Military & Aerospace

Can the soldiers be allowed to be murdered behind the cover of red tape?
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Issue Net Edition | Date : 11 Nov , 2012

Media hysteria about army causing wasteful expenditure of rupees 100 crores needs analysis. If an Army Chief’s top secret letter to the Prime Minister can be leaked to the media, what is so great about an “internal audit” of Ministry of Defence (MoD) being leaked? No holy cow will take responsibility for the leak and any probe is out of the question. How do you probe deliberate leaks?

Have we forgotten what bureaucratic red tape did to troops in Siachen?

Then there are the ‘army coup’ story types who willingly stoop to any low despite mediacrooks.com revelation of properties 20 times the known source of income and rapid rise to abnormal affluence. Flooding the media accusing Army Commander’s negligent decisions and attributing this so called “wasteful expenditure” to two Army Chief’s including the present one without inquiry is hardly surprising.  It is good to keep the armed forces under pressure and periodically show them in bad light. Keeps the ISI smiling also especially if they don’t have to pay, or do they also?

Most interesting was the recent TV debate featuring a former Army Commander and a former CAG, besides others. The main issue was purchase of bullet proof jackets for troops fighting terrorists in Kashmir. The latter repeatedly harped on why “procedurally” these bullet proof jackets should not have been purchased. Finally, the former Army Commander asked him if any other indigenous bullet proof jacket was available in the country that be purchased.

Our man was dumbfounded but the anchor instantly intervened saying there was no time for further discussion (as if the reply would need eternity), adding he would call them next day to continue the debate, which he never did. What the former Army Commander implied was simply this – am I supposed to get my soldiers shot by terrorists while you “procedurally” sort out how to permit purchase of bullet proof jackets and patkas? Northern and Eastern Army Commanders have enhanced financial powers, with due government sanction for maintaining operational preparedness and saving lives notwithstanding bureaucratic jealousy and the urge for centralized control at any cost.

…am I supposed to get my soldiers shot by terrorists while you “procedurally” sort out how to permit purchase of bullet proof jackets and patkas ?

At Command levels, institutionalized process exists for taking such decisions for emergent purchases. The Integrated Financial Authority (MoD representative) is part of it and undertakes stringent pre-audit. Discretionary financial powers are provided for situations where time is of essence; normal procedure too lengthy to meet emergent needs. Should emergent procurements then be subjected to same procedural requirements?  Have we forgotten what bureaucratic red tape did to troops in Siachen?

Till quite recently, the procedure followed was annual provisioning review for procuring special clothing, which commenced on first April only and had no provision for maintaining reserves. Special clothing invariably arrived late (sometimes in October) after winters fully set in. Crucial items like special socks kept lying at Delhi for want of DGQA (Directorate General of Quality Assurance – directly under MoD) clearance while troops got frost bitten and lost limbs. It is irrelevant whether delays were to extract the pound of flesh by DGQA or technical.

Who is accountable for these delays while soldiers are maimed for life or shot/killed without protective gear?

Who is accountable for these delays while soldiers are maimed for life or shot/killed without protective gear? Aren’t these perfect murders – read culprits perfect murderers who don’t get nailed? In 1999, an Army Division occupied posts in Kargil Sector, some as high and as cold as Siachen but special clothing was authorized to some 5000 troops of this formation only in 2005 and that too only two-third of projected demand. Who is accountable for frost bitten cases from 1999 to 2005 in Kargil Sector? Our armchair warriors in ministries couldn’t care less for lives of our soldiers; military, para-military forces, central armed police forces and police.

The MoD in any case is a conglomerate of generalists, sans domain knowledge, some of whom were forced to visit Siachen when George Fernandez was Defence Minister. Ironically, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (President of India) too has been sidelined through Machiavellian manipulation of ‘The Transaction of Business Rules, 1961’. Even dismissal/ appointment of Service Chiefs are not referred to the Supreme Commander any more. The Committee of Secretaries rules the roost subjugating all ministries including MoD.

…the million dollar question this nation needs to ask is, can the soldiers be allowed to be murdered and maimed behind the cover of red tape? Isn’t time more than overdue to affix bureaucratic accountability?

