Army chief launches whatsapp number for soldiers to post grievances

NEW DELHI:
Amidst jawans taking social media routes to raise their anger against attitude of senior officers, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has launched a whatsapp number, on which any soldier can post his/her grievances. Perturbed over series of videos being viral on social media by jawans , Army chief Rawat last month came with a suggestion box in his office, where any soldier can directly write to him, avoiding protocol. Assuring full confidentiality, the Army chief had announced anyone, irrespective of ranks or service, can use this mechanism to put whatever they wish to write into these letter boxes so that grievances can reach him directly. Gen Rawat said the soldiers should write to him with names but he will ensure that the names of the personnel is deleted before any action is taken.

The whatsapp number announced to register the complaint is — +91 9643300008, will be called complaint and advisory board.

The move came in after BSF, CRPF and Jawans from other regiments raised their voice on social media in regard with the low quality of food and poor conditions which were provided to them. Taj Bahadur, a BSF jawan, highlighted the problems with images of burnt chappatis and runny daal that they are served during the mealtimes. In the video, that went viral, Tej came out with disclosure that there are even times when the soldiers have to go to sleep on an empty stomach. Following BSF jawan's post, a CRPF Jawan Jeet Singh, raised the issues being faced by them. Even Army jawan YP Singh also lodged similar protest on social media against army’s buddy tradition.