In the wake of recent allegations of discrimination against jawans under the sahayak system of the Army, the government on Tuesday strongly defended the system, stating that the rapport between officers and their subordinates results in the enhancement of “spirit-de-corps in a unit, which is vital during war and peace”.
“As such, this is not expected to have any adverse impact on their morale. Notwithstanding this, exhaustive instructions have been issued from time to time stressing upon the need to ensure that under no circumstances sahayaks, being combatant soldiers, are employed on menial tasks, which are not in conformity with the dignity and self-respect of a soldier,” MoS for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
Several videos of jawans have surfaced on the social media in the recent past which brought the practice of orderlies in the Army into sharp focus. When a surreptitiously recorded video of a jawan complaining about menial jobs he was forced to do as a sahayak emerged in public, the soldier committed suicide.
Defined duties
Dr. Bhamre said a sahayak has clearly defined military duties and forms an integral part of the organisation structure of a unit and has specific functions during war and peace.
Stating that a sahayak, in addition to his normal soldier’s tasks, provides essential support to officers and Junior Commissioned Officers both in peace and war, Dr. Bhamre said, “The buddy provides an alternate contact with the troops, whereby the officer is made aware of grass root issues, albeit via informal means.”
