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.
| Editor’s Pick |
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.
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.
Please wait...
