The rumblings started with the release of the fifth pay commission recommendations. The armed forces felt betrayed. The solution is still to be announced. Our Neta Log are too busy doing other “more important things” than to address this very important issue.
The way Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was sent off again brought out the anguish in the armed forces to the forefront.
Our civilian population does not seem to be bothered about looking after and honouring our armed forces.
By chance, I came across this email sent to our Minister for Defense, and with his permission, I am reproducing below the mail sent by Brig. P T Gangadharan.
By posting this on my blog, I am extending my support to the appointment of a separate pay commission for the Armed Forces of India.
From: brigadier ptgangadharan brigadier.ptgangadharan@gmail.com
Subject: DISPARITY & DESPAIR: KABUL BLAST
To: ‘Shri.AK Antony,RM’ ak.antony@sansad.nic.in
Date: Friday, July 18, 2008, 11:44 PM
My Dear Sir,
*1.It was indeed a noble gesture by the PM. As per newspaper reports, the PM was so impressed by the devotion to duty of late Mr Rao, the IFS officer who died in the Kabul bomb blast, that he announced several benefits for his next of kin. These include, full salary and government accommodation till the officer would have retired in 2023. It is undisputable that every possible succour must be provided to the bereaved family under such circumstances. Yet, without prejudice to this thought or to the sacred memory of the deceased, certain olitically incorrect questions arise?
*2.What separates the case of Mr Rao from that of Brig RD Mehta, or for that matter Col V Vasanth and scores of other army personnel who lay down their lives in the line of duty, actively combating terrorism almost every day? Why has no one ever thought of such benefits for their families? Is there any doubt about their devotion to duty? Are their lives any less precious to their families, or to the nation? Or is it ‘no big deal’ because it is part of the professional hazards for services personnel, to lay down their lives? The violent death of a diplomat or bureaucrat, on the other hand , is a rare occurrence thus evoking greater sympathy?
*3.All along, we are being told that that the armed forces are supposed to be at par with other services when it comes to fixing pay and allowances. This is the standard argument forwarded ,for denying a separate pay commission for the Armed Forces. By the same logic, the death benefits for other services should be the same as those applicable to the armed forces. The reason for these double standards is therefore hard to fathom. Irrespective of the reasons or sentiments behind such random acts of kindness, it must be understood that it undermines the supreme sacrifice made by others, and is liable to affect the morale of their comrades.
*4.It is time that the government decided once and for all whether the armed forces are at par with other central services or not, and act responsibly rather than arbitrarily.
Brigadier PT Gangadharan(Guards)
Kozhikode(Calicut)-673016
Tel-0495 2356863/9447766863
Brigadier(Retd) PT Gangadharan(Guards)
Kozhikode(Calicut)-673016
Tel-0495 2356863/9447766863
NEVER LOOK DOWN ON ANY ONE:UNLESS YOU ARE REACHING OUT TO HELP.
Ramana,
Interesting post, but I do take issue with the views expressed therein. Soldiers in the main join the armed forces for various reasons spanning necessity, lack of alternative employment, fairly easy life generally until you are sent to the front etc etc. However, the fundamental reason for a man or woman beoing in the armed forces is that that is their job, say similar to [police, firefighters, rescue workers etc who are all faced with life threatening situations from time to time, but essentially, that is what they chose as their profession.
Hence it is a bit vicarious to compare them with a politicians life which generally is not a life threatening situation and much as we all as patriots admire our armed forces, if separate funds are to be set up for soldiers, then they should be set up for all people who are in the public dservice sector such as police, Firemen, nurses, teachers, etc etc.
Welcome comments.
Did you know that a Brigadier (since Brig. Gangadharan is the writer of the letter I chose that rank) has a lower pay than a deputy under-secretary in the government? The difference is that a Brigadier commands as many as 20,000 men including officers and is responsible for their welfare apart from planning, administration etc. etc. The deputy undersecretary may have some 10 people working for him/her.
Did you know that retired Major Generals in the Indian army are fighting for parity of pay and that the undersecys and others have purposely delayed the proceedings and even “lost” files so that the case has be delayed for almost 10 years? The Punjab high court even issued a contempt notice against the government on this, but they are apparently too thick skinned to care.
