The recent announcement by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to refuse medical support to Short Service Commission (SSC) officers is the latest in the line of confusing actions being undertaken by the government. The reason given by the department of ex-servicemen welfare, under whom the ECHS operates, is that since they are not pensioners, they are ineligible for the scheme. It further stated that providing such support would stress existing resources. SSC officers presently serve up to 14 years and form the support cadre the army desperately needs.

This decision comes even as the government is pushing the armed forces medical branch to open its hospitals for those registered under the Ayushman Bharat Yojna, also termed ‘Modicare’. It is surprising that medical resources of the armed forces can be compelled to absorb millions registered under this scheme but cannot provide services to those who wore the uniform and gave the best years of their life to the service of the nation. An irony of this nature can only flow from an unconcerned MoD.

The MoD has become notorious for operating in isolation, ignoring realities and working against the interests of the armed forces. In the case of the SSC, the army in its ongoing cadre review, is seeking to enhance the support cadre of whom the SSC is a major part and reduce its permanent cadre. This would enhance promotion avenues for the main cadre as also reduce the pension bill.

The SSC would be released prior to arriving at pensionable service with other benefits including lumpsum payments and study leave, thus enabling them to resettle in a second career. One major support would be medical cover through life which could be an attraction. Removing this arbitrarily without even consulting service HQs and offsetting the complete cadre review exercise even before it is completed indicates the lop-sided thinking process of the branches within the MoD.

Earlier they took it upon themselves to challenge every disability decision given in favour of veterans by the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) in the apex court, despite being warned and fined. Presently there are 7,000 appeals pending before the apex court on judgements of the AFT. The anger within the nation on this anti-soldier approach appears to matter little to the bureaucracy.

The government seeks to change rules under which the Tribunal was created and appoint retired bureaucrats as administrative officers; this would impact its performance as they lack knowledge of military service conditions. This is being contested in the apex court. This has made the AFTs almost redundant as appointment of judicial and administrative members in line with retirements is not being done. AFTs are presently functioning on 40 per cent of their strength and by May next year would have become non-functional. The MoD has not acted against this move.

The arrogance within the bureaucratic system of the MoD was also evident when their own spokesperson insulted a veteran naval chief on social media employing the official twitter handle of the MoD. It was a stark reality of the MoD viewing the armed forces with utter contempt.

In an earlier case it attempted to push unwanted Armed Forces HQ cadre staff, a Group B service, into various branches of service HQs, ignoring military views. It had already done their cadre review without taking the military into confidence. Ironically, they were created to support the military.

The ministry attempted to upgrade their equivalence with military ranks. They were compelled to reconsider when the defence secretary was told by the army chief that equivalence with the army also implied equivalence with the IAS, as a Maj Gen is equivalent to a Joint Secretary. Thus, they were equating a Group B service with a Group A service. This has since been held in abeyance.

The government’s arrogance is also evident when it employs a battery of lawyers including top government functionaries to deny the armed forces Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU). The case has been lingering for some time as the government seeks adjournments for projecting new arguments, but none flow.

While on every occasion it has worked against service HQs, however, in the present case of denying medical benefits to SSC officers, it has pushed thwarted all efforts of the army in its forthcoming cadre review. Aspects concerning the cadre review have been regularly covered by the press as also the staff in the MoD has been briefed on its progress. Denying knowledge of the same appears illogical and senseless.

The army, presently facing a shortfall of officers, seeks to enhance its support cadre, opening promotional prospects for its permanent cadre. One option being considered was to close graduate direct entry into permanent commission, making it only SSC with some being absorbed into the permanent cadre. Permanent entry would be open to those joining the National Defence Academy and other institutes immediately after school.

The reason why the MoD functions in this manner is its distance and non-integration with service HQs. The long-standing demand for creating a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) and posting serving military personnel into the MoD is now more than essential. Without military officers as part of the system, understanding service-specific matters and impact of unilateral decisions on the military, will not be comprehended.

The nation cannot afford to have an MoD which has no concern nor any contact with those whom it is supposed to protect and provide support to. The perception in the MoD is that it exists only to curtail the armed forces in every manner that it can, deny them all dues and delay their demands. Such a perception would be detrimental in the long term.

The staff in the MoD has failed to realize that this approach would impact military morale and impair national security.

The defence minister should directly intervene and ensure that prior to the MoD taking unilateral decisions, without understanding its long-term ramifications, it must consult service HQs for suggestions. For a nation facing multiple threats, the working together of service HQs and the ministry is most essential.

The writer is a retired Major-General of the Indian Army.