HQ West Comd Sainak Aramghar at Panchkula
HQ West Comd has started a Sainik Aramghar "BASANTAR ", which is just 2 Km from HQ Western Comd at Panchkula.
There are 28 AC rooms with double bed, attached bathroom (@ Rs.350/- per day) and meals are available.
Also 28 Non AC but other facilities are the same (@ Rs250/- per day).
Initial allotment for 3 days, extendable on availability.
For marriages, a max of 10 rooms can be made available.
The address is -
Plot No 1, Sector 2, Panchkula (HARYANA)
Tel: 0172-2585818 OiC & Reception.
OiC: Col A K Tinjani Ph-0-8146998087
Friday, May 20, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Feed BAck OROP...
From: Dhanesh Chandra Goyal
Sent: 18 May 2011 16:18
To: Brig Kamboj
Subject: RE: OROP - IESM PRESENTATION TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
Dear Brig,
It is really heartening that some of are fighting our cause. We are bound to be successful one day. Presently the Govt is concentrating only to face saving against corruption, hence delay.
Regards to those senior officers who are representing us.
Lt Col D C Goyal
Jaipur
From: kameswararao gadepally [mailto:krgplee@gmail.com]
Sent: 17 May 2011 20:05
To: Report My Signal (Chander Kamboj)
Subject: OROP - IESM PRESENTATION TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
Dear Brig Kamboj
Congratulations to IESM and its governing body for the illuminating presentation to the Committee on Petitions of the Parliament. It is good that almost all the various groups of Veterans have been involved in the presentation. The qoute by Gen Raj Kadyan is very appropriate and let us hope that it will open the eyes of the bureaucracy and the government to the realities leading to the success of our efforts and grant of OROP. May The Almighty add HIS Blessings for the success of the endeavours in this regard by all Veterans.
regards
yours sincerely
Lt Col (retd) Dr G Kameswara rao
Secunderabad
From: Hirak Nag
Sent: 17 May 2011 19:29
To: "Report My Signal" (Chander Kamboj)
Subject: OROP - IESM PRESENTATION TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
Very encouraging and all due to the continious, dedicated and tireless efforts of Gen Kadyan, Gen Satbir, Lt. Kameshwar Pandey, Col RP Chaturvedi, Hav Devi Lal, Brig Kamboj and all the selfless staff of IESM. I am proud to be a member.
Hirak Nag.
Sent: 18 May 2011 16:18
To: Brig Kamboj
Subject: RE: OROP - IESM PRESENTATION TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
Dear Brig,
It is really heartening that some of are fighting our cause. We are bound to be successful one day. Presently the Govt is concentrating only to face saving against corruption, hence delay.
Regards to those senior officers who are representing us.
Lt Col D C Goyal
Jaipur
From: kameswararao gadepally [mailto:krgplee@gmail.com]
Sent: 17 May 2011 20:05
To: Report My Signal (Chander Kamboj)
Subject: OROP - IESM PRESENTATION TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
Dear Brig Kamboj
Congratulations to IESM and its governing body for the illuminating presentation to the Committee on Petitions of the Parliament. It is good that almost all the various groups of Veterans have been involved in the presentation. The qoute by Gen Raj Kadyan is very appropriate and let us hope that it will open the eyes of the bureaucracy and the government to the realities leading to the success of our efforts and grant of OROP. May The Almighty add HIS Blessings for the success of the endeavours in this regard by all Veterans.
regards
yours sincerely
Lt Col (retd) Dr G Kameswara rao
Secunderabad
From: Hirak Nag
Sent: 17 May 2011 19:29
To: "Report My Signal" (Chander Kamboj)
Subject: OROP - IESM PRESENTATION TO PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
Very encouraging and all due to the continious, dedicated and tireless efforts of Gen Kadyan, Gen Satbir, Lt. Kameshwar Pandey, Col RP Chaturvedi, Hav Devi Lal, Brig Kamboj and all the selfless staff of IESM. I am proud to be a member.
Hirak Nag.
Feedback on Presentation to Petition Committee on OROP by Gen YN sharma
Congratulations and compliments to Gens Kadyan , Satbir and their dedicated Team as also All other Veteran Leaders who have made such forceful presentations on our behalf- truly inspiring and selfless service to Servicemen.
Inspired feedback from Hony Lt Pandey- his write-up is brilliant.
May their example bring the ideal of Veterans Unity/harmony closer to 'being'.
Pray for your success and to the cause of Justice for Veterans.
Best wishes and warm regards
Yoginder Sharma
Lt Gen YN Sharma
Former Army Commander
Inspired feedback from Hony Lt Pandey- his write-up is brilliant.
May their example bring the ideal of Veterans Unity/harmony closer to 'being'.
Pray for your success and to the cause of Justice for Veterans.
Best wishes and warm regards
Yoginder Sharma
Lt Gen YN Sharma
Former Army Commander
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
ECHS...Noida by Col RP Chaturvedi
I went to Noida polyclinic this morning. It is today, by far one of the best in the country. This transition has come about with the untiring efforts of Col Bhardwaj, the OC Polyclinic, over the past two years. Comfortable sheltered waiting areas, TVs, helpful staff emulating the OC who insists we come inside and sit down, before giving everyone a patient hearing. Waiting time everywhere has come down considerably. Things move smoothly. Really good. I learnt today that the Colonel leaves this assignment over next fortnight, since he has finished his contract of two years. I wonder if he would consider staying on. He tells me that is against policy. Really? I know for one, I and a lot many Noida ESM will be sorry to see him go. AND his successor has a tough task cutout for him to match the standards of courtesy, efficiency and administrative acumen of Col Bhardwaj.
I saw a large crowd waiting to see Medical Specialist. L-O-N-G queues of impatient patients waiting for Darshan of the sole Medical Specialist. Earlier not too long we had two/ three.
Dr (Mrs) Agarwal, the other medical specialist had left some time ago, on superannuation at age 65. When Brig Tiwari expired soon after, she was reappointed and moved in. Queues could now progress faster. Now, moved in the Line of Communication Hqs. We all know the appointment of Doctors is 'Area Hq' Turf. SO, how could MD ECHS make this appointment, Area Hq wanted to know. They asserted their power and could prevail. Dr Agarwal is now out. We are back to the one medical specialist.
The above narrations point to a sad lack of development of the 'service industry' ethos in Fauji organizations that need to be more supportive of the needs of the USER, rather than the insistence on protocol, processes and of course egos. It is nobody's case that the present OC OR Dr Agarwal are indispensable. Only that a 'case by case' study of the situation needs doing. Shortly, we would be expanding the Polyclinic, the erstwhile MI room building has already been vacated and adjustments seem to have started. In the event, having the OC continue the good work would have been a good idea. I don't find it necessary, but must state that Col Bhardwaj is neither known to me earlier than my association with him after I started functioning as Coordinator of the IESM ECHS Division, nor is he going to pay me to write this.
Dr Agarwal. Ditto. If she was a surgeon I would perhaps feel her hand may quiver during a serious stage of an operation. But as Medical specialist, age 65 does not sound too high. Maybe she should have served us another year or two, till we found adequately skilled replacement. Why should there be a gap in the service. And I believe the GOC Delhi Area needs to be requested to review the decision. Again, I can't recall meeting Mrs Agarwal. I don't know her.
Would someone be able to take this forward? Thanks.
I am reminded of an advise I received from my Director when I joined the corporate the first time. "If something is working, Don't touch it".
And if you do touch it, may I advise you to please see the attached chart for suggestions of what to do next.
With Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi,
A-35, Sector 36,
Noida 201303.
I saw a large crowd waiting to see Medical Specialist. L-O-N-G queues of impatient patients waiting for Darshan of the sole Medical Specialist. Earlier not too long we had two/ three.
Dr (Mrs) Agarwal, the other medical specialist had left some time ago, on superannuation at age 65. When Brig Tiwari expired soon after, she was reappointed and moved in. Queues could now progress faster. Now, moved in the Line of Communication Hqs. We all know the appointment of Doctors is 'Area Hq' Turf. SO, how could MD ECHS make this appointment, Area Hq wanted to know. They asserted their power and could prevail. Dr Agarwal is now out. We are back to the one medical specialist.
The above narrations point to a sad lack of development of the 'service industry' ethos in Fauji organizations that need to be more supportive of the needs of the USER, rather than the insistence on protocol, processes and of course egos. It is nobody's case that the present OC OR Dr Agarwal are indispensable. Only that a 'case by case' study of the situation needs doing. Shortly, we would be expanding the Polyclinic, the erstwhile MI room building has already been vacated and adjustments seem to have started. In the event, having the OC continue the good work would have been a good idea. I don't find it necessary, but must state that Col Bhardwaj is neither known to me earlier than my association with him after I started functioning as Coordinator of the IESM ECHS Division, nor is he going to pay me to write this.
Dr Agarwal. Ditto. If she was a surgeon I would perhaps feel her hand may quiver during a serious stage of an operation. But as Medical specialist, age 65 does not sound too high. Maybe she should have served us another year or two, till we found adequately skilled replacement. Why should there be a gap in the service. And I believe the GOC Delhi Area needs to be requested to review the decision. Again, I can't recall meeting Mrs Agarwal. I don't know her.
Would someone be able to take this forward? Thanks.
I am reminded of an advise I received from my Director when I joined the corporate the first time. "If something is working, Don't touch it".
And if you do touch it, may I advise you to please see the attached chart for suggestions of what to do next.
With Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi,
A-35, Sector 36,
Noida 201303.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
IESM PRESENTATION TO THE PETITION COMMITTEE OF RAJYA SABHA
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
Please read the two emails reproduced below.
I am sure this will give you lot of confidence in the efforts being put in by your humble supporters IESM, who are spending sleepless nights to
get justice to YOU ALL INDIAN MILITARY VETERANS.
होंगे कामयाब हम एक दिन - एक दिनIt is time for all of us to support IESM.
Would you please –
Become member of IESM and give them whole hearted support.
You know and we all know – you cannot get very rich by saving those few hundred rupees, which are required to support IESM.
More support you can gather – better are chances of success of IESM.
We need much more momentum to move the political leaders away from the clutches of the Babus, who are bent upon cheating the Defence Services Veterans.
Please help and support IESM.
Vande Matram
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
-------------
From: Satbir Singh [mailto:satbirsm@gmail.com]
Sent: 17 May 2011 14:56
To: CS.Kamboj@yahoo.in
Subject: Fwd: [IESM_GovBody] IESM PRESENTATION TO THE PETITION COMMITTEE OF RAJYA SABHA AND OTHER RELATED UPDATES [9 Attachments]
Dated : 17 May 2011IESM PRESENTATION TO THE PETITION COMMITTEE OF RAJYA SABHA AND OTHER RELATED UPDATES
Dear Veterans
1. The Petition Committee of Rajya Sabha on One Rank One Pension (OROP) invited a number of veteran organizations and a few veterans for the presentation on 16 May 2011. We had requested the Petition Committee to grant us sufficient time to make the presentation to enable us to do justice to the cause. You will be glad to know that our request was accepted. Alongwith us, the Navy Foundation Delhi Chapter and Brig Mahalingam an IESM veteran also made their presentations.
2. Gen Kadyan, Col R P Chaturvedi, Hony Lt Kameshwar Pandey and self represented the IESM. Gen Kadyan made a gripping, impressive, forceful and excellent presentation bringing out all the relevant facts, logic and analysis for the grant of OROP. The members of the committee which comprised Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chairman Petition Committee and Members of Rajya Sabha, Shri Avinash Pande, Shri Rajeev Shukla, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Shri Nandi Yellaiah, heard our presentation fully engrossed and their body language demonstrated their compassion for the soldier. Col RP Chaturvedi, Hoy Lt Kameshwar Pandey made brief forceful comments. I was privileged to add a few points with a couplet commenting on the bureaucracy:-
“Mera Katil hi Mera Munsif Hai, Mere Haq Mein Kiya Faisla Dega”(My Murderer is the Judge, How will he give Judgement in my Favour?)
I appealed to the Hon’ble Members of the petition Committee that Injustice to the Defence Forces must end at the earliest in the interest of the Nation”.
3. The Navy Foundation led by Admiral Harinder made an equally strong presentation highlighting the issue of Non functional upgrades and other promotional avenues and benefits which the bureaucracy has given to itself.
4. We were also privileged to listen to Brig V Mahalingam to a very captivating, factually backed and emotionally charged presentation which was heard by the Committee members in rapt silence nodding in obvious agreement. They commented that during the day’s proceedings they had indeed been exposed to the facts hither to fore unknown to them.
5. We also take the privilege to release IESM Memorandum and Memorandum sent by self with related documents to the Petition Committee. Friends, we are thankful to other veteran organizations ie IESL, All India Ex Services Welfare Association, Naval foundation, IESL Uttrakhand and veterans Gen HB Kala, Gen Vijay Oberoi, Gen Radhakrishnan, AVM R P Mishra, Admiral Alan O’Leary, Admiral Arun Saxena, Brig V Mahalingam for forcefully presenting the case for OROP in their respective memorandums. During our presentation, we were also privileged to hear Mr. Ramachandran Gen Secretary of All India Central Confederation of Pensioners Association speaking in favour of the Defence Personnel. He remarked that if the Defence Personnel are Govt employees, they have to be given employment till the age of 60. In case they are being compulsorily retired earlier, suitable compensation for them is the bounden duty of the Govt.
6. Dear veterans, the time has come for the OROP to be sanctioned. Let us hope the Govt (read bureaucracy) does not derail it any more. As announced earlier, if the OROP is not granted by September 2011, the IESM has planned to carry out “Fauji Gaurav Yatras” in all states of the country starting first with Punjab. The Yatras will cover all the districts of the state. Defence veterans, their members of the families and supporters in large number are likely to take part in Yatras. The aim is to draw attention of the people of India about the ill-treatment of military by successive Govts for the last 62 years. We also plan to collect maximum medals and blood signatures on the memorandum to be deposited with the President of India and inform veterans across the country that those political parties who do not support or work to get us OROP have NO RIGHT TO ask for our votes in any election. Forgetting differences if any, all veteran organizations and individual veterans are requested to join in our crusade to get justice for Defence Forces.
7. We will conduct the Yatras in a peaceful and dignified manner keeping in view the democratic norms and discipline.
“We will succeed”
“God Bless God Speed”
With Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman, IESM
Mob: 9312404269, 0124 – 4110570
Email: satbirsm@gmail.com, satbirsm@yahoo.com
Attachment(s) from Satbir Singh9 of 9 File(s)
(The attachments received from Maj Gen Satbir Singh being very large in size, cannot be mass emailed. However these attachments are being placed on the following websites –
“REPORT MY SIGNAL - BLOG” – http://reportmysignal.blogspot.com
IESM UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION – http://www.iesm.org/
SANJHA MORCHA WEBSITE - http://sanjhamorcha2009.blogspot.com/ )
---------------
From: IESM_GovBody@yahoogroups.com [mailto:IESM_GovBody@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kameshwar Pandey
Sent: 17 May 2011 16:04
To: gove body IESM
Subject:
CONGRATULATIONS ON AN OUTSTANDING PRESENTATION, SIR.
Dear Gen Kadyan Sir,
I am still recovering from the awe-effect of the presentation you made yesterday. To say that it was an outstanding presentation that you made in front of the petition committee would be a huge understatement. IESM is both lucky and proud to have you as our Chairman and I feel privileged to be able to work closely with you. Even the chairman and the other members of the petition committee had no option but to appreciate your presentation. The effect that the presentation had on the committee can be gauged by the remark that they made, "we would like to meet you again during the course of finalization of the committee recommendations." On behalf of our team and as an 'eye-witness' I would like to congratulate you on a remarkable presentation yesterday.
The beauty of presentation lay in the fact that all our claims, our points and our apprehensions were backed by solid, water-tight facts and figures. What was even more outstanding was that these were issues mostly related to war widows, JCOs, NCOs and other ranks - something that was missing from most of the other presentations made before the committee. It was, thus, proven one more time that Gen Kadyan follows the 'subordinates first' rule which so many senior veterans have forgotten.
Some points of the presentation that I want to highlight that Gen Kadyan stressed on:
- The main focus of the presentation was, of course, on One Rank One Pension, its need and its justification.
- Intended and subtle pun on the cunning efforts of bureaucrats for the planned and tactical down-gradation of the military.
- Loved this quote, "mera qatil hi mera munsif hai, kya mere haq mein faisla dega..." which was delivered in an extremely emotional way by Gen Satbir sir which moved everyone sitting in the room.
