Indian Defence Review

Maintaining the Image of the Army. The image that the Army has built up over the years of being the ‘Last Bastion’ has given it a place of reverence in the society. Being a part of this wonderful organization in itself is a motivating factor for the men in uniform. Constant endeavours are, therefore, made to retain this credence. Several steps have been instituted towards this end.

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High Standards of Discipline. Every effort is made to maintain impeccable standards of discipline in the Army and defaulters, if any, are brought to book without any delay.30 It is also ensured that action is initiated only after a thorough inquiry is instituted and the due process of law followed. Steps are also being initiated to re-vamp the Corps of Military Police so as to strengthen the policing system within the Army. Efforts are also in place to bring about better synergy between the Army, the Civil Administration and the police when it comes to enforcement of law where Army personnel are involved. The aim is to maintain the image the Army carries of being a ‘role model’ for the society.

the Nation invariably looks towards the Army with a lot of expectation, not only for safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also at the times of internal strife and during the hours of crisis.

Ceremonials and Parades. Ceremonials and parades have always been the forte of the Army and have acted as a great motivating factor in maintaining high standards of discipline and morale within the Army. The Army is also responsible for all the ceremonial parades held at the National level. Constant efforts are hence made to maintain the standards achieved and improve upon them where possible.

Human Rights Record. A number of States in the North East are riddled by the menace of terrorism and insurgency and the Army has been drawn in to control the same since Independence. Similar is the situation in the State of J&K where the proxy war propagated by Pakistan has resulted in large scale deployment of the Army. The operations launched by the Army to flush out militants/insurgents at times results in allegations being made of Human Rights violation by Army personnel.31 However a detailed investigation into the Human Rights violation cases involving Army personnel revealed that only 54 cases out of 1511 cases received since 1994 have been found to be true. 129 persons have been suomoto punished by the Army in these cases. The punishments awarded by the Army are severe and exemplary, including dismissal from service with life imprisonment. Our consistent efforts to reduce Human Rights violations cases have been successful and there has been a sharp decline in such cases from a high of 176 in 2002 to only 12 so far this year. Every effort is, therefore, made to ensure that no collateral damage takes place whenever any operation is undertaken, nor is an innocent ever targeted.

Given the kind of security environment prevalent in the Indian Sub-continent, compounded by the turbulent internal security situation, there is no denying the fact that the Armed Forces and the Army in particular need tomaintain the highest level of preparedness at all times.

High Standards of Fitness Levels. Given the kind of security environment prevalent in the Indian Sub-continent, compounded by the turbulent internal security situation, there is no denying the fact that the Armed Forces and the Army in particular need tomaintain the highest level of preparedness at all times. This aspect is given the highest priority at all times.

Management of Retired Personnel. Veterans who have given the best part of their life for the service of the Nation and to the Army need to be adequately cared for and this aspect is given special emphasis at all levels. A conscious effort is made to reach out to the environment and enable them to interact with appropriate agencies to resolve their problems and grievances. Compilation of a compendium also facilitates veterans to seek clarifications on queries related to pension/terminal benefits and welfare schemes that they are entitled to. Some of these are:-

Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). Access to proper health care is one of the most pressing requirements of senior citizens and it was with this prerequisite in mind that the ECHS was set up in 2003. The aim of ECHS is to provide comprehensive, quality and timely medical care to Armed Forces Veterans and their dependents. The project, which was conceptualized and initiated just about a decade back, has grown by leaps and bounds and as of date has 227 polyclinics functioning under it, providing medical cover to about 11 lakh veterans and more than 24 lakh of their dependents. The project is destined to see an exponential growth over the next couple of years with 199 more polyclinics on the anvil. It also has on its rolls 1233 private hospitals spread over 167 stations, which have been empanelled to supplement the polyclinics that are already functional.

Welfare of soldiers, both serving and retired, is thus, a key focus area for the Army. Constant endeavours are made”¦

The empanelled hospitals enable retired personnel to avail medical cover without having to travel long distances from their place of residence, especially when their condition is serious or critical. ECHS has, more or less been able to meet the aspirations of the retired fraternity in providing medical cover. Present statistics shows that 92 percent of the beneficiaries are treated in polyclinics, three percent in service hospitals and five percent in empanelled hospitals, indicating that the basic concept on which the scheme is based is sound and pragmatic.

Army Welfare Placement Organisation (AWPO). AWPO has been helping retired Army Officers and JCOs/OR in finding suitable second career prospects post retirement since April 1999. It maintains a large data bank of veterans from the Army and provides a single point contact to Government agencies and the corporate world in facilitating a second career for the veterans. There are a total of 13 Army Placement Nodes and 46 Satellite Nodes spread all across the country. Almost 40 percent of the ex-servicemen register with the AWPO after retirement and it has been possible to find placement for nearly 50 percent of those registered with it.

Management of Human Capital in the Army is an extremely complex issue, given its size, spread and diversity. The enormity of the task is compounded by the fact that apart from the over 1.2 million strong serving soldiers in its rank and file, it has to also manage the issues related to over 2.2 million of its veterans.

Welfare Schemes. A number of welfare schemes have been instituted by the Adjutant General’s Branch for battle and physical casualties including financial assistance to serving and retired soldiers, educational concession to children of battle and physical casualties. Welfare of soldiers, both serving and retired, is thus, a key focus area for the Army. Constant endeavours are made to ensure that our veterans, Veer Naris and their dependents get their dues and lead a life of dignity and honour in society. Some of the important welfare schemes include the following:-

Welfare Institutions. Apart from the various welfare schemes numerous welfare institutions have been established all across the country. The Adjutant General’s Branch monitors their activities through various Command Headquarters. Some of the important welfare institutions are:-

Conclusion

Management of Human Capital in the Army is an extremely complex issue, given its size, spread and diversity. The enormity of the task is compounded by the fact that apart from the over 1.2 million strong serving soldiers in its rank and file, it has to also manage the issues related to over 2.2 million of its veterans. The key ingredient in the organization despite all the technological upgrades still remains the soldier, who is the man behind the weapon and the enabler of its strategy. It is therefore, vital that adequate care be taken to ensure that the morale and aspiration of the solider be maintained at the highest level at all times.

