Sanjay Kumar Writes:Every year about 40,000 JCOs /OR superannuate from service, of these 90 percent i.e. approx. 36,000 are Jawans in the age group of 35 to 39 years. These highly trained, physically fit and mentally robust, disciplined, dedicated, motivated youth with vast potential gets wasted every year. Our country, which is emerging regional power and global economic power can ill afford to waste such a precious national resource. The country must find ways and means to harness this potential and utilise gainfully for the overall growth of the country’s economy and security.
A lot has been talked about the OROP and its implications over Revenue budget. A Jawan who has given prime youth of his life to the country, needs to be looked after by the nation during his crucial period when his family and social obligations are at the peak. Therefore, it’s all the more important that government channelizes this resource and utilises for another 15 to 20 odd years to offset the pressure on Revenue budget.
Though Army at its own end is training/ preparing superannuating troops for second career in the civic stream, but why the Govt should absolve itself of its responsibilities towards these young men, and more so when the options do exist.
Even Koshyari Committee, had suggested to absorb Armed Forces Personnel after their military engagement in Civil Government Organisations including Police Organisation as is the custom in many countries like US, China, Israel, Singapore etc. The 6th CPC also had recommended lateral transfer of Armed Forces Personnel to CPOs and various cadres of defence civilians to contain pension budget of the Govt and also to increase national productivity.
Today out of various Central Armed Police Forces, the requirement of CRPF (3.25 Lakh personnel), CISF (2 Lakh personnel), SSB (85,000 personnel) and Railway Protection Force (65,000 personnel) can easily be met out of superannuating Army Personnel. In fact government must mandate manning of all these forces completely by JCOs/ OR and Officers from the Army. This will not only improve the satisfaction level among the troops of Army, in particular officers who can’t make it to higher ranks because of extremely fewer vacancies at the top, but also strengthen these Forces and reduce the government’s pension bill.
Even Defence, Civilians in the Ministry of Defence comprise of approximately 4,00,000 personnel with annual intake of approx. 35,000 personnel. Large number of these posts can also be filled by suitable candidates from the Armed Forces. The government in national interest has to brush aside resistance from certain bureaucratic lobbies and implement steps to utilise this talent for long term good of the country.
Is it also the time to mandate “Conscription” say for five years for all government jobs? This will also result into well knit, cohesive, responsive and security conscious government machinery