But I really take exception to Mr. Barath’s comment that it is “just a job” like any other. Soldiers endure many more hardships and have a much greater responsibility than other government employees. Their lives are constantly on the line, even during so called “peace times”. They have to remain disciplined all their lives unlike the babus who sometimes don’t show up for work. Anyway, this is getting too long, but it is really disingenuous to compare a soldier to a babu.
Dear Mr Ramana
I am an Airwarrior in Indian Air Force since 10 Years. Due to this whole hearted condolences shown to Civil services officers by central government, we are again compell to feel that those who joined the defence forces to lay their lives for the sake of nation are foooooooooooooools. Instead we should have joined some other profession. And due to this reason I have forced my younger brother,who have already cleared the SSB interview for NDA, to join an engineering college for a B Tech degree.Message is very loud and clear,now a days faujis are least considered in any social arena.In my home town,a fauji is considered last for marrying a girl, even a chaparasi is considered before him because he is earning somthing over and above his salary .From the time, when faujis are considered as a jem in the society, we have reached this time when faujis are considered as fools better known in hindi as’BECHARA’.
As a fauji, I clearly forsee a bubble of dissatisfaction among armed forces which whenever get burst will create a history and everybody of us will have to pay the price for it.Day by day the quality of officers and men are degrading in armed forces and nobody seems to be bothered of these things.
In the first fifty years of our independence, govt has take out her job from the armed forces in the name of ‘BAJRANG BALI’,'HAR HAR MAHADEV’ and’DESBHAKTI SONGS’.In the present society govt has to understand that these things will not work.Everybody wants money.And the quality in the armed forces will not come from DESHBHAKTI,money will have to be shell out for this.
excellent logic, facts and analysis.
is anyone in a position to act listening?
Why should the armed forces wait, as “Airwarrior” Jha says, to “burst and create history” – that bursting will not do good to anyone, not even the faujis.
Can we focus on what can be done to get the faujis into a respectable slot in society and government’s eyes?
What happened to the “contempt of court” stricture passed on the Punjab High Court?
Non-government workers and government employees (notice the difference – it would be a paradox saying government workers) too hold the politicians and the babudom (again a paradox, calling them “service” officials) in great contempt. But this is Kaliyug (not that the other yugs were really any better) and the baby crying loudest only would get the milk.
Why do the faujis keep only sulking and whimpering on this serious issue?
Can we locate some heroes to take up cudgels for them in the correct way (one that works and also does not damage the fauji’s nobler-than-thou image in public eye)?
Great Question. Where are the heroes? Who wants to volunteer?
Finally, as Barath said, it’s just a job – if you don’t like it, don’t join. And more important, don’t get all the concessions that come your way and then whine! Most people who join the army do so beciuse they would never have got any other job. Tell me how many gold medallists join the army!
Ms Shalini
Got Very happy to read the great gesture shown by you and compliments to you for showing interest in Mr Bharat’s knowhow’s about his countries’s future. But let me clear one thing to you.If everyone start thinking like you then what will happen to the security of our country. The effects created by a armed force personnel cannot be understand by an outsider who doesnot know the present security situation in the country mainly threats from outside India.The intangible benefits produced by a fauji cannot be understand in peace times.But let me clear one fact, India was in the verge of facing of a war with Pakistan in 2002. It is the fear of our armed forces that pakistean had backed out. If that war had taken place then so called economic growth and India story had taken a knock and we wouls be reeling under severe crisis.
So if everyone starts thinking like you, that no gold medallist should join the fauj, then certaily one day will come, when whole of kashmir and north east will be out of our countries lap. Common Indian should think that for a country’s prosperity in today’s tarbulent world a sound military force is the need of the our.
Every country gets the armed forces it deserves. But a soldier unlike a mercenary does not get to choose his country. The Indian soldier will soldier on for some more time, probably because, as Shalini says, it his job. But, don’t count on it for long. You see, the abuse of the armed forces, and I don’t just mean the renumeration, has gone on for a long time.
they are the ony person who directly serving to the nation
Hi all,
I am an ex-serviceman recently retired after 15 years of service. Of course, whatever the outcome of the VI pay commission, I am also a beneficiary. But frankly speaking, “THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT OF A SEPARATE PAY COMMISSION FOR ARMED FORCES”. I saw many service personnel who are always in front to use the facilities provided and also in front to blame the service. When the last pay commission came out, the then General said that Soldiers are happiest. You know why? Because the top brass got good benefits. Of course, we surprised of his comment. But afterwards we realized when arrears came and the officers (the happiest soldiers) went to Europe and other places for holidays.
