Recycle The Soldier

Recycle The Soldier Col TS Dalal (Retd ) The Veterans of Armed Forces and the Govt are at loggerhead, on One Rank One Pension (OROP) demand. The issue has its genesis from early retirement of soldiers and their non re-employment by the Govt. Almost 80% of the Armed Forces personnel retire between 35 to 37 yrs of age and are left to fend for themselves. Is it not the concern of the Central Government to ensure that these retiring soldiers, who have given their youth in the service to the Nation, be suitably rehabilitated ? Ironically, the Finance Minister now feels, after their services have been utilized, that they are becoming financial burden to the State. It is also paradoxical, that the Govt opts to let these trained young soldiers retire and then carries out fresh recruitment, for Police and Para Military Forces, train them and pay them as well as pension to those soldiers who it has sent on early retirement . It defies all rational thinking as to why this trained force should not be directly absorbed against the new recruitment for the PMFs/Police. Are there covert reasons not to think for simple solutions ? The menace of the Naxels / Maoists and other anti-national elements is increasing day by day and the State Police Forces are unable to deal with them effectively. The primary reason is the lack of proper training in the Police Forces. A terrorist trains in the worst of conditions yet he over runs police stations at will, highjack trains and roams freely in the jurisdiction of the State machinery. After almost every terrorist attack , any where in the country, a special Force gets raised. But, they do not send shivers down the spine of the terrorists. This ad-hoc reaction is not a solution to counter terrorism but only to pacify / placate the agitated public, (now that I have this, next time you will see how I decimate him). It is not the numbers but the quality of training and dedication which will ultimately decide the winner. Numbers only help in normal policing duties like dealing with criminals or traffic duties. For anti terrorist operations and guarding the borders, we need very well trained and motivated men, with matching equipment. It is ultimately the machine (weapons) and the man behind the machine which counts. A soldier must be trained, equipped and motivated to handle most eventualities related to security. This trained and disciplined manpower is already available, with almost 15 yrs of experience. Yet, we waste them, in thousands, each year. A man serving in the Para Military Force (PMF) and the Police serves up to 60 yrs of age. Therefore, absorbing the retiring young and fully trained soldiers of the Armed Forces, would solve the problems of both PMFs and the Armed Forces. Government provision already exists for such absorption. In the last year of their service a retiring soldier can be employed against an existing vacancy and later, on retirement, gets absorbed against the same post. In 1985, the Department of Personnel & Training (DOP&T) issued direction, to all Ministries / Departments that they all should examine and identify posts in which military experience would be of distinct advantage and incorporate necessary provisions in the Recruitment Rules (RR) for lateral induction. These provisions are also included in Swamy’s office pamphlet on ‘Establishment and Administration for Central Government Offices’. Why these Instructions are not being implemented must be examined and if required, revised to absorb the retiring Armed Forces personnel. Similarly, officers can be absorbed in Police / PMF, to serve up to 60 years of age, as was done in 60s and 70s. They can also be absorbed in various Headquarters, Training Institutions, and Disaster Management and so on. Their utilization / recycling into our security forces will not only be of national interest but save ‘crores’ to the Government, in the form of training expenditure, additional recruitments and ever increasing pension bills.