“Do you have it in you?” - A shortage of officers in our Defense Forces
2007
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Rishabh Srivastava - Profile
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Armed Forces
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Indian Armed Forces
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There’s no shortage of patriotism in our country but why is it that there’s such a shortage of officers in the armed forces.
The Indian army has launched a massive awareness drive to get young people in the force. They were recently in my college to throw some light on avenues for engineers in Army. The army is currently facing a crisis - it is short of over 11,000 officers ranging from the rank of captain to major. Despite glossy advertisement campaigns like “Be an Army man: Be a winner for life”, the armed forces continue to face a serious shortage of officers. Several steps have been undertaken by the three Services to fill up the vacant posts. They include seminars, presentations, campus interactions, recruitment drives and sustained publicity efforts. In addition, the commitment and bravery of the armed forces is consistently projected through the electronic and print media.
Blame it on low remuneration, tough working conditions and, above all, high risk to life, the armed forces today are not an enviable career choice. The forces are not only short of thousands of men but also troubled by a high attrition rate. Officers’ shortage is acute now and seriously affecting the Army, in quantity as well as quality. The reasons, well known, have been discussed ad nauseam in public.
There can be no long-term solution to the problem until the government and society are able to mitigate the following as one of the top official in forces says—-
Remove stagnation at the middle level and thus improve promotion opportunities of the officers, close to that of civil and police services; improve opportunities for officers and men to be able to spend more time with their families; re-establish social status and warrant of precedence of the armed forces officers at the Centre and State levels; compensate adequately the increased level of personal risk and hardships in the field areas; bridge salary and compensation gap between the private sector and government services, to the extent possible.
An other officer Lt-Gen KAMALJIT SINGH (retd), has also mentioned that the shortage of officers in the Army can only be improved the day the government enhances the basic pay of the armed forces and delinks the Central government employees’ pay from the armed forces’ pay, as in most countries. This one step will eradicate the shortage of officers from the Army and others services of the armed forces as well, for the good of the nation. The defence community has been clamouring for a separate pay commission for the armed forces for a long time. Its stance is that no member of the armed forces is included in the pay commissions and civilians are unable to comprehend the tough service conditions, ground realities and military ethos which should be taken into account while working out the pay and allowances.
A strong, professionally led military controlled by capable leaders having impeccable credentials, strength of character and integrity is vital to the national interest. A strong military would serve as an instrument of deterrence and support for the other arms of the government. Hence it is very important that India does not loose its edge on security of Nation. Indian Armed Forces are the pride of our Nation. They have held our heads high. Its time to give them what they deserve. The government should address the problem very seriously otherwise the situation will get out of control in coming years. Let’s hope that sixth pay commission will give the armed forces its due.
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November 3rd, 2007 at 11:28 pm
ARMY AN OPTION FOR YOUTH?
NO…….. NEVER ……………
WHY?
To get the answer read the lines below very carefully and seriously.
In an organisation where 80 percent of officers get superceded at the service of just 16-17 years It means that 80 percect get no promotion after the age of around 38/39 years and start waiting for retirement till their age is 54 years. Not only this, once they get superceded at the Rank of Lt Col (at the age of 38/39 years) they are forced to stay in the pay scale of 15100—18700.Now in this pay scale they reach at the maximum of this pay scale at the service of just 22 years (it means at the age of 43/44 years).
Now just imagine when this lot of officers interact with young boys in civil do you expect them to give a good image of army? This superceded lot which is increasing every years at the rate of approximately 500/600 will impact much more than any other advertisement campaign by army.
This country is not giving army officers even equal to what any other class one job officer is getting (just forget IAS /IPS for a moment)the calculations in support of this fact is given at the end of this article.
In IMA the first thing is taught is that “WHEN RAPE IS ENEVITABLE ENJOY IT” that is what all army men who are forced to stay in army due various reasons are doing it. No amount of disscussion can bring the realities of army life. Mind you it is worse than your imagination.
If you want to do something for army at least put them equal to other class one job. Do not try to make Brigadier of General just give them the minimum basic pay scale which is being given to any other class one job.
For example in any other class one job all officers who are directly selected and start with the pay scale of 8000 –13500.
100 percent of them achieve the pay scale of 16400—22400 at the service of 15/16 years . At least give this much to army also. At present only 20 percent ( colonel rank)go into that pay scale that too upper limit is just 19350 for them
It is suggested that put all Lt Col in pay scale of 16400—22400 at the service of 15/16 years and forget about there promotions. Also let them serve till the age of 58 years.
SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS IN ARMY
ATLEAST PUT THEM EQUAL TO OTHER CLASS ONE JOBS
THE TABLE GIVEN BELOW SHOWS THE PAY SCALE OF FEW CLASS ONE JOBS IN INDIAN GOVERNMENT
IAS IPS UNIVERSITY
LECTURERS ARMY
THE PAY SCALE INCLUDES THE
RANK PAY
8000-13500 0 YEARS 0 YEARS 0 YEARS 0 YEARS (8250-10050)
1000-15200 4 YEARS (10650-15850) 4 YEARS 4 YEARS 4YEARS (10000—11800)
12000-16500 9 YEARS(12750-16500 9 YEARS 9 YEARS 9YEARS (13125-16050)
14300-18300 13 YEARS (15100-18300) 13 YEARS DOES NOT EXIST 13 YEARS (15100-18700)
16400-20000
DOES NO EXIST 14-16 YEARS
RANK–DIG
(100 PERCENT OF DIRECT IPS OFFICERS REACH UPTO THIS LEVEL) 17 YEARS
100 PERCENT OF LECTURERS REACH AT THIS LEVEL 17-18 YEARS (17100-19350)
(ONLY 20 PERCENT OF DIRECT COMMISIONED ARMY OFFICERS REACH AT THIS LEVEL)
18400-22400 16 YEARS
(100 PERCENT OF DIRECT IAS OFFICERS REACH UPTO THIS LEVEL) —– —– ——-
THE CONCLUSION
1. THE INDIAN ARMY OFFICERS ARE NOT EVEN EQUAL TO ANY OTHER CLASS ONE JOB OF INDIAN GOVERNMENT.
2. EVERY XYZ WHO JOINS ANY CLASS ONE JOB IN INDIA IS SURE SHOT TO REACH THE PAY SCALE OF
16400—22400.
