Indian Defence Review

Human Capital Management: Management at the Induction Stage

Manpower in the Army comprises all ranks including civilians manning its establishments. Manpower planning involves issues related to intake of troops into the Army, including the number of officers to be inducted, the vacancies to be allotted to various Arms and Services on commissioning and laying down the numbers and class composition of jawans to be recruited from time to time.

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Since quality and not quantity is the restraining factor, the endeavor is to provide the requisite quality human resource to meet the challenges of a modern, technically oriented and secular Army.16 The charter encompasses the entire Indian Army and hence is gigantic.

Although maintaining the required manning levels for jawans is not so serious, the issue assumes grave proportion when it comes to maintaining the required numbers at the officers level.18 Several efforts are being taken to overcome the same.

Maintaining Quality of Intake

Induction of Officers. Given the economic boom and the resultant job opportunities that it has created in the private sector, the task of attracting and motivating appropriate talent to join the Army and thereafter retaining them in the organization has become extremely challenging and difficult.17 Constant efforts are made to improve the terms and conditions of service and make the pay and perks of service comparable with what is offered elsewhere to make a career in the Armed Forces equally attractive. Also, periodic advertisement campaigns are launched both through the electronic and print media to generate greater awareness amongst the youth about the advantages and challenges of a career in the Army.

Recruitment of Jawans. Quality of intake into the Army is very vital given the technological and systemic upgrades that are taking place as it is bound to have a major impact on the professionalism and standards that the organization would achieve in the future. A lot of care is hence being taken to ensure that there is no dilution in the quality of personnel inducted into the Army. Enrolment of Jawans is done based on the ‘Recruitable Male Population of the State with every district of the country being addressed at least once or twice every year based on its size and population. The initiatives being adopted to ensure quality include:-

Project Gyan Deep is an initiative to accord recognition to the “˜in service training carried out by JCOs/OR through their service career and have a Certificate/Diploma/Associate Degree/Degree granted to them for the same through a tie up with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

Maintaining the Manning Levels

Although maintaining the required manning levels for jawans is not so serious, the issue assumes grave proportion when it comes to maintaining the required numbers at the officers’ level.18 Several efforts are being taken to overcome the same.

Mitigating the Shortage of Officers. Shortage of officers, especially in the lower ranks, is an issue that has been plaguing the Army for very long.19 While opening the floodgates to make up the deficiencies could have serious repercussions, initiatives are being taken to reduce the deficit in a gradual manner. Increasing the number of entrants through the Army Cadet College (ACC), Permanent Commission (Special List) PC(SL) and Short Service Commission Offices (SSCO) are some of the measures being adopted to tide over the situation.

Yet another important initiative aimed at empowering JCOs/OR is Project “˜Kshamta”˜, which endeavours to provide soldiers with basic skills in Information Technology and English Speaking/ Soft Skills.

Induction of Women Officers. Based on societal requirements and the changed socio-economic environment obtaining in the country supplemented by improved service conditions, the policy regarding induction of Women Officers into Service has undergone radical changes.20 Provisions now exist for grant of Permanent Commission to Women Officers in select branches of the Army like the Education Corps and the Legal Branch. This policy shift has also resulted in partially addressing the problem of shortage of officers in the Army.

Release of Backlog of Vacancies and Exemption Bar Recruitment of Civilian Government Employees. In order to enhance functional efficiency of institutions/establishments in the Army where civilian staff is authorized but not available due to the ban on fresh recruitment, cases were taken up with the Government to accord sanction to fill up the vacancies. Consistent efforts bore fruit with the Ministry of Finance approving the release of 1/3rd of the vacancies, subject to a ceiling of one percent of the total authorized strength.

Accordingly, over 6000 civilian vacancies in various groups have been released.

Management of Human Capital While in Service

Once inducted into Service, the aim is to retain the human resource for the optimal period, while constantly endeavouring to ensure their professional and individual growth. Efficient management of the approximately 1.2 million strong Army demands stringent management techniques to keep it ticking. The aim is to ensure that the Army remains highly motivated and committed through effective management of key issues such as the Terms and Conditions of Service and Pay and Allowances and Pension of every individual. The areas of focus also include formulation of policies related to promotion, seniority, tenure of appointment and age of retirement. Automation of all the Record Offices is another measure being adopted to ensure better management of JCOs/OR in the Army.

The objective is to increase the total number of JCOs and NCOs within the establishment of the Army, so that larger numbers of JCOs/OR are assured promotion to higher ranks.

Enhanced Career Prospects. Some of the measures instituted to ensure enhanced career prospects for both Officers and JCOs/OR are as under:-

Cadre Review: Officers. Cadre review of officers by way of implementation of Ajai Vikram Singh Committee21 recommendations was aimed at improving their promotion prospects and thereby satisfying the aspirations of a sizeable number of officers. While Phase I of the recommendations were implemented, primarily benefiting officers up to the rank of Colonel by assuring them guaranteed promotions up to the rank of Lt Col and additional vacancies for 750 Colonels, implementation of Phase II of the recommendations has resulted in the upgradation of 20 posts of Lt Gen, 75 posts of Maj Gen, 222 posts of Brig and 734 posts of Col.

