By JN RAINA New Delhi (Syndicate Features): The youngsters do not want to join the Army, mainly because they lack a sense of patriotism. It is egregious that educated students are not impelled to join the Army and allied forces, because it pays them less. Ostensibly enough, the youth are not inspired by Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s call: “Give me blood and I will give you freedom”. For them, there is no charm in that slogan any more.
When I unfurled the national tricolour on the Republic Day, in the lawns of my society’s spacious compound, I became emotional. And so were many others among the older generation when we recited the national anthem. Because on such an occasion, people are expected to feel proud of the soldiers and young Army officers, who have sacrificed their precious lives for preserving hard-earned freedom. They have rendered a yeoman’s service for the nation’s sake. Their dedicated services have brought glory to the nation.
It is dismaying that times have changed. Now it is the money power that matters more than the nation. The youth feel inhibited to join the defence forces. It is disrespectful to this nation, which remained enslaved for centuries. They opt for greener pastures either abroad or in corporate sector within the country, for enhanced income and a luxurious lifestyle. Such a tendency has resulted in a huge shortfall of officers in the Indian Army, which according to current estimates stands at around 11,200.
The Defence Ministry is in a fix whether to go for conscription or not, under the prevailing situation. The Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor has suggested that conscription of youth ‘may be an avenue that the Government may have to think about in future’, in view of the falling number of aspirants wanting to join the course at the prestigious military institutions. The number of youth who joined the course at the Indian Military Academy (IMA) dwindled to just 86 last year against the availability of 250 seats. It is mind-boggling. The main reason being that boys are no more lured towards the Army. They are now tuned to the corporate sector for better emoluments. They are no more enamoured by the glamour, respect and thrill the Army provides. The trend is likely to dip further.
It was in 1993 that the batch of trainees was full. Since then, the number of students joining the IMA and NDA has been depleting. During the past two years, there was a shortfall of 40 to 60 cadets per batch, according to figures available with the Defence establishment. Since Kargil war, deficiencies in the ranks of Majors have become a major cause of concern. There has been lot of pressure on the officers to lead counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir and Assam.
But conscription or no conscription, there are established norms to dodge it. In several countries, especially in affluent countries, there are loopholes in laws, which enable people to evade compulsory military training. Even U S President George W Bush had evaded conscription during Vietnam War. Not only Bush, but many other veterans including three-time world Heavy-weight champion Muhammad Ali, had avoided conscription. Many students had avoided conscription on health grounds in Russia, Iran, Poland and Brazil. The students had sought exemption on the grounds of continuing education.
It is for the Government to enact laws in such a manner to remove disparity in wages in different areas. In fact, those serving in the defence establishment, scientists, doctors et al who are the cream of the society, should have better pay scales than others. Otherwise it will lead to chaos and brain drain will further increase. Selection on the basis of caste has already had its adverse impact.
The Defence authorities have approached the 6th Pay Commission for increase in the pay structure of its personnel and to remove the existing anomalies. The Army is faced with a severe shortage of officers. May be in the near future, the Centre might opt for compulsory military training, if the situation does not improve, although it does not seem to be a permanent solution, given the global scenario. The seats have gone a begging in the IMA, DNA and other branches of activity during the past several years.
A number of students after passing military entrance tests have been opting for various lucrative jobs. At the top of it, senior defence personnel have been seeking premature retirement, aggravating the problem further. The youth are no more lured by glamour and respect which the Army commands. Patriotic feelings and nationalism is absent. The Indian youth are more conscious of the money power and pine for luxurious life and so-called ‘socialising’. Patriotic feelings can be instilled among children from ab initio in schools. They should be asked to take a vow to serve this nation and not to fall in the wrong hands.
There are some varied reasons for change in the mindset of the youth. An unnamed Army officer has been quoted as saying recently that ‘threat to the limb’ is almost absent in other professions. If this is the trend, it is quite alarming. ‘Youth get more attracted towards commercialization’, say some disgruntled people. When the corporate sector promises better lifestyle, why to join the Army? Feel others. Yet many others are aghast at the number of suicides and homicide incidents involving senior Army officers. For them patriotism has taken a back seat. “ Why die fighting when there is a better option in the corporate job?”. Such people feel that conscription will only lead to corruption.
However, it is partly because of the stress factor that fratricidal killings take place. The Army officers are overworked in the absence of adequate staff. Be as it may; the Army’s image has got sullied by allegations of corruption, acts of espionage, involving senior officers and frequent allegations of human rights abuses. Continuing militancy has had its effect on the functioning of the armed forces.
Defence Minister A K Anthony is of the opinion that youth find ample opportunities in other sectors in view of low pay packets the Army can offer. The Defence personnel and scientists are the backbone of the nation. They are in the vanguard of the country’s development. But ‘they do not get adequate compensation’ bemoans Anthony.
The Indian Army personnel earn just half the salary of what their counterparts get in Pakistan. There exists a huge gap so far pay structure is concerned. A Brigadier in India gets Rs 16,700 against Rs 32,245 his counterpart can fetch in Pakistan. Similarly, a Lt General in India gets Rs 22,405 while in Pakistan an officer of an equal rank gets Rs 42,215. Even foreign mercenaries and home-grown militants get more than the regular serving soldiers.
A huge disparity in the salaries of the Indian Army officers and Pakistani officials on the one hand, and a wide gap in service salaries and the corporate salaries on the other is mainly responsible for a decline in the number of quality youth, although there is no dearth of them. There has to be a limit to one’s salary. It cannot be granted beyond imagination, as it would tilt the ‘balance’ in the caste-ridden society. (Syndicate Features)
