Corruption in Indian Army

India Army has always held a great respect in the heart of all Indians and it is a proud moment for any Indian to serve in Indian Army. However, recently few things come to light which highlighted how corruption has found inroads in to Indian Army. Today, Indian Army, which was once believed as one of the most corruption free organisation in India is becoming the victim of few top level corrupt army officers.

Some of these facts become public when Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) presented report related to wide spread corruption in Indian Army. According to one report, Army is purchasing faulty boots for shoulders defending India in the acute heights of Siachen and Sikkim. Army is purchasing faulty boots since 2002 from an Italian firm which fails to work after -15 degree Celsius, where as maximum fail in temperature reported on these heights in -50 degree Celsius.
Army has already rejected these boots since 2005; however, in last three year our Army headquarters has failed in changing these boots and providing more improved version of boots to our soldiers. Army is still giving the order to same firm despite it is providing faulty boots to army again and again. This CAG report has also blamed this corruption for the death of 328 army soldiers in Siachen.

This is for first time when CAG has also put confirmation on the increasing corruption in Army and how few top officials in army are betraying our soldiers defending nation’s frontiers. In one report, it is also found that one brigadier of Indian army was sending water in the place of petrol to soldiers based at Siachen. Only three year back, J&K police unearth this plot and registered case in this regard.

Recent revelations by Indian Army Chief have opened up a can of worms and skeletons will fall out of cupboards in times to come. However, I feel that the Army Chief has erred on this occasion. Instead of reporting the matter to the Ministry of Defence, the Army Chief should have dealt with the retired Lt General by using his resources and laying a trap for him and catching him red handed in the presence of Army intelligence agencies.

A leader acts. He does not report to superiors to punish an erring person. The Army Chief has played safe. In doing so , he has displayed lack of leadership qualities.

Moreover, Ministry of Defence (MOD) also needs to be blamed for being ignorant/ poor monitoring of corrupt practices prevalent in the Army over the years.The case is now with CBI. The culprits must be taken to task and exemplary punishments should be given to all serving /retired officers found guilty.

These revelations are really very shocking and points toward, how corruption is killing our brave soldier, who are supposed to kill enemies. Already, Indian army is finding difficulty in getting right candidates for serving it and if this increasing corruption is not controlled then this trend can increase further.