Re-structuring of the PC(SL) Cadre. The 18 Special List sub-cadres existing under this type of entry are being merged into a single ‘General Service Cadre’ so as to widen the base and increase the scope of employment of these officers.

Cadre Review: JCOs/OR. This is a major initiative aimed at meeting the aspirations of JCOs/OR by enhancing the scope of their promotion prospects. The objective is to increase the total number of JCOs and NCOs within the establishment of the Army, so that larger numbers of JCOs/OR are assured promotion to higher ranks. The focus of the review is to effect changes based on functional requirements.

Assured Career Progression. The aim is to ensure that despite having a pyramidical structure, where requisite ranks are important to ensure functional efficiency, all JCOs/OR are assured of financial progression on a time scale basis at 8, 16 and 24 years of service, thereby assuring them of financial benefits of the next higher ranks even if they cannot get promoted due to lack of vacancies.

Provisions now exist for grant of Permanent Commission to Women Officers in select branches of the Army like the Education Corps and the Legal Branch. This policy shift has also resulted in partially addressing the problem of shortage of officers in the Army.

Empowerment of JCOs/OR. Empowerment of JCOs/OR has emerged as one of the major focus areas of the Army and the important projects initiated towards this end are Projects ‘Gyan Deep’, ‘Kshamta’ and ‘Kaushal’ under the overall umbrella Project ‘Samarth’.

Project ‘Gyan Deep’. Project Gyan Deep is an initiative to accord recognition to the ‘in service’ training carried out by JCOs/OR through their service career and have a Certificate/Diploma/Associate Degree/Degree granted to them for the same through a tie up with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). All the Regimental Centres of the Army which are the nodal agencies for registration of individuals and submission of the courses/ cadres attended by their respective JCOs/OR have been registered as Community Colleges of IGNOU. This initiative will provide JCOs/OR with the necessary wherewithal to facilitate a ‘second career’ post retirement. A very large number of JCOs/OR have registered for this scheme so far. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, Prof Rajasekharan Pillai and the Adjutant General of the Indian Army, Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal, PVSM, AVSM**, VSM on 04 Sep 2009 to this effect.22

Project Kshamta. Yet another important initiative aimed at empowering JCOs/OR is Project ‘Kshamta‘, which endeavours to provide soldiers with basic skills in Information Technology and English Speaking/ Soft Skills.23 Individuals who have the potential to be trained as instructors are being trained as ‘Master Trainers’ from all the Arms/Services at their respective Regimental Training Centres and these Master Trainers after obtaining necessary certification will then train the remainder personnel of their respective Regimental Training Centres. The aim, once again, is to enhance the possibility of the soldier acquiring an appropriate second career post retirement.Disbursement of Pay and Allowances Through Bank. The pay and allowances of JCOs/OR were hither-to-fore paid to them in cash based on demands submitted by them once a month. This methodology lacked flexibility and did not provide JCOs/OR with an option to handle their pay and allowances in a desirable manner. The monthly pay package which has now been introduced ensures that the pay of JCOs/OR is credited to their respective bank accounts on a monthly basis. Provision of ATM cards has also enabled them and their families, if they are in field areas, to withdraw money as and when required.

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This anomaly, to a large extent will be rectified with the introduction of a separate Pay Commission for the Armed Forces which has been announced by the Honble Raksha Mantri in Parliament.

Enabling All Ranks to Exercise their Franchise.24 Most uniformed personnel have forgone their right to vote because of not being able to be at their places of permanent residence or where they were registered as voters at the time of elections. This vital fundamental right of the troops has been restored to them through persistent efforts. The phenomenal success of the scheme can be gauged from the fact that the present registration state of postal/proxy voters is approximately 85 percent and that of general voters 12 percent.

Improvement in Quality of Life. The motivation to continue in service for as long as the terms and conditions permit invariably depends upon the quality of life that the Army can offer to its individuals. The basic aspirations of its rank and file, therefore, need to be met and it is the endeavour of the organization to maintain the quality of life at the desired level at all times. The vital issues relate to medical cover, housing and education.

Provision of Medical and Health Cover. Provision of high quality medical and dental cover helps in maintaining high levels of motivation and morale in the Army. Preservation and promotion of the health as also planning and provision of medical cover, both preventive and curative to all ranks and their families is high on the agenda for the Army. Establishment of adequately equipped and staffed hospitals right from the forward most areas to state of the art hospitals at each Command and the National Capital has ensured timely and effective treatment of personnel and their dependents.

Since, inception, as many as 16,000 cases related to Service personnel, which were pending in various High Courts, were transferred to the Tribunal. The figure includes fresh petitions which were filed with various Benches. Of these, the Tribunal had disposed off almost 3500 cases by the end of the year 2010.

Provision of Married Accommodation. In order to provide all ranks an opportunity to stay with their families at least for the duration that they spend in a peace station, the Army launched an ambitious Married Accommodation Project thereby substantially increasing the satisfaction level of housing while in service. Provisions also exist for field area family accommodation’ to cater to the needs of the soldiers who are posted at non-family stations.

