The Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch of the Indian Armed Forces.It came into being in 1947 after India had attained independence. Its primary mission is to ensure the national security and defense of the Republic of India from external aggression and threats, and maintaining peace and security within its borders. It also conducts humanitarian rescue operations during natural calamities and other disturbances. As a major component of national power, alongside the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, the roles of the Indian Army are as follows; Primary, preserve national interests and safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of India against any external threats by deterrence or by waging war. Secondary, assist Government agencies to cope with ‘proxy war’ and other internal threats and provide aid to civil authority when requisitioned for the purpose." With its enormous strength and spread it has till date fought four wars with Pakistan one war with China. Given the rampant terrorist activities along the India-Pakistan border, the incessant entry of terrorist elements into India through the India-Pakistan border, the role of the Indian Army is of extreme and utmost significance. It seems only rational that such an important organization responsible for the stability and harmony of the nation be clear off corruption and other malpractices. But if recent news is anything to go by the above statement is as far from reality as can be.
The Indian Army faces the problem of recruitment and attrition. The shortage of officers is something that has been there since three decades . But this is a problem all the countries in the world face. The reasons for this : the poor compensation vis-a-vis the corporate world, the lack of opportunities in the later career. Today’s knowledge-based youth seeks not just superior salaries, but the freedom to retain mobility in the career market. As of today, the army offers no such promise of freedom of job mobility. The exit policies are archaic and the officers are akin more to a bonded labor than a government functionary. The bogey of national security has allowed the military to get away with blatantly illegal and unethical exit policies for its soldiers for a long time. The long-term damage of an exit- barrier ending up as an entry-barrier has not even been considered by the military. Also, the army does not view women as on par with men which enhances the un-attractiveness of a military career for working couples. Constant relocation for the officers also ensures that the spouses cannot afford to pursue successful civil careers, while balancing it with a healthy family life.
Recently there have also been an increase in the number of suicides and murders in the Army. In the past 10 years, more than 1,000 soldiers have committed suicide, while another 73 have died of “fragging,” a Vietnam War term born of the practice of disaffected US enlisted men killing their superiors with fragmentation grenades. In April, a jawan turned his rifle on four of his comrades and killed them after being given what was perceived as a humiliating dressing-down by superior office.
In May, a violent incident took place in Ladakh, while a similar fracas happened in June last year in Punjab. Multiple reasons have been attributed for this discontent among the soldiers. According to studies by the Defense Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), the major causes of suicides in the army were domestic problems, marital discord, stress and financial problems, with soldiers serving far from home and unable to return to their families to solve the issues. Having been trained to take part in total war situations, the Army are at places not in a position to handle civilian riots especially in regions afflicted by leftist Maoist rebellions.
When it comes to supplies, the Indian Army is in a deplorable state. It possesses the ammunition for only a maximum of 10 days. In 2009, the Army had ammunition reserves for 5.85 days. Some 16,000 shells are being procured from Russia, but they have been delayed. Similarly, the Army has just 1.27 days’ supplies of the 122 mm high energy reduce charge. Supplies of even indigenous manufactured ammunition and equipment fare no better. Indicatively, Army has just 7.43 days’ supplies of the 120 mm Mortar Bomb. The government has since 2008 been struggling with a fresh tender. Likewise, the Army has just 4.65 days’ supplies of ammunition for the 155 mm illuminating gun, and 6.29 days’ supplies of smoke ammunition for the 155 mm SMK. That need is unlikely to be met for a long while, given that in a whole year, the Ordnance Factory Boards manufacture supplies that last for just about 1.85 days of war. And even when they do deliver, a large amount of ammunition provided by the OFBs have been found dud and faulty.
Also, The quality of food supplied to soldiers in the Northern Command had also come under the scanner in 2010 after an audit report revealed that troops were getting food that is unfit for human consumption and at times is more than two years beyond the expiry date. Another problem with rations is that the stock supplies for winter which are acquired by the army in summer due to heavy snowfall at higher altitudes which cuts off road links, is infected by rodents and is often thrown away due to this. The procurement procedure for fresh items of ration was highly non-competitive and fraught with the risk of cartels. Despite the valid registration of 110-222 vendors in the three selected Commands, procurement in 46 percent of the cases was done on the basis of two quotations. In 36 percent cases, contracts were concluded on the basis of a single quotation only. A large number of vendors registered, contrasting with only one or two vendors purchasing tender documents points strongly towards the serious problem of cartelization. Similar is the situation in the awarding of defense contracts as was evident in the Tatra truck case, which involved BEML ( the Indian partner of Tatra) supplying sub-standard trucks to the army by bribing army officials.
The organization of the Army should be somewhat similar to that of an corporate organization. A well defined hierarchy, regular promotions on basis of performance and a decent salary. Also, the soldiers should be periodically taught certain skills and be promised respectable jobs in government organizations on retirement. This would take care of the attrition and shortage that the Indian Army is currently facing. Having a large number of soldiers would also ensure that soldiers can tend to family problems in case of emergencies. The government should take proactive steps to ensure that the army is properly equiped with machinery and ammunition, also strive to make the supply of rations to the Army free from corruption by making it transparent with the help of technology. Proper research has to be funded so as to produce packaged food protecting it from rodents and enhancing its shelf-life.
REFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Army
http://pragmatic.nationalinterest.in/2008/02/14/indian-army-the-real-problems/
http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4742&Itemid=404
http://www.firstpost.com/india/low-on-ammo-and-supplies-indian-army-is-a-creaking-war-machine-267965.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatra_(company)
The Indian Army faces the problem of recruitment and attrition. The shortage of officers is something that has been there since three decades . But this is a problem all the countries in the world face. The reasons for this : the poor compensation vis-a-vis the corporate world, the lack of opportunities in the later career. Today’s knowledge-based youth seeks not just superior salaries, but the freedom to retain mobility in the career market. As of today, the army offers no such promise of freedom of job mobility. The exit policies are archaic and the officers are akin more to a bonded labor than a government functionary. The bogey of national security has allowed the military to get away with blatantly illegal and unethical exit policies for its soldiers for a long time. The long-term damage of an exit- barrier ending up as an entry-barrier has not even been considered by the military. Also, the army does not view women as on par with men which enhances the un-attractiveness of a military career for working couples. Constant relocation for the officers also ensures that the spouses cannot afford to pursue successful civil careers, while balancing it with a healthy family life.
Recently there have also been an increase in the number of suicides and murders in the Army. In the past 10 years, more than 1,000 soldiers have committed suicide, while another 73 have died of “fragging,” a Vietnam War term born of the practice of disaffected US enlisted men killing their superiors with fragmentation grenades. In April, a jawan turned his rifle on four of his comrades and killed them after being given what was perceived as a humiliating dressing-down by superior office.
In May, a violent incident took place in Ladakh, while a similar fracas happened in June last year in Punjab. Multiple reasons have been attributed for this discontent among the soldiers. According to studies by the Defense Institute of Psychological Research (DIPR), the major causes of suicides in the army were domestic problems, marital discord, stress and financial problems, with soldiers serving far from home and unable to return to their families to solve the issues. Having been trained to take part in total war situations, the Army are at places not in a position to handle civilian riots especially in regions afflicted by leftist Maoist rebellions.
When it comes to supplies, the Indian Army is in a deplorable state. It possesses the ammunition for only a maximum of 10 days. In 2009, the Army had ammunition reserves for 5.85 days. Some 16,000 shells are being procured from Russia, but they have been delayed. Similarly, the Army has just 1.27 days’ supplies of the 122 mm high energy reduce charge. Supplies of even indigenous manufactured ammunition and equipment fare no better. Indicatively, Army has just 7.43 days’ supplies of the 120 mm Mortar Bomb. The government has since 2008 been struggling with a fresh tender. Likewise, the Army has just 4.65 days’ supplies of ammunition for the 155 mm illuminating gun, and 6.29 days’ supplies of smoke ammunition for the 155 mm SMK. That need is unlikely to be met for a long while, given that in a whole year, the Ordnance Factory Boards manufacture supplies that last for just about 1.85 days of war. And even when they do deliver, a large amount of ammunition provided by the OFBs have been found dud and faulty.
Also, The quality of food supplied to soldiers in the Northern Command had also come under the scanner in 2010 after an audit report revealed that troops were getting food that is unfit for human consumption and at times is more than two years beyond the expiry date. Another problem with rations is that the stock supplies for winter which are acquired by the army in summer due to heavy snowfall at higher altitudes which cuts off road links, is infected by rodents and is often thrown away due to this. The procurement procedure for fresh items of ration was highly non-competitive and fraught with the risk of cartels. Despite the valid registration of 110-222 vendors in the three selected Commands, procurement in 46 percent of the cases was done on the basis of two quotations. In 36 percent cases, contracts were concluded on the basis of a single quotation only. A large number of vendors registered, contrasting with only one or two vendors purchasing tender documents points strongly towards the serious problem of cartelization. Similar is the situation in the awarding of defense contracts as was evident in the Tatra truck case, which involved BEML ( the Indian partner of Tatra) supplying sub-standard trucks to the army by bribing army officials.
The organization of the Army should be somewhat similar to that of an corporate organization. A well defined hierarchy, regular promotions on basis of performance and a decent salary. Also, the soldiers should be periodically taught certain skills and be promised respectable jobs in government organizations on retirement. This would take care of the attrition and shortage that the Indian Army is currently facing. Having a large number of soldiers would also ensure that soldiers can tend to family problems in case of emergencies. The government should take proactive steps to ensure that the army is properly equiped with machinery and ammunition, also strive to make the supply of rations to the Army free from corruption by making it transparent with the help of technology. Proper research has to be funded so as to produce packaged food protecting it from rodents and enhancing its shelf-life.
REFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Army
http://pragmatic.nationalinterest.in/2008/02/14/indian-army-the-real-problems/
http://www.asiasentinel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4742&Itemid=404
http://www.firstpost.com/india/low-on-ammo-and-supplies-indian-army-is-a-creaking-war-machine-267965.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tatra_(company)
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