The Supreme Commanders watch silently while military veterans return their medals and gallantry awards with petitions inked in their own blood or when government fools the nation with announcements like “Financial Bonanza for Veterans – Government Sanctions OROP”; a blatant lie and a cruel joke on the military. Even the belated correction of basic pay done by the Cabinet Secretary chaired Committee has not been followed up through a government notification despite several weeks having elapsed. Arrears on account of rank pay authorized since 1986 are being given from 2006 only and individual officers made responsible to produce all the documents. Who ate up the lakhs/crores of rupees spent on computerization of entire CDA?

But, the million dollar question this nation needs to ask is can the soldiers be allowed to be murdered and maimed behind the cover of red tape? Isn’t time more than overdue to affix bureaucratic accountability?


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The views expressed are of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Indian Defence Review.

About the Author

Lt Gen Prakash Katoch

is Former Director General of Information Systems and A Special Forces Veteran, Indian Army.

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9 thoughts on “Can the soldiers be allowed to be murdered behind the cover of red tape?

  1. A SERVING AND RETIRED SERVICEMEN FUND MUST BE OPENED AND BABUS BY NAME HAULED TO COURT WHERE THEY DEPRIVE SOLDERS OF THEIR ESSENTIAL COMBAT CLOTHING , WEAPONS OR BENEFITS . A FEW WHEN PENELISED BY COURTS FOR DELELICTION OF DUTY WILL SOON COME TO THE PROPER SENSES . THE FA(DS) HIS STAFF WHO WITHOUT AUTHORITY APPROPIATE POWER AND DELAY AQUISATIONS MUST BE THE FIRST ONES TAKEN TO TASK FOLLOWED BY CGDA AND MOD PEN PUSHERS

  2. The armed forces senior leadership instead of making cols and brigs wait on civilan babus of mod and other depts should host them and feed them in the solders thalis and mugas , with rum thrown in for the hardship . No single malts and no five star comforts . Give them them the same horse wool blankets which solders are issued and same third grade socks , jackets to wear . BUT alas the upcoming aspiring generals will fall over head and heels to please these fatcats who bite the armed forces more than the enemy

  3. Gen Katoch is right. However, this sentiment has been expressed often enough by now.
    Strategically, armed forces in India are placed as losers. Unless we organise ourselves and act like the kisans & mazdoor unions and Jat khaps, we will remain where we are. A misplaced sense of gentlemanly behaviour has done more harm to our interests than all the politicians and bureaucrats put together. No use holding all the cards when everyone is playing chess.
    We are ready to fight for others, but not for ourselves. No wonder, no one takes us seriously.

  4. Sir,

    Enough of such questioning the unknown or passive actions by the Army. Don’t you think Army with its vast resources can carry out sting operations and collect foolproof evidence which is acceptable in courts under all legal jargon , against these very bureaucrats and expose their 9mis)deeds to the country and media. Also when we have war games on how to tackle inimcal countries why not have war games albeit top secret how to tackle the offensive of the bureaucrats that they unleashed right from 1947. These bunch of people need to be fully exposed in front of media that they should not find any hiding place.Can we accept mass murder of our soldiers and officers.If not what can we do about it rather than simply cower infront of them and the politicians.

    Regds
    Col TPS Gill

  5. I can’t but totally agree with Gen Katoch’s commentary on the pathetic machinations of the government that not only denies but also fights its own military’s and veterans’ deserved and earned considerations and rights. With an apathetic government at the helm – the internal enemy – virtues and expectations of loyalty, ethics and patriotism in the military are on the road to gradually becoming defunct concepts.

  6. I agree with you Sir 200%. But our functionary in the IHQ needs to be more sensitive to theses issues to bring it to the light of media/public The motto of IMA is very clear and it is to sync with the pace of environment changes. We have to sensatise the public about our issues. The positive attributes of our soldiers should be brought to the notice of public rather than restricting them to the domains of restricted reading in sainik samachars or magazines of regiments etc. Why cant we start a media for the army and have trained persons to counter the reports in real time. The office of PRO needs to be revamped.

  7. General, IFA is not an authority though he is treated like one by most Senior Officers, He is an integrated financial ADVISOR. And Army cdrs are the competent financial Authority with full control on decisions taken.

  8. Why don’t we take action when we are serving that has some authority to exert pressure and get some benefits for all.

    The right persons always & every time are the Chiefs of all the three Services.Because they have already achieved the top most rank & there is nothing to look fwd.But who cares? Rightly we are called Services because we keep serving everyone and not forcing anyone to do something for us.

    It is high time we forced ourselves into action for the welfare of all for eqpt & other benefits.

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