Leave-and-live policy for soldiers

Considering incidents of fragging in the Army, Govt decides to take a slew of welfare steps, reports Rahul Singh.

Stressed-out soldiers can take a break. Worried about the rising number of “fragging” — soldiers killing fellow soldiers — the government on Wednesday said it would adopt a liberalised leave policy for defence personnel.

Defence Minister AK Antony told the Rajya Sabha that 23 cases of fragging were reported this year from Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast. The minister said courts of inquiry had attributed such killings to “perceived grievances due to harassment by seniors and arguments among colleagues”.

To reduce the stress levels of the personnel, units will be be deployed on a rotational basis in forward areas. The government will instruct chief ministers to take “urgent steps” to ensure the well being of families of personnel deployed in forward areas as well.