The Army Chief recently spoke at Pune wherein came up with a much controversial comment “Don’t compare yourself with civil service officials regarding Non Functional Upgrade (NFU).  The NFU is a time-bound upgrade given to Group “A’ service officers by the Sixth Pay Commission wherein within two years of a promotion all officials start drawing a similar pay scale. Since it affects salary and pension, it has a long-term effect. 
The armed forces are kept out of the NFU saying they are commissioned officers. On the contrary, the armed forces and the nation know that the “Army is the last hope” and when all fail, they go in and sort things out. This has created a minor storm in the tea cup for defence officers and possibly for veterans who see these statements close to the final implementation of 7th pay commission. 
The final implementation of the 7th pay commission with an implementation factor of 2.57 and no NFU, but a specific factor of 2.67 for select ranks is a watered down recommendation from the expected factor of 2.87 which would have put the forces at a higher level than others.  Like every comment there are two sides or versions to these remarks. Both require scrutiny.

The first is the vociferous and vocal lot of comments that see these remarks coming at the close of a long period of deliberations with the authorities, wherein, the status of the forces is steadily deteriorating since 1973. If the forces were ready to accept these recommendations with only a few anomalies removed, why then is the delay of six months in the implementation of the pay commission recommendation after the civilian officials had accepted these?  
There has been a steady downgrading of the forces, yet PM Modi was expected to work wonders. But the 55 lakh veterans are slightly confused with all the statistics and figures flying on the various social media to exactly know what’s happening.  The second is the group that says the comments were twisted and out of context. What the chief implied was superiority in terms of professionalism, character and conduct. Such things cannot be measured monetarily.  The NFU was additional money which was compensated by Military Service Pay (MSP). 
The biggest worry is about status and the government gazette is the authority on the same. He also said it’s not his decision alone but a collected one taken by all three chiefs. At the end of the day people with passion alone serve the nation, they have, will, and will continue to serve the nation, but understanding the social milieu is the need of the hour.
Currently, the society and the individual are at cross purposes and the forces draw their manpower from the society. The power of money has hit the common man and he feels if I have money in my pocket I can call the shots in the society. The soldier lives, grows up, and retires to that environment. 
In the olden days, marriages were an occasion wherein the individual required the society at large. There was a place for everyone. Relatives to exchange garlands and show his social status, friends and supporters to do a large number of domestic chores, all required harmony with oneself and society at large. These have all been replaced by the caterer and the wedding planner, the role of society has gone down, the role of money power has influenced day to day dealing in society, it gives a message, if I have the money, I can do it alone, thus the need for old age homes. The valve system has dropped; can the forces continue to get enough people with passion is the moot question?
There is another issue here. Does everything need to be quantified as higher and lower in status. The status of a soldier is simple; “He fights for his country and wins the same”. This is not a tournament side that wins some matches and loses some, “it’s a fighting winning machine”, oiled by the youth of the country, whose status is incomparable and how I wish our senior officers would not compare us with higher or lower. If the forces have not been able to push a proposal through it may be better to state they tried and shall try again.
There are a couple of issues that bother all. The first is the Supreme Court ruling that an FIR will be initiated for all cases requiring the same. It implies the stone pelters can go scot free; the government gives enhanced package to J&K while security forces get FIR for being posted there. 
The next is, of course, the higher and lower status of defence officers. The last is the so-called pension equalisation being masqueraded as OROP. Now, there will be three pension scales, pre July 2014, post 2014 to 31 Dec 2015, and post 01 Jan 2016.  The gap for all three will be wider than heretofore, implying more heartaches, once the dust settles down. The only hope is pension equalisation on July 1, 2019. Hey does it ring a bell post general elections if all goes well. 
There is, of course, Pakistan that requires special mention, because a surgical strike will not invite an FIR nor lower the status. The situation in the Valley is volatile and that is the place that requires special attention, other issues do matter. But the status of the forces is incomparable, hence, let's not compare it with others. Yes money matters as the society is built that way. Hence, the nation will have to find an answer to the same, sooner than later. 
(The writer is a retired Army Brigadier)