Prime Minister’s office wants Indian army to pick up garbage: Where’s your outrage now Daily O 19 Sep 17
The PMO passed directions to the defence ministry to task the army to clean up tourist spots in high altitude areas of the muck deposited by tourists over the years. In the last two years, the army has laid mats for the Yoga day celebrations, a responsibility of the state government, as also of constructing two pontoon bridges for Sri Sri Ravishankar’s mega event in the Yamuna flood plains in Delhi. In a similar manner, even before the central police forces were employed in handling the Panchkula riots or the police entered the dera in Sirsa, the army was employed.
Is this because there are no other capable organizations left in the country or because it involves no expense to the state that the army is the first responder or tasked beyond its mandate. Is it because it is the only organization which has never refused a task, completes everything given to it with dedication and sincerity and have never let the nation down. Or is it because the government is seeking to lower its prestige and standing in the public eye, by giving it tasks way below its charter and role.
Realistically the centre has immense resources under its control, but ignores them, because the armed forces are the easiest to employ. The top down approach adopted by the military ensures that tasks once passed down the chain from the top hierarchy are implemented in letter and spirit. It has always been a service which always accepts any degradation, without even a whimper. Hence it is being taken for granted.
The armed forces of the nation have a role and task. Their task is national security. They are trained to kill anti-nationals or the enemy, while in the bargain be willing to sacrifice their own lives. They are neither trained or tasked to clean muck dumped by careless visitors, whom the state has failed to brief. They are trained to lay bridges in war like situations, not for mega showcase events. They are trained to handle situations beyond the control of local security forces, not act as police outside the dera. They are trained to assist the state in handling national calamity crises, not laying mats, which any other establishment or organization can do.
Cleaning muck left behind by tourists should be the responsibility of the state government which has permitted them to visit remote areas. If the state collects the fees from the tourists and profits from their visits, then a part of the same should be spent on maintaining the region. Why task the army?
The logic being provided by the PMO and the defence minister in the latest directions of cleaning up tourist muck in remote areas, is that these are regions with no local inhabitants. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are no such areas in existence in India. Even in high altitude regions there are tourist camps, hotels and transport facilities, through which tourist’s transit. If these facilities do not exist, tourists would never venture. Along with these facilities are government offices and establishments to monitor the region. However, while the state brushes off its responsibility, the centre taps the only source it feels free to misuse, the armed forces.
Sometime ago, there was mass discussion in every form of media on the buddy system adopted by the army. It was considered by almost everyone as a demeaning task for a soldier. Cleaning muck deposited by the hundreds who visit tourist destinations in remote areas is even more demeaning that being a buddy, where you are still considered a family member. It is surprising that those who criticized the army then, are quiet when it is given demeaning tasks.
In both Sikkim and J and K, regions specifically mentioned by the defence minister, the forces deployed are the army and the ITBP. However, it is the army which has been tasked. Is it because it would never say no, simply because orders flow from the top, while others may object, since the level of discipline is not the same. Whenever such decisions are taken the soldier, who has been finally tasked, feels insulted, so do his superiors who pass these directions, but does the government care?
If the defence minister is new and unaware of the terrain where the army is tasked to perform demeaning tasks, then the right advice should have been conveyed by those that matter. Tasks which are bona-fide and within its gambit should be readily accepted, not those which are demeaning to troops and would hurt sentiments of some. The armed forces are the most disciplined and respected institution of the nation and should be tasked accordingly. The fact that it never questions, disobeys orders and performs its task to complete satisfaction, should not be taken for granted and it be misused. Those in power must understand the sentiments of the soldier on the ground and avoid giving him demeaning tasks.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army