NEW DELHI: Resentment among soldiers continues in the Indian army, considered world’s third largest army, as nearly 300 complaints have already been filed by jawans against their senior officers for harassment.
Amidst jawans taking social media routes to raise their anger against the attitude of senior officers, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat in February had launched a WhatsApp number, on which any soldier can post his/her grievances directly to the top military person without following the service rules. Direct message to the Chief of Army staff was the new grievance redressal mechanism, wherein soldiers can air their grievances directly, after having exhausted all laid down procedure.
Following it, since February, a total of 292 complaints from serving and retired personnel have been registered by the Army headquarters.
"Every effort is made to ensure that the complaint is dealt with till its final disposal to the satisfaction of the complainant. If the complainant is not satisfied with the redressal provided at one, an opportunity is also given to him to take up the matter with the higher authority," minister of the state for Defence Subhash Bhamre told Parliament.
Perturbed over series of videos being viral on social media by jawans, Army chief Rawat in January came with a suggestion box in his office, where any soldier can directly write to him, avoiding protocol.
Assuring full confidentiality, the Army chief had announced anyone, irrespective of ranks or service, can use this mechanism to put whatever they wish to write into these letter boxes so that grievances can reach him directly. Gen Rawat said the soldiers should write to him with names but he will ensure that the name of the personnel is deleted before any action is taken.
The Whatsapp number announced to register the complaint was — +91 9643300008 under the Complaint and Advisory Board, headed by a Lieutenant General ranked officer.
The move came in after BSF, CRPF and Jawans from other regiments raised their voice on social media in regards to the low quality of food and poor conditions which were provided to them.
Taj Bahadur, a BSF jawan, highlighted the problems with images of burnt chappatis and runny daal that they are served during the mealtimes. In the video, that went viral, Tej came out with the disclosure that there are even times when the soldiers have to go to sleep on an empty stomach. Following BSF jawan's post, a CRPF Jawan Jeet Singh, raised the issues being faced by them.
Even Army jawan YP Singh also lodged similar protest on social media against Army’s buddy (sahayak) tradition. However, the government has made it clear that there is no proposal for doing away with the sahayak system for commissioned officer and even junior commissioned officers, but it is under consideration of the ministry at present.
But simultaneously, the government is also is proposing to hire 29,000 civilians, who will be replacing combat soldiers, working for menial household task for officer’s.