“The Indian Army should not be looked upon as a job provider organisation,” Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat said on Thursday, 13 December, in Pune while addressing a gathering of soldiers and officers who were disabled in the line of duty.
General Rawat warned personnel who feign illness or disability in order to avoid duty or get benefits and assured all help to former and serving soldiers who have actually suffered disability in the line of duty.
"Aksar dekha gaya hai ki log Bharatiya Sena ko ek employment ka jariya manate hai, naukari hasil karane ka jariya (It is often seen that people feel the Army is a means of employment, a means to get a job)," Gen Rawat said.
"I want to warn you, remove this misconception from your minds. The Army is not a means of employment. If you want to join the Army, you have to show physical and mental toughness. You should have the ability to face difficulties," he said.
"It is often seen that people feel the Army is a means of employment, a means to get a job,” said Rawat, while warning personnel who feign illness or disability in order to avoid duty or get benefits.
“I am warning those who feign disability to earn extra money, will soon face action from the army headquarters that they will not like. Disability should not become a reason to avoid operational duty at the cost of lives of officers who continue to perform the duty till the last breath.”Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Chief
The gathering also saw dance and musical performances by the disabled soldiers.
Following the performance, Gen Rawat also assured that help would be provided to former and serving soldiers who have actually suffered disability in the line of duty and added that personnel who characterised “blood pressure, diabetes and hypertension” as disabilities should be shamed of themselves while looking at the “inspiring disabled personnel’ present during the event.
The army chief also announced that the army is at the verge of completing “Year of Disabled Soldier in the Line of Duty” initiative that will look at collecting data of disabled soldiers across India.
(With inputs from PTI and The Indian Express)
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