flash his star and want to satisfy his egopar 2 : below
I am writing a research paper and collecting information on this topic. Your post is one of the better that I have read. Thank you for putting this information into one location.short funny jokes
Sometimes it is very hard to find good content on this topic. But your blog is my way to desired information, my problem is solved now. Thanks for posting something worth reading.Funny Birthday Wishes