Soldier or Servant? The Quint Exposes Army’s Abused Sahayak System

“I have seen Sahayaks spreading undergarments in the sun,” an Indian Army jawan tells The Quint.

Does it benefit the nation to have our jawans running menial errands for officers’ families?

(Photo: The Quint)

This article was published in February 2017. A few days later, the article was pulled down because of the tragic death of Lance Naik Roy Mathew to whom The Quint spoke to on the misuse of the Sahayak System in the Indian Army. The Quint’s journalist Poonam Agarwal, who reported the article, was also booked under the abetment to suicide and Official Secrets Act.

After a two-year battle, the Bombay High Court quashed the FIR against Poonam Agarwal and her source and Kargil War veteran Naik Deepchand.

In its judgment, Justices Ranjit More and Bharati Dangre said, “Roy Mathew, the deceased, was also one who interacted and gave some comments about the Sahayak System and he must also have been subjected for interrogation by the superior officers in the same manner as the complainant was summoned by the superiors on the very next day... It is this apprehension of Court Martial which might have led to the suicide of the deceased.”

Below is the original article.

“I have seen Sahayaks spreading undergarments in the sun.”

Sahayak

Yes, you read correctly, some of our soldiers are forced to undergo humiliation by spreading, handling and drying others’ undergarments. These soldiers are called ‘Sahayaks’ or Buddies in the Indian Army. The Quint travels to Devlali Army cantonment, established during the British Raj in 1870, to dig into the abused Sahayak system.

On 13 January, Army jawan Lance Naik Yagya Pratap Singh uploaded a video on social media describing the menial duties a Sahayak is entrusted with by the Army officers and their families. A few days later, an Army jawan contacted The Quint on Twitter and gave us a better look into the ignominy.

What are the Items on a Sahayak’s Official Duties List?

1. Maintaining officers’ weapons and uniforms.
2. Assisting in digging trenches and shelters during war, training, or exercises.
3. Ease officers’ burdens during planning and execution of operations.

After Lance Naik Pratap Singh’s video, an order was circulated in the Devlali on 19 January which said that the dignity of Sahayaks – also known as Buddies – should be maintained. It specified that:

1. Buddies not to be detailed for looking after pets.
2. Buddies not to look after toddlers/children.
3. Buddies not to be detailed for washing the private vehicles of officers.

“Officers’ Wives Make Us Do Menial Jobs”

A soldier, posted as a Sahayak, walks a dog in Devlali. (Photo: Poonam Agarwal/The Quint)

The Quint met several jawans in Devlali who were deployed as Sahayaks with Army officials. Each one of them had an experience to share. They said nothing has changed in the wake of the fresh orders issued in January.

Earlier, Sahayaks used to take dogs outside the colony for a walk. Now, we restrict walking them within the campus of the colony. 

Sahayak

This jawan has been working as a Sahayak for five years with a senior Army officer. His job is to pick up the officer’s children from school and drive the car for the Memsahab (officer’s wife).

It is primarily the wives who make us do menial jobs. Many a time, the officers’ wives talk among themselves. One mentions that their Sahayak also washes clothes. That prompts the other officers’ wife to talk to her Sahayak. She then asks him to wash clothes. The poor Sahayak would have no option but to agree to it.

Sahayak 

“I Have Seen Sahayaks Spreading Undergarments In the Sun”

We saw several Sahayaks roaming around with dogs inside Army officers’ residences in the late afternoon. As an attentive listener, I heard their stories. From washing clothes, to taking officers’ wives to the beauty parlour, a Sahayak does everything except for what he was hired and trained.

My job is only to take out dogs for a walk, twice a day.

Sahayak 1

My job is to ferry the children to and from the school. I am the only driver in the house.

Sahayak 2

I don’t do any work except for driving the car. Sometimes I pick up and drop children to school. Every day I ferry Madam to the beauty parlour or the market.

Sahayak 3

The washing machine has saved us from washing clothes by hand. But I have seen Sahayaks reduced to demeaning jobs… like spreading out washed undergarments on the drying line. Isn’t it wrong? Madam should feel ashamed for asking it of us.

Sahayak 4

As per the Army’s service rules, a Sahayak cannot be deployed with the family members if the officer is posted elsewhere. But nothing stopped Army officers from violating this law. A Sahayak told us that he has been serving the officer’s family members for the past 2 years in Devlali while he’s posted elsewhere, in complete violation of the law. And for this violation, the officer can be punished.

Reporter: Do you work only for madam or for the officer as well?

Sahayak: The officer to whom I report is not here.

Reporter: Where is he posted?

Sahayak: Sahab is posted 20-30km away from here.

Not only are they made to do menial jobs, but their military training suffers too.

Reporter: Do you have physical training every day as a Sahayak?

Sahayak: We don’t have a daily physical training regimen.

“Sahayak System Should be Repealed,” Says Kargil War Hero

According to retired Colonel GK Mehendiratta, a Kargil war hero, these days the jawans recruited in the Army are far more educated than they used to be. He supported junking the Sahayak system altogether.

The time has come for the Sahayak system to be replaced. Instead, civilians can be engaged for these duties. 

GK Mehendiratta, Retired Colonel

The Sahayak system was scrapped in the Navy and Air Force, but the colonial-era hangover continues full-force in the Army.

In 2008, the Parliamentary Standing Committee recommended abolishing the system. But the government made no effort to repeal it in the Army. The Army reportedly employs approximately 25,000 Sahayaks to serve officers of the rank of Major and above.

Aren’t we compromising jawans’ training by putting them to menial work? Shouldn’t the Army repeal the Sahayak system at the earliest to allow jawans to do what they are recruited for – serve the nation. Not officers’ families.