- I salute the herculean effort put in by Gen Satbir sir as well as Col R P Chaturvedi sir who worked behind the scenes tirelessly which made this presentation a grand success that it was. We must also thank to Hav Devi Lal sahib who is always in the thick of every IESM activity. Hav Devi Lal sahib is an asset for IESM.
Finally, I apologize for taking the mic without your permission to support the points of Sh S S Ramachandran. The chairman, Mr Koshiyari, tried to interrupt him but I was in full agreement with the point raised by Mr S S Ramachandran, that the young lot of firearms trained soldiers, if left dissatisfied, can be misguided by anti national elements and that can be mighty dangerous.
The question before us, therefore, is weather these committees have any vested powers or are they merely an eye-wash and a governments gimmick to buy more time and further delay the issue. A member of the committee was saying that we are here to give you a hearing and that there are many committees above them that might or might not listen to their recommendations. What, then, is the use of all this lao-lashkar? And what should be our course of action?
I once again appreciate the collective efforst of IESM as a unit because of which such presentations and meetings are suddenly happening and everybody is talking about ESM and OROP. What is notable is the fact that IESM was called separately for making the presentation! That said,
लड़ाई लम्बी है. हमें शांति, धीरज और हिम्मत से आगे बढ़ाना है.
Thank you.
Yours truly.
Kameshwar Pandey
Sub/Maj Hony. Lt. (Veteran)
Governing Body Member Indian ESM Movement
Resi: 230, Pocket-1, DDA SFS Flats, Sector-1,
Dwarka, New Delhi - 110 075
Cell : +91-9811059825
Jai Hind.
Please read the two emails reproduced below.
I am sure this will give you lot of confidence in the efforts being put in by your humble supporters IESM, who are spending sleepless nights to
get justice to YOU ALL INDIAN MILITARY VETERANS.
होंगे कामयाब हम एक दिन - एक दिनIt is time for all of us to support IESM.
Would you please –
Become member of IESM and give them whole hearted support.
You know and we all know – you cannot get very rich by saving those few hundred rupees, which are required to support IESM.
More support you can gather – better are chances of success of IESM.
We need much more momentum to move the political leaders away from the clutches of the Babus, who are bent upon cheating the Defence Services Veterans.
Please help and support IESM.
Vande Matram
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
-------------
From: Satbir Singh [mailto:satbirsm@gmail.com]
Sent: 17 May 2011 14:56
To: CS.Kamboj@yahoo.in
Subject: Fwd: [IESM_GovBody] IESM PRESENTATION TO THE PETITION COMMITTEE OF RAJYA SABHA AND OTHER RELATED UPDATES [9 Attachments]
Dated : 17 May 2011IESM PRESENTATION TO THE PETITION COMMITTEE OF RAJYA SABHA AND OTHER RELATED UPDATES
Dear Veterans
1. The Petition Committee of Rajya Sabha on One Rank One Pension (OROP) invited a number of veteran organizations and a few veterans for the presentation on 16 May 2011. We had requested the Petition Committee to grant us sufficient time to make the presentation to enable us to do justice to the cause. You will be glad to know that our request was accepted. Alongwith us, the Navy Foundation Delhi Chapter and Brig Mahalingam an IESM veteran also made their presentations.
2. Gen Kadyan, Col R P Chaturvedi, Hony Lt Kameshwar Pandey and self represented the IESM. Gen Kadyan made a gripping, impressive, forceful and excellent presentation bringing out all the relevant facts, logic and analysis for the grant of OROP. The members of the committee which comprised Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chairman Petition Committee and Members of Rajya Sabha, Shri Avinash Pande, Shri Rajeev Shukla, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Shri Nandi Yellaiah, heard our presentation fully engrossed and their body language demonstrated their compassion for the soldier. Col RP Chaturvedi, Hoy Lt Kameshwar Pandey made brief forceful comments. I was privileged to add a few points with a couplet commenting on the bureaucracy:-
“Mera Katil hi Mera Munsif Hai, Mere Haq Mein Kiya Faisla Dega”(My Murderer is the Judge, How will he give Judgement in my Favour?)
I appealed to the Hon’ble Members of the petition Committee that Injustice to the Defence Forces must end at the earliest in the interest of the Nation”.
3. The Navy Foundation led by Admiral Harinder made an equally strong presentation highlighting the issue of Non functional upgrades and other promotional avenues and benefits which the bureaucracy has given to itself.
4. We were also privileged to listen to Brig V Mahalingam to a very captivating, factually backed and emotionally charged presentation which was heard by the Committee members in rapt silence nodding in obvious agreement. They commented that during the day’s proceedings they had indeed been exposed to the facts hither to fore unknown to them.
5. We also take the privilege to release IESM Memorandum and Memorandum sent by self with related documents to the Petition Committee. Friends, we are thankful to other veteran organizations ie IESL, All India Ex Services Welfare Association, Naval foundation, IESL Uttrakhand and veterans Gen HB Kala, Gen Vijay Oberoi, Gen Radhakrishnan, AVM R P Mishra, Admiral Alan O’Leary, Admiral Arun Saxena, Brig V Mahalingam for forcefully presenting the case for OROP in their respective memorandums. During our presentation, we were also privileged to hear Mr. Ramachandran Gen Secretary of All India Central Confederation of Pensioners Association speaking in favour of the Defence Personnel. He remarked that if the Defence Personnel are Govt employees, they have to be given employment till the age of 60. In case they are being compulsorily retired earlier, suitable compensation for them is the bounden duty of the Govt.
6. Dear veterans, the time has come for the OROP to be sanctioned. Let us hope the Govt (read bureaucracy) does not derail it any more. As announced earlier, if the OROP is not granted by September 2011, the IESM has planned to carry out “Fauji Gaurav Yatras” in all states of the country starting first with Punjab. The Yatras will cover all the districts of the state. Defence veterans, their members of the families and supporters in large number are likely to take part in Yatras. The aim is to draw attention of the people of India about the ill-treatment of military by successive Govts for the last 62 years. We also plan to collect maximum medals and blood signatures on the memorandum to be deposited with the President of India and inform veterans across the country that those political parties who do not support or work to get us OROP have NO RIGHT TO ask for our votes in any election. Forgetting differences if any, all veteran organizations and individual veterans are requested to join in our crusade to get justice for Defence Forces.
7. We will conduct the Yatras in a peaceful and dignified manner keeping in view the democratic norms and discipline.
“We will succeed”
“God Bless God Speed”
With Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman, IESM
Mob: 9312404269, 0124 – 4110570
Email: satbirsm@gmail.com, satbirsm@yahoo.com
Attachment(s) from Satbir Singh9 of 9 File(s)
(The attachments received from Maj Gen Satbir Singh being very large in size, cannot be mass emailed. However these attachments are being placed on the following websites –
“REPORT MY SIGNAL - BLOG” – http://reportmysignal.blogspot.com
IESM UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION – http://www.iesm.org/
SANJHA MORCHA WEBSITE - http://sanjhamorcha2009.blogspot.com/ )
---------------
From: IESM_GovBody@yahoogroups.com [mailto:IESM_GovBody@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kameshwar Pandey
Sent: 17 May 2011 16:04
To: gove body IESM
Subject:
CONGRATULATIONS ON AN OUTSTANDING PRESENTATION, SIR.
Dear Gen Kadyan Sir,
I am still recovering from the awe-effect of the presentation you made yesterday. To say that it was an outstanding presentation that you made in front of the petition committee would be a huge understatement. IESM is both lucky and proud to have you as our Chairman and I feel privileged to be able to work closely with you. Even the chairman and the other members of the petition committee had no option but to appreciate your presentation. The effect that the presentation had on the committee can be gauged by the remark that they made, "we would like to meet you again during the course of finalization of the committee recommendations." On behalf of our team and as an 'eye-witness' I would like to congratulate you on a remarkable presentation yesterday.
The beauty of presentation lay in the fact that all our claims, our points and our apprehensions were backed by solid, water-tight facts and figures. What was even more outstanding was that these were issues mostly related to war widows, JCOs, NCOs and other ranks - something that was missing from most of the other presentations made before the committee. It was, thus, proven one more time that Gen Kadyan follows the 'subordinates first' rule which so many senior veterans have forgotten.
Some points of the presentation that I want to highlight that Gen Kadyan stressed on:
- The main focus of the presentation was, of course, on One Rank One Pension, its need and its justification.
- Intended and subtle pun on the cunning efforts of bureaucrats for the planned and tactical down-gradation of the military.
- Loved this quote, "mera qatil hi mera munsif hai, kya mere haq mein faisla dega..." which was delivered in an extremely emotional way by Gen Satbir sir which moved everyone sitting in the room.
- I salute the herculean effort put in by Gen Satbir sir as well as Col R P Chaturvedi sir who worked behind the scenes tirelessly which made this presentation a grand success that it was. We must also thank to Hav Devi Lal sahib who is always in the thick of every IESM activity. Hav Devi Lal sahib is an asset for IESM.
Finally, I apologize for taking the mic without your permission to support the points of Sh S S Ramachandran. The chairman, Mr Koshiyari, tried to interrupt him but I was in full agreement with the point raised by Mr S S Ramachandran, that the young lot of firearms trained soldiers, if left dissatisfied, can be misguided by anti national elements and that can be mighty dangerous.
The question before us, therefore, is weather these committees have any vested powers or are they merely an eye-wash and a governments gimmick to buy more time and further delay the issue. A member of the committee was saying that we are here to give you a hearing and that there are many committees above them that might or might not listen to their recommendations. What, then, is the use of all this lao-lashkar? And what should be our course of action?
I once again appreciate the collective efforst of IESM as a unit because of which such presentations and meetings are suddenly happening and everybody is talking about ESM and OROP. What is notable is the fact that IESM was called separately for making the presentation! That said,
लड़ाई लम्बी है. हमें शांति, धीरज और हिम्मत से आगे बढ़ाना है.
Thank you.
Yours truly.
Kameshwar Pandey
Sub/Maj Hony. Lt. (Veteran)
Governing Body Member Indian ESM Movement
Resi: 230, Pocket-1, DDA SFS Flats, Sector-1,
Dwarka, New Delhi - 110 075
Cell : +91-9811059825
Monday, May 16, 2011
‘Army nurses not at par with officers’
Chandigarh, May 12
Holding that the Military Nursing Service (MNS) is an auxiliary force, the Armed Forces Tribunal has ruled that MNS officers cannot be granted parity with Army officers.
Disposing of a bunch of petitions filed by MNS officers seeking a higher pay-band and associated benefits at par with Army officers of equivalent rank, the Tribunal observed that the recruitment process and nature of duties of the MNS and Army officers is different and simply because the MNS officers are being granted ranks and perks admissible to combatant soldiers and officers, the position of MNS officers cannot be elevated to that of regular troops.
The MNS officers contended that making a distinction on the basis of being a combat and non-combat force and thereby placing them in a lower pay-band was discriminatory. They also contended that some other branches like education, postal and JAG were also non-combatant, but were granted higher scales. Observing that it was clear from the Army ordinance that the MNS was an auxiliary force and not the main combat force, the Tribunal ruled that the difference between the two is right from the induction into service and this distinction has been kept in view by the government while fixing their pay-band.
Ruling that it was a “total misnomer” to say that the nursing staff are same in status as the regular combat force, the Tribunal also observed that there would be functional and command difficulties in hospitals. Nurses have to work under the directions of doctors and have to follow their command. Directions given by doctors to persons of the same rank and status may cause difficulty in functioning.
Holding that the Military Nursing Service (MNS) is an auxiliary force, the Armed Forces Tribunal has ruled that MNS officers cannot be granted parity with Army officers.
Disposing of a bunch of petitions filed by MNS officers seeking a higher pay-band and associated benefits at par with Army officers of equivalent rank, the Tribunal observed that the recruitment process and nature of duties of the MNS and Army officers is different and simply because the MNS officers are being granted ranks and perks admissible to combatant soldiers and officers, the position of MNS officers cannot be elevated to that of regular troops.
The MNS officers contended that making a distinction on the basis of being a combat and non-combat force and thereby placing them in a lower pay-band was discriminatory. They also contended that some other branches like education, postal and JAG were also non-combatant, but were granted higher scales. Observing that it was clear from the Army ordinance that the MNS was an auxiliary force and not the main combat force, the Tribunal ruled that the difference between the two is right from the induction into service and this distinction has been kept in view by the government while fixing their pay-band.
Ruling that it was a “total misnomer” to say that the nursing staff are same in status as the regular combat force, the Tribunal also observed that there would be functional and command difficulties in hospitals. Nurses have to work under the directions of doctors and have to follow their command. Directions given by doctors to persons of the same rank and status may cause difficulty in functioning.
Major's anomoly under Radar
From: Col Mohan
Date: Fri, May 13, 2011 at 10:49 PM
Subject: Letter to RM on Pension anomaly- Majors & Equivalent
Please refer to my earlier mail in Apr 2011.
A copy of the letter received from Shri Antony, RM is attached for your information. I am amazed at the quick response from the RM but have little hope that he would follow it up. This is one of the may similar responses from this gentleman called Antony; and I am not inclined to take him seriously; you may be better informed about this man than I do.
Regards,
Mohan
Rejoinder to Shekhar Gupta.....worth reading
A letter written by our daughter in response to Shekhar Gupta's middle in Indian Express. Says it all.
Satish Bahri
--- On Sat, 14/5/11, Nandini Bahri-Dhanda wrote:
From: Nandini Bahri-Dhanda
Subject: Jantar, Chhu Mantar
To: sg@expressindia.com
Date: Saturday, 14 May, 2011, 4:06 PM
Dear Mr Gupta,
This is in reference to your article- Jantar, Chhu Mantar in IE 14 May 2011.
Frankly I was initially quite bewildered at the hostility from newspapers and its editors, sociologists and intellectuals at Anna Hazare's fast, his demands for modifications and changes etc in the Lokpal Bill, his drawing attention and articulating the general public anger at corruption.
I read article after article of regular contributors and columnists of your newspaper whose writings I had over the years read and enjoyed. Whose opinions I had respected and if I had for some reason disagreed, it had atleast opened my mind to another perspective.
However this time round I have seen the pettiness, the vindictiveness, the disdain, the cynicism of these writers and contributors, including you Mr Gupta.
“The Lokpal Bill is not going to end corruption”....no one claimed it would. It was only a first step in the right direction.
“Who chose these members from the civil society?”... these people volunteered, came forward and offered their services and expertise. Was anybody of stature and repute not allowed to participate?
“This Committee would by-pass the Parliament”... yes it would in the Bill formulating stage but it had to be eventually passed by the Parliament.In most developed democracies citizens do push and articulate bills and laws which are then eventually passed by their Senates, Congress or Parliaments after further debate and discussion.
And then the most hypocritical, inverse snobbery where one of your contributor’s mocked Hazare’s statement that he would never be able to win an election because he did not have the power of money to give TV’s, alcohol or sarees to buy his vote. Hazare’s disain for the Indian voter was dangerous she said, almost fascist!
The gloating that we are a democracy that has thrown out non performing governments 4 times in 64 years is pathetic!It seems most of our intellectuals, sociologists, writers, journalists, editors, industralists are cynical, hardened and a part of the system.
They “enjoy” proximity to the powers that be.
They “enjoy” their largesse, a Rajya Sabha seat perhaps?
They “socialise” with this lot. Some write little bits to keep their worth and value and some offer favours in a quid pro quo.
They are cynical to believe that this is how it is and will remain so.
Mr. Gupta your Jantar- Chhu Mantar is a misplaced piece of writing.
This election did not prove anything except the Indian voter just carries on and on the cycle- exchanging one lot for the other.
We are to put it mildly, a passive democracy.We exercise our vote every 5 years and throw one lot out for the other.DMK this time and the AIDMK last time.In the next elections DMK will be back.Is this a mature, thinking, aware voter?The DMK has looted enough to feed Tamil Nadu 20 times over for seven generations. They have not been punished- they are being “rested” in Karunnidhi’s own words.Did your mature voter ever demand what happens to our money? Where is it being spent? Why aren’t thieving people in prison?No- we simply vote them out.Then allow this lot to loot and plunder and bring the old lot back... ”vibrant” democracy indeed. Are we perhaps mistaking “noisy” for “vibrant”?
I was given to believe that a vibrant democracy is where citizens demand accountability from the people who have been voted in to administer and govern. Where they question and deserve a response.Where citizen groups and pressure groups see that the government “works”.Where the citizen expects justice as a right and not a favour.Where citizens do not have to grovel for what is basically theirs.
