Chennai: The prestigious Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai has been losing out on candidates every year for a few years now. It has been failing to fill up its full quota of 700 candidates (300 in boys during first term 300 in second and 100 lady cadets).
The lack of wholesome numbers in cadets passing out each year may result in shortages in various ranks in the Army, which may also affect its operational efficiency. In the wake of recent terrorist attacks and with the Army also raising its numbers in the units along the China border, the shortage of officers across the country can become a critical issue.
Defence minister, Manohar Parikar, had admitted last year that the Army is 18 per cent short of its sanctioned strength of officers and that by 2021 it would try to bring the shortfall down to 12 per cent. As far as the OTA is concerned, it is not directly involved in the Army selection process as it is the Army Headquarters which deals with this. Yet, on an average around 500 candidates undergo training at any point of time and sometimes even lesser than that. However, such a situation prevails not due to lack of applicants.
As observed by Colonel J H Samuel, the shortages are due to plenty of alternative opportunities that are available for the younger generation in the corporate sector and other sectors where pay packages were much higher than the armed forces, besides various other perks. Another reason, he points out is “the quality of candidates is also not upto the mark nowadays”.
As far as addressing the shortfall is concerned, Colonel Samuel said, “The Army cannot commission a large number of officers to address the shortfall in one go.
That is bound to cause problems in promotions, and at the time of retirement. Hence, a proper ramped up plan for intake is the only option available.” He added, “Also there is no question of compromising on the quality of the intake of cadets. We have a set of criteria and only those who measure upto them can make it. Hence, the changes will happen but slowly.”
Several campaigns to motivate youth to join the armed forces have been initiated, the officer said, adding that they were beginning to yield positive results. For example, the campus recruitment drives and spreading awareness about the OTA Chennai have been fetcnhing dividends. Another important measure which is now being taken is that those technical graduates in the waiting list of the IMA (after the SSB clearance) now will get a chance to become an officer through the OTA.
The Centre is also planning to implement more welfare projects with moves also towards relaxing norms for jawans aspiring to become Permanent Commission officers.
