Grievance redressal mechanism exists in armed forces: Def Min

With some instances of security personnel using social media to focus on their grievances, Government on Tuesday said it is not desirable that armed force personnel indulge in such acts as mechanisms to raise such issues already exist within the system.

Replying to questions in Rajya Sabha, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, while highlighting improvements made towards dietary and clothing needs of jawans, said under the Army Act, there was a system of grievance redressal which should be followed.

In case of a problem, the Chief of Army Staff has also been provided with a mechanism of redressal and even the Defence Minister could be approached and Grievance Boxes have also been placed at various places, he said.

Complaints should come through proper channel and "we will redress it," Parrikar said.

During the Question Hour, members raised the issue of a BSF jawan who had complained of diet in a social media post.

One of the members asked Parrikar that though BSF fell under the Home Ministry, how would he view if Army jawans too aired their problems through the social media.

Parrikar also said that the government has improved the dietary provisions for soldiers and there has been increase in the scale of meat, chicken for JCOs and authorisation of chilled, frozen meat as basic ration.