Q&A: S S H REHMAN

‘ITC Hotels’ schemes for ex-servicemen have been mutually beneficial’

The Indian Armed Forces are historically acknowledged to comprise the finest professional and chivalrous soldiers in the world. Their secular fabric has enabled them to demonstrate their mettle with their illustrious campaigns through both the World Wars, and through the globe, as well as in their successful defence of the national borders since Independence.

Today, December 7, is the Armed Forces Flag Day. ITC Hotels, which has floated a relocation programme for ex-servicemen, the “WelcomJawan”, has been carrying out various activities towards this initiative. S S H Rehman, managing director, ITC Hotels Ltd, who is also from the Armed Forces (former Major with The Mahar Regiment), speaks to Huma Siddiqui about the various schemes under the banner of WelcomJawan for rehabilitation of ex-servicemen and their families. Excerpts:

What made you launch schemes for the rehablitation of ex-servicemen?
Keeping the Forces young is a functional requirement. Almost 60,000 soldiers comprising officers and lower ranks retire from service each year at a comparatively young age. Out of uniform at an age which is close to the prime of their life, and carrying the responsibility of their families, the ex-servicemen seek access to a second career in the national stream.

It is imperative that such a body of well-trained and disciplined human resource pool be utilised to the benefit of the individual ex-serviceman as well as the commercial world. Besides this, gainful re-employment helps keep ex-servicemen away from frustration and deprivation.

Appreciating the need for the captains of the industry to actively participate and share the government’s effort towards rehabilitation of ex-servicemen, ITC Hotels Limited (ITCHL) has initiated this effort in support for the cause of ex-servicemen. This effort forms part of the abiding commitment of ITCHL for the discharge of its social obligation to the society.

What is WelcomJawan all about?
The endeavour commenced initially with schemes evolved during cordial exchanges between ITCHL and the Army. This gradually turned into a corporate endeavour. Realising the need for close co-ordination with the welfare directorate of the Service Headquarters and also within the corporate group itself, a separate chair for an advisor at the corporate office, manned by a retired Brigadier, was set up in 1977.

What are scheme’s corporate objectives?
The main objective is to provide opportunities to ex-servicemen for training for a career in the hospitality industry, assist them in their re-employment, provide the service officers’ wives an opportunity to train for a career in the hotel industry and demonstrate to the corporate world that the talent bank of the large body of disciplined, trained and dedicated ex-servicemen can be utilised in industry business to the benefit of both.

Are there any special programmes for JCOs and Jawans?
A six-month programme is conducted for the Resettlement Directorate as a pre-release programme at ITC Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi. This yearly programme is aimed at imparting skills for management of small hotel units in areas of habitat of most ex-servicemen. Skill enrichment programmes for cooks, stewards and housekeepers are conducted at selected locations to upgrade the skills of the officer mess, unit langar and hospital staff of the Armed Forces. The programme is intended to upgrade skills of the selected trade categories for affecting improvements in the cuisine as well as dietary elements in the Armed Forces catering.

Where have these ex-servicemen mostly been placed?
Besides providing direct placement to officers in customary assignments in security and administration, we have been able to place ex-officers in diverse assignments, such as the training faculty, chief engineers and human resource managers. For ex-short service officers, placement as assistant managers in human resources has been affected after their successful completion of human resource management programmes specially organised as in-house training. The obvious limitations to direct placement within ITCHL notwithstanding, more than 30 officers are at present re-employed with the company. A large number of them have been able to secure placement with assistance under the aegis of WelcomJawan. Individual officers with training and guidance have been assisted for placement as secretaries in clubs and similar institutions.

Could you elaborate on WelcomSpot?
The road network in our country must grow manifold. There is a need to have stopovers every 100 km, especially on the highways. The scheme which envisages the tourist facility as a Welcomspot (for short-halt necessities) or as a Welcomstop (for long-halt necessities) is on the anvil. The scheme provides assistance by way of training for an ex-serviceman entrepreneur, training for his key staff and assistance in creating the infrastructure and in marketing the facility.
Is there any programme for Armed Forces officers’ wives?
For those seeking a career in housekeeping in the hotel industry, a training programme is conducted annually at various locations. Some of the ex-trainees having successfully completed the training have since joined our hotel chain as regular employees. Since its inception in 1994, about 60 service officers wives have availed of this vocational training programme conducted at New Delhi, Agra, Jodhpur, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad Vadodara and Mumbai. To open new avenues for them, we recently started a similar programme leading to placement as customer relations hostesses.