Double delight for Army jawans

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 26

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has sorted out two long-standing issues impacting promotions of jawans and status of junior commissioned officers (JCO’s) in the Army.

The ministry, on Wednesday, issued an order allowing the career progression scheme for jawans to be applicable from January 1, 2006, and not September 1, 2008. Under the modified assured career-progression scheme, a sepoy gets promoted as Naik after eight years of service; as Havildar after 16 years of service and Naib Subedar after 24 years of service.

This will mean faster promotions for those who were eligible as on that date. The move will also enhance pension for the beneficiaries. In another important step, the MoD has withdrawn its letter that did not permit “gazetted officer” status to JCOs.

There are around 64,000 personnel of the JCO or equivalent rank in the Air Force and the Navy. They are promoted from among the jawans and hold an important position in each battalion of the Army.

The MoD, in order last week, has withdrawn its letter dated June 14 that considered an Army headquarters request on the grant of status to JCO and non-productivity-linked bonus. It said, “There does not appear any specific order establishing the status of JCOs.” The same has now been withdrawn.