Economy, waning joint families causing officers shortage in Army

New Delhi, Aug 20 (UNI) The government today admitted that liberalisation of the Indian economy and disintegration of the joint family system had led to a shortage of 16,000 officers in the Armed Forces besides a growing tendency among the serving officers to seek early retirement.

Replying to a barrage of queries during the Question Hour, Defence Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha that it was difficult to retain officers in the armed forces as private companies were ready to pay ten times more money to them, particularly to Air Force pilots.

He hoped that the Sixth Pay Commission, looking into salary structure of officers, would come out with a good package which could ultimately render service in the defence forces as an attrative option.

However, the Centre wants to resolve the issue of breaking of joint families which has resulted in nuclear families with heightened social and economic pressure on officers, with the help of state governments. The States should should take care of some of social and other requirements of officers' families, thereby helping them stay in the armed forces, Mr Antony said.

Earlier, Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju said they were looking into the psychological reasons behind indisciplinary acts and the level of violence among soldiers and were taking steps to rectify them.

UNI