New Delhi: Even as the Army is looking at a three-year voluntary stint, or ‘Tour of Duty’, to boost recruitment, a five-year-old proposal to making the Short Service Commission (SSC) lucrative and practical is still pending.
The proposal had been formulated by a group of experts constituted by the Ministry of Defence.
While questions have been raised on the financial viability of the Tour of Duty and of carrying out training of individuals and losing them in the two-three years, the 2015 report had asked the ministry to revert to the minimum five years of short service rather than the now 10 years.
In an interaction with the media on 14 May, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat had said the Tour of Duty concept is still at a nascent stage and under the Army chief’s consideration. If it works out, it’s good, he said, but added that its viability needs to be studied.
“It will require a year of training. The tour of duty will be in Kashmir and the Northeast,” he said. “One year of training costs… Equipping him and doing everything for him and then losing him after four years. Is it going to balance out? It will require a study.”
As reported by ThePrint earlier, the Tour of Duty is for three-four years, which also includes training period. While the Army is keenly studying this, the CDS is looking at making the SSC more attractive.
Also read: IAF chief contradicts CDS Rawat, says plan is to buy 114 foreign fighters besides LCA Tejas
Solution could be in 2015 report
The solution to the recruitment debate could lie in the 2015 report.
The expert committee, in its 509-page report, had listed 75 recommendations in areas concerning service and pension matters, discipline and vigilance issues, matters concerning promotions and confidential reports, military justice, issues related to civilian employees and other potential areas of disputes.
It noted that the SSC is a very important scheme for individuals who would not like to make the defence services their permanent vocation and a scheme that would also cater to the shortage of officers in the three services.
For a long time prior to 2006, the SSC was applicable for a period of five years, extendable for another five years and then for a further four years.
A person released after five years was granted gratuity and also ex-serviceman status, having been released on completion of terms of engagement.
In 2006, however, ostensibly to make SSC more attractive, the earlier 5+5+4 years system was changed to 10+4 years, thereby making the initial tenure of 10 years mandatory for earning benefits, including ex-serviceman status.
“Though from the organisational point of view, a period of 10 years may seem important so as to retain officers for a sufficient period, however from the point of view of an individual, the said period in a way becomes exploitative since neither is a person granted pension nor guaranteed employment after 10 years thereby leaving him or her “neither here nor there” at an important phase of life thereby setting him/her back by 10 years as compared to other peers from civil life,” the committee noted.
It felt that to balance out the rights between the organization and individuals, “the scheme needs to be reverted back to 5+5+4 years so that a person has the option for release after 5 years of service to enable him/her to start afresh on the civil side with the additional skills gained in the defence services”.
Sources told ThePrint that the then defence minister Manohar Parrikar was actively discussing the idea of reverting SSC to the 5+5+4 system when he was moved out as Goa CM in 2017.
They said Parrikar wanted to bring SS officers on the contributory New Pension System (NPS) on par with civilians and further expand the scheme to bring down pension bill by keeping SS officers on NPS on par with a similar short service entry scheme of the Indian Coast Guard.
Also read: Not bullets but explosives cause maximum injuries to Army personnel: Study
10-year service makes it difficult to start afresh: Report
The report had also highlighted that it is difficult to start afresh in the civilian world once a SSC tenure ends. It must be appreciated that when a person is released from the military after 10 years of service, he or she is in his early 30s which is an age when it becomes difficult to start new innings, the report said.
“However, in case the organization feels that it is more beneficial to retain officers for at least 10 years, then additionally, to attract and retain talent, the Ministry could provide higher pay-outs and benefits to all those who serve for 10 years and still higher to those who serve till 14 years,” it added. “Hence, a graded structure of benefits can be incorporated for officers who serve for 5, 10 and 14 years.”
It also recommended a Contributory Pension Scheme on the lines of the NPS be considered for all future SSC officers who serve for a minimum 10 years.
Gen Rawat has said the military is looking at offering incentives to make the prospect more appealing for applicants.
“For an officer who will just serve for 14 years, you don’t want to give him a pension, what then can you do for them? Can you give him training that will make him stand on his feet?” Rawat said.
As an incentive, a lump sum amount should also be paid to the SSC officers on retirement, he added. “We are yet to decide on the amount,” he said.
Incidentally, the MoD has implemented two recommendations.
Earlier, only outpatient medical facilities were granted to short service officers in military hospitals but on recommendations of the committee of experts they were granted ECHS facilities with full outpatient facilities and truncated inpatient reimbursement for serious diseases.
Earlier, ex-servicemen status was granted only to those who completed the terms of SSC, for example five or 10 years, and not to those who sought release during extended terms. This was also deprecated by the committee and the Delhi High Court.
A clarification has been issued that SS officers who are released during extended terms will also now be granted “ex-serviceman” status.
Also read: CDS Bipin Rawat to work on items for import ban, artillery guns could be included
9650105679 I’m joining Indian army
9650105679 I’m coming to Indian srmy
9650105679
I want join Indian Army.
Sir I am Bhanu Pratap.