An aged man of another era from some remote part of the country, who cannot by any defintion be called cool, came to the Capital and drew the middle class out....and that is what has worried everybody.These were not Jimmy Choo and Armani clad glitterati that could be smirked at.These weren’t your Great Unwashed who could be talked down to.This was the Indian Middle Class Mr. Gupta which has so far been ignored.
I know because I was there.
I met a young man from Badarpur. He had recently filed his tax returns- for the first time he said with some pride. His two brothers were still looking for jobs.He worked 10-12 hours a day, drove back and forth his motor cycle on pot holed roads, returned home to electric outages and no water. He wanted to add a floor to his house but the MCD and police were harassing him......the same old story Mr Gupta...Ghar ghar ki kahani.The MLA of his locality spent 50 lakhs on his daughter’s shamiana and Kalmadi made those crores and crores, Raja made more......his anger was palpable.
I walked alongside a 45 year old single woman with 2 children who ran an export unit in Okhla. There was stinking garbage on her street which was not picked in weeks, electric outages, inspectors who demanded hafta, MCD would not let her raise her boundary wall despite 2 break-ins, no police patrolling. She paid her taxes but what was she getting in return? ...Sheila Dixit had made millions, substandard material was used in flyovers, there were 23000 MCD ghost workers....she was angry.
The word on the street is- Sharad Pawar, why is that man in every cabinet? Who does not know that he could buy India twice over? In another country, another democracy he would be serving a prison sentence. Any scam and his name is there !About Sonia Gandhi, the less said the better. Her son-in law, a costume jewellery businessman can buy The Aman.....??!Who will punish these people? Where is justice?
My parents, in their 70’s walked from Jantar Mantar to India Gate. My father, an ex soldier who has served in the army for 38 years and fought in 4 wars, believes the enemy is within. But then you don’t have much time for ex serviceman either, do you Mr. Gupta?You feel these chaps are paid to lay down their lives and they have no right to ask for higher salaries. Your opinion as been articulated in article after article that they should be there for patriotism and glory.I wonder if you have such advice for Karunanidhi’s brood or Sharad Pawar’s offspring?
This was not Tahrir Square. This was Jantar Mantar swarming with Middle Class India. Not with Anil Ambani and his pals, not with Rahul’s convenient Kalavati.But Jantar Mantar with educated, hardworking Indians who pay their taxes and try everyday- everyday to be honest.Listen to their voice. They are no pushover.....otherwise we may live to regret it.
Incidentally, I don’t recall anyone in Jimmy Choos.
Best regards,
Nandini Bahri-Dhanda
Regarding Jantar, Chhu Mantar
Like father like daughter. Afterall the genes. Its a powerful exposition and I have to agree with Nandini. Incidentally, Satish I didn’t know Shama did the route march too with you from the JM to the IG. Jai ho.
Madhav
From: jaimala gupta
Sent: 14 May 2011 21:08
Subject: Jantar, Chhu Mantar
Dear Nandani,
An extremely ,well articulated ,hard hitting reply to Shekher Gupta . In a limited circle of people who are actively involved in this campaign , we give his writings a cold shrug saying that he is only doing the bidding of his HANDLERS . We all know who prompts his writings. It is a pity that he has a strong platform of IE to use.
You also have the the fire in you like Putsy and the courage to say so . Great work. Press on regardless. We missed you all the other day at Jantar Mantar and IG . Our whole family was there, 3 gen, which was covered in Amar Ujala.
Love you beta
Mala & jai gupta
From: Murugan Subbiah
Sent: 14 May 2011 22:57
To: Satish Kumar Bahri
Cc: Chander Kamboj; Satbir Singh; milvets militaryveterans
Subject: Jantar, Chhu Mantar
Congratulations! An excellent rejoinder to Shekhar Gupta. The middle class that assembled in Jantar Mantar are not only the real producers of wealth in this country but also the leaders of local communities. The GDP growth of the country that our Media and politicians boast every day parrot like is due to the hard work and leadership provided by the middle class.History also tells us they were the leaders of successful revolutions.
S Murugan
From: Krishan K Punchhi
Sent: 15 May 2011 00:22
To: Satish Kumar Bahri
Subject: Jantar, Chhu Mantar
Satish,
Excellent piece.
Apart from wining and dining these journos (read sarkari hacks) and bestowing on them the ill deserved honours + giving them seats in the RS, there is another way they are rewarded. They are given housing plots at throway prices. One such colony for journalists in New Dlhi is known as Gulmohar Enclave. It is close to Green Park and Gautam Nagar. I'm sure there are many more such enclaves in many more cities.
Regards... Krishan
Kudos to Nandini. Wonderful Exposé of Greedy Journalists- like Shekar Gupta's Tribe!
Satish Bahri
--- On Sat, 14/5/11, Nandini Bahri-Dhanda wrote:
From: Nandini Bahri-Dhanda
Subject: Jantar, Chhu Mantar
To: sg@expressindia.com
Date: Saturday, 14 May, 2011, 4:06 PM
Dear Mr Gupta,
This is in reference to your article- Jantar, Chhu Mantar in IE 14 May 2011.
Frankly I was initially quite bewildered at the hostility from newspapers and its editors, sociologists and intellectuals at Anna Hazare's fast, his demands for modifications and changes etc in the Lokpal Bill, his drawing attention and articulating the general public anger at corruption.
I read article after article of regular contributors and columnists of your newspaper whose writings I had over the years read and enjoyed. Whose opinions I had respected and if I had for some reason disagreed, it had atleast opened my mind to another perspective.
However this time round I have seen the pettiness, the vindictiveness, the disdain, the cynicism of these writers and contributors, including you Mr Gupta.
“The Lokpal Bill is not going to end corruption”....no one claimed it would. It was only a first step in the right direction.
“Who chose these members from the civil society?”... these people volunteered, came forward and offered their services and expertise. Was anybody of stature and repute not allowed to participate?
“This Committee would by-pass the Parliament”... yes it would in the Bill formulating stage but it had to be eventually passed by the Parliament.In most developed democracies citizens do push and articulate bills and laws which are then eventually passed by their Senates, Congress or Parliaments after further debate and discussion.
And then the most hypocritical, inverse snobbery where one of your contributor’s mocked Hazare’s statement that he would never be able to win an election because he did not have the power of money to give TV’s, alcohol or sarees to buy his vote. Hazare’s disain for the Indian voter was dangerous she said, almost fascist!
The gloating that we are a democracy that has thrown out non performing governments 4 times in 64 years is pathetic!It seems most of our intellectuals, sociologists, writers, journalists, editors, industralists are cynical, hardened and a part of the system.
They “enjoy” proximity to the powers that be.
They “enjoy” their largesse, a Rajya Sabha seat perhaps?
They “socialise” with this lot. Some write little bits to keep their worth and value and some offer favours in a quid pro quo.
They are cynical to believe that this is how it is and will remain so.
Mr. Gupta your Jantar- Chhu Mantar is a misplaced piece of writing.
This election did not prove anything except the Indian voter just carries on and on the cycle- exchanging one lot for the other.
We are to put it mildly, a passive democracy.We exercise our vote every 5 years and throw one lot out for the other.DMK this time and the AIDMK last time.In the next elections DMK will be back.Is this a mature, thinking, aware voter?The DMK has looted enough to feed Tamil Nadu 20 times over for seven generations. They have not been punished- they are being “rested” in Karunnidhi’s own words.Did your mature voter ever demand what happens to our money? Where is it being spent? Why aren’t thieving people in prison?No- we simply vote them out.Then allow this lot to loot and plunder and bring the old lot back... ”vibrant” democracy indeed. Are we perhaps mistaking “noisy” for “vibrant”?
I was given to believe that a vibrant democracy is where citizens demand accountability from the people who have been voted in to administer and govern. Where they question and deserve a response.Where citizen groups and pressure groups see that the government “works”.Where the citizen expects justice as a right and not a favour.Where citizens do not have to grovel for what is basically theirs.
An aged man of another era from some remote part of the country, who cannot by any defintion be called cool, came to the Capital and drew the middle class out....and that is what has worried everybody.These were not Jimmy Choo and Armani clad glitterati that could be smirked at.These weren’t your Great Unwashed who could be talked down to.This was the Indian Middle Class Mr. Gupta which has so far been ignored.
I know because I was there.
I met a young man from Badarpur. He had recently filed his tax returns- for the first time he said with some pride. His two brothers were still looking for jobs.He worked 10-12 hours a day, drove back and forth his motor cycle on pot holed roads, returned home to electric outages and no water. He wanted to add a floor to his house but the MCD and police were harassing him......the same old story Mr Gupta...Ghar ghar ki kahani.The MLA of his locality spent 50 lakhs on his daughter’s shamiana and Kalmadi made those crores and crores, Raja made more......his anger was palpable.
I walked alongside a 45 year old single woman with 2 children who ran an export unit in Okhla. There was stinking garbage on her street which was not picked in weeks, electric outages, inspectors who demanded hafta, MCD would not let her raise her boundary wall despite 2 break-ins, no police patrolling. She paid her taxes but what was she getting in return? ...Sheila Dixit had made millions, substandard material was used in flyovers, there were 23000 MCD ghost workers....she was angry.
The word on the street is- Sharad Pawar, why is that man in every cabinet? Who does not know that he could buy India twice over? In another country, another democracy he would be serving a prison sentence. Any scam and his name is there !About Sonia Gandhi, the less said the better. Her son-in law, a costume jewellery businessman can buy The Aman.....??!Who will punish these people? Where is justice?
My parents, in their 70’s walked from Jantar Mantar to India Gate. My father, an ex soldier who has served in the army for 38 years and fought in 4 wars, believes the enemy is within. But then you don’t have much time for ex serviceman either, do you Mr. Gupta?You feel these chaps are paid to lay down their lives and they have no right to ask for higher salaries. Your opinion as been articulated in article after article that they should be there for patriotism and glory.I wonder if you have such advice for Karunanidhi’s brood or Sharad Pawar’s offspring?
This was not Tahrir Square. This was Jantar Mantar swarming with Middle Class India. Not with Anil Ambani and his pals, not with Rahul’s convenient Kalavati.But Jantar Mantar with educated, hardworking Indians who pay their taxes and try everyday- everyday to be honest.Listen to their voice. They are no pushover.....otherwise we may live to regret it.
Incidentally, I don’t recall anyone in Jimmy Choos.
Best regards,
Nandini Bahri-Dhanda
Regarding Jantar, Chhu Mantar
Like father like daughter. Afterall the genes. Its a powerful exposition and I have to agree with Nandini. Incidentally, Satish I didn’t know Shama did the route march too with you from the JM to the IG. Jai ho.
Madhav
From: jaimala gupta
Sent: 14 May 2011 21:08
Subject: Jantar, Chhu Mantar
Dear Nandani,
An extremely ,well articulated ,hard hitting reply to Shekher Gupta . In a limited circle of people who are actively involved in this campaign , we give his writings a cold shrug saying that he is only doing the bidding of his HANDLERS . We all know who prompts his writings. It is a pity that he has a strong platform of IE to use.
You also have the the fire in you like Putsy and the courage to say so . Great work. Press on regardless. We missed you all the other day at Jantar Mantar and IG . Our whole family was there, 3 gen, which was covered in Amar Ujala.
Love you beta
Mala & jai gupta
From: Murugan Subbiah
Sent: 14 May 2011 22:57
To: Satish Kumar Bahri
Cc: Chander Kamboj; Satbir Singh; milvets militaryveterans
Subject: Jantar, Chhu Mantar
Congratulations! An excellent rejoinder to Shekhar Gupta. The middle class that assembled in Jantar Mantar are not only the real producers of wealth in this country but also the leaders of local communities. The GDP growth of the country that our Media and politicians boast every day parrot like is due to the hard work and leadership provided by the middle class.History also tells us they were the leaders of successful revolutions.
S Murugan
From: Krishan K Punchhi
Sent: 15 May 2011 00:22
To: Satish Kumar Bahri
Subject: Jantar, Chhu Mantar
Satish,
Excellent piece.
Apart from wining and dining these journos (read sarkari hacks) and bestowing on them the ill deserved honours + giving them seats in the RS, there is another way they are rewarded. They are given housing plots at throway prices. One such colony for journalists in New Dlhi is known as Gulmohar Enclave. It is close to Green Park and Gautam Nagar. I'm sure there are many more such enclaves in many more cities.
Regards... Krishan
Kudos to Nandini. Wonderful Exposé of Greedy Journalists- like Shekar Gupta's Tribe!
ECHS communications improving..
A recent exchange of mails wrt ECHS is forwarded For Your Information Please.
Looking at the dates of the initial mail from Gen Satbir Singh, and the last in the chain provides evidence of the seriousness and expediency with which the ECHS Hq responds and takes note of suggestions for improvement. This is a positive sign, so even as we have reason to believe that a LOT is lacking and even MORE needs to be done, it is comforting to know that we have a spirited set up attending to inputs.
With Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi,
Dear Brig Kamboj, please see trailing mail (Gen Satbirs letter, my follow up and MDs response). Whereas there are problems and improvement is an ongoing process; what is heartening is the fact that we have an extremely caring and supportive Central Org ECHS. Whereas I can see that all questions with regards to Gen Satbirs letter have not been addressed specially with regards to why Army Hosps who have accepted to cater to ESMs cannot provide TOTAL treatment from consultation to post discharge care as required, I am of the opinion that we continue to give feed back and given the present totally positive response, matters will continue to improve. I am also aware that there are a number of veterans who feel that there are faults in the present org structure and micro management will not take us too far; we also need to look at the matter from the Service HQs point of view. Our top Services hierarchy is as committed to this cause as anyone can be. Those of us who have served at the Army HQ level and dealt with the MOD know only too well how Babudom and Netagiri function. These two roadblocks are a 'GIVEN' in any effort that we may make towards improvement in OROP-Pensions-Medicare and every other matter. So we will just have to 'Bash on Regardless'
May i request you to pass this on as a package to the environment.
Brig Sateesh Kuthiala
90 days medicine..easy..??
Some of you may find this interesting and of some use too.
I faced the same problem last year at INHS Asvini - that's
when I realised that there is nobody worse or more dangerous
than the bureaucrat in uniform. Ironically the doctor was
a lady(?) doctor!
Cheers,
Carl H Gomes
I am forwarding this shocking mail for knowledge of the ESM community about the devil within. Pls share this with maximum people so it can perhaps reach the villians in this story through their friends. Names in this mail should identify who is who; and who did what.
For some of us the Sarkari Custodian attitude never goes away. We LIKE to sit on what is actually entrusted to us for others to benefit from. It is little wonder that origin of most of our problems lies in internecine rivalries/ perceived rankings/ priorities etc, forgetting that at the end of the game, the King and the Pawn go back to the same box. And the 'box' IS indeed the future destination of even the chess pieces in play.
Col RP Chaturvedi
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: rajeeve lochan
Date: Thu, May 12, 2011 at 8:51 AM
Subject: ECHS
Cc: Col RP Chaturvedi
Dear Brigadier,
As I am proceeding to USA to be with my son on the night of 19th May, yesterday (11.05.11) I visited ECHS Polyclinic Meerut and approached the seniormost medical officer (Maj Ambuj Goel) and requested for 90 days medicines, he informed that though the orders have been received but they have not been implemented and I should contact the O I/C polyclinic (Col D V Singh). He informed me that medicines for the purpose of going abroad are not authorised/permitted.
He mentioned that medicines for 90 days can only be given to patients of T B, Hypertension and Diabetes and that it has to be approved by the Commandant.
The medical officer made out a prescription and I went to the Commandant (Brig Pareek), I sent the prescription through his P A for counter signatures, first he called for the book and after that he called me and explained to me his financial difficulties and then he informed me that since I was residing locally why I need medicines for 90 days, I informed him that I was proceeding to USA for 6 monthe but I am requesting medicines only for 90 days which is permitted under the rules. Of course he did not take a minute and signed the prescription.
I request confirmation if for proceeding abroad the medicines are authorised or not.
We keep criticising babus and the bureaucracy but I think we in the Armed Forces have more bureaucracy than any where else.
May I have your reply pl. With warm regards.