When the VI pay commission was near, then these top brass came out and started saying, last time armed forces didn’t get anything, so at least this time we should get something. I am not blaming anybody, because everybody will try to get the benefits for them first. I wanted to say that no service personnel should say, that we are at risk. Before joining the Forces, everybody knows the job is risky. Depends upon risk involved in their functional location, the Armed Forces people should get separate allowance.
In last pay commission, we saw the flying allowance hike followed by various issues especially in Air forces, that technical officers were not happy and somebody openly responded on this also. We saw these things in news. But things were cleared by giving some more allowances to technical officers afterwards. The reason for this flying allowance hike was this, “outside the forces, pilots are getting very attractive payment”. But nobody is thinking that the pilots outside the Forces, are paying a very good amount for their pilot training. But in Forces, they are getting free training along with payment. They should serve the services with that spirit. But I am not against the risk allowance. Danger zone flying should also get a better allowance. Authorities know which places are dangerous and which areas in normal condition.
Recently, I saw one more funny thing that if VI pay commission pay and perks are not good, most of the officers will leave service. I don’t think, only because of this they will go out. That is only a fake claim. One another complaint that competent people are not coming to forces which is also a wrong thing. I even heard that good people are not being taken because they wanted to emphasis this point. In India, there is no requirement of compulsory military service. Lakhs of people are ready to serve the Forces and standing outside. A soldier with 10 years of experience is always better than a new officer comes in. So the experienced soldiers can be promoted to officer rank. So my conclusion is this: -
1. No separate pay commission for Armed Forces
2. Depends on the areas of deployment and the risk involved only, the Armed Forces personnel should get very good allowance, because there are many places in Armed Forces where there is no risk and no work. And this places are normally occupied by those who has “hold” in high level.
I know people who never went to risky areas and enjoyed the Armed Forces life like Kings because there are lot of adjustments are done behind this. These people always enjoy at the cost of life of others’, who are doing service in good spirit, which is not at all correct.
Dear all military personnel,
now as we know where we stand lets accept it as we are ourselves responsible for our state.
we should infact now reconcile and think of our future course of action.
any body willing to quit should be allowed to do so gracefully with full military honours.
we should work like babus.clear files in their own sweet time.
launch mercy missions when there is no scope for mercy any more.
have pride in our uniform like the babus. ie, why wear uniform at all. wear as many rings as possible, wear tikka and kada.
be obese and chew paan and ghutka like babus.
indulge in bribery and forget integrity and honesty the two most farse words in our dictionary.
come late for work and pack up early.
do all that the babus do and may be a shade lesser as we are now to take example from them.
the babus are our leaders and we must follow them in heart and spirit.
this was bound to happen as we showed shu sha when we interacted with babus and ministers by spending our hard earned money to show off by having high profile parties.
when u can bring sea and beaches to glacier for a theme party when the babus came so why are you cribing now.
dont crib and dont say god save us. save yourself and dont get carried away by your military leaders any more because only they are responsible for the state of the personnel below them.
so leaders rise up and own your fault and act sensibly with people placed below u.
Hi,
I have read through the entire blog. Why not consider this
Compulsory military service for every one for 5 years. This would help instill some sort of discipline, pride for the nation and create a basic understanding of what happens out there.
If the so called gold medalists like shalini mentioned can use the country’s resources to earn their degrees and then leave for greener pastures, why not make them contribute to this great country?
Jai hind
No dispute on your suggestion. In the Indian context, what happens is the IAS Mafia and allied civil “service” establishment suffers from a sense of inferiority translating into giving themselves all the goodies at tax payers cost while denying deserving goodies to the armed forces, scientists, academicians and all other types of people connected in any way with the governments. Since they draw up all laws for their political masters, who do not in any case know anything, they tend to screw everyone else. Today, the Indian Armed Forces are vital to our security with hostile neighbors all around us but they are a demoralized lot. Admission into the NDA, IMA etc are falling and serving personnel are opting out on early volunteery retirement. The issue is to separate the functions of the civilian and armed forces administration to different expert panels.
Now, you are talking! There has indeed been a lot of talk of compulsory military service recently. Out vested interests with children and grand children of the right age, will not allow for this to be brought about. Even NCC is now a failure!