New Delhi:
Against the backdrop of recent cases of suicides and fratricide by jawans, Defence Minister AK Antony will on Thursday hold a meeting with the Services to address these issues and find ways to improve the living conditions of soldiers.
"The Defence Minister will hold a meeting tomorrow on suicides and fratricides by jawans. This meeting will be attended by the three Services Vice Chiefs and representatives of the DRDO," Defence Ministry officials said in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Defence Minister had earlier informed Parliament that a stand-off between officers and soldiers of an armoured unit had taken place on August 8 after the suicide of a jawan.
The Minister had also said that over 25,000 soldiers had quit the force in last three years pre-maturely.
About five-six years ago, when suicide rate had gone up, the Defence Ministry had initiated several steps to check the trend which included a liberalised leave policy and counseling by officers and religious teachers.
DRDO had last year also given a presentation in this regard and suggested several ways of bringing the stress level down among soldiers.