New Delhi: The Indian Army has introduced psychometric assessment of recruits at all training centres in order to measure a person’s personality traits, intelligence, abilities, behavioural style and aptitude.
In response to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said this evaluation at recruitment stage began from the training year 2024-25.
Highlighting other measures taken by the defence ministry for the wellness of troops, Seth spoke of counselling facilities and the training of officers in basic psychological therapy.
Mental health helplines at psychiatry centres in service hospitals have been made available, he said, adding that a tele-MANAS node has been established at Armed Force Medical College, Pune from 1 December, 2023.
This has been done in association with the health ministry. MANAS is a 24/7 mental health helpline for the armed forces.
Army personnel have also been directed to use the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment helpline ‘KIRAN’ for online counselling.
Seth added the defence ministry had hired psychological counsellors in stations outside military hospitals in order to maintain confidentiality. “Over 100 facilities are being established at identified locations, for which funds have already been allocated.”
Among other steps taken, the force conducts yoga and meditation as part of a unit’s routine, and ensures better manpower management and prompt redressal of grievances, the minister said. Counselling by religious teachers have also been made available where required, he added.
Also being encouraged are group sports and recreational activities, along with a liberalised leave policy to attend to domestic problems.
The authorisation of additional railway warrants—or a voucher that can be exchanged for a ticket to travel at a subsidised rate or for free—to personnel deployed in counter insurgency and counter-terrorism areas was being undertaken, the minister told the House. Reading material in vernacular languages on how to manage stress have also been made available to troops.
Seth said there has been “improved accessibility” and frequent interaction of soldiers with their leaders or commanding officers. The “buddy system”—or the pairing of two soldiers to work as one unit—has also been expanded to a group to be more effective, he added.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Good news indeed.
But what about the Navy? Navy personnel have been involved in all sorts of illegal and dubious activities. One of them is being investigated for human trafficking in Korea. A bunch of them rammed a speedboat into a ferry near Mumbai and killed 15 people. Navy warships tilt over on their sides while being serviced. A few Navy morons forgot to close the latch of a submarine which again led to a disaster. And to top it all, a bunch of retired senior Navy officers were apprehended in Qatar for spying on behalf of, wait-for-it, Israel.
What exactly is wrong with the Indian Navy?
It has become a circus of late.