Over 10,000 Soldiers Bid Adieu to Indian Army

Bangalore: As disgraceful and discouraging as it can be, over 10,000 soldiers opted out of the Indian Army. The obvious reason predicted is the illusionary relation shared by the Indian Army soldiers and their officers. The issue was very much brought to notice at the Parliament when defence minister, AK Antony said that 10,315 jawans opted for pre mature retirement in 2011 which is far more compared to 7,249 and 7,499 in 2010 and 2009 respectively. The probable cause behind retiring early at 35 as given by Antony is that the educated soldiers look for a better option other than working with the force.

Three incidents of scuffle and stand-offs at different places in these two years created the discord between the officers and the jawans in the hierarchical system. The incidents took place at 226 Field Regiment at Nyoma in Ladakh, 45th Cavalry at Gurdaspur in Punjab and 16th Cavalry regiment at Samba in Jammu & Kashmir. In the latest incident, the Samba sector was led to unrest as a jawan commited suicide. Antony said in a written reply at Lok Sabha, " A Court of Inquiry (COI) has been convened by the Army to investigate the matter," as quoted by the Dainikbhaskar.

According to the statistical reports, total suicides among soldiers were 96 in 2003 which rose to 100 next year. In 2005 a total of 77commited suicide which reached 129 in 2006. The figure was 118 in 2007, 123 in 2008 which fell to 96 in 2009 but once more rose to 115 in 2010.

Antony said that the Government has taken certain steps to enhance the morale of the jawans. The ministry is planning to replace the ‘sahayak’ system with the civillians for the convinience of the senior officers. Even the inclusion of liberalised leave policy, provision of recreational facilities and the participation of psychological counsellors will create a soothing environment to work.