Well, this is what the Indian Army brass has asked jawans to do. Starting this month, soldiers have been instructed to ‘enhance nation-building efforts,’ not just by defending the borders and keeping a vigil, but by lecturing and engaging with the local community on any of these topics. Or soldiers can do ‘shramdaan‘ in old-age homes and participate in or organise blood donation camps during their chhutti. To help them complete their ‘duties’, the soldiers will be ’empowered’ and ‘equipped’ with, er, structured literature and enabling content.
Like any other professional, soldiers have KRAs. These terms of engagement also include paid leave. Asking these men and women now to do extra hours when they should be at the gymkhana may not be super for morale.