Being the last bastion, the Nation invariably looks towards the Army with a lot of expectation, not only for safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also at the times of internal strife and during the hours of crisis. If the soldier is to stay motivated and is expected to give his best when the situation so demands, it is imperative that both the Government and the Army makes conscious efforts to ensure that the basic needs and aspirations of the soldier are met at all times. The Adjutant General’s Branch is chartered with the onerous responsibility of managing the Human Capital in the Army. Being conscious of the enormity of the task that it has on its hand, it has adopted various time tested mechanisms to deal with the related issues in a pragmatic and responsive manner, while at the same time ensuring that the process is evolutionary and undergoes constant refinement to cater for changing individual aspirations and societal changes.

Notes

1. Indian Army Doctrine, October 2004, PP 67-74
2. Gen Deepak Kapoor, The Sunday Indian, August 2008. http://www.thesunday indian.com/
3. http://www.Indianarmy.gov.in/index.aspx?flag=LfcVLYFIbed=
4. Indian Army Doctrine, October 2004.ids.nic.in/Indian %20Army % 20 Doctrine/Indian Army Dotrine_1.doc
5. Gen Deepak Kapoor, lecture on Changing Global Security Environment with Specific Reference to our Region and its impact on the Indian Army at IDSA on 03 Jul 2008, reproduced in Journal of Defence Studies Volume 2, Issue Z, Winter 2008.
6. Fayaz Wani, India china Relation to Worsen Further, Australia News, 12 January 2010, P 1
7. Ahmed Khalid Rashid, Indo Bangla Relation, A New Perspective, Daily Star 25 Aug 2008, P 5.
8. Indian Army Doctrine, Types of War, October 2004 P 38.
9. John Robb,4GW-Fourh Generation Warfare.08 May 2004. Globalguerrillas.typepad.com/2004/4gw-fourth- gene.html.
10. Military Sociology: Societal changes and Impact on Armed Forces, Journal by CLAWS, Article 1313, December 2009,p 1
11. Dalip Singh Wasan, Joint Family system is breaking, http://www.sreetdirectory.com/travel_guide/202457/ Family joint system is breaking.html
12. “Increase in cases of suicides in Armed Forces”. Rajya Sabha Official Website, questions, Starred and Unstarred, question Number 3150 December 2010. http:/164.100.47.4/new rs question/search_sessionwise.aspx.
13. Indian Army Doctrine, Force Structuring, October 2004, P 93.
14. “Indian Army to invest in F-INSAS programme” 04 June 2007, www.india.defence.com/reports_3269
15. www.india-defence.com/reports/3269.
16. Maj Gen Satbir Singh, “ Measures to Attract and Retain Talent in the Indian Army”, Journal by CLAWS, Article 1170, 05 September 2008.
17. Colonel Ravi Tuteja, Measures to Attract and Retain talent in the Indian Army, Journal by CLAWS, Article 1174, 05 September 2008.
18. Syed Ali, India Army Faces Massive shortage of officers, 18 March 2010, http://www.groundreport.com/opinion/Indian_Army_Foces_Massive_Shortage_of_Officers_1/2919989.
19. “Vacant Post in Armed Forces”. Rajya Sabha Official Website, questions, Starred and Unstarred, question Number2381 December 2010. http:/164.100.47.4/new rs question/search_sessionwise.aspx.
20. Permanently Commissioned Women Officers in Indian Armed Forces by 2013, 05 August 2008. http://www.india.defence.com/reports_3944
21. Ajai Vikram Singh Committee; 1896 New posts in Defence Forces 03 Oct 2008. http://report my signal.blogreport.com/2009/01/ajai_vikram_singh_committee_1896_new.html
22. Army signs Deal with IGNOU to Project Gyan Deep, 04 Sep 2009. http://www.indianeducationdiary.in/army.
23. http://www.kshamtaonline.com.
24. India’s Defence Forces prepare to vote, 10 Apr 2009, http://www.ibn.in.com/news/indias-defence-prepare-to-vote
25. http://www.awes.nic.in/
26. http://indianarmy.nic.in/Default3.aspx?Menuld=RzRbZLeBSIE=
27. http://www.awhosena.org/Misc.htm
28. Form separate Pay Commission for Armed Forces: SC to Govt, Indian Express, 08 Sep 2010 http://www.expressiondia.com/latest-news/form-separate-Pay-commission-and-form-SC-govt/67912
29. Armed forces Tribunal bill gets Parliament nod, Times of India, PTI, 06 Dec 2007
30. Rajya Sabha official website, question starred and unstarred question number 2372, December 2010. Number2381 December 2010. http:/164.100.47.4/new rs question/search_sessionwise.aspx.
31. Indian Army launches human rights campaign in Kashmir, Zeenews.com, 05 Apr 2011. www.zeenews.com/news 695813.html
32. Rajya Sabha official website, question starred and unstarred question number 2376, December 2010. Number2381 December 2010. http:/164.100.47.4/new rs question/search_sessionwise.aspx.
33. Rajya Sabha official website, question starred and unstarred question number 302, Jul 2010. Number2381 December 2010. http:/164.100.47.4/new rs question/search_sessionwise.aspx.