Following a spate of complaints by jawans against officers alleging ill-treatment, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat’s office on Friday launched an app-based helpline 9643300008. It enables the personnel regardless of their rank to approach directly the Chief. This measure comes after Rawat had announced a fortnight back setting up of complaint boxes in the Army Headquarters and Command centres all over the country wherein the aggrieved could write directly to him.
He had also assured that the identity of the complainant will be kept a secret to avoid harassment by seniors during the probe. The complaint box and help line comes at a time when some soldiers took to social media in the last few weeks complaining against senior officers and alleged ill-treatment. They also questioned the system of ‘sahayaks’ and complained that combatants were forced to perform menial tasks.
While defending the ‘sahayak’ or buddy system, the Army Chief, however, said the force had sent a proposal to the Government to do away with this system in peace stations and static formations. The Defence Ministry will soon take a view on it, sources said here on Friday. There are approximately 25,000 ‘sahayaks’ at present.
Rawat warned personnel to refrain from taking to social media bypassing the established channels of communication for redressal of grievances and said such an action could invite punishment. He also said social media is a twin-edged which could be useful at times and detrimental too.
Refuting reports that soldiers were resorting to social media as their grievances were not addressed, he said channels of communication were robust. He also said efforts were on to ensure that lower ranks have faith in senior leadership for resolving their issues.