The Hindu : National : Antony: priority for soldiers’ welfare

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Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007
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Antony: priority for soldiers’ welfare

Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI: With 70 suicides by soldiers this year and about 500 armed forces personnel having killed themselves in the past five years, Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Tuesday said the Government’s top priority would be reducing the stress on soldiers.

Addressing troops on the eve of Independence Day, the Minister said, “The urgent need of the hour is to take all possible steps to reduce stress on jawans. I want to urge the officers and commanders to emphasise the humanitarian side through a more humane man management. Senior officers must provide more opportunities for enhanced interaction with junior officers. The officers and commanders must become more accessible to jawans.” Mr. Antony said he would step up his interaction with troops in forward locations to ease their hardship.

The supply of rice and pulses would be increased. He has also directed the Army to consult the Tea Board and provide better quality of tea leaves to jawans.

Promotions for women

PTI reports:

Pledging to improve the status of women, Mr. Antony said women officers would now be eligible for promotion to the rank of Captain, Major and Lieutenant Colonel on a par with male short service commissioned officers.

They would now be eligible to attain the rank of Captain after two years, Major after six years and Lt. Colonel after 13 years. The tenure of training of women officers had been raised to 49 weeks, almost equivalent in term to their male counterparts.

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