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1999 declared Year of the Jawan

To mark the 50th anniversary of the 'Indianisation' of the army, 1999 will be observed as the Year of the Jawan, army chief General Ved Prakash Malik has announced.

It was on January 15, 1949 that Gen (later Field Marshal) K M Cariappa took over as commander-in-chief from Sir F R R Bucher.

Special emphasis would be given during the year on programmes of wide-ranging improvement, from training to personal amenities for jawans, Gen Malik said in an interview to the Asia Defence News International.

The army chief said in-service and post-service educational opportunities for the jawans would be improved upon so that they can find jobs on retiring from service.

During 1999, more married accommodation would be provided for junior commissioned officers and other ranks. The existing facilities would be improved upon and the living environment spruced up.

Problems related to separated families and personal issues would be handled expeditiously so that the jawans in the forward and insurgency-infested areas is assured that his family is well cared for.

''The cutting edge of an army has been, and shall remain, the rank and file, the jawans and junior leadership. It is the jawan and the junior leadership who decide the place and esteem of the army in the eyes of our countrymen. What we need to do is see that the jawan joins happily, serves happily, lives happily and remains our ambassador for life,'' General Malik said.

UNI

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