Harsha Kakar
Recent incidents of violence in Haryana and J and K clearly showcased the lack of training and capability of the police. They were at the receiving end of public violence. This is not the first time that such a weakness was witnessed. It is the same story in every State. States possesses sufficient police forces to deal with law and order, as per their requirement. However, paucity of funds restricts them from being trained to the desired level. Similarly, their physical fitness and discipline is also questionable.
Veterans who retire from the military, do so at an early age. In most cases between 35 to 40. They are at the peak of physical fitness and imbibed with discipline and national fervour. In addition, they face a difficult situation as maximum responsibility falls on an individual at this age. Responsibilities include growing children and aging parents. To manage these responsibilities, the individual only has his pension and almost no opportunity in the civil street. While the nation considers him a hero and a saviour of the nation, while in service, however discards him, when he completes his basic colour service.
Vacancies for the military are based on state quotas, therefore, the same State from where he joined would get his vacancy when he retires. States have some reservations for veterans, however, these are based on SC/ST/OBC quotas. This compels the veteran to obtain caste details, an action which defeats the very bonding which he had collated through his service. The military does not cater to caste or creed. Everyone is considered equal and sit, eat and live together.This policy results in most vacancies being moved elsewhere.
The corporate, which showers praise on him while he stands guard at Siachen or battles militants in J and K or the North East, considers him only suitable for a security job. He is skilled, with years of experience in his particular trade, however, does not possess the requisite civil certificates necessary to prove his qualification. Further, he is neither street smart nor possesses soft skills or basic English. Thus he is ignored when compared to civilian counterparts, who are much younger. His discipline and dedication, which earned him laurels while in service are considered his weakness as this is termed as lack of initiative in the corporate.
The Central Government also has vacancies earmarked for veterans. Again, the vacancies are ignored and reallocated as there is no serious monitoring. Departments and Ministries are free to ignore the guidelines at will. Surprisingly, the Central Police Forces recruit from across the country and train them at great cost in all their training academies. Their aim is to imbibe in them some level of military abilities. If the Central Government was to fully utilize the quotas allocated for veterans in judicious manner, almost fifty percent of retirees would be absorbed.
Therefore, a trained and valuable natural resource, is ignored and left to fend for itself whereas, it can boost the resources of the State and Centre. Inducting them at State levels in the police, jail and even teaching appointments in remote government schools, the state would employ a resource which is dependable, trustworthy and disciplined. It would not need to put them through a complete training schedule, but a reorientation course, only enabling them to understand the change in duties and responsibilities. This would also benefit the veterans as they could be employed close to their homes.
The Centre could also consider increasing their employment in the Central Police Forces, with the same benefits as States. The individual’s attitude would not change easily, as he has been imbibed with certain qualities during his service. This could help the Centre reduce training costs, while simultaneously inculcating military culture in these organizations, which would only be a benefit. Pure ex -military central police organizations could be employed in a multitude of tasks, in difficult or inhospitable terrain. Such a force would be ideal for anti-naxal tasks.
The only way by which the departments and Ministries are compelled to follow Government directions is if there is a Central Monitoring Department. The ideal method should be an office under the Parliamentary committee of defence seeking regular updates on the state of recruitment of veterans. However, this can only happen, if the Central Government is serious on veteran welfare.
The present Government initiative of Skill India is on the road to gain as it has realized the value of veterans. A pilot project is underway, where veterans are being inducted as trainers to train those seeking skill certification. This initiative would benefit both sides, as the veteran could be employed close to his place of residence as also his local language would benefit him, while for the skill initiative, trained instructors are readily available. Those found capable would also be absorbed to assess the level of skills imbibed at the end of the training cycle.
The corporate, which has the maximum vacancies to absorb the veteran needs to consider that it is losing out a trained resource. By absorbing veterans, it would in addition to doing the saviours of the nation a service, would themselves gain as the individuals carry with them the very culture which they seek to imbibe in their employees. Leadership and management flowed from the military to the civil and every individual it employs carries it as part of his life.
The nation is aware that even during the peak of the OROP agitation, there was no violence, no criticizing the Government, no road block, but only quiet protests with cries of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. The agitation was more disciplined than the Indian Parliament and a lesson for our elected representatives. As a nation, in thought to the saviours of the nation, with Kargil Diwas day around the corner, let us accept that supporting our veterans, who sacrifice their youth for our security, post their retirement is our bounded responsibility.
(The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army)
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