By Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi
President War Wounded Foundation
(Compiled for the Consideration of the COAS)
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Introduction
.1. Wars and warlike situations invariably result in casualties to military personnel. Broadly, these are of two types – ‘killed in action’ and ‘wounded in action’. The latter category is again sub-divided into two. Some wounded personnel return for duty after medical treatment and recuperation. Others, whose injuries are of a more severe nature, become permanently disabled. After protracted treatment and fitting of prostheses, where needed, their disability is assessed by a medical board, in percentage terms. Those, whose disability is assessed as 20 per cent or more, fall in the category of ‘war disabled’.
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2. The current policy applicable to the ‘war disabled’ is that the army retains them in service till their superannuation and posts them to what are called ‘sheltered’ appointments. They are eligible for promotion, provided they compete with their peers and are found suitable, but they do not get any concessions on account of their disability. Those who do not wish to be retained in service are boarded out and are eligible for war injury pension, in accordance with their percentage of disability, rank and years of service.
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3. Unlike gallantry award winners and the widows of martyrs, for whom up to date records are maintained, no detailed records are maintained either at the level of formations including Army Headquarters or the regimental centres for the ‘war disabled’. Consequently, no one really knows how many ‘war disabled’ personnel actually exist, how many are still serving, how many have been boarded out and how many are still alive. The result is that they tend to be generally forgotten and are usually left out of consideration when concessions/grants or awards are made. As an example, during many military and non-military functions, the war widows and gallantry award winners are provided places of honour but no such arrangements are made for the ‘war disabled’.
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4. There are two NGO’S (Non Governmental Organisations) that have been formed to look after the interests of all ‘war disabled’ personnel. These are Disabled War Veterans (INDIA) or DIWAVE, that was set up in 1978 and the War Wounded Foundation that was set up in 2002. While the former concentrates on getting the best concessions from the service headquarters and the government for all ‘war disabled’ personnel, the latter concentrates on making the ‘war disabled’ personnel financially independent by providing them opportunities and skills to supplement their war injury pension. Both organisations are registered as Charitable Societies. They do not get any funds from the Government. Both organisations depend on voluntary donations for their work.
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5. Despite the efforts of these two organisations, no real headway has been made to improve the lot of the ‘war disabled’ and bring them, as a group, to the attention of the nation.
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Importance of War Disabled Personnel
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7. The difference between ‘war disabled’ and disabled due to other reasons needs to be fully understood. When soldiers and officers go into battle, they know they may be wounded, get disabled or get killed. Yet, they carry out their duty. It is thus a conscious decision taken by all military personnel. In the case of non-war casualties, injuries may be incurred on account of accidents or medical problems, which are neither foreseen nor planned. This distinction is important and needs to be maintained. Otherwise, future officers and men would think twice before risking their lives and limbs in the service of the nation?
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8. Soldiers sacrifice their lives & limbs for many reasons, like national pride, pride in the regiment and unit, high level of motivation, courage and above all the understanding that the nation will look after their next of kin (NOK), if they meet their death on the battlefield or get disabled. It also needs to be highlighted that those personnel who get disabled in action have the added responsibility of not only looking after themselves for the rest of their lives, but also their wives, children and other NOK. Most ‘war disabled’ personnel are young when they get disabled; therefore they have a long life ahead, for which they need all the support that a grateful nation can give.
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9. The plight of the disabled and their families is no less than the NOK who have lost their husband or son – their bread-winner and their security. The disabled personnel who have lost their limbs or other vital organs may be alive, but as earning heads of a household they are akin to the soldiers who have died on the battlefield. In addition, the disabled person not only has to cope with the trauma and adverse psychological impact of losing parts of his body, but his physical capacity to earn is permanently impaired, in fact substantially reduced. Yet, financial compensation for them is meager indeed and their NOK do not get any other facility, like a house, or a job for a member of their family.
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10. After the Kargil War, financial compensation for the NOK of the martyrs was increased substantially, but the disabled continue to receive a pittance. In addition, soldiers who are retained in service or those who were disabled before the Kargil War are given nothing. This differentiation is purely a meaningless bureaucratic formulation, but the damage it has done and that which would follow is colossal, as it has hurt the very psyche of the war disabled and today they are a disillusioned group. If this situation gets perpetuated on account of the apathy of the government, it will have a highly adverse effect on future intakes and on the morale of the rank and file in the military. Therefore urgent actions, at a number of levels are needed to change the prevailing perceptions.
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Important Issues to be Addressed
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11. Altitudinal Change. Change of attitude is the foremost issue. This is required by not just the government or the armed forces but by all citizens of the country. The initiative for this must come from the military and the government and within the military from the army, as nearly all ‘war disabled’ are from the army. A few specific recommendations to change the present attitudes are as under:
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Ø The COAS may formally declare the year 2010-11, as the “Year of the War Disabled”. This will signify the positive intentions of the army and will be a catalyst for commencing the process of attitudinal change.
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Ø The process can start by formally and publicly honouring the war disabled, preferably at army headquarters. An example we could well emulate is what the US Army does in this respect, suitably modified to suit our conditions and ethos. The following briefly indicates how it is being done by the US Army:
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“Pentagon Hosts the War Disabled Every Friday"
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The clapping starts as soon as the war disabled enter the corridor. Some are in wheel chairs, a few on crutches and the majority on their feet. Those needing assistance are accompanied by designated officers/soldiers. There are also a few families. In the hall, they are greeted by the senior officers, who host them for lunch.
