Army concedes demand of batmen for dignity

Amid a blizzard of complaints by jawans from military and paramilitary forces against a British-era practice: “buddy or sevakar system”, a circular purportedly issued by the Army has asked officers to ensure “dignity of serving soldiers”.

“Refer to social media outburst by serving soldiers and media statement issued by the COAS (Chief of Army Staff) thereto. All formations and unit are requested to ensure that dignity of serving soldiers be maintained and employment of buddies should be restricted to entitled duties with officers and JCOs (Junior Commissioned Officers) only...,” reads an instruction from a formation in Eastern Command accessed by National Herald.

The circular reads:

• Buddies not to be detailed for looking after pets
• Buddies not to look after toddlers/children
• Buddies not to be detailed for washing private vehicles of officers/JCOs

Seeking “strict compliance”, the circular signed by a Lt Colonel enjoins units and officers to follow the instructions and sensitise officers and JCOs about it.

“It’ll be ensured that buddies are not detailed for any other menial jobs and are treated with utmost dignity,” the instruction reads, making it clear that “buddies would not be detailed for looking after pets and they would also not be used for looking after toddlers or children of superiors besides washing private cars of the officers and JCOs.”

Significantly, Lance Naik Yagya Pratap Singh posted at Dehradun had earlier released a video, accusing his officers of harassment following his complaint to the Prime Minister and President about ‘exploitation of Army jawans’.

It was followed by a couple of videos on social media which showed jawans washing the cars of their officers and doing several other menial jobs as domestic helps.

Reacting to the instructions, however, several ex-servicemen described it as a face-saving exercise after the outcry of serving jawans. “What is required is not just instructions on paper—but a robust mechanism to hold the erring officers, who undermine the dignity of combat soldiers, accountable. Most importantly, the sevakaar system (buddy system) needs to be scrapped.”

Even though, jawans of paramilitary forces such as Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Force (CRPF) and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) had also listed their grievances by sharing videos on social media—but these forces are yet to come up with such instructions. Would they also take a cue from the Army?

J&K police say protected persons will lose security in case misuse of cops

In an unrelated development, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) SP Vaid said in a order on Tuesday that protected persons and officers in J&K will lose their security cover if the policemen guarding them are made to do menial chores and deprived of basic amenities.

"It shall be ensured that no police person deployed on guard and PSO duty etc is put to menial work by the concerned protectee and officer. In case of deviation, the concerned police person shall face departmental action and facility of guard and PSO to protectee shall be withdrawn," said the DGP.

Complaints have been made by different quarters that policemen on security duty for protection of political persons and officers are often used for household chores, including cooking.

The DGP has also directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSPs) and Commandants to take up the matter of basic amenities for policemen on security duty with authorities and protected persons. If the protected persons fail to make such amenities available to them, withdrawal of guards shall be considered.

It has been reported that basic amenities like washrooms, toilets and proper accommodations are not made available by the borrowing agencies, departments, officers and protected persons to police guards, the order noted.