IndiaPost.com - Indian Army - Do you have it in you?

India Post News Service

That the Indian Army is secular, apolitical and a thoroughly professional force, besides being arguably one of the most credible institutions in the country is an acknowledged fact. What is not widely known though is that in the 60th year of India's Independence, there are huge problems that are weakening this vital institution.

To the extent that contemporary youth does not view the armed forces as a prospective career option anymore. The official figure for the shortage of officers in the Indian army is 24.1%, a shortfall of 11238 officers against an authorization of 46615.

Despite a high voltage campaign in the late nineties to attract youngsters to join the service, the army has been unable to make up the shortage. The campaign was designed to appeal to the adventurous side of young men with catch phrases like "Do you have it in you?" Unfortunately, in a scenario where career choices have multiplied overnight, it is difficult to motivate youngsters to don the olive greens.

"Sending my son to the forces is not a great option because the quality of life has improved in the civil as well. Although there are excellent perks available in the forces, the money in hand is very little," says a serving colonel.

In fact a study carried out internally at the National Defense academy reveals that just about 12.5 percent of its recruits in the past six years were children whose fathers are/were officers in the Indian armed forces. Clearly, even serving officers do not encourage their children to join army any more! The story inside the army is no different. Interaction with the troops spills the beans of disquiet among both officers and jawans on various counts.

The biggest anxiety among young officers and jawans stems from the proclivity of governments to deploy army in situations of internal security which require police action and political will more than brute force. Field tenures, tricky family life and eroding status in civilian society are demotivating factors for the young urbanite. To top it all, the officer's salary package remains a pittance.

Within the force itself there is a major worry about increasing nepotism. Many officers openly speak of personal and regimental loyalties rather than merit increasingly deciding promotions and postings.

Army's standing as an honest force is being challenged each day as reports of 'fragging'-an American slang for wounding or killing a fellow unpopular soldier, suicides, rapes, corruption and fake killings are being highlighted more by the media, than attempts towards national security. Issues like non-grant of timely leave, zero-error syndrome, workload, financial problems and marital crisis are the common impinging elements that push a soldier to dark alleys.

These factors led to about 1000 officers quitting the army between 2004 and 2006 alone. Obviously most young and middle-rung officers are attracted by the upcoming BPO and corporate world which on the contrary provides innate stability and great money.

This ugly phenomenon has created a phobia of sorts in the mind of young aspirants to burry their nationalism and move to greener pastures. But instead of tackling the issue as a larger challenge of strategy, we have sought to find answers internally by increasing posts in senior ranks making the system top-heavy and enhancing retiring ages.

On the other hand, what the defense forces need is a much younger manpower, and, of high caliber. But getting the right candidates is becoming increasingly difficult. An interesting side is the posting of officers to units on UN assignments. An army so hard pressed by internal and external factors has no qualms in being one of the highest providers of peacekeepers to the UN.

The other competitors for this position are, hold your breath, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Is the Indian army in the same league? Where are the US, French, British and other modern armies of the world? Something is certainly amiss here.