3. ON JOINING INDIAN ARMY A YOUNG BOY CAN NOT EVEN HOPE TO GET THE WHAT OTHER CLASS ONE JOB OFFICERS GET.
4. ONLY 2O PERCENT CAN HOPE TO GO BEYOND THE RANK OF LT COL IN ARMY . IT MEANS ONLY 20 PERCENT OF YOUNG BOYS WHO JOIN AS AN ARMY OFFICER CAN HOPE TO GET THE PAY SCALE OF 16400—22400 OR MORE ( NOTE THE POINT HERE THAT IN EVERY OTHER CLASS ONE JOB ALL XYZ OFFICERS WHO JOIN INITIALLY GETS THIS PAY SCALE).
5. THE ABOVE POINT INDICATES THAT 80 PERCENT OF ARMY OFFICERS (WHO HAS MORE THAN 17 /18 YEARS OF SERVICE ARE REJECTED AND DEJECTED
6. NOW A REQUEST TO PAY COMMISSION
ARMY OFFICERS NEVER HOPE TO GET WHAT IAS GETS. BUT KINDLY GIVE THEM WHAT OTHER CLASS ONE JOB OFFICERS ARE GETTING. THAT MEANS THE PAY SCALE OF 16400—22400.
THE SOLUTION
1. THERE IS A SIMPLE SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM.
JUST PUT THE LT COL IN THE PAY SCALE OF 15100—22400 INSTEAD OF 15100—18700
AND THIS WILL ENSURE THAT ARMY OFFICERS GET ATLEAST WHAT OTHER CLASS ONE JOB OFFICERS ARE GETTING
November 26th, 2007 at 12:14 am
good data sheet…….but does that makes a difference…………..well money does………army ppl must be paid much higher…..but also look from this point of view that ppl who r joing the army now r doing so only b’coz of there love for country………bst part is,its not that army doesnt get applications in large number…..but the thing is unlike other armys in western countries which mantain army by number not quality……….indian armed forces needs quality………..nd thats what they r focusing on……..in most of western counties army service is compalsory for every citizen…….it doesnt make sence to me, to send kids to war who dont want to………..moral of such armies is very low…..infact even india has such article in constitution which will make service in armed forces compalsory………govt can implement when it needs it……….so chill for now………our army is good enough for now………….
March 11th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
DO YOU HAVE IT IN YOU?
1. Would you like to join an organisation which you join at the age of 21-24 yrs and it tells you at your age of 38/41 years that now you are now unwanted in this org.(IT MEANS NO PROMOTION FOR 75-80 PERCENT of officers AFTER THIS )
Not only this the org also tells you at your age of 44/45 that now you will not get any increase in your pay( PAY SCALE FOR Lt Col is 15100-400-18300 and it starts at the service of 13 years and reaches to its max at 21 years of service)
then when you are 54 years of age it just throws you out.
and this treatment is given to atleast 75 percent of you who join together.
At the age of 45 why should you be forced to start looking for a new career. at the age of 22 only why do’nt you join an org which looks you after till your age of 60 years
2. AND ON THE TOP OF ALL THIS YOU ARE NEVER TOLD ABOUT THE FACTS ABOVE before joining the org . BECAUSE ORG knows the repercussions
March 21st, 2008 at 8:35 am
dear friends,
there funny comments from all over india specialyy civilians brother who have not seen the hard life of a soldier. mil officers cannot be equated with any civ offr because they are required to deal with trained soldiers who knows that they have to live together and die if possible together. where this concept will be found in any branch of govt administraion/corporate world. so no comparision should be made frivously . thanks and regards
March 26th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
dear sn ram
that is why you do not get even what they get
March 28th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
is it sarcasm i am seeing in the previous comment. Come on civilians, it wake up call you cant be doing this to the defence perosonnel. Remember;the soldier gives his today for your better tomorrow. If you are able to sleep in your cozy and comfy home today is because of the ‘n’number of faceless soldiers that are guarding frontiers in a most hostile weather conditions and add to it the enemies. Tell me how many of our so called educated people know about the new recruit (soldier) gets? he is supposed to be guarding our borders in testing conditions to name a few Siachin glacier, easten territory-and he is doing it well by just not caring about the conditions, the food, facilities. His being there in those places is his love for the motherland. And in turn what he gets? truth is bitter. And how many of us are aware of this fact. And with such an awareness among the so called educated lot, who can battle for him? and how is that his conditions are going to be better? and how can these conditions be influential in drawing the talent to the defence forces.
Awareness among the civilians is the key to this issue. They can raise their voice and can justifiably get what a soldier deserves. Because the soldier cant really raise his voice against the establishment. Hi is bound to ‘just follow the orders’, and he is doing it fine. So this all boils down to civilian youths to battle for the betterment of soldiers lives by actively involving in the process.