Wg Cdr Rajeeve Lochan (Retd)
4/205, Rakshapuram,
Mawana Road,
Meerut - 250 001
Phone: 91-121-2623333
Mobile: 91-941-003-1824
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Ex Servicemen have a right to protest against injustices
Reference: IESM AND LAKSHMAN REKHA
Sir,
Congratulations to Gen K M Bhimaya,(Retd) for his brilliant article,sent from USA, which I hope will be read by our politicians, Babus and our own detractors. This is a view from an officer and a gentleman and is a vindication of what our IESM with excellent leadership is doing. Let us wholeheartedly join the Movement not only to project our demands; but join the people like Anna Hazare, to get freedom from the unscrupulous , corrupt and inept leadership provided by nexus between politicians, bureaucrats, criminals which are now joined by religious fanatics and a section of the media . Present leadership of our Defence Services barring a few, have been rendered impotent and made too subservient to their Netas and Babus and it is time for we the serving and retired Veterans in a concerted manner, strive to bring about a change, in National interest. In the process we should never lose our professionalism, apolitical nature and our strong bonds with the common people of India which sustain our Defence Services. The scams involving some of our senior officers and their wives have brought shame and sense of anger among our veterans especially among junior ranks, which is bound to erupt one day, if we continue our apathy towards them. Serving officers in responsible positions must take note of this and make the politicians and Government officials at every level with whom they deal with, to realize the long term adverse implications of this disturbing trend.
The rank and file of Veterans are getting angry with serving and retired officers particularly the senior ranking ones, for not doing enough to ensure their welfare and restore their izzat. Sainik Welfare organizations are now staffed by officers with no dedication to their jobs and getting ineffective and redundant. Even though it is grandly declared by the Karnataka Government that 10% of the government jobs are reserved in Gp A, B, C and D for ESM, not even one job has been given to ESM for several years now and who is there to protest?! The result is that there is no one in the Government, to know and honour their sacred and national duty to look after the welfare of ESM. None of the relatives of politicians and officials are in the Defence Services to know their needs. Why should they care, when someone else is there to make all the sacrifice to keep our Nation secure, so that they can live in comfort?!
Our worthy Chief Minister has enough time to visit many temples/ Mutts/ Religious institutions at public cost and dole out tax-payers money on vote catching gimmick: but he has had no time till now to chair even a single Rajya Sainik Board Meeting as its President, which is supposed to be held at least once a year. Who is there to protest?! At district levels our Deputy Commissioners do not even know that they are Presidents of Zilla Sainik Boards and they are supposed to hold meetings every quarter and supervise the work of Deputy Director in Sainik Welfare Office. They have no time for ESM and all the time for politicians and those who can offer favours. No meetings/ Sainik Rallies are being held in recent years, as in the past even though, funds are earmarked every year. Who is to protest? Who is to question?
Since 2004, some of us because of the apathy of Sainik Welfare Department took the initiative and relentlessly have been trying our very best to get 14 guntas of vacant revenue land covered with lantana bushes near our Sainik Welfare Office to build our ECHS Polyclinic and ESM canteen without success so far. All our letters/ appeals/visits/ Memorandum to the successive Deputy Commissioners/ Chief Ministers/ Governors/ Defence Ministers etc signed by hundreds of local ESM ,have landed up in desk officers’ files gathering dust without any progress. We have met these Deputy Commissioners, Governors, ministers and concerned principal secretaries in their air- conditioned offices. They all speak nicely and give assurances,( probably to get rid of us); but nothing happens thereafter! We do not as per our ethos give Bribe, Beg or Agitate. Are we being side lined because of the virtues we have been displaying as opposed to our civilian counter parts!? Yet the very same government officials sanctioned( as per newspaper reports) a much larger, prime de-notified pieces of land at throw away prizes to the Chief Minister’s and a Cabinet Minister’s sons within a fortnight ! Thank God their political rivals (who are no better) and the Press got together to expose the scam and the injustice was set right; but the said Ministers are firm in their seats.
We had defended the borders of the Country during wars and intervening disturbed peace with tremendous sacrifice. Is it too much to ask for measly 14 Guntas of land for welfare of ESM?! Has our civilian brothers have no sense of gratitude and patriotic feelings? I know, due to rampant divisiveness, this Country of ours will fall like a ton of bricks, if the Defence Services do not perform their duties with much more discipline and dedication than our civilian counterparts. In India, the much hyped pillars of democracy like the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary are becoming very brittle, which will crumble without active interest from the people who are sovereign.
Let us join forces with IESM and well meaning people of India to toil till justice is done and Country is saved from utter chaos.
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen C K Karumbaya, SM(Retd)
Brilliantly argued and very persuasively projected.
Heartiest compliments to Gen Bhimayya. He should now take it up to the 'next level' with the IESM Leadership to evolve strategic thrusts and the Movement's plans.
Yogi
Lt Gen YN Sharma, Former Army Commander
Sir,
Congratulations to Gen K M Bhimaya,(Retd) for his brilliant article,sent from USA, which I hope will be read by our politicians, Babus and our own detractors. This is a view from an officer and a gentleman and is a vindication of what our IESM with excellent leadership is doing. Let us wholeheartedly join the Movement not only to project our demands; but join the people like Anna Hazare, to get freedom from the unscrupulous , corrupt and inept leadership provided by nexus between politicians, bureaucrats, criminals which are now joined by religious fanatics and a section of the media . Present leadership of our Defence Services barring a few, have been rendered impotent and made too subservient to their Netas and Babus and it is time for we the serving and retired Veterans in a concerted manner, strive to bring about a change, in National interest. In the process we should never lose our professionalism, apolitical nature and our strong bonds with the common people of India which sustain our Defence Services. The scams involving some of our senior officers and their wives have brought shame and sense of anger among our veterans especially among junior ranks, which is bound to erupt one day, if we continue our apathy towards them. Serving officers in responsible positions must take note of this and make the politicians and Government officials at every level with whom they deal with, to realize the long term adverse implications of this disturbing trend.
The rank and file of Veterans are getting angry with serving and retired officers particularly the senior ranking ones, for not doing enough to ensure their welfare and restore their izzat. Sainik Welfare organizations are now staffed by officers with no dedication to their jobs and getting ineffective and redundant. Even though it is grandly declared by the Karnataka Government that 10% of the government jobs are reserved in Gp A, B, C and D for ESM, not even one job has been given to ESM for several years now and who is there to protest?! The result is that there is no one in the Government, to know and honour their sacred and national duty to look after the welfare of ESM. None of the relatives of politicians and officials are in the Defence Services to know their needs. Why should they care, when someone else is there to make all the sacrifice to keep our Nation secure, so that they can live in comfort?!
Our worthy Chief Minister has enough time to visit many temples/ Mutts/ Religious institutions at public cost and dole out tax-payers money on vote catching gimmick: but he has had no time till now to chair even a single Rajya Sainik Board Meeting as its President, which is supposed to be held at least once a year. Who is there to protest?! At district levels our Deputy Commissioners do not even know that they are Presidents of Zilla Sainik Boards and they are supposed to hold meetings every quarter and supervise the work of Deputy Director in Sainik Welfare Office. They have no time for ESM and all the time for politicians and those who can offer favours. No meetings/ Sainik Rallies are being held in recent years, as in the past even though, funds are earmarked every year. Who is to protest? Who is to question?
Since 2004, some of us because of the apathy of Sainik Welfare Department took the initiative and relentlessly have been trying our very best to get 14 guntas of vacant revenue land covered with lantana bushes near our Sainik Welfare Office to build our ECHS Polyclinic and ESM canteen without success so far. All our letters/ appeals/visits/ Memorandum to the successive Deputy Commissioners/ Chief Ministers/ Governors/ Defence Ministers etc signed by hundreds of local ESM ,have landed up in desk officers’ files gathering dust without any progress. We have met these Deputy Commissioners, Governors, ministers and concerned principal secretaries in their air- conditioned offices. They all speak nicely and give assurances,( probably to get rid of us); but nothing happens thereafter! We do not as per our ethos give Bribe, Beg or Agitate. Are we being side lined because of the virtues we have been displaying as opposed to our civilian counter parts!? Yet the very same government officials sanctioned( as per newspaper reports) a much larger, prime de-notified pieces of land at throw away prizes to the Chief Minister’s and a Cabinet Minister’s sons within a fortnight ! Thank God their political rivals (who are no better) and the Press got together to expose the scam and the injustice was set right; but the said Ministers are firm in their seats.
We had defended the borders of the Country during wars and intervening disturbed peace with tremendous sacrifice. Is it too much to ask for measly 14 Guntas of land for welfare of ESM?! Has our civilian brothers have no sense of gratitude and patriotic feelings? I know, due to rampant divisiveness, this Country of ours will fall like a ton of bricks, if the Defence Services do not perform their duties with much more discipline and dedication than our civilian counterparts. In India, the much hyped pillars of democracy like the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary are becoming very brittle, which will crumble without active interest from the people who are sovereign.
Let us join forces with IESM and well meaning people of India to toil till justice is done and Country is saved from utter chaos.
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen C K Karumbaya, SM(Retd)
Brilliantly argued and very persuasively projected.
Heartiest compliments to Gen Bhimayya. He should now take it up to the 'next level' with the IESM Leadership to evolve strategic thrusts and the Movement's plans.
Yogi
Lt Gen YN Sharma, Former Army Commander
ECHS News by Brig Kuthiala..Army Research and Referral Hospital Retrogrades ESM Health Care
From: brig sateesh kuthiala
To: mdechs@yahoo.com; cs.kamboj@yahoo.in; kuthiala27@hotmail.com
Cc: rpchaturvedi@gmail.com; kulusha1112@gmail.com
Sent: Fri, May 6, 2011 9:52:56 AM
Subject: ECHS - LETTER FROM IESM TO CONCERNED AUTHORITIES - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 204/2011 - 05 MAY 2011 (LIST-3)
Dear Gen (MD ECHS),
pl refer to mail below a copy of which has been endorsed to you. Being intimately involved in ECHS matters I would like to fully endorse the views of Gen Satbir. As I have said repeatedly the instances of mil hosps across the Country treating ESMs as an unwelcome load is more than adequately proven. The reasons are also well known . The armed forces medical fraternity feels that, the General Staff has appropriated to itself a function that legitimately belongs to them. This turf war between the two is unfortunately affecting the veteran population. What both sides to this unfortunate conflict fail to realise is that every serving soldier is ' a soon to be ' veteran. What mil hosps fail to realise is that unlike the past where mil hosps were mandated to treat veterans based on availability of facilities and the OC hosps discretion, the situation today is quite different. Veterans today have contributed to the Scheme and can therefore demand medical cover from anyone tasked to provide cover under the scheme, which includes, empanelled hosps AND MIL HOSPS. We already have some ESMs approaching courts and tribunals in this matter. The next most unfortunate step will be ESMs going to Court against the Service hierarchy . THAT WILL BE A VERY TRAGIC DAY but will give our Babu hierarchy another reason to celebrate . Could these views please be passed on to the Chief and AG.
Regards
Brig Sateesh Kuthiala.
----------
Date: Fri, 6 May 2011 09:28:07 -0700
From: mdechs@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: ECHS - LETTER FROM IESM TO CONCERNED AUTHORITIES - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 204/2011 - 05 MAY 2011 (LIST-3)
To: kuthiala27@hotmail.com
Dear Brig Kuthiala,
Last month of Apr saw ECHS being the focus of deliberations:
#5&6 Apr-at Chandigarh attended by reps of the three services, AG, Army Cdr, MG-IC-Adms of all Army Commands etc.
#Chief of COSC took up pending ECHS issues with Hon'ble RM.
#25 Apr-Improving Medicare in ECHS-attended by Secy ESW, Secy Def FInance & ECHS. #26 Apr-Meeting with MoD chaired by COAS & Def Secy.
#27 Apr-Managing ECHS- agenda during Army Cdrs' Conf.
#28 Apr-Improving ECHS-review by RRM.
Also on 5 Apr ECHS 24X7 Helpline was launched by Army Cdr Western Comd.
COAS gave absolutely unambiguous directions to entire hierarchy. Armed Forces own ECHS, are the greatest stakeholders and would do all to improve and sustain it. Central Organisation is closely monitoring implementation of the COAS directions.
Offg DG AFMS is aware of the issues raised and has promised full support to ECHS including opening of ECHS wings in MHs where required.
On specifics now, You would recall that AHRR had as per earlier load appreciation only offered to treat Esm for Cardiology, Joint Replacement and Eye. Oncology treatment had not been made available and was ltd to consultation only. Brig AK Dhar and his specialty is overloaded and serving soldiers have to register at the reception and then at malignancy centre and thereafter wait for at least 2 to 3 hours in their turn.
What is not at all correct that for surgery patient has to get drugs and consumables from ECHS. We will resolve the issue immediately. Nothing is required to be carried (just recd a call confirming this from AHRR).
Navy and AF have been insisting on treating ECHS members in their own hospitals. Based on the request from the environment, we had to request them not to so insist as ECHS patients prefer treatment in hospitals nearer home rather than travelling to far away in heartless cities with no support. To enable full capacity utilisation of service hospitals for treating Esm, ECHS has started augmenting them with addl doctors. Gen Mathews (ex Comdt AHRR) has joined at Kochi. Hopefully more would join. Not for the compensation but for service to their brethren.
We are trying to improve things, pushing through odds. Team ECHS is constantly at work. Join in. All are welcome!
Regards
MD ECHS
--------------
From: brig sateesh kuthiala [mailto:kuthiala27@hotmail.com]
Sent: 07 May 2011 09:49
To: kamboj report my sig
Cc: chaturvedi; pandey kameshwar; air marshal rai; satbir vice president iesm; rajkadyan@yahoo.com; rajender rawat
Subject: FW: ECHS - LETTER FROM IESM TO CONCERNED AUTHORITIES - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 204/2011 - 05 MAY 2011 (LIST-3)
Dear Brig Kamboj, please see trailing mail (Gen Satbirs letter, my follow up and MDs response). Whereas there are problems and improvement is an ongoing process; what is heartening is the fact that we have an extremely caring and supportive Central Org ECHS. Whereas I can see that all questions with regards to Gen Satbirs letter have not been addressed specially with regards to why Army Hosps who have accepted to cater to ESMs cannot provide TOTAL treatment from consultation to post discharge care as required, I am of the opinion that we continue to give feed back and given the present totally positive response, matters will continue to improve. I am also aware that there are a number of veterans who feel that there are faults in the present org structure and micro management will not take us too far; we also need to look at the matter from the Service HQs point of view. Our top Services hierarchy is as committed to this cause as anyone can be. Those of us who have served at the Army HQ level and dealt with the MOD know only too well how Babudom and Netagiri function. These two roadblocks are a 'GIVEN' in any effort that we may make towards improvement in OROP-Pensions-Medicare and every other matter. So we will just have to 'Bash on Regardless'
May i request you to pass this on as a package to the environment.
Brig Sateesh Kuthiala
To: mdechs@yahoo.com; cs.kamboj@yahoo.in; kuthiala27@hotmail.com
Cc: rpchaturvedi@gmail.com; kulusha1112@gmail.com
Sent: Fri, May 6, 2011 9:52:56 AM
Subject: ECHS - LETTER FROM IESM TO CONCERNED AUTHORITIES - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 204/2011 - 05 MAY 2011 (LIST-3)
Dear Gen (MD ECHS),
pl refer to mail below a copy of which has been endorsed to you. Being intimately involved in ECHS matters I would like to fully endorse the views of Gen Satbir. As I have said repeatedly the instances of mil hosps across the Country treating ESMs as an unwelcome load is more than adequately proven. The reasons are also well known . The armed forces medical fraternity feels that, the General Staff has appropriated to itself a function that legitimately belongs to them. This turf war between the two is unfortunately affecting the veteran population. What both sides to this unfortunate conflict fail to realise is that every serving soldier is ' a soon to be ' veteran. What mil hosps fail to realise is that unlike the past where mil hosps were mandated to treat veterans based on availability of facilities and the OC hosps discretion, the situation today is quite different. Veterans today have contributed to the Scheme and can therefore demand medical cover from anyone tasked to provide cover under the scheme, which includes, empanelled hosps AND MIL HOSPS. We already have some ESMs approaching courts and tribunals in this matter. The next most unfortunate step will be ESMs going to Court against the Service hierarchy . THAT WILL BE A VERY TRAGIC DAY but will give our Babu hierarchy another reason to celebrate . Could these views please be passed on to the Chief and AG.
Regards
Brig Sateesh Kuthiala.
----------
Date: Fri, 6 May 2011 09:28:07 -0700
From: mdechs@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: ECHS - LETTER FROM IESM TO CONCERNED AUTHORITIES - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 204/2011 - 05 MAY 2011 (LIST-3)
To: kuthiala27@hotmail.com
Dear Brig Kuthiala,
Last month of Apr saw ECHS being the focus of deliberations:
#5&6 Apr-at Chandigarh attended by reps of the three services, AG, Army Cdr, MG-IC-Adms of all Army Commands etc.
#Chief of COSC took up pending ECHS issues with Hon'ble RM.
#25 Apr-Improving Medicare in ECHS-attended by Secy ESW, Secy Def FInance & ECHS. #26 Apr-Meeting with MoD chaired by COAS & Def Secy.
