Boom tempts Indians away from the barracks

Vijay Bahadur Singh’s lifestyle has changed dramatically since he quit Indian Air Force (IAF) two years ago and joined Jet Airways, the country’s biggest private airline.
The 36-year-old former fighter pilot now earns over Rs250,000 a month — six times his IAF salary. “I am happy with myself”, says Singh who can now afford all the luxuries of life: an air-conditioned sprawling 12th floor apartment in Delhi, an expensive car, plasma TV, club membership and family holidays abroad.
Singh is no exception. Officers and men are deserting the Indian armed forces in droves.
The 1.12 million strong Indian Army is short of 11,238 officers against a sanctioned strength of 46,615 officers: a staggering 25 per cent shortage.
Since 2003, as many as 2,664 army officers have sought early retirement. Among them 1,496 were allowed to go. In the IAF, only 50 per cent of officers who put in their papers were discharged. But in the navy, 637 out of 807 who sought voluntary retirement were permitted to leave for greener pastures.
Despite several directives, the government has done nothing to bring many services on a par in salaries, allowances and perks.
One example is that an air force fighter pilot earns about one-third of what an Indian Airlines pilot is paid.
IAF pilots are in great demand as private airlines mushroom in the country. And navy officers have equally attractive options to choose from.
Former army chief, General Shankar Roychowdhury, says that the government’s step-motherly treatment is driving military officers into the arms of the private sector.
15/10/07 S.N.M. Abdi (KOLKATA CALLING)/Khaleej Times, United Arab Emirates