New Delhi: The Indian Army in a major development has proposed a ‘three year term’ service as officers and soldiers called as ‘Tour of Duty’.
Colonel Aman Anand, PRO Army said, “The proposal Tour of Duty (ToD) is under discussion at the highest level and positive feedback has been received to start it as the pilot project.”
However, there will be no relaxation in the selection and training standards.
The proposed model will move towards internship/temporary experience for three years from the usual concept of permanent service/job in the Armed Forces
“The proposal is a shift from the concept of permanent service/job in the Armed Forces, towards ‘internship’/temporary experience for three years. Unemployment in our country is a reality, however there is resurgence of nationalism and patriotism,” says a draft.
The “major crux”, lies in making the proposal “attractive to the government, Armed Forces, corporates and most importantly the individuals” who opt for it.
“The government may not make ToD (tour of duty) as a compulsory criteria for central/state jobs, however, any edge in terms of qualitative/quantitative/supernumerary criteria will give the scheme a boost,” it says.
Pointing out “immense financial benefits to the organisation due to reduction in pay and gratuity payouts”, the Army has said the cost of a three-year service per officer will be a fraction of the cost incurred on Short Service Commission (SSC) officers.
The corresponding cost for a three-year service will be Rs 80 lakh-85 lakh.
For soldiers, who usually serve for 17 years, the Army has calculated a lifetime savings of Rs 11.5 crore per person, as compared to a three-year service.
Saying that it will help to “channelise the youth energy into positive utilisation of their potential”, the note adds that “rigorous military training and habits inculcated will lead to healthy citizenry”.
The news agency PTI quoted top military sources as saying the Army is also considering inducting personnel from the paramilitary forces and central armed police forces for a short duration of up to seven years following which they would be allowed to return to their parent organisations.
The proposed scheme will be on a trial basis with limited vacancies and if found successful the Army will expand it further.
(Inputs from The New Indian Express, PTI)