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These are the men who are honoured. They may be broken in body, but they are comrades in arms, and are welcomed with great warmth.
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This parade has gone on, every single Friday, all year long, for more than four years.”
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Ø Taking a leaf from the US military, the ‘war disabled’ may be invited to Army Headquarters once a month/quarter/ half year, as thought fit. This visible and public action will focus attention on the ‘war disabled’, besides honouring them and making them feel important. The first such function could be arranged in July 2010 and thereafter it could perhaps be arranged every six months during the Army Commanders Conference, as a start. The Raksha Mantri, the CNS and the CAS should be invited for the first meeting and the media must be invited in full strength.
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Ø During the Year of the War Disabled, the following additional functions be organized, to keep the issue in the limelight:
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- Honouring the ‘war disabled’ at all Headquarters Command on a coordinated schedule, so that the functions are spread throughout the year.
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- During all wreath laying ceremonies conducted by formations to mark their Raising/ Battle Honour Days, Kargil Diwas and Vijay Diwas, local ‘war disabled’ personnel be specially invited , as a mark of respect/honour.
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- Southern and Western Commands could organize ‘Special Day’ to felicitate the inmates of the Paraplegic Centres at Kirkee and Mohali, on convenient dates, where local dignitaries including the Chief Ministers and other Ministers could be invited. Media should be invited in strength to cover these functions.
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- Participation of the ‘war disabled’ in the Mumbai Marathon, being held at Mumbai in Jan 2011, as a major exposure to the public. The War Wounded Foundation would work out modalities with the organisers but it would require assistance from Headquarters M G & G Area for administrative backing and from the Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) Pune and Regimental Centres located in Maharashtra and Karnataka for participation of ‘war disabled’ personnel. The War Wounded Foundation is already in touch with the organisers for preliminary discussions.
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- A ‘Military Band Concert’, dedicated to the ‘war disabled’ be organised at Delhi or Mumbai, or at both places, suitably staggered, for dignitaries as well as the common people, preferably at a large stadium, so that a large number of citizens can attend.
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12. Preparation of Data Base. The data relating to the ‘war disabled’ that is available at present is patchy and incomplete. The data with the AG‘s Branch does not have exact numbers by regiment or by different operations and very few addresses are available. The units and regimental centres do have slightly updated data, but our efforts to collect details were stymied at the staff level by demanding authorisation from the competent authority! Even the Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards do not have complete data. In my view only a major effort by the AG in concert with Arms and Corps Directorates, the regimental centre’s and the two NGO’s dealing with the ‘war disabled’ will enable us to compile this data. Without comprehensive data, neither can any planning take place nor can a dialogue be established with the ‘war disabled’ for ameliorating their problems and ensuring that all policies are received by them expeditiously.
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13. Work By NGO’s. The two NGO’s dealing with the ‘war disabled’, viz. War Wounded Foundation and DIWAVE need to be viewed as supplementing the work of the AG’s Branch and not as adversaries. It is unfortunate that the subordinate staff in the AG’s Branch views the NGO’s as irritants and competitors, who are best kept at a distance! This is an extremely wrong assumption that needs to be corrected. The NGO’s exist for the sole purpose of assisting the ‘war disabled’ and would like to work closely with the AG’s Branch, as well as the formations, regimental centers’ and units. This should be accepted so that we can move ahead jointly.
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14. Ameliorating Problems of the War Disabled. There are a large number of suggestions and points for discussion to ameliorate the problems of the ‘war disabled’. It will take too much space and time of the COAS to enumerate them here. This can best be done at a staff level meeting, to be presided by the AG, where the two NGO’s dealing with ‘war disabled’ can present points for consideration. The meeting should result in an action plan, to be implemented in a time-bound manner. Although there are no ‘war disabled’ personnel of the Navy and the Army, it would be advisable to request the representatives of the other two services as well as the Integrated Staff to participate. Thereafter, a similar meeting can be organised with the Secretary Ex Servicemen Welfare, for action on points that need to be processed at the level of the Ministry of Defence.
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Conclusion
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6. The ‘war disabled’ personnel deserve to be treated at par or nearly at par with those who lay down their lives for the nation in battle. Those who sacrifice their lives in war must be and are treated with great respect and their next of kin adequately compensated both monetarily and in terms of maximum assistance to the widows and children of the martyrs. This is being done, but the ‘war disabled’ find themselves completely left out from such considerations. This unfortunately does not send the correct message to the environment and does not inspire confidence in the Governments policies to look after the interests of those who sacrifice their limbs and vital organs on the battlefield. This situation needs to change, so that potential soldiers do not hesitate to join the armed forces in future, on account of a perception that the ‘war wounded’ are being callously ignored.15. Over the last few decades, the ‘war disabled’ as a group have been gradually fading away from the radar screens of the service headquarters as well as the government. This is despite the fact that the number of war disabled keeps increasing practically on a daily basis on account of the casualties being incurred in counter insurgency / terrorist operations. The plight of the ‘war disabled’ soldiers, especially in our rural areas needs to be appreciated and actions need to be taken to ameliorate their multifarious problems. This situation of apathy to the ‘war disabled’ must be corrected lest it leads to grave adverse repercussions in the long term. The ‘war disabled’ need to be treated akin to currently established groups like the war widows and the gallantry award winners.
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16. Such a correction is best carried out by initiatives at the highest level in the army, as most if not all the war disabled are presently from the army. A beginning could be made by declaring the year 2010 -11 as the Year of the War Disabled and a programme chalked out to ensure that it rebounds into focus.
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