Tamil Nadu   

More Armymen to get high altitude allowances

Special Correspondent

Those serving in Jammu and Kashmir, North-East stand to benefit

WELL DONE: Vice-Chief of Army Staff Gen. S. Pattabhiraman congratulating a topper at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai on Saturday. — Photo : M. Vedhan

CHENNAI: The Army has done a serious rethink on its high altitude allowances. The result: more personnel serving in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-East stand to gain allowances "similar" to those given to those serving on the Siachen Glacier.

There are three or four categories of such allowances and the government is in the process of approving similar allowances for people encountering similar discomfort in the North-East and Jammu and Kashmir," Vice-Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. S. Pattabhiraman told reporters at the Officers Training Academy here.

He was here to review the passing out parade at the Academy.

(Though the mountains manned by the Army in the North East are at a much lower altitude than the glacier or peaks in the rest of Kashmir, the discomfort is comparable with that of the high altitudes in Kashmir because the tree line in most parts of the North East is lower than what exists in Kashmir. Trees in high altitudes allow freer breathing. Though some posts manned by Army personnel attached to the 28 Division are comparable with the heights manned by the 8 Division that takes care of the Glacier, the allowances and facilities vary).

Asked about the recent instance of a soldier shooting his officer, Gen. Pattabhiraman said: "... These incidents do happen... I would like to assure you that these cases are very, very rare. We take suitable action immediately."

Asked if the deployment of regular soldiers in Rashtriya Rifles battalions was responsible for such incidents, he said this was not the case. "The only difference from the regular Army is that these units have a mix of predominantly infantry and supporting arms... they are all well trained and there is no difference between the Rashtriya Rifles and the regular Army."

On the Academy's expansion plans, he said it was "high on the priority list" of the Army and was being done. "It will get accelerated... in fact the major budgeting work [for the expansion plans] was done only two years ago. Now there is nothing to look back... The [cadets'] mess has just been commissioned. One of the [buildings for] cadets' accommodation has been commissioned." The General said in view of the shortage of officers in the Army, the intake in both the Indian Military Academy and the Officers Training Academy — the two institutions that train and induct officers into the Army — had to be increased.

Gen. Pattabhiraman thanked the Tamil Nadu Government for "keeping the Academy as a high priority" item on its agenda. "Whatever the Commandant has wanted from the Administration, whatever the Area Headquarters has wanted from the Administration, I think it has been more than forthcoming."

Earlier, welcoming young officers to a "challenging, exciting" and "very satisfying life" in the Army, he said officers of the Indian Army "command the best soldiers in the world." "We want more such young men and women to join the Army," he said and added that he was elated by "the tremendous response" of the parents and former officers.

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