#27 Apr-Managing ECHS- agenda during Army Cdrs' Conf.
#28 Apr-Improving ECHS-review by RRM.
Also on 5 Apr ECHS 24X7 Helpline was launched by Army Cdr Western Comd.
COAS gave absolutely unambiguous directions to entire hierarchy. Armed Forces own ECHS, are the greatest stakeholders and would do all to improve and sustain it. Central Organisation is closely monitoring implementation of the COAS directions.
Offg DG AFMS is aware of the issues raised and has promised full support to ECHS including opening of ECHS wings in MHs where required.
On specifics now, You would recall that AHRR had as per earlier load appreciation only offered to treat Esm for Cardiology, Joint Replacement and Eye. Oncology treatment had not been made available and was ltd to consultation only. Brig AK Dhar and his specialty is overloaded and serving soldiers have to register at the reception and then at malignancy centre and thereafter wait for at least 2 to 3 hours in their turn.
What is not at all correct that for surgery patient has to get drugs and consumables from ECHS. We will resolve the issue immediately. Nothing is required to be carried (just recd a call confirming this from AHRR).
Navy and AF have been insisting on treating ECHS members in their own hospitals. Based on the request from the environment, we had to request them not to so insist as ECHS patients prefer treatment in hospitals nearer home rather than travelling to far away in heartless cities with no support. To enable full capacity utilisation of service hospitals for treating Esm, ECHS has started augmenting them with addl doctors. Gen Mathews (ex Comdt AHRR) has joined at Kochi. Hopefully more would join. Not for the compensation but for service to their brethren.
We are trying to improve things, pushing through odds. Team ECHS is constantly at work. Join in. All are welcome!
Regards
MD ECHS
--------------
From: brig sateesh kuthiala [mailto:kuthiala27@hotmail.com]
Sent: 07 May 2011 09:49
To: kamboj report my sig
Cc: chaturvedi; pandey kameshwar; air marshal rai; satbir vice president iesm; rajkadyan@yahoo.com; rajender rawat
Subject: FW: ECHS - LETTER FROM IESM TO CONCERNED AUTHORITIES - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 204/2011 - 05 MAY 2011 (LIST-3)
Dear Brig Kamboj, please see trailing mail (Gen Satbirs letter, my follow up and MDs response). Whereas there are problems and improvement is an ongoing process; what is heartening is the fact that we have an extremely caring and supportive Central Org ECHS. Whereas I can see that all questions with regards to Gen Satbirs letter have not been addressed specially with regards to why Army Hosps who have accepted to cater to ESMs cannot provide TOTAL treatment from consultation to post discharge care as required, I am of the opinion that we continue to give feed back and given the present totally positive response, matters will continue to improve. I am also aware that there are a number of veterans who feel that there are faults in the present org structure and micro management will not take us too far; we also need to look at the matter from the Service HQs point of view. Our top Services hierarchy is as committed to this cause as anyone can be. Those of us who have served at the Army HQ level and dealt with the MOD know only too well how Babudom and Netagiri function. These two roadblocks are a 'GIVEN' in any effort that we may make towards improvement in OROP-Pensions-Medicare and every other matter. So we will just have to 'Bash on Regardless'
May i request you to pass this on as a package to the environment.
Brig Sateesh Kuthiala
Sunday, May 8, 2011
ECHS procedures
From: anand gupta [mailto:akgupta2005@yahoo.com]
Sent: 07 May 2011 10:12
To: "Report My Signal" (Chander Kamboj)
Subject: PERSONAL FOR BRIGADIER KAMBOJ
7th May 2011
Dear Brigadier Kamboj,
ECHS procedures appear to be designed to cater for meticulous paper work and procedural niceties, rather than facilitating patient care.
We have excellent in-house facilities for work study & management analysis within the armed forces.
Defence Institute of Work Study Mussoorie & College of Defence Management Secunderabad are two such.
Many more might have come up since my retirement 21 years back.
It should be easy to appoint one or more studies to provide health care for veterans with minimum fuss and inconvenience, yet meeting all norms for financial propriety and economy.
You may consider suggesting to the core group of IESM to consider this suggestion.
Though advanced in age and not in good health, I promise to help the studies in whatever way I can.
Regards,
Anand
Sent: 07 May 2011 10:12
To: "Report My Signal" (Chander Kamboj)
Subject: PERSONAL FOR BRIGADIER KAMBOJ
7th May 2011
Dear Brigadier Kamboj,
ECHS procedures appear to be designed to cater for meticulous paper work and procedural niceties, rather than facilitating patient care.
We have excellent in-house facilities for work study & management analysis within the armed forces.
Defence Institute of Work Study Mussoorie & College of Defence Management Secunderabad are two such.
Many more might have come up since my retirement 21 years back.
It should be easy to appoint one or more studies to provide health care for veterans with minimum fuss and inconvenience, yet meeting all norms for financial propriety and economy.
You may consider suggesting to the core group of IESM to consider this suggestion.
Though advanced in age and not in good health, I promise to help the studies in whatever way I can.
Regards,
Anand
DATA OF WAR DISABLED/BATTLE CASUALTIES--OTHERS
From: DIWAVE Disabled war Veterans [mailto:diwave1@gmail.com]
Sent: 05 May 2011 08:41
To: DELETED
Subject:DATA OF WAR DISABLED/BATTLE CASUALTIES--OTHERS
A few years ago, when we, representing the Disabled War Veterans, requested for certain measures both in regards Pay & Allowances and the initiating of welfare measures for such categories of personnel, to the Parliamentary Commission, we were rather surprised at MOD & Service HQ's indicating to them that they were totally unaware of the number of Battle/War Casualties as no records were maintained.
You are aware that proper statistics and data would help greatly especially when calculating the expense to the ex-chequer to enable any measures getting past the MOD Finance and the decision making process.
With the assistance of the Adjutant General Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal and Lt Gen B V Nair, DG DCW, we undertook this gigantic task of obtaining and collating data of such personnel. We are thankful to all the Colonel's of Regiments, Centre Commandants and Record Officers to have delved into their past records and produced the desired data. This Data, duly compiled in 4 Volumes has been handed over to the DG DCW, Md ECHS and Secretary (ESW) for future planning purposes.
However, our task does not end here. The Data of officers is not fully available especially of those serving, those voluntarily retired from service and others.
This is an appeal to all officers who are known to you or see this mail to send me the data in regards themselves in the attached format to enable us to compile the same and forward it to the Authorities. It could then be compared with their own records!!
Those on E Mail could send it to diwave1@gmail.com and others could post the same to us at B6/6 DLF City, Phase 1, Gurgaon 122002
--
Col H N Handa
President Diwave
B6/6 DLF City, Phase 1,Gurgaon 122002
Tele: 0124-4051570, Fax: 0124-4051572
Mob: +919811920190, Mail: diwave1@gmail.com
----------------
Sent: 05 May 2011 08:41
To: DELETED
Subject:DATA OF WAR DISABLED/BATTLE CASUALTIES--OTHERS
A few years ago, when we, representing the Disabled War Veterans, requested for certain measures both in regards Pay & Allowances and the initiating of welfare measures for such categories of personnel, to the Parliamentary Commission, we were rather surprised at MOD & Service HQ's indicating to them that they were totally unaware of the number of Battle/War Casualties as no records were maintained.
You are aware that proper statistics and data would help greatly especially when calculating the expense to the ex-chequer to enable any measures getting past the MOD Finance and the decision making process.
With the assistance of the Adjutant General Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal and Lt Gen B V Nair, DG DCW, we undertook this gigantic task of obtaining and collating data of such personnel. We are thankful to all the Colonel's of Regiments, Centre Commandants and Record Officers to have delved into their past records and produced the desired data. This Data, duly compiled in 4 Volumes has been handed over to the DG DCW, Md ECHS and Secretary (ESW) for future planning purposes.
However, our task does not end here. The Data of officers is not fully available especially of those serving, those voluntarily retired from service and others.
This is an appeal to all officers who are known to you or see this mail to send me the data in regards themselves in the attached format to enable us to compile the same and forward it to the Authorities. It could then be compared with their own records!!
Those on E Mail could send it to diwave1@gmail.com and others could post the same to us at B6/6 DLF City, Phase 1, Gurgaon 122002
--
Col H N Handa
President Diwave
B6/6 DLF City, Phase 1,Gurgaon 122002
Tele: 0124-4051570, Fax: 0124-4051572
Mob: +919811920190, Mail: diwave1@gmail.com
----------------
Family Pension pre 2006 by Brig RS Rawat
From: rajender rawat [mailto:rsrawat47@hotmail.com]
Sent: 06 May 2011 20:13
To: rdoaindia@gmail.com; ieslhq@airtelmail.in; cs kamboj; Sarath Chand
Subject: Family Pension pre 2006
Importance: High
Sir,
1. For some time we have been helping widows get the FP as specified in Annex III of 6CPC. We have been discussing the rationale of the FIXED SCALES specified for JCOs/ORs ever since Circular 430 was issued by GoI. The following are the obvious observations that must have also captured your attention.
(a) The FP based on 6CPC was beneficial when Annex I & III of 6CPC are into account.
(b) When Circular 430 was issued, upwardly revising Basic Pension(BP) of all ranks up to Sub Majs, the very parameter for calculating the FP undergoes a change. Yet, the erstwhile scales of Annex III continue to be applied.
(c) Consequently, Sepoys & TS Nks benefit marginally while all the rest stand to lose.
3. Circular 430 has rightly included additional categories like TS Naik, Hony Havs & Hony Nb Subs. These categories are missing from Annex III. So, what does the widow of these soldiers get as FP?
4. Since widows are a hapless, helpless, unheard & inarticulate section of our fraternity, we need to examine the undermentioned details by your experts to ascertain if our contention of INJUSTICE to widows is indeed well founded & project the same to the right quarter.
5. Please note that OROP for widows is still a distant dream as it is for the rest of pre 2006 pensioners. We hope FP too will deserve similar, if not more attention in our bid to get OROP.
6.Any errors in the Charts presented may be intimated to us.
RS Rawat
Brig retd
UESL
Sent: 06 May 2011 20:13
To: rdoaindia@gmail.com; ieslhq@airtelmail.in; cs kamboj; Sarath Chand
Subject: Family Pension pre 2006
Importance: High
Sir,
1. For some time we have been helping widows get the FP as specified in Annex III of 6CPC. We have been discussing the rationale of the FIXED SCALES specified for JCOs/ORs ever since Circular 430 was issued by GoI. The following are the obvious observations that must have also captured your attention.
(a) The FP based on 6CPC was beneficial when Annex I & III of 6CPC are into account.
(b) When Circular 430 was issued, upwardly revising Basic Pension(BP) of all ranks up to Sub Majs, the very parameter for calculating the FP undergoes a change. Yet, the erstwhile scales of Annex III continue to be applied.
(c) Consequently, Sepoys & TS Nks benefit marginally while all the rest stand to lose.
3. Circular 430 has rightly included additional categories like TS Naik, Hony Havs & Hony Nb Subs. These categories are missing from Annex III. So, what does the widow of these soldiers get as FP?
4. Since widows are a hapless, helpless, unheard & inarticulate section of our fraternity, we need to examine the undermentioned details by your experts to ascertain if our contention of INJUSTICE to widows is indeed well founded & project the same to the right quarter.
5. Please note that OROP for widows is still a distant dream as it is for the rest of pre 2006 pensioners. We hope FP too will deserve similar, if not more attention in our bid to get OROP.
6.Any errors in the Charts presented may be intimated to us.
RS Rawat
Brig retd
UESL
Letter to PM By Lt Cdr Avtar singh
From: AVTAR SINGH [mailto:avtarsingh119@hotmail.com]
Sent: 06 May 2011 12:55
To: CS Kamboj
Subject: Letter to Pm
Dear Brigadier Kamboj,
I have written this letter to PM and posted today.
I considered apt you may publish it in RMS Blog
Regards
Avtar singh
Lt cdr Retd
6-5-2011
--------------Lt Cdr Retd Avtar Singh Tel 22789657
317 pocket E Mayur Vihar Phase II M 99712 59010
Delhi 110091
To,
Shri Manmohan Singh
Honourable Prime Minister of India,
Dated 04 May 2011
Sub. Pension Lt Cdrs and equivalent
Sir,
1. It is too much to expect that this letter would attract your attention, but Sir I shall be happy if some of your trusted aide reads and act upon it.
2. I am a retired naval officer of the rank of Lt Cdr, aged 78 years and at the fag end of my life.
3. When I look back at my life, I sense a great degree of satisfaction. From a boy aged 16 years when I joined Indian Navy in 1950, to 1990 when I retired after 40 years of naval service. I consider myself to be fortunate to have received support both during my service career and thereafter, as a pensioner the pension being my livelihood
4. I am currently in a strange situation viz struggling to get justice from the government. My demand is simple “To give me what six central pay commission has recommended and what Union Cabinet under a resolution as approved’
5. My struggle started with an RTI with Naval HQ on 26-11-2008 and is continuing. My letters dated 28 March 2011, 7 April 2011 and 20 April 2011 all addressed to you are relevant.
.
6. Currently to draw the attention of PMO I have posted 34 post cards on daily basis reminding PMO about my case. In these letters I have quoted the opinion of constitutional authorities like CAG, CGDA and two letters from Honourable minister Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal. All the above letters are in agreement with my cause.
7. To get my legitimate amount of pension I have knocked at the door of the service HQs,MOD, MOF CGDA and PCDAs, but I have not got justice.
8. Since I could not get favourable decision from the concerned officer I along with 139 fellow ranking officers all over the country (from tri services)
decided to file a petition (OA 24/2010) with Armed forces Tribunal Principal
Bench Court No 1 at Delhi.
9. The above case was heard by Mr Justice A K Mathur and vide order dated 14 Sep 2010 the judgement was passed in my favour. Another 15 identical petitons were filed by my fellow ranking officers which were clubbed under two separate judgements. These petitions too were admitted. It is a very rare that three different benches of judiciary give any identical verdict
10. It is over 8 months and yet the decisions of AFT has neither been challenged nor implemented.. The delay in filing the appeal in my opinion is only to frustrate senior citizens to death both physically as well as financially. It is pertinent to mention that five petitioners have died waiting for justice not to talk about others who do not form part of the petitions.
11. Respected Sir the six cpc finding took effect from 1-1-2006 and we have crossed half way mark. We are nearing the formation of seventh Pay commission, but I have not been able to enjoy the fruit of the sixth cpc.
12. I earnestly and most humbly pray to you to give a wake up call to the concerned Officer who is enjoying KUMBHKARAN sleep
12 Dear PM Sir, I now write to you with a heavy heart and state that to draw your attention
( a) I would not and am not qualified enough to fit into the shoes of ANNA
HAZARE.
(b) I do not want to immolate my self in busy market or
(c) Throw myself in front of VVIP car but
(d) As a law abiding person continue reminding you on daily basis through post card till I breathe last or till I get justice.
13 Finally I am not disheartened about happening as I believe that one should only be surprised if one get speedy justice, and not feel disheartened if he does not get justice as this is a very common with our administrator call it KUMBHKARANS
14 May I expect a reply from someone under you Sir
With best regards
Yours truly,
AVTAR SINGH
Sent: 06 May 2011 12:55
To: CS Kamboj
Subject: Letter to Pm
Dear Brigadier Kamboj,
I have written this letter to PM and posted today.
I considered apt you may publish it in RMS Blog
Regards
Avtar singh
Lt cdr Retd
6-5-2011
--------------Lt Cdr Retd Avtar Singh Tel 22789657
317 pocket E Mayur Vihar Phase II M 99712 59010
Delhi 110091
To,
Shri Manmohan Singh
Honourable Prime Minister of India,
Dated 04 May 2011
Sub. Pension Lt Cdrs and equivalent
Sir,
1. It is too much to expect that this letter would attract your attention, but Sir I shall be happy if some of your trusted aide reads and act upon it.
2. I am a retired naval officer of the rank of Lt Cdr, aged 78 years and at the fag end of my life.
3. When I look back at my life, I sense a great degree of satisfaction. From a boy aged 16 years when I joined Indian Navy in 1950, to 1990 when I retired after 40 years of naval service. I consider myself to be fortunate to have received support both during my service career and thereafter, as a pensioner the pension being my livelihood
4. I am currently in a strange situation viz struggling to get justice from the government. My demand is simple “To give me what six central pay commission has recommended and what Union Cabinet under a resolution as approved’
5. My struggle started with an RTI with Naval HQ on 26-11-2008 and is continuing. My letters dated 28 March 2011, 7 April 2011 and 20 April 2011 all addressed to you are relevant.
