Compensations to soldiers for the vagaries of service life have always been a complex issue. The Union cabinet seems to have concluded that more ‘leave travel concessions’ to soldiers would compensate for the hazards of serving in distant places in life-threatening conditions. Thus, free travel to the soldier’s home stations twice a year instead of once and removing the absurd restriction of 1420 km should be a boon to the jawan serving at places that are agonisingly far from home. The government statement denotes it is a measure that will “help in alleviating stress but also keep the morale of the Defence personnel­... high.”

This concern for the morale of the Armed Forces is obviously based on the increased incidents of ‘fragging’ and suicides in the past few years. Clubbed with the ‘Kargil allowance’ — enhanced compensations to troops serving in the higher of the high altitudes between 14,000 and 19,000 feet — an attempt is being made for an interim recompense to the military before submissions by the Sixth Pay Commission. Recommendations for these compensations had been made by the Armed Forces many years ago. However, the absence of a mechanism other than the Pay Commission for the consideration of such proposals has subjected them to bureaucratic inertia.

The critical mass attained by incidents of fragging has perhaps acted as a tipping point for action. However, given the euphoria accompanying these marginal measures, the larger question surrounding the proclivity of soldiers towards suicide and fratricide may remain unaddressed. Fragging is far too complex an issue to be linked to monetary sops. While the trigger for such incidents could be public rebukes by seniors or consistently rude and abusive behaviour, the malaise may have deeper roots in increased levels of dehumanisation. In an environment where killing a terrorist is regarded as an act of valour and is justified by a sense of righteousness, the inclination to assault one’s own superior who is perceived to be in the wrong is not difficult to understand. Under the circumstances, increased facilities for leave and recreation are merely peripheral compensations.

... contd.