An Army wife explains how the force fails the soldiers

The recent flutter created on social media by videos circulated by soldiers from the BSF, CISF and Indian Army paint a poor picture of how jawans are treated while in service.

Subedar Tej Bahadur talked about the poor quality of food being served to BSF jawans, while CRPF jawan Jeet Singh aired pension-related grievances, and in a video sting, Lance Naik Roy Mathew lay bare his heart about harassment by senior officers.

The Army has always protected itself and hung anyone who doesn’t conform out to dry. Now, with Lance Naik Mathew being found dead hanging, it is becoming difficult to shake off the feeling that something is amiss in our armed forces.

While there will numerous television debates on One Rank One Pension and other financial allowances which the Army gets or doesn’t get, when will the Army fraternity begin a dialogue about the urgent need for internal reforms? The Army has always been shy of any type of external scrutiny - preferring to draw conclusions through their own “court of inquiry”.

External scrutiny aside, the Army also tends to shun any discussion on the existing system of functioning. Indira Gandhi’s constant use of the “foreign hand” card comes to mind when I hear Army veterans mouthing the usual “don’t create discord between officers and soldiers” and “this is what Pakistan wants” and the new “it’s an ISI-sponsored controversy”. Army veterans with this tirade have always been able to sweep major issues under the rug.

Under the Army Act, soldiers and officers are not allowed to interact with the media or air their views in public. They are liable to face severe disciplinary action. Though the terminology of “social media” wouldn’t have existed at the time when the Act came into force, the Army would consider itself well within its rights to punish offenders under this Act.

Once you have broken the mould that the defence forces tries to train you in, you could be labelled a black sheep. Promotional prospects would go down the drain for both soldiers and officers. Living in the tight community of the Army can become a living hell if you don’t conform. For civilians, they can go home after a tough day at office, but the faujis cannot - for the Army is not a profession, it is a way of life.

The “sahayak” system is a British-era tradition, being followed blindly as is the “60 days' leave policy”. Soldiers would get 60 days leave because it allows them to go home to their villages and plan a family. While this extended leave may still make sense in today’s era, the system of “sahayaki” has genuinely become outdated.

With more literates and graduates being commissioned into the Army as jawans, the more they are refusing to do "menial" jobs. As an Army wife, I have heard many accounts of jawans being admonished for refusing to do "sahayaki". Previously being a sahayak was a coveted job by most newbie jawans, as it allows a jawan close proximity with an officer, which he wouldn’t otherwise enjoy.

This proximity allows soldiers to request for leave when they want and gives them free time when the officer is on leave. A sahayak close to an officer learns more about the different promotional exams and courses that the Army has for its jawans. He would do better than his colleagues as the officer is sure to guide him on how to prepare.

The security concerns that the Army raises regarding civilians working in an officers' home are genuine. That is not debatable. If the Army can be self-sufficient by employing soldiers in trades such as cooks, waiters, cleaners and sweepers, then why not as helpers or “sahayaks”?

On most occasions, an officer and his buddy get along well. There is genuine camaraderie between them. When an officer is a bachelor, the “sahayak” system works without any hiccups! When the officer gets married and the lady wife comes into the picture treating the “sahayak” as her own personal butler or batman - that’s when the problem begins. 

But can you really, really blame the women? They have their own problems as they have to spend copious amounts of time preparing for frivolous Ladies Meets and Welfare Meets - another Army system that is ripe for reform.

Every time a General is to visit a "station", a plethora of dances, songs and skits are performed for his wife. While General sahab is usually busy attending important briefings, it would be a scandal if the lady wife were to be left unattended.

Wives of junior officer are asked to perform for the occasion. If they refuse, one can be sure that her husband will not receive a favourable ACR (annual confidential report)  which can make or break his career. She will have to leave her young toddler in the hands of the “sahayak” - the same sahayak who has no time from these duties to look after his own children - to go and attend a Ladies Welfare Meet - which the sahayak’s wife would also be unwillingly attending! Isn’t it laughable? What is sad is that same junior wife is just waiting for her husband to pick up the ranks.

The "sahayak" system is not the only problem plaguing the Army. Recruitment scams, siphoning of rations, procurement scandals, land grabs, bribery in MES and BRO - the Army needs to take a hard long look at all these allegations.

Veteran organisations like IESM are doing their bit in fighting for pay anomalies for war widows and retired soldiers. Even the humble "civilians" are doing their bit. While the defence ministry keeps filing objections to disabled soldiers pensions, Akshay Kumar has plans to launch an App where anyone can donate to a martyr’s family.  

Udchalo.in and EZMove.in are trying to make travel and move management easier for the uniformed men, while the Army is unable to ensure that jawans even get a berth on the train home. However, anyone on the outside can only do so much.

The roadmap for internal reforms can only be taken forward by the Army itself. Harassment by seniors, rampant corruption and outdated traditions can have no place in the modern Indian Army. Else the oft-spoken adage by many officers will surely begin to ring true, that the Army is its own enemy!

Also read: It's bad journalism that killed Army jawan Lance Naik Roy Mathew