.
6. Currently to draw the attention of PMO I have posted 34 post cards on daily basis reminding PMO about my case. In these letters I have quoted the opinion of constitutional authorities like CAG, CGDA and two letters from Honourable minister Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal. All the above letters are in agreement with my cause.
7. To get my legitimate amount of pension I have knocked at the door of the service HQs,MOD, MOF CGDA and PCDAs, but I have not got justice.
8. Since I could not get favourable decision from the concerned officer I along with 139 fellow ranking officers all over the country (from tri services)
decided to file a petition (OA 24/2010) with Armed forces Tribunal Principal
Bench Court No 1 at Delhi.
9. The above case was heard by Mr Justice A K Mathur and vide order dated 14 Sep 2010 the judgement was passed in my favour. Another 15 identical petitons were filed by my fellow ranking officers which were clubbed under two separate judgements. These petitions too were admitted. It is a very rare that three different benches of judiciary give any identical verdict
10. It is over 8 months and yet the decisions of AFT has neither been challenged nor implemented.. The delay in filing the appeal in my opinion is only to frustrate senior citizens to death both physically as well as financially. It is pertinent to mention that five petitioners have died waiting for justice not to talk about others who do not form part of the petitions.
11. Respected Sir the six cpc finding took effect from 1-1-2006 and we have crossed half way mark. We are nearing the formation of seventh Pay commission, but I have not been able to enjoy the fruit of the sixth cpc.
12. I earnestly and most humbly pray to you to give a wake up call to the concerned Officer who is enjoying KUMBHKARAN sleep
12 Dear PM Sir, I now write to you with a heavy heart and state that to draw your attention
( a) I would not and am not qualified enough to fit into the shoes of ANNA
HAZARE.
(b) I do not want to immolate my self in busy market or
(c) Throw myself in front of VVIP car but
(d) As a law abiding person continue reminding you on daily basis through post card till I breathe last or till I get justice.
13 Finally I am not disheartened about happening as I believe that one should only be surprised if one get speedy justice, and not feel disheartened if he does not get justice as this is a very common with our administrator call it KUMBHKARANS
14 May I expect a reply from someone under you Sir
With best regards
Yours truly,
AVTAR SINGH
Friday, May 6, 2011
Anti corruption rally at India Gate on 01 May 2011 by Col Anand
From: Col Anand [mailto:elkayanand@gmail.com]
Sent: 05 May 2011 15:55
To: Report My Signal (Chander Kamboj)
Subject: IESM MEMORANDUM RE OROP + IESM UPDATE - Maj Gen Satbir Singh
Dear Brig Kamboj Sir,
The photographs of so many memebers of IESM were very encouraging and depicted their undying spirit towards a very important and vital national cause of eradication of corruption. I am putting up a few selected ones in my blog as well. Hats off to Maj Gen PK Renjen and his family. Sir, your own photograph in the end of it all takes the cake. Hats off to you also, for your indomitable spirit in the service of the nation and the defence veterans. (Please do not edit expression of my humble gratitude toward you. I have saved youir photograph for future use.
Incidentally, following three comments have been received on my blog "India of My Dreams" at the link below. http://www.indiamydreamland.blogspot.com/. May I request you to convey them to the person concerned so that, if felt and considered beneficial for officers of these categories, the gist could be conveyed as a corrigendum to the Petition sent for OROP from IESM side. It may help some officers if their argument appeals to the chairman.
Comment No 1
"Lt Col A B G Reddy has left a new comment on your post "IESM MEMORANDUM RE OROP + IESM UPDATE - Maj Gen Sa...":
If the leaders of the IESM have not incorporated the following aspect in that petition ,u r requested to do the needful-
consequent to abolition of 2/Lt rk and re-designation of appts of coy and unit cdrs to rks of Lt Col and Col ,there is need to appropriate equation of past pensioners with present rks in that OROP concept and approach.that is ,earlier Lt to Capt, Capt to Maj, Maj to Lt Col and Lt Col to Col . If services HQ are not doing anything about it and if IESM also overlooks this aspect ,we would back to same situation of monumental omission/blunder.
I did send some e mails on this aspect to u and others, but i dont find this aspect in these projections. FUNDAMENTAL,THOSE UNIT CDRS OF RK OF LT COL WHO FOUGHT THE WARS OF 1947,1762,1965 &1971 AND DEFENDED THIS COUNTRY AND GIVEN ALL THE NAME AND FAME TO DEFENSE SERVICES CANNOT BE SIMPLY OVERLOOKED BY PRESENT LOT WHO ARE BASKING IN ALL THAT GLORY AND FAME.Similarly,earlier platoon and coy cdrs of rk of Capt &Maj must be equated to present rks of Platoon &coy cdrs of rk of Maj and Lt Col. without this aspect the presentation would reflect omission and bias.please therefore,introspect and modify.
kindly , forward this contention to that special petition committee"
Comment No 2
A R GANGA said...
the core and fundamental issue is pay fixing done by all those involved in that act.it is worse than match fixing in sports& games ,particularly in cricket and other fixing acts in the country.
THE FUNDAMENTAL RULE AND PRINCIPLE OF INTEGRATED PAY SCALE , THAT INTEGRATED PAY IS PROPORTIONAL TO LENGTH OF SERVICE FOR ALL OFFICERS UP TO RANK OF BRIG HAS BEEN SHAMELESSLY ABUSED AND VIOLATED BY THOSE WHO DESIGNED AND DEVISED THE FIXATION FORMULA AND PRINTED IN THAT SAI 1987. THAT SHARMA JI WHO WAS IN THAT GROUP CALLED PC CELL WAS THE ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER . HE WAS EVEN BOASTING OF HIS GREAT SKILL OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT A JUNIOR RK OFFICER WITH 30 YRS OF SVC GOT LESS INTEGRATED PAY THAN AN OFFICER OF HIGHER RK WITH 15 YRS OF SVC.THAT WAS THE GENESIS OF THE PROBLEM CREATED/ABETTED BY AG BR.MANUMENTAL -HIMALAYAN BLUNDER AND CRIME.THE RESULT IS GENERATIONS ARE ADVERSELY EFFECTED. THAT SHARMA JI RETIRED AS ARMY CDR.THAT BLUNDER COULD NOT BE RECTIFIED OR CORRECTED BY SO MUCH OF STRUGGLE ,SACRIFICES AND EFFORT.
ALL THOSE WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT BLUNDER ARE LIVING AND AROUND US.WHAT A IRONY ?.
01 May, 2011 23:24
Comment No 3
"a r ganga has left a new comment on your post "4th Pay Commission Rank Pay Anomaly: GOI Again Mov...":
very good analysis with the facts highlighted.one very important and very relevant point is over looked -
a. the rks of officers of past are to be read/equated with present rks , with abolition of 2/Lt rk and and re-designation of rks of appts company commander and unit cdr. , namely- former Lt Col to Col, Maj to Lt Col,Capt to Maj,Lt to Capt.
b. these changes have been introduced since 1980. if these are not suitably modified/equated, there will be another monumental blunder and grave injustice to past pensioners. as it appears AHQ and these veteran org are simply overlooking this as they are not personally effected i only hope these people at the forefront of the movement take notice and accordingly incorporate in their OROP presentations , re-presentations and agitations.
i request all those who read this to express this in various forums.
Posted by a r ganga to India of My Dreams at 05 May, 2011 13:39
In future also I would keep sending similar comments to you for further dissemination. I am sure you would convey them to the appropriate persons of the Governing Body.
With kind regards
Col LK Anand (Retd).
http://www.indiamydreamland.blogspot.com/
Sent: 05 May 2011 15:55
To: Report My Signal (Chander Kamboj)
Subject: IESM MEMORANDUM RE OROP + IESM UPDATE - Maj Gen Satbir Singh
Dear Brig Kamboj Sir,
The photographs of so many memebers of IESM were very encouraging and depicted their undying spirit towards a very important and vital national cause of eradication of corruption. I am putting up a few selected ones in my blog as well. Hats off to Maj Gen PK Renjen and his family. Sir, your own photograph in the end of it all takes the cake. Hats off to you also, for your indomitable spirit in the service of the nation and the defence veterans. (Please do not edit expression of my humble gratitude toward you. I have saved youir photograph for future use.
Incidentally, following three comments have been received on my blog "India of My Dreams" at the link below. http://www.indiamydreamland.blogspot.com/. May I request you to convey them to the person concerned so that, if felt and considered beneficial for officers of these categories, the gist could be conveyed as a corrigendum to the Petition sent for OROP from IESM side. It may help some officers if their argument appeals to the chairman.
Comment No 1
"Lt Col A B G Reddy has left a new comment on your post "IESM MEMORANDUM RE OROP + IESM UPDATE - Maj Gen Sa...":
If the leaders of the IESM have not incorporated the following aspect in that petition ,u r requested to do the needful-
consequent to abolition of 2/Lt rk and re-designation of appts of coy and unit cdrs to rks of Lt Col and Col ,there is need to appropriate equation of past pensioners with present rks in that OROP concept and approach.that is ,earlier Lt to Capt, Capt to Maj, Maj to Lt Col and Lt Col to Col . If services HQ are not doing anything about it and if IESM also overlooks this aspect ,we would back to same situation of monumental omission/blunder.
I did send some e mails on this aspect to u and others, but i dont find this aspect in these projections. FUNDAMENTAL,THOSE UNIT CDRS OF RK OF LT COL WHO FOUGHT THE WARS OF 1947,1762,1965 &1971 AND DEFENDED THIS COUNTRY AND GIVEN ALL THE NAME AND FAME TO DEFENSE SERVICES CANNOT BE SIMPLY OVERLOOKED BY PRESENT LOT WHO ARE BASKING IN ALL THAT GLORY AND FAME.Similarly,earlier platoon and coy cdrs of rk of Capt &Maj must be equated to present rks of Platoon &coy cdrs of rk of Maj and Lt Col. without this aspect the presentation would reflect omission and bias.please therefore,introspect and modify.
kindly , forward this contention to that special petition committee"
Comment No 2
A R GANGA said...
the core and fundamental issue is pay fixing done by all those involved in that act.it is worse than match fixing in sports& games ,particularly in cricket and other fixing acts in the country.
THE FUNDAMENTAL RULE AND PRINCIPLE OF INTEGRATED PAY SCALE , THAT INTEGRATED PAY IS PROPORTIONAL TO LENGTH OF SERVICE FOR ALL OFFICERS UP TO RANK OF BRIG HAS BEEN SHAMELESSLY ABUSED AND VIOLATED BY THOSE WHO DESIGNED AND DEVISED THE FIXATION FORMULA AND PRINTED IN THAT SAI 1987. THAT SHARMA JI WHO WAS IN THAT GROUP CALLED PC CELL WAS THE ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER . HE WAS EVEN BOASTING OF HIS GREAT SKILL OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT A JUNIOR RK OFFICER WITH 30 YRS OF SVC GOT LESS INTEGRATED PAY THAN AN OFFICER OF HIGHER RK WITH 15 YRS OF SVC.THAT WAS THE GENESIS OF THE PROBLEM CREATED/ABETTED BY AG BR.MANUMENTAL -HIMALAYAN BLUNDER AND CRIME.THE RESULT IS GENERATIONS ARE ADVERSELY EFFECTED. THAT SHARMA JI RETIRED AS ARMY CDR.THAT BLUNDER COULD NOT BE RECTIFIED OR CORRECTED BY SO MUCH OF STRUGGLE ,SACRIFICES AND EFFORT.
ALL THOSE WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT BLUNDER ARE LIVING AND AROUND US.WHAT A IRONY ?.
01 May, 2011 23:24
Comment No 3
"a r ganga has left a new comment on your post "4th Pay Commission Rank Pay Anomaly: GOI Again Mov...":
very good analysis with the facts highlighted.one very important and very relevant point is over looked -
a. the rks of officers of past are to be read/equated with present rks , with abolition of 2/Lt rk and and re-designation of rks of appts company commander and unit cdr. , namely- former Lt Col to Col, Maj to Lt Col,Capt to Maj,Lt to Capt.
b. these changes have been introduced since 1980. if these are not suitably modified/equated, there will be another monumental blunder and grave injustice to past pensioners. as it appears AHQ and these veteran org are simply overlooking this as they are not personally effected i only hope these people at the forefront of the movement take notice and accordingly incorporate in their OROP presentations , re-presentations and agitations.
i request all those who read this to express this in various forums.
Posted by a r ganga to India of My Dreams at 05 May, 2011 13:39
In future also I would keep sending similar comments to you for further dissemination. I am sure you would convey them to the appropriate persons of the Governing Body.
With kind regards
Col LK Anand (Retd).
http://www.indiamydreamland.blogspot.com/
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
AFT not a truly Judicial Forum, rules Delhi HC
AFT not a truly Judicial Forum, rules Delhi HC
Empowers HCs to review tribunal orders Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service, Chandigarh, April 27
In a ruling that has wide ramifications on adjudication of service disputes pertaining to the Armed Forces personnel, the Delhi High Court has ruled that the High Courts are constitutionally empowered to review decisions by the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT). The Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007 had stipulated that appeals against AFT orders would lie directly with the Supreme Court.
“The AFT, being manned by personnel appointed by the Executive, albeit in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, cannot be said to be truly a judicial review forum as a substitute to HCs that are constitutional courts and the power of judicial review, being a basic feature of the Constitution, under Article 226 and Article 227 of the Constitution is unaffected by the constitution of the AFT,” a division bench, comprising Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Suresh Kait ruled yesterday.
“Further, Article 227(4) of the Constitution takes away only the administrative supervisory jurisdiction of the HCs over the AFT and does not impact their judicial supervisory jurisdiction. Thus, decisions by the AFT would be amenable to judicial review by HC under the Article 226 as also the Article 227 of the Constitution,” the bench further ruled.
Tribunals can perform a “supplemental as opposed to a substitutional” role vis-a-vis the HCs, the bench held. The AFT was set up to exercise an appellate jurisdiction with respect to orders, findings or sentences of court martial and exercises original jurisdiction with respect to service disputes. The purpose behind it was to provide a dedicated forum for quick redressal of grievances to the armed forces personnel as disposal of cases in the high court took a long time.
The bench held that the right to file an appeal before the SC created as mentioned in the Act meant that the right to appeal to the Supreme Court is not a matter of right, but a matter of discretion to be exercised by the AFT. Further, the discretion of the AFT is limited only to a point of law of general public importance and not every point of law that may have arisen during proceedings.
The HC’s order has also kicked up a debate in legal circles. Some lawyers say that it would be easier for litigants to file appeals against the AFT orders, as it was procedurally, psychologically, financially and physically easier and faster to approach a HC than the SC. Others are of the opinion that if appeals against the AFT orders lie with the HC, then the very purpose of setting up the Tribunal is negated as the HC would again be burdened with additional cases, besides further lengthening the judicial process and disposal time.
Empowers HCs to review tribunal orders Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service, Chandigarh, April 27
In a ruling that has wide ramifications on adjudication of service disputes pertaining to the Armed Forces personnel, the Delhi High Court has ruled that the High Courts are constitutionally empowered to review decisions by the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT). The Armed Forces Tribunal Act 2007 had stipulated that appeals against AFT orders would lie directly with the Supreme Court.
“The AFT, being manned by personnel appointed by the Executive, albeit in consultation with the Chief Justice of India, cannot be said to be truly a judicial review forum as a substitute to HCs that are constitutional courts and the power of judicial review, being a basic feature of the Constitution, under Article 226 and Article 227 of the Constitution is unaffected by the constitution of the AFT,” a division bench, comprising Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Suresh Kait ruled yesterday.
“Further, Article 227(4) of the Constitution takes away only the administrative supervisory jurisdiction of the HCs over the AFT and does not impact their judicial supervisory jurisdiction. Thus, decisions by the AFT would be amenable to judicial review by HC under the Article 226 as also the Article 227 of the Constitution,” the bench further ruled.
Tribunals can perform a “supplemental as opposed to a substitutional” role vis-a-vis the HCs, the bench held. The AFT was set up to exercise an appellate jurisdiction with respect to orders, findings or sentences of court martial and exercises original jurisdiction with respect to service disputes. The purpose behind it was to provide a dedicated forum for quick redressal of grievances to the armed forces personnel as disposal of cases in the high court took a long time.
The bench held that the right to file an appeal before the SC created as mentioned in the Act meant that the right to appeal to the Supreme Court is not a matter of right, but a matter of discretion to be exercised by the AFT. Further, the discretion of the AFT is limited only to a point of law of general public importance and not every point of law that may have arisen during proceedings.
