No ‘sahayaks’ at beck and call of retd generals, orders army chief

NEW DELHI: Army chief General Bipin Singh Rawat has ordered that no assistants (sahayaks) be placed at the disposal of retired generals and that soldiers not be allowed to stay in coveted stations such as New Delhi or other big cities for a period exceeding their tenure as part of his efforts to reform certain aspects of the army’s policies and behaviour that seem to be driven by legacy rather than logic, according to people famil- iar with the matter.

According to these people, who asked not to be identified, both the decisions are in keeping with Gen Rawat’s focus since he took over his first command (a Gorkha battalion): “Are we prepared for war?”

They added t hat Rawat believes that soldiers are meant to fight and serve at the front, not help retired army generals with canteen duties or caddying them around golf courses.

According to people familiar with the matter in the defence ministry, this has stirred things up with the former armymen taking up the matter with the defence minister; that hasn’t changed anything, though. Army Headquarters has made it known that commanding officers will be held responsible in case jawans belonging to their units are found at the disposal of retired generals.

On the second issue, the Army chief shifted out his personal drivers, who had completed six years in Army House, to other stations, the people familiar with the matter said.