Provision of Quality Education. The Army Welfare Education Society25 has over a period of time grown into an organisation which is capable of providing quality and affordable education to the wards of both serving and retired soldiers. Apart from providing schooling facilities, it has also made pioneering strides in provision of higher education to the wards of serving and retired Army personnel in the fields of Engineering, Medical, Dental, Law Management, Hotel Management and Nursing. The endeavour is to expand its scope and target as many military stations as possible; thereby ensuring that affordable quality education is accessible to maximum wards of serving and retired soldiers. Also, establishment of institutions of higher learning has ensured that children of Army personnel, who hithertofore were disadvantaged because of lack of domicile status, frequent movements and lack of reservation of seats, now have dedicated institutions which accord priority to their educational requirements.

Insurance Cover. The Army Group Insurance provides insurance cover to all Army personnel against risks while in service, including war and war like situations.26 It endeavours to optimize the growth of the fund through increasing returns, while providing responsive and personalized services in consonance with the growing aspirations of the environment. It provides maturity benefits at the time of retirement, release or discharge from service and also caters for post retirement insurance cover. Apart from providing insurance cover, it also has a number of loan schemes, loan linked group insurance scheme, social security deposit, provision of sustenance allowance to differently abled children. The Army Group Insurance Scheme, thus not only provide security to serving and retired service personnel, but also endeavours to improve the quality of life of all ranks of the Army.

The Army Group Insurance Scheme, thus not only provide security to serving and retired service personnel, but also endeavours to improve the quality of life of all ranks of the Army.

Provision of Affordable Homes. The Army Welfare Housing Organisation27(AWHO) functions as a self financing system on a ‘no profit no loss basis.’ The sole purpose of the organization is to provide dwellings to serving and retired army personnel and their widows at an affordable cost. The fact that it has already constructed and handed over nearly 20,000 dwelling units and is in the process of constructing housing facilities at several more locations, is indeed creditable for an organization that is driven more by a sense of service rather than generating profit. Persistent demands from the environment have resulted in several projects being on the anvil presently. What is noteworthy is the fact that the organizationwas able to obtain land for the projects at very reasonable rates at a number of places with the assistance of the State Governments, thus maintaining the cost of the dwelling units at manageable levels. The organization has indeed done yeoman service to the Army because the possibility of having a roof over ones head at affordable rates is indeed a huge motivating factor for a soldier.

Maintaining High Standards of Motivation and Morale. Apart from various other factors which keep a solider energized and motivated, certain issues which have a bearing on the morale and motivational levels are those related to pay and allowances, adequate remunerations for hazards of service, speedy redressal of his grievances and his status in society. Although the VIth Central Pay Commission awards have been able to address a lot of issues related to the same, a lot still needs to be done to alleviate the aspirations of the men in uniform.

Armed Forces Pay Commission.28 The Armed Forces, because of their peculiar terms and conditions of service, rank structure, promotional prospects and wastage rates have always felt disadvantaged when categorised into the same kind of pay structure as that of the Civil Services. This anomaly, to a large extent will be rectified with the introduction of a separate Pay Commission for the Armed Forces which has been announced by the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri in Parliament. Constitution of a separate Pay Commission for the Armed Forces would also enable the Commission to study various aspects related to the services like compensation for early retirement, slower promotion prospects and difficult service conditions in a more realistic manner and make recommendations accordingly. It would provide a voice for the Services in matters related to their pay and allowances, which hitherto-fore was not the case.

The Army has initiated numerous measures to address the issue which includes aspects like better travel facilities, comparable leave travel concessions, exclusive boarding and lodging facilities at selected holiday stations.

Speedy Redressal of Grievances– Armed Forces Tribunal. With an aim to establish an effective redressal mechanism, absence of which led to a large number of Service personnel moving the civil courts, the Government passed a bill in the Parliament to set up the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT).29 The Principal Bench along with two more benches were made functional at Delhi in Aug 2009 and six more Regional Benches were established by Nov 2009 at Chennai, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kochi, Lucknow and Guwahati. All the Regional Benches except Mumbai are now functional. A large number of cases relating to Service matters filed by Armed Forces personnel and which have been pending in the courts for very long have been transferred to the AFT for speedy disposal. The forum provides both serving and retired Service personnel and their dependents an option to seek speedy justice at affordable cost. Since the jurisdiction and spread of the Tribunals covers the entire country, service personnel and the retired fraternity find it an extremely convenient avenue for appeal against any perceived injustice done to them under the provisions of the Army Act or the stringent terms and conditions of the Services. Since, inception, as many as 16,000 cases related to Service personnel, which were pending in various High Courts, were transferred to the Tribunal. The figure includes fresh petitions which were filed with various Benches. Of these, the Tribunal had disposed off almost 3500 cases by the end of the year 2010.

Status in Society.While the entire Nation looks up to the men in uniform at the time of conflict, soldiers sometimes have a feeling that they are a neglected lot and do not get the kind of recognition that they deserve during peace time. The Army has initiated numerous measures to address the issue which includes aspects like better travel facilities, comparable leave travel concessions, exclusive boarding and lodging facilities at selected holiday stations.

Continued…: Indian Army: Management of Human Capital – III