Lok Sabha Question No. 935 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-04-29
Subject: Facilities to Defence Personnel
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL, ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.935

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 TH  APRIL, 2016

## FACILITIES TO DEFENCE PERSONNEL

935. SHRI  KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL: SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:

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- (a) whether  incidents  of  casualty of soldiers  deployed  at  higher  altitude  have increased due to natural calamities;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether defence personnel deployed at difficult terrain in border areas are being provided adequate facilities including allowances and salaries;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to enhance the facilities including allowances and  salaries  being  provided  o  soldiers  deployed  in  such  areas  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                            (SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)

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(a) to (d): The  details  of  the  soldiers  who  lost  their  lives  in  Siachen Glacier during the last three years and the current are as under:

| Year                    |   Soldiers martyred |
|-------------------------|---------------------|
| 2013                    |                  10 |
| 2014                    |                   8 |
| 2015                    |                   9 |
| 2016 (till 31 st March) |                  14 |

:  2  :

Troops being posted in high altitude areas are trained in 'Basic & Advance' skills in mountains and snow bound areas.  Troops posted in Avalanche Prone Areas' are subjected to series of training in the field formation  area.    Medical  equipment  exists  in  all  posts  to  cater  for emergencies. Best  quality  of  winter  clothing  and  equipment  is  procured  to prevent  weather related casualties.   Modern  means of  conveyance like snow scooters are utilized to ensure timely reaction to any eventuality and reduce fatigue.  A number of specialized equipments have also been deployed in the avalanche prone areas. Weather conditions prevailing in the sector are closely monitored by  the  Snow  and  Avalanche  Study  Establishment  stations  at  Sasoma and Srinagar.  The weather warnings issued are religiously followed in terms of restrictions on operation / administration related movement. Adequate  compensation  is  being  provided  to  defence  personnel deployed at difficult terrain in border  areas in the form of  Salaries and Compensatory  Allowances  in  the  form  of  Siachen  Allowance,  Highly Active Field Area Allowance / Field Area Allowance / Modified Field Area Allowance and High Altitude (Uncongenial Climate) Allowance depending upon the classification of area concerned.  These allowance are in addition to the Military Services Pay (MSP) being paid to Defence Services personnel. (e) Salaries paid to the Defence Personnel does not depend upon area

- of deployment and are same as per rank and structure.  However, certain allowances  vary  as  per  area  of  deployment  and  are  also  revised  from time to time.

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