I am joining indian army.
my contact number 9651819329,
My village korauta bhadohi road Varanasi
I am joining tour of duty
I love my India. I want to join Indian Army.
im joint sir mobile no 9957793974
sir my name hero brahma
date of birth 1991. can
I joint tour of duty
mobile namber 9957793974
from kokrajhar assam
I am Vishal Baghel I am Indian army proud up u
sir I am joining Indian army or tour of duty
I want to join army, Jai Hind
I want to join army sir and dob- 1995
My dreem Indian army officer
Jay Hind filling proud of Indian army I’m join in india army contact by… 8477882338
jai hind sir My self.. Aarti Mishra…mai ek army person ke family se hun…Army Mera junun hai… or… is duty ko join krna chahti…mai N.C.C me seniour under office thi..or “A” gread se maine…”B” or “C”… certificate kiya hai..bt mera DOB-25/10/1997 hai… kya mera selection hoga or “TOUR OF DUTY” me selection ki kya prakriya hai……????
plz reply…me …. JAI HIND SIR
Jay hind sar me join krna chahta hu
My date of dirth 25.11.1999
Mo. 7226987883
Dear
Sir
Mera naam Gabar Singh lmbu hai aur main Army join Karne ke liye interested hoon
Main recent Banglore mein rehta hoon aur Mera permanent address Tezpur Assam hai
Code 784101
Mobile no 7676243009
Derr sir,
My name is khurshad khan. I am an Indian. I have joined the Indian army. My DOB 11/12/1990. My small brother also job in Indian army.
Dear
Sir main interested hoon Army join Karne aur humari desh ki raksha Karne
Mera naam Gabar Singh limbu hai aur main recent Banglore main hoon rehta hoon
Main Tezpur Assam SE hoon aur Mera age 31 hai
Thank u
Joy Hind Sir,
I am Sourajit… I am Interested To Join The Indian Army
Please Inform How to Join The Indian Army…
Joy Hind Sir, Please Inform How to Join The Indian Army
sir
i m joining indian army
i m from. goalpara assam
my date of birth 1992
Dear sir
Mera nam Manik barman hain or mera yeah barso purana khwaish hain ki main army main join karne ki , lekin garib hone ki karan na varti ho saka agar yeah moka mujhe mile to main aapka bahot avari rahungga yeah mera aapse binti hain . jay hind. Mera no = 7478249882 hain.
Jai hind sir
My name is: Himanshu rana
Father’s name: Magan singh rana
Mother’s name:Rajeshwari rana
Current status:Working in bank as a daily wage worker
But want to work for my indian army
Mera left hand ka ek finger cut Gaya hai,kya me tour of duty join kar Sakta hu pls reply.
Jai hind
JOI hind SIR MD AFROJ KHAN MY FATHAR NEME MD FIROJ KHAN DATE OF BIRTh 04,08,2001 MY LIFE INDIAN ARMY
Hi Sir now my age is 23 /f I want to join Indian army I want join tod how to apply sir
Msg me on what’s app
8180076778
I love Indian army
B.com
Shubham Kushwaha
8818934617
Army join
i am ibterested
Jutika Munda 6000751661
What happens then after the 3 or 5 years tour is completed,Will civilian be part of the army supposed if there is a war coming, will they be allowed to carry weapons then?
What if a someone wanted to serve permanently would he be allowed to do so?
Dear sir.
My DOB 01/01/1990
I joint tour of duty.
Sir
Devendra Kumar Singh s/o Ramswaroop singh. Mother name Jaymanti Devi. my Date of Birth
01/01/96 Education. 12th. Pass.
My village sihori. Post Banthal Jila eyah 207001. Up.
nomokar sir hom bohut gorep kar lokar hu to so hom 12pass hu kom ko 3yas kilay army job dijiray 8471957115
Army job
I joint tour of duty .
Name – yogesh tiwari
Father’s name – shri bablu ram Tiwari
DOB – 24-12-2000
Qualification – polytecnic 2nd year ( electrical engineering)
Contact no. 7878498310 / 9671803513
I’m tour of duty interested sir
I’m joing INDIAN ARMY
Jai hind sir.
My name is rishav singh ,My father name is Dinesh Singh .
Date of birth – 25/ 7 / 2002
My mobile no -6205981381
SIR my name..Bappi debnath sir me bohut garib hu SIR my state ASSAM SIR my Number 9706747158 plz call me SIR
Joy hind sir my name is Rupkumar Paul
My city is Silchar and I’m joining Indian tour of duty plz call me my number 7002710497
My father name Nirmal Paul pin code 788098
Sir,
Name Rupkumar Paul date of birth 11/10/1996 mobile number 7002710497
I also intrested in Army
Please give opportunities as soon as possible
Thank you
Respected sir
I am also interested to join TOD in Indian Army
Please give opportunities to me…
Akhilesh Kumar
Mobile-7061305291,9919617758
I m Manish +2 75% percent number arts I live in Ludhiana
What is a army apply date
Joy hind sir.. 3 years job aply date sir. My bikram konwar. From assam. Dist ., tinsukia.. Contect no.. 6909295385
Army lower
Jai hind sir Sir army job interested any work fitters-make food avery job done sir ji 8619102373
I am really happy sir T .O.D army I am ready
I love indian army sir
Jai hind sir Sir army job interested any work fitters /make food avery job done sir ji
Sir my age 24 please sir
I am available yes are no sir please reply me sir