The HC’s order has also kicked up a debate in legal circles. Some lawyers say that it would be easier for litigants to file appeals against the AFT orders, as it was procedurally, psychologically, financially and physically easier and faster to approach a HC than the SC. Others are of the opinion that if appeals against the AFT orders lie with the HC, then the very purpose of setting up the Tribunal is negated as the HC would again be burdened with additional cases, besides further lengthening the judicial process and disposal time.
Nitin Pai's article in Business Standard
Dear Veterans
I'm glad to read the comments of Admiral Harinder Singh and General SK Bahri on Mr. Nitin Pai's article in Business Standard (RMP 192/2011 - 29 Apr 2011)
The gradual slide in Defence Forces' status versus babus and police services is a result of our own ineffective leadership. Everytime the babus kick us with okay from politicians, we have taken it lying down. We have not realised that we are being treated as sentries and chowkidars and not guardians of the nation. I have been yelling at every forum that the fault lies with us because our Chiefs' forget that they are still the tigers even though without teeth and claws. Nothing will change as long as politicians are fire-walled by babus. Petitions, dharnas, fasts, supporting Anna Hazare against corruption et al will not help. There is only one mantra for us: Iqbal's famous lines ... Khudi ko kar buland itna ...
I have said it many times and I say it again: one statement from the Army Chief on the state of the nation will make all babus and politicians run for cover. And if the top brass of all three services stand together to thwart any attempt to dismiss the Chief, Defence Forces would regain their legitimate place as the strongest national pillar among legislature, executive, judiciary and media.
Bravery does not happen only on the battlefield.
Veteran Ram Gulrajani
Chennai.
Nitin Pai: The case for military diplomacyBusiness Standard 18 Apr 2011
One reason to go to a prestigious institution like IIM or Harvard is for the contacts you develop there. Now imagine after you come back from such a school, your employer — out of the fear that corporate secrets would leak to competitors — forbids you from maintaining any contact with your former classmates. Yet that is exactly the case with our defence officers, who are not permitted to even exchange emails with their former classmates without the approval of their respective service headquarters in New Delhi.
The paranoia underlying such an indiscriminate policy not only embarrasses individuals but also the nation. The world’s largest democracy trusts its officers with deadly weapons but doesn’t trust their sense of discretion. It also damages its own return on investment, for the officers who return from the world’s best military academies abroad bring back only the knowledge, not the social networks that could serve the nation’s interests. This is but one manifestation of India’s overall denial of a place for the armed forces in foreign policy. Apart from a very small number of mid-ranking officers who work together on a limited number of issues, the two anchor tenants of South Block, the ministries of defence and external affairs, might well be on two different planets.
But why do we need military officers to engage in diplomacy? Well, not only does the nature of contemporary international politics call for it, but other important nations practise it. Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff of the US and the four-star generals that head its theatre commands are important players in operationalising Washington’s foreign policy around the world. The Pentagon’s foreign policy resources are comparable to the State Department’s. Look around the neighbourhood. The armed forces are key players in politics and security policies of all our neighbours, from China to Indonesia, from Pakistan to Myanmar. Further afield in Southeast Asia, it is not uncommon for retired military officers — like Indonesia’s President Yudhoyono — to occupy high political leadership positions.
Given our own firm believe in civilian supremacy over the armed forces, we are clearly uncomfortable with the sometimes dubious role the military plays in domestic politics in other countries. However, to pretend that other countries should operate by our domestic norms is unrealistic. Generals Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Than Shwe and Chen Bingde and their colleagues shape their nations’ policy towards India, we like it or not. Engaging them purely on civilian diplomatic terms, if at all, fails to engage their military establishments. Similarly, joint exercises and military-to-military cooperation arrangements only cover professional military matters. India does not engage in military diplomacy in any meaningful form.
This is part of the reason why India finds itself in a bind with respect to Pakistan, where it needs to engage the real power centre but finds itself with no means to. It is not a matter of matching protocol, for it is not purely military matters that we wish to discuss with General Kayani. Washington, in comparison, handles this a lot better through Admiral Mullen and General David Petraeus, the CENTCOM chief, who are the primary interlocutors with the Pakistan army. Given that these admirals and generals are engaged in diplomatic activities of serious importance to India, can we afford to stay out of the military diplomatic loop?
This is not to say that New Delhi must set its generals and admirals off on diplomatic missions next week. Rather, India must make military diplomacy part of its foreign policy toolbox and create the capacities, structures and processes necessary to put it into action.
Diplomacy must enter the syllabuses of our military academies. Trained military officers must be deputed to Indian embassies and missions around the world, both to add to the numbers of defence attaches as well as to perform non-military functions. Not only will this expose military officers to the conduct of diplomacy but also address another problem — the inability of the Indian Foreign Service to ramp up its numbers fast enough to meet the growing demand. Furthermore, the socialisation of defence and foreign service officers through such postings will create benefits in the long term, in terms of greater understanding and policy coordination.
What about structures? As the late K Subrahmanyam consistently argued, India must restructure its armed forces along the lines of the US, with a joint chiefs of staff and tri-service theatre commands. Like it has done for the US, such a structure will lend itself to the conduct of military diplomacy.
However, while we wait for the political and defence establishments to develop an appetite for major reforms, it is possible to make adjustments to the existing structures to get some mileage. Why not make a senior defence officer the National Security Advisor? Why doesn’t the National Security Council have senior military officers in top leadership positions? Indeed, a general in the NSC can well be the point person to engage the Pakistani army establishment.
In the meantime, perhaps we can allow our defence officers to keep in touch with their foreign friends.
The author is founder and fellow for geopolitics at the Takshashila Institution and editor of Pragati – The Indian National Interest Review_
I'm glad to read the comments of Admiral Harinder Singh and General SK Bahri on Mr. Nitin Pai's article in Business Standard (RMP 192/2011 - 29 Apr 2011)
The gradual slide in Defence Forces' status versus babus and police services is a result of our own ineffective leadership. Everytime the babus kick us with okay from politicians, we have taken it lying down. We have not realised that we are being treated as sentries and chowkidars and not guardians of the nation. I have been yelling at every forum that the fault lies with us because our Chiefs' forget that they are still the tigers even though without teeth and claws. Nothing will change as long as politicians are fire-walled by babus. Petitions, dharnas, fasts, supporting Anna Hazare against corruption et al will not help. There is only one mantra for us: Iqbal's famous lines ... Khudi ko kar buland itna ...
I have said it many times and I say it again: one statement from the Army Chief on the state of the nation will make all babus and politicians run for cover. And if the top brass of all three services stand together to thwart any attempt to dismiss the Chief, Defence Forces would regain their legitimate place as the strongest national pillar among legislature, executive, judiciary and media.
Bravery does not happen only on the battlefield.
Veteran Ram Gulrajani
Chennai.
Nitin Pai: The case for military diplomacyBusiness Standard 18 Apr 2011
One reason to go to a prestigious institution like IIM or Harvard is for the contacts you develop there. Now imagine after you come back from such a school, your employer — out of the fear that corporate secrets would leak to competitors — forbids you from maintaining any contact with your former classmates. Yet that is exactly the case with our defence officers, who are not permitted to even exchange emails with their former classmates without the approval of their respective service headquarters in New Delhi.
The paranoia underlying such an indiscriminate policy not only embarrasses individuals but also the nation. The world’s largest democracy trusts its officers with deadly weapons but doesn’t trust their sense of discretion. It also damages its own return on investment, for the officers who return from the world’s best military academies abroad bring back only the knowledge, not the social networks that could serve the nation’s interests. This is but one manifestation of India’s overall denial of a place for the armed forces in foreign policy. Apart from a very small number of mid-ranking officers who work together on a limited number of issues, the two anchor tenants of South Block, the ministries of defence and external affairs, might well be on two different planets.
But why do we need military officers to engage in diplomacy? Well, not only does the nature of contemporary international politics call for it, but other important nations practise it. Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff of the US and the four-star generals that head its theatre commands are important players in operationalising Washington’s foreign policy around the world. The Pentagon’s foreign policy resources are comparable to the State Department’s. Look around the neighbourhood. The armed forces are key players in politics and security policies of all our neighbours, from China to Indonesia, from Pakistan to Myanmar. Further afield in Southeast Asia, it is not uncommon for retired military officers — like Indonesia’s President Yudhoyono — to occupy high political leadership positions.
Given our own firm believe in civilian supremacy over the armed forces, we are clearly uncomfortable with the sometimes dubious role the military plays in domestic politics in other countries. However, to pretend that other countries should operate by our domestic norms is unrealistic. Generals Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Than Shwe and Chen Bingde and their colleagues shape their nations’ policy towards India, we like it or not. Engaging them purely on civilian diplomatic terms, if at all, fails to engage their military establishments. Similarly, joint exercises and military-to-military cooperation arrangements only cover professional military matters. India does not engage in military diplomacy in any meaningful form.
This is part of the reason why India finds itself in a bind with respect to Pakistan, where it needs to engage the real power centre but finds itself with no means to. It is not a matter of matching protocol, for it is not purely military matters that we wish to discuss with General Kayani. Washington, in comparison, handles this a lot better through Admiral Mullen and General David Petraeus, the CENTCOM chief, who are the primary interlocutors with the Pakistan army. Given that these admirals and generals are engaged in diplomatic activities of serious importance to India, can we afford to stay out of the military diplomatic loop?
This is not to say that New Delhi must set its generals and admirals off on diplomatic missions next week. Rather, India must make military diplomacy part of its foreign policy toolbox and create the capacities, structures and processes necessary to put it into action.
Diplomacy must enter the syllabuses of our military academies. Trained military officers must be deputed to Indian embassies and missions around the world, both to add to the numbers of defence attaches as well as to perform non-military functions. Not only will this expose military officers to the conduct of diplomacy but also address another problem — the inability of the Indian Foreign Service to ramp up its numbers fast enough to meet the growing demand. Furthermore, the socialisation of defence and foreign service officers through such postings will create benefits in the long term, in terms of greater understanding and policy coordination.
What about structures? As the late K Subrahmanyam consistently argued, India must restructure its armed forces along the lines of the US, with a joint chiefs of staff and tri-service theatre commands. Like it has done for the US, such a structure will lend itself to the conduct of military diplomacy.
However, while we wait for the political and defence establishments to develop an appetite for major reforms, it is possible to make adjustments to the existing structures to get some mileage. Why not make a senior defence officer the National Security Advisor? Why doesn’t the National Security Council have senior military officers in top leadership positions? Indeed, a general in the NSC can well be the point person to engage the Pakistani army establishment.
In the meantime, perhaps we can allow our defence officers to keep in touch with their foreign friends.
The author is founder and fellow for geopolitics at the Takshashila Institution and editor of Pragati – The Indian National Interest Review_
Jhunjhunu rally after thoughts
Dear Kamboj Sir,
I wish to write in response to the email written by Gen Secy, IESL about the Jhunjhunu Rally Sitrep.
It is rather amusing how you deal with something like this. When you have to defend an absolute truth, something that occurred in front of fifteen hundred people. I shall, however, begin nevertheless.
So IESL is the river and everything else is a nallah/tributary? Fair enough. Even if I agree to it for a moment, one needs to take one step back and think why o why were the nallahs needed if the river was able to quench everyone's thirst? This so called river left ESM across the country high and dry. Empty words, false promises, personal agendas and what not. And that is why concerned ESM said, to hell with it, we'll just help ourselves. And that is how IESM was born.
But that story, of course, has been told by many, many times. And I do not expect 'the river' to understand or appreciate it.
What is most amusing is the fact that the 'size' of the organization is always a centre point of the discussions. Shouldn't 'what we have done and what we want to get done for ESM' be the centre point of our discussion? I do not remember anyone from IESM talking about our size or how magnanimous we have become. Although we are always found talking about what our plans are, our goals our forthcoming endeavours and how we plan to bring about a positive change in every ESM's life in the country.
I would very much appreciate if, instead of their size and strength, the other ESM Organizations would talk about what they are doing for OROP, enhancing the AFT vested powers, the Rank Pay cases, the Petition Committee, Widows Pension, ECHS related problems and the list is endless. Why would they not talk about the real issues that affect real ESM and their families? IESM would be the first organization to congratulate them if they can really get any of these issues sorted.
And for the lies that have been mentioned in the email, I might as well not go there! Brig. Kartar Singh was with us, travelled with us and all along we were discussing matters concerning the welfare and unity of ESM. With respectable, honourable veterans like him, we can hope for a future where all ESM organizations can be one and would together work towards the betterment of ESM. Surely we must realize sooner than later, that in the larger good for the ESM community lays our own good. There is no other way to it really. And while there were actually more than fifteen hundred attendees at the rally (you can actually count more than half in the photos itself),we do not care if there were five hundred or even five. If we were able to give them hope, strength and assurance that we are watching their back - I say it’s a job well done.
So this is my appeal, my request to IESM, IESL and every other ESM organization my voice is reaching out to -- our efforts, our actions and our policies must be targeted towards reaching out to and for the welfare of that retired soldier living in an unknown village, living an unknown life, unknown to what his life could be if the powers that be recognized that he too exists... Our name matters not, the name of our organization matters not, what maters is the positive trail we leave behind us.
Good luck, God bless and Godspeed...
Kameshwar
--
Kameshwar Pandey
Sub/Maj Hony. Lt. (Veteran)
Governing Body Member
Indian ESM Movement
Resi: 230, Pocket-1,
DDA SFS Flats, Sector-1,
Jhunjhunu rally after thoughts
Dear Kamboj Sir,
I wish to write in response to the email written by Gen Secy, IESL about the Jhunjhunu Rally Sitrep.
It is rather amusing how you deal with something like this. When you have to defend an absolute truth, something that occurred in front of fifteen hundred people. I shall, however, begin nevertheless.
So IESL is the river and everything else is a nallah/tributary? Fair enough. Even if I agree to it for a moment, one needs to take one step back and think why o why were the nallahs needed if the river was able to quench everyone's thirst? This so called river left ESM across the country high and dry. Empty words, false promises, personal agendas and what not. And that is why concerned ESM said, to hell with it, we'll just help ourselves. And that is how IESM was born.
But that story, of course, has been told by many, many times. And I do not expect 'the river' to understand or appreciate it.
What is most amusing is the fact that the 'size' of the organization is always a centre point of the discussions. Shouldn't 'what we have done and what we want to get done for ESM' be the centre point of our discussion? I do not remember anyone from IESM talking about our size or how magnanimous we have become. Although we are always found talking about what our plans are, our goals our forthcoming endeavours and how we plan to bring about a positive change in every ESM's life in the country.
I would very much appreciate if, instead of their size and strength, the other ESM Organizations would talk about what they are doing for OROP, enhancing the AFT vested powers, the Rank Pay cases, the Petition Committee, Widows Pension, ECHS related problems and the list is endless. Why would they not talk about the real issues that affect real ESM and their families? IESM would be the first organization to congratulate them if they can really get any of these issues sorted.
And for the lies that have been mentioned in the email, I might as well not go there! Brig. Kartar Singh was with us, travelled with us and all along we were discussing matters concerning the welfare and unity of ESM. With respectable, honourable veterans like him, we can hope for a future where all ESM organizations can be one and would together work towards the betterment of ESM. Surely we must realize sooner than later, that in the larger good for the ESM community lays our own good. There is no other way to it really. And while there were actually more than fifteen hundred attendees at the rally (you can actually count more than half in the photos itself),we do not care if there were five hundred or even five. If we were able to give them hope, strength and assurance that we are watching their back - I say it’s a job well done.
So this is my appeal, my request to IESM, IESL and every other ESM organization my voice is reaching out to -- our efforts, our actions and our policies must be targeted towards reaching out to and for the welfare of that retired soldier living in an unknown village, living an unknown life, unknown to what his life could be if the powers that be recognized that he too exists... Our name matters not, the name of our organization matters not, what maters is the positive trail we leave behind us.
Good luck, God bless and Godspeed...
