Hon’ble Prime Minister,
1. It is a celebrated fact that as a “public figure” you enjoy special bond with India’s defence services, The “Jawans” also just as enjoy exceptional relationship of warmth with you. The moral boosting regular trips you undertook to international border for BSF’s forward posts as Chief Minister of Gujarat years ago and periodic visits to military units in northern mountain regions you have embarked on as Prime Minister stands for your solicitous mind-set towards our defence services. This unique affection linking a public figure with soldiers and veterans community has only grown over the years. Moreover it has been an eternal source of motivation for every combatant in defence forces. I lay forward few legitimate concerns of “JAWAN” cadre of our defence services for your read-through in succeeding paragraphs.
2. The national interests and the democratic values of homeland are unselfishly and patiently protected by our defence services even at the cost of their own life The egalitarian nation coupled with strong professional defence forces has achieved many milestones during journey of past 70 years and have also had responded to various challenging situations during these years. The forces have demonstrated unparalleled valor and audacity every time challenges emerged before our country.
3. As an institution, our forces are well regimented and disciplined public organization of our country and as a nation we are extremely proud of them. Though, there are various concerns associated with our defence services which need imperative and resolute attention of our government. The commissioned officers and “the Jawans” are two co-dependent fragments of our defence services. The both segments are playing equally important role in our national security. The prime time of youth and formative years of both segments are spent in line of duty towards the nation. Moreover, many blessed souls from both segments have made supreme sacrifice for our motherland. However, an officer cadre is highly privileged and rewarded section of our defence services. The salaries and other perks of superior cadre are far higher as compared to jawan’s cadre. This disparity has cleanly inflated over the years. The officer cadre leads a healthy and balanced life in society; even they can sustain dire cycles of economy with an ease. On the other hand, Jawan’s cadre; a co-segment of forces, despite continuously having made equal contribution in nation’s security and sacrifices, their financial and societal conditions are abysmal, stressed and underprivileged in present day society. The “Jawans” equally sacrifice formative years of life and youth for the noble cause of serving nation, yet disappointing pecuniary and societal conditions are extremely upsetting for all of us.
4. The chronological fine points suggest that there has been a stern and biased trend in policy-framing by defence establishments and the government. The officer friendly policies are growingly being devised and at the same time equally detrimental policies for jawan cadre are being formulated in our military establishments. Accordingly, jawans cadre has been sidelined over the years completely. The core and genuine concerns of the Jawans cadre are continuously being suppressed by superior segment for a very long time now. The young nationals who joins the military in jawan cadre perform their resilient military duties without any fail as a disciplined soldier however over the years of serving in defence forces they realize about biased policies for promotions and financial standing likewise and feel embittered by the nation. The soldiers are man in uniform and hence forming employee unions in defence services is prohibited. Owing to their service in uniform, the genuine concerns and demands of subordinate segment are consistently ignored and suppresed in our defence services.
5. The differentiation in nature of military duties for commissioned officers and jawans is valid and comprehensible however discrepancies in societal and financial condition are ad infinitum on the increase between these two co-dependent fragments of services. It is obvious that officer cadre is empowered with authority over subordinate segment and they run the show for the defence services. Hence they deserve the appropriate respect from the society and the nation. The democratic and grateful nation must also acknowledge services rendered by soldier community to the nation as well. Moreover, government should support the soldier community in order to find a esteemed position in society. There is no doubt that India has produced greatest War Hero’s from both the segments of services however spotlight attention has always been given to officer’s contributions. The most of jawan’s contributions goes unnoticed which is naturally a sheer injustice to subordinate segment. The subordinate section faces far more challenging situations unlike officers and remain in line of fire during their entire service in armed forces. The discipline and sacrifice, valor and bravery of jawan cadre are too enormous to be overlooked and shorn of straightforwardly. The government ought to understand that democracy breathes ecstatically on a firm foundation of professional and ethically strong defence forces.
6. A list of few proposals for resolving issues like pay disparity, inclusive growth, income inequality and biased policies for lower segment of defence forces is enclosed with this letter. (NOT SHARED ON THIS PAGE)
7. I am also grateful to you for acknowledging and appreciating the contributions, services and sacrifices made by our armed forces towards nation-building publicly on various occasions with absolute considerate outlook. However, to find a balance in our defence services, the government is requested to take concrete actions in order to achieve societal balance and inclusive growth for subordinate segment of our services so that larger objectives of democratic system are accomplished.
Jai Hind
Prakash Bishnoi, PO(Retd), IN
