Army asked to devise mechanism to address jawans' grievances: Parrikar

Recently a soldier had complained of discrimination on the social media under the army's sahayak system.

With jawans taking to social media to vent out their ire at their superiors, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said the army has been asked put in place a mechanism to address grievances of soldiers.

Recently a soldier had complained of discrimination on the social media under the army's sahayak system. The sahayak is a colonial practice under which jawans are assigned to officers to assist them in their personal tasks. A CRPF constable had complained about being made to mop floors and walk and clean the dogs of officers.

In February, Lance Naik Roy Mathew was found hanging dead after which his family complained of him being harassed.

[Jawan who exposed rot in 'sahayak system' found dead]

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Mathew's suicide, Parrikar said that the matter is being investigated.

"Police is investigating the issue independently," he said.

According to reports, the army has proposed raising a new cadre of non-combatant assistants to help officers with their routine personal administration in peace stations.

OneIndia News