Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Treat the jawans humanly' that was published in Newsband

Treat the jawans humanly

The videos showing jawans of both the paramilitary forces and the Army complaining against a host of issues from diet to colonial-era practices was shocking. There is a need to initiate a detailed study into the internal health of our security establishment.

It is a fact that the service conditions in Armed Forces and security forces are not humane. That the service in respect to Jawans that is to say those below the rank of Commissioned officers are such that one immediately feel the pinch of ill treatment and there is no remedy. You can be court martialed at the drop of a hat at the displeasure of the senior officers.

The perplexity of the situation is that we, the common people, can't believe that defence personnels have gone through such oppression. This shows that no matter in which organisation you are but you are bound to get bullied if you revolt against the superiors. This may stand as a hindrance for recruiting new individuals to the defence force as their belief in the system has gone down.

In the uniformed services job there are cases of higher bureaucratic officers ill-treating the subordinates. When you treat Army as sacred and officers like demigod, it's bound to happen. Army has never grown out of colonial era practices. Still the relationship between officers and Jawans is Master-Slave like to some extent. When it's punishable offence to disobey the senior's order, one can understand what's happening is normal. Army Chief and Generals are well aware as they climb the same ladder.

It is ignominious matter that lower ranked army men are not getting sufficient food. We all know that they follow their duty with huge risk than high ranked army men. They bear lot of difficulties that is, terrorism, cold, hot and also the fear of wild animals. But, they never make complaint. They are not common. If government is not able to bear their healthy food expenses then nothing will be more unfortunate than this.

What could be the dire effects of soldiers using social media for their genuine problems which possibly could not be solved through established mechanism? Those who always shout about our country, our soldiers, their high morals and how much it is important that we should never undervalue the sacrifice our soldiers make, where are they?

The complaints of the jawans are serious issues, which must be attended to without delay. After this is done, it must be impressed on the jawans that resort to social media is not the right way to voice their grievances, and that they must use appropriate channels to do so. Confidence in the readiness of authorities to render justice to them must first be instilled, by taking prompt action.

The truth is the privileged who replaced the Brits have made sure they continue to enjoy the same life style as the rulers did.