Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Dealing with stress

This refers to the editorial "The stresses of soldiering" (Nov. 17). The suicide rate of less than 10 per 100,000 in the army is not alarming per se. But when seen along with the increasing instances of fratricidal killings, it certainly is a matter of grave concern. Entry-level screening should be made more stringent. If every officer is convinced that "the honour, welfare and comfort of the men you command" precede "your own ease, comfort and safety," the trend can be reversed.

Col. C.V. Venugopalan (retd.),
Palakkad

* * *

The socio-economic environment in our country is undergoing a metamorphosis, and people's expectations have increased over the years. While a soldier is motivated to willingly make certain sacrifices, he finds it difficult to get his family to support him. This coupled with the high risk and pressure of work drive him to take his life. The solution lies in addressing the issue at all levels — from the basic unit to the army headquarters.

Lt. Col. R.V.S. Mani (retd.),
Madurai

* * *

A soldier's mind is almost always tense, especially when he is serving in strife-torn regions like Kashmir. Sentry duty at night can also create tension and there are instances of sentries shooting dead their brother soldiers in darkness.

Major K.S.S. Sarma
(NCC retd.),
Kurnool, A.P.

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