Army mulling over offering ordinary citizens chance to enlist for Tour of Duty

The Indian Army is considering offering ordinary citizens a chance at an internship of sorts. The proposal that is still in its initial stages of discussion entails a three year ‘Tour of Duty’ reported the Indian Express.

Criteria for selection will not be relaxed and all aspirants must confirm to the strict and high standards demanded for all those who intend to join the force. The reason behind the proposal is sited as giving patriotic, but unemployed youth, the opportunity to serve the nation.

The Indian Express quoted a note by the Army saying, “The proposal is a shift from the concept of permanent service/job in the Armed Forces, towards ‘internship’/temporary experience for three years. Unemployment in our country is a reality, however there is resurgence of nationalism and patriotism.”

There is also another cost saving benefit to the move. Ordinarily, when officers from the Short Service Commission (SSC) they are in their mid-thirties. They expenditure in terms of pre-commission training, pay, allowances, gratuity, leave encashment etc. comes to over Rs 5 crores per officer. But the corresponding cost for a three-year stint would reportedly be as little as Rs 80-85 lakh per person.

For the financial year 2020-21, defence budget allocation stands at Rs 3.37 lakh crore. This includes Rs 1.33 lakh crore as allocation for pensions.

Meanwhile Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat told reporters that the option was in very nascent stages of discussion and that its viability needed detailed study. He also said that ideas were being explored to make the SSC more lucrative for officers.  

Will trolls walk the talk?

Meanwhile, the ToD proposal has generated quite the buzz. Several ‘patriots’ and keyboard warriors who act as minions for a proto-fascist regime often use ‘border pe jawaan’ as a counter argument to any voices of dissent.  

Meanwile, Twitter, a social media platform that has become a virtual cesspool of hate, trolling and negativity, lit up while discussing the new proposal. While many supported the initiative, very few actually declared that they would sign up.