Political Diary
New Delhi , 21 June
2022
Selling Change
IT’S TIME HAS COME
By Poonam I Kaushish
Change is the only constant in life. This
adage encapsulates the path breaking and ambitious Agnipath scheme in armed
forces recruitment of youths between 171/2 to 23 years only for four years with
a provision to retain 25% for 15 more years alongside 10% reservation in
paramilitary, coast guard, defence jobs, priority hiring of decommissioned agniveers in railways and other
ministries and education and financial support on 14 June.
Predictably, the
scheme has polorised the country with violence breaking out in some States vandalising railway stations, setting trains
on fire, blocking roads and railway tracks. Adding fuel, trust Opposition
Parties to fan the flames by stating it would hurt the forces combat capacity,
is just another short-term contract shorn of the security of a permanent job
and pension.
Certainly the violence is unjustifiable and
cannot be treated with kid gloves. At the same time it underscores the
unemployment crisis which is deepening. Also true States were caught unprepared
and did not anticipate the level of resentment. Perhaps the Administration
should have done more groundwork, thought-through the scheme keeping in mind
the jobless numbers and taken Parties and States into confidence.
But it also showcases the scale of challenge
in initiating reforms. Pertinently, those critical of Agnipath are groups that
benefit from status-quo and are not considering our armed forces past
experience. Till 1977 soldiers were enlisted for only 7 years which was later
changed to 17. So all major wars --- China 1962, Pakistan 1965 and 1971 were fought
and won by soldiers on 7-years duty.
In fact many think protests are due not only to
short tenure but also Agnipath is sans lifetime pension and medical cover.
Think, a military which employs less than 0.5% workforce has a ballooning
pension. It pension spend has increased from 19% of total defence expenses in
2010-11 to 26% in 2020-21 thereby squeezing out expenses on armaments. Thus
making pension reform a no-brainer.
Worldwide militaries are being modernized by
demobilizing officers like in US which enrolls personnel for four years,
followed by a four-year reserve duty period where they can be recalled in case
the need arises, in China service for conscripts is three years in Army and
four years in Navy and Air Force. For
volunteers it is 8 and no more than 12 years. Russia has one year then they are
put into reserve. In France volunteers can sign a one-year contract, extended
to 5 years. Israel has compulsory military service for 30 months.
However there is no gainsaying the reforms
are transformational as it would harness
and leverage technology along-with science thereby making the forces technological savvy which
is essential as India's
security canvas is vast, complex and multifaceted. Our active borders and
equally challenging internal security threats requires a very high level of
operational preparedness, capability
development, lower the average age of the fighting corp, boost youthful energy and
puts a lid on the burgeoning pension bill.
Undoubtedly technology would enable defence
forces to counter military threats and to overcome any advantages that
adversaries might seek, helps to counter intelligence capabilities necessary to
assess dangers the nation faces and special threats such as terrorism which
cannot be met by conventional war fighting forces.
Importantly it also expands military options
available to policy makers, including options other than warfare in pursuing
the objectives of promoting stability and preventing conflict across a wide
range of environments, helps reduce acquisition costs, nurture healthy
technology infrastructure to spawn innovation and industrial capacity
fundamental to India’s defence preparedness and response to evolving threats. Technology
also makes advanced military systems more affordable through their entire life
cycle.
Recall, the Air Force strike in Balakot was
enabled by satellite imaging to locate Pakistan’s launching pad. Ditto, when US
used superior technology to locate Osama bin Laden’s whereabouts in Abbotabad
Pakistan and used drones to speedily nail and assassinate Iran’s security
Chief.
Such high combat readiness demands superior investment
decisions as emerging technologies are need of the hour alongside well
qualified and motivated youth given realistic training, strategic mobility,
adequate amounts of modern, well-maintained equipment and sufficient support
and sustainment capabilities.
In the long run India needs to be adept in chemical
and biological defense, electronic warfare and directed energy weapons, computing
and software, simulation and sensors, human systems interface, command, control
and communications etc which have the potential to dramatically improve all
aspects of future military capabilities and significantly reduce combat losses
in lives and equipment.
In a milieu where technologies have changed
the battlefield by facilitating better performance of current platforms,
weapons, sensors and people it is vital Opposition and aspirants keep an open
mind. They need to stop playing politics on India’s defence instead they need
to be flexible as electronics and software add capability to almost every
complex military system. Army officers have developed long-range reconnaissance
systems, technology for real-time tracking of patrols and indigenised artillery
parts.
Troops depend on accurate and timely
battlefield information. The ability to collect, integrate, analyze, and
deliver this information efficiently and rapidly is critical to battlefield
advantage. And because of the amount of tactical information available, a
principal challenge is processing the data into meaningful forms for fast battlefield
decision-making. Technology is also needed to help ensure that no enemy can
disrupt the country’s information systems.
Besides, to counter terrorists who have the advantage
of timing and choice of targets one needs
development of new technologies and
effective close day-to-day coordination with various agencies. The shortening
of military tenure places a priority on the ability of the technology and
scientific research community to identify and understand emerging threats so
that policymakers and battle commanders can rapidly develop effective responses
in a timely manner.
Asserted an army veteran, “Modern warfare needs
to monitor at long distances and track movements and stockpiling of materials. For
this one needs better sensors to detect and identify the attributes of chemical
and biological agents when released in the atmosphere or water. Accurate radars
and sensors to detect ballistic missile launch to target cruise and ballistic
missiles. One needs to maintain near perfect real-time knowledge of the enemy
and communicate that to all forces in near-real time.
Added a security analyst in modern warfare,
“In the coming years as a result of global technology explosion, a country faces
both threats and opportunities --- threats resulting from the worldwide
proliferation of information processing and communications technologies and
opportunities from rapid advances in other technologies in the commercial
marketplace.
Consequently, well-planned technology in space,
cyber, electronic, AI technologies and science investments serve as force
multipliers which will position a country to provide timely, comprehensive, and
detailed intelligence support to its military whereby the performance of
weapons platforms like tanks, artillery guns, aircrafts will be speedier and help
military commanders to make accurate decisions.
The way forward lies in discussion and mutual
consensus with all stakeholders. Tell all, Agnipath is not a short-term
contract but a way to modernize India’s armed forces. The Government needs to
take on board suggestions like raising length of service of Agniveers to 5 years. Implementation
will be a long haul and the Administration will need to step-up to the
challenge with sensitivity to build trust. Remember, sweat saves blood, blood
saves lives but brains and technology save both! ----- INFA
(Copyright, India
News & Feature Alliance)
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