Kameshwar
--
Kameshwar Pandey
Sub/Maj Hony. Lt. (Veteran)
Governing Body Member
Indian ESM Movement
Resi: 230, Pocket-1,
DDA SFS Flats, Sector-1,
One Rank One Pension – An Approach by R Adm Alan O'leary
By Rear Admiral Alan O’Leary (Retd)
Ex -Chairman PARC Sixth CPCIntroduction:
1. For sometime past, I have contemplated putting my thoughts together on OROP (One rank, one pension) and penning them down, in such a way that the reader could appreciate the nuances of the subject, that would eventually lead to some of our intellectuals ,examining the issue in its entirety and determining a way ahead. It would be presumptuous on my part to assume, that I could put all the facts down, but am attempting to focus on the main issues, that I feel could be brought into our case. I would like to place on record, that I am in full agreement with the article written by Group Capt AG Bewoor, on 21 Mar 11, that was circulated on the IESM network. Complications - OROP:
2. OROP, is not a simple issue, which has been further complicated by the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, in a similar fashion as was done in the Fourth Pay Commission, when a vertical Pay Band, created ostensibly, to address stagnation in the ranks of Armed Forces officers, up to the rank of Brigadier, laid the cornerstone for denigration of ranks, within the Armed Forces. This happened, because Rank pay was introduced up to the rank of Brigadier but was subsumed from the replacement scale, instead of being given over and above the replacement scale (this is the famous Major Dhanapalan case for which a final decision is awaited from the Supreme Court). Furthermore, because Major Generals and above did not get Rank pay, those Major Generals who retired prior to the fourth CPC, found their pensions lower than that of a Brigadier, which was much later brought at par. Some justice.
3. The Sixth Pay Commission, introduced pay promotions, for the All India Services and the Organised Group A services, on a non-functional basis up to the HAG Grade, but did not consider it fit to extend this largesse to officers of the Armed Forces whose pay traditionally was at par with the Organised Group A services.
Functioning of the Pay Commission:
4. I will not delve on why OROP is required. This aspect has been clearly brought out by Group Capt Bewoor. One aspect of his article however is worth mentioning and I will restate it. He, like all members of the Services Pay Cells, in the Sixth Pay Commission, always wondered why, the Pay Commission (and subsequently those same individuals, who continued to function in the Finance Ministry, after the Pay Commission was wound up) in examining the issues relating to Fauji's, came out with solutions, “crafted with deliberate cussedness and meanness". All Pay Commissions (3, 4, 5 and 6) had Armed Forces Pay Cells that interacted with the Pay Commission. Some to a greater extent and some to a lesser extent. I understand that in the Fifth Pay Commission, there was hardly any interaction. What was common in all cases, however, was the fact that the Armed Forces Pay Cells, had dedicated and competent Officers, who did their homework and in no time at all, could present their cases, or clarify issues to the Pay Commission.
5. The Pay Commissions were always headed by an eminent Jurist, but there was no opportunity given to the Armed Forces Pay Cells, to clarify issues or to defend themselves, during the proceedings, with him present. The whole exercise was carried out behind closed doors at the whims of bureaucrats in the commission. The Armed Forces were never informed of the devious methodologies being determined, that would always put them on the back foot. If they were, I am sure many of the anomalies could have been easily resolved, before the recommendations were finalised. The Sixth CPC even boasted, that for quicker decision making (and secrecy) their Officer complement was kept to a minimum. Their final recommendations, were given to the Armed Forces Pay Cells the night before the recommendations were placed in the public domain, at a dinner hosted by them, at the India International Centre. I am saying this, so that the reader can understand, why it was necessary for the Armed Forces Pay Cells, to try and get back what was denied in the first instance. Furthermore, as I already stated, the same individuals who crafted the Sixth CPC recommendations, were promptly appointed to the Finance Ministry, so that they could continue their mission to sidestep and deflect our objections, which they did with considerable success.
Unfinished agenda of the Sixth CPC:
6. In my first e-mail, I had mentioned, that there were two issues that bothered me the most and which were swept under the carpet. The first, concerned the status of Lt Colonels, who being in a higher Pay Scale compared to civil servants (equivalent to Commandant in the Para military services) prior to the Sixth CPC, were given a lower Grade Pay of Rs 8000, instead of Rs 8700. The second and equally vital issue was the introduction of a methodology to isolate the Service Officer from the largesse proposed for Organised Group A Officers. The latter, would ensure that during the currency of the Sixth CPC, almost all officers of the Organised Group A services, would cross the rubicon of Pay Band 4 and move to HAG, whereas 99% Service Officers will be stuck in Pay Band 4. Sadly, though the PARC had got the COSC approval (July 2008), to place on record the objections of the Armed Forces to the Government, this has not been progressed. This, if not ironed out, will have very serious consequences for the Pay equivalence and status of Armed Forces Officers in the future. It also means that the Civil Services have taken our lead and given unto themselves OROP, which is at the moment enjoyed by Lt Generals and above, who are placed in HAG and HAG +. A mere 0.02% of the Officer cadre in the Armed Forces, vis a vis 100% of Officers from the Organised Group A services. I would also like to point out, that PARC had fought and brought Lt Generals (non C-in-C) into HAG. They were earlier also in Pay Band 4. Thus, within the same Pay Band, the difference in pay (Lt Col to Lt Gen), were the increments on account of length of Service and Grade Pay. For pensions for those who retired prior to 1 Jan 2006, the difference in pension between a Lt Colonel and Lt General was half the difference of Grade Pay. This changed only subsequently for Lt Generals (non C-in-C).
Pay promotions for IAS Officers and other Organised Group A services on a Non-Functional basis:
7. The Govt have approved the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, (Art 3.3.12, Page 174, of the Sixth CPC recommendations) which states, “The Govt. should consider batch-wise parity while empanelling and\or posting at Centre between respective batches of the IAS and other Organised Group A services, with the gap being restricted to 2 years. Whenever any IAS Officer of a particular batch is posted in the Centre to a particular grade, carrying a specific grade pay in PB 3 or PB 4, grant of a higher Pay Scale on non-functional basis to officers belonging to batches of organised Group A services, that are senior by two years or more, should be given by the Government”. Subsequently, the Govt. have also clarified that an Officer in the civil services, who has completed 5 years in the SAG grade will be given a pay promotion to the HAG scale on a non-functional basis.
8. In connection with the above, I would like to add that a Joint Secy to the Govt of India and a Major General equivalent, are SAG officers, but in protocol are higher than SAG officers of the Organised Group A services, who are not appointed to the post of Joint Secy to the Govt of India. This means, that an Organised Group A Service Officer, will attain SAG grade in 18 years (2 years astern of the IAS). He will not be equivalent to a Major General in protocol but would move up to the HAG grade (Lt General) on a non functional, pay promotion basis in 23 years, whereas a Brigadier if selected, is promoted to Major General in 32 years (SAG grade) and in most cases will retire in that grade. A mere 30% of Major Generals will attain HAG grade. The other Major Generals retiring in the SAG grade even though they may have completed 5 years of service in that grade. Is such a gross disparity acceptable to the Armed Forces?
9. The above provisions, made by the IAS for themselves and the Organised Group A services, will keep them laughing all the way to the bank, not only in their service career, but also in their retirement. These provisions facilitate them leap frogging to higher posts on a non functional basis, with the pay of higher posts, whereas the Armed Forces Officer stagnates in rank and at the end of it all, 99% will retire in Pay Band 4.The question is, how is it that pay promotions on a non functional basis, are within the realm of reasonability, when it pertains to the IAS and Organised Group A services, but is absolutely unacceptable for the Armed Forces. This disparity and bias I am sure, is without precedent anywhere in the world. One of the specious arguments used by the Finance Ministry is that, consequent to the AVS Committee report, Majors are promoted to Lt Colonel in 13 years, by time. How unholy an unorthodox, but are they able to explain how they have gone even further for the civil services in their proposals at Article 3.3.12. Is it an acceptable logic that IAS Officers are mature enough to attain the SAG grade in 16 years (maximum), whereas Armed Forces officers need 32 years to reach the same level?. Yet another oft repeated, half truth, is that Armed Forces officers are commissioned at the age of 20 years and IAS Officers join at 28 years. In other words, the Armed Forces Officer has to pay the price of qualifying earlier, after meeting the graduation criteria and also getting through the Services Selection Board and still losing out to the Organised Group A services Officer. What they conveniently gloss over, is that they enjoy a full career up to 60 years and beyond, whereas 99% of Armed Forces officers, retire between 54 to 58 years. Furthermore, the IAS lobby ensures that 90% of their kin continue to serve in various capacities in the Government up to the age of 65 and beyond. A case for raising the retirement age of Civil Government servants to 65 years is in fact being currently considered by the DoP&T.
10. One aspect, always brought out by the Finance Ministry, is that all those who joined the Civil Services, post 1 January 2004, will be governed by a New pension scheme that is self contributory, unlike the Armed Forces that continue to enjoy a pension scheme. First of all, nobody can say for certain, that there will be no change of policy in 2024. Secondly, this does not make martyrs of those who joined the Civil Services, before 1 January 2004 for which they need to give themselves fast track pay promotions and eventually the highest slab to retire from.
Key Issues-OROP:
11. The following are the main reasons for OROP: -
· Giving the Armed Forces officer, the same pay promotions on a non-functional basis, as approved by the Govt, for the All India Services and the Organised Group A services (Article 3.3.12 of the Sixth CPC report).
· Reducing the disparity in pensions, between those who retire in the currency of a Pay Commission and those who retired earlier.
· Ensuring that an Armed forces officer is correctly compensated for his length of service and rank in which he retired (Comparable to the Organised Group A services).
· Rationalising the pension gaps between ranks, with special emphasis on those ranks in which a large number of officers retire (Major and Lt Col).
· Bridging the pension gaps, resulting from the skewed imbalance, caused by adjusting all ranks from Major General and below, within Pay Band 3 & 4. This is further compounded, as pre 1 January 2006 pensioners, are brought down to the minimum of the Band in which they retired and the difference in pensions being half the difference of Grade Pay.
· Addressing the issue of Armed Forces officers, stagnating below, Joint Secy level, due to their traditional rank structures and denying them pay promotions, at par with the changes invoked for the All India Services and Organised Group A services. This, despite the fact that successive Pay Commissions have ruled that parity needs to be maintained between the Armed Forces and the Organised Group A services.
· Stepping up (notionally) the pensions of Majors who retired in the previous pay commissions and who are now affected in their present pensions, which are based on 13 years of service, whereas these officers in the past had served at least 20 years before they took premature retirement.
· Protection to retired Armed Forces officers whose pensionary status has been reduced, consequent to Cadre reviews of the Organised Group A services, thereby upsetting the parity that existed at the time of their retirement (Status of a Lt Col, who retired prior to the Sixth CPC, was higher than a Commandant in the para military forces. There is thus no reason why, these officer’s pension should now be lower than a Commandant of the para military forces).
Pension Structure:
12. Consequent to adjustments, post the Sixth CPC report, the levels of pensions for various ranks in the Officer Cadre, as also family pensions, have been promulgated vide a MoD letter of 15 Nov 2010. These are indicated below –
SerialRankOfficer’s PensionFamily Pension
(a)Lt (Army)Rs 13,500Rs 8,100
(b)Capt (Army)Rs 13,850Rs 8,310
(c)Major Rs 14,100Rs 8,460
(d)Lt Col Rs 25,700Rs 15,420
(e)Col Rs 26,050Rs 15,630
(f)BrigadierRs 26,150Rs 15,690
(g)Major GeneralRs 26,700Rs 16,020
(h)Lt GeneralRs 36,500Rs 21,900
(j)Army CommanderRs 40,000Rs 24,000
(k)Army ChiefRs 45,000Rs 27,000
13. The table indicates qualifying service from 10 years to 30 years and the amount of pension indicated is inclusive of the Rank weightage admissible that varies from 9 years for Lt (Army) to 3 years for a General.
Service required for maximum pension:
14. Pension in a rank, varies depending on the length of service that plateaus at different levels, depending on the Rank in which the Officer retired, as shown below
(a)Lt(Army) to Capt (Army)24 Years
(b)Major25 Years
(c)Lt Col(TS)28 Years
(d)Lt Col (Select)26 Years
(e)Col(TS &Select)26 Years
(f)Brigadier28 Years
(g)Major General and above30 Years
15. From the above it is obvious, that the Pay Band structure coupled with a methodology of adjusting pensions at the minimum of the Pay Band in the subsequent Pay Commission is designed to cause dissatisfaction in the Armed Forces, but is perfectly suited to the changes invoked by the Sixth CPC for the AIS and Organised Group A Services, where officers will stagnate (if this is the correct term) at the highest levels, all crossing the HAG barrier, whereas, in the Armed Forces 99% officers will stagnate in Pay Band 4.
Fault lines in the pension structure:
16. These are indicated below-
· The difference of pension of a Lt Col ( Select) who retires after 26 years of service is only Rs. 1,000 less than a Major General with over 30 years service
· The difference in pension between a Col (Battalion Commander) and a Brigadier (Brigade Commander), who retired before 1 Jan 2006, is Rs 100. (3 cone ice-creams or one bottle of rum and a packet of Lays)
· The difference in pension between a Lt Col and Brigadier, who retired prior to 1 Jan 2006, is Rs 450. And the rank of Brigadier is attained after an officer qualifies two promotion Boards.
· Artificial gulfs have been created between Majors and Lt Colonels (Rs 11,600) and also between Major Generals and Lt Generals, non C-in C (Rs 9,800). The question is whether the convenience to adhering to artificially created barriers is logical and acceptable.
· For ranks at the bottom of the scale (PB - 3 and higher), the pensionary awards are reasonable i.e. in the ranks of Lt (Army), Lt Col, Lt Gens and above. Offcourse as brought out earlier, the Armed Forces need to press for an enhancement of Grade pay of Lt Col from Rs 8000 to Rs 8700,which was a faulty and arbitrary dispensation, when it became inevitable for the Govt to bring Lt Col's to Pay Band -4.
· For ranks not mentioned above, the pensionary awards should have been spaced out more evenly for pensions. In this connection, the Sixth CPC found no difficulty in creating four Pay Bands above the SAG scale i.e. HAG, HAG+, Secy to the Govt of India and Cabinet Secy scales. However, they only devised a single scale below SAG, which has caused so much heart burn in the Armed Forces, since 99% officers currently retire in that scale, as against 100% IAS officers who go up to the Apex scale.
Recommendations on OROP:
17. In my opinion, on first principle, the Armed Forces Officer, must be given the same benefits sanctioned by the Govt for officers of the organised Group A services, as successive Pay Commissions have ruled that, there should be pay parity between officers of the Armed Forces and the Group A services in general and the Indian Police, in particular. Even the Sixth CPC, have not made any comment to the contrary. Further, this needs to be done, immediately, as there is no justification whatsoever, for stymieing pay progression of an Armed Forces officer, on a non- functional basis(not linked to the extant rank structure) for pay enhancement up to the HAG level. It is only then that we can achieve a true OROP. Since this is an acceptable principle for the AIS and the Organised Group A services, there is no rationale for excluding Armed Forces Officers from this scheme. Ofcourse, it will actually benefit officers who will retire in the future, yet it will have to be taken into account, for pension fixation for those who retired before the next CPC. It may be relevant to point out that Lt Gens(non C -in C ) were placed in PB -4,by the Sixth CPC, but were subsequently raised to the HAG + scale after hardnosed negotiations, notwithstanding the fact that they were not in this scale, when they retired. Hence there is no reason, why Colonels and Brigadiers cannot also finally attain the HAG grade prior to retirement. This will only place them at par with their counterparts in the Group A services. Furthermore, a precedent exists in the fifth CPC, where Brigadiers owing to Rank Pay, drew more pension than a Maj Gen.
18. I believe that the dividing line for promotions in the Armed Forces is extremely fine and with promotional posts so limited, even outstanding Officers are not promoted, due to deep selection. We therefore cannot lose this opportunity of also taking Colonels and Brigadiers to the HAG scale, on a non - functional, pay promotion basis. In the Armed Forces, the rank and command structures are well defined and understood. Even today, a Colonel serving in the glacier or, a Capt(Navy) from the Aviation or submarine arms, would draw more pay in real terms than a Maj General or a Rear Admiral from the the general service. But that does not dilute the command structure. Yet, I know that there will be some reservations amongst the top management of the Armed Forces to accept this, whose doubts will be fuelled by those in the Finance Ministry. However could those at the helm of the Finance Ministry, then explain their actions with regard to the assured career progression from Pay Band -3, up to the HAG scale, for themselves and also for the Organised Group A services? My biggest fear is that if this anomaly is not corrected, then in the next Pay Commission, these differences will be fully exploited to further dilute, the status and pay of Armed Forces officers. This therefore requires immediate correction.
19. Notwithstanding the above, we need to also readjust pensionary benchmarks, for our retired fraternity, so that the differences in pension compensate a retired officer meaningfully, for his length of service and rank, in which he retired. Also, protecting the officers who retired, before changes in the time spent in the lower ranks was reduced, post the AVS Committee report. The methodology, of bunching various ranks and bringing them down to the minimum of the Pay Band, is clearly unsuited to the Armed Forces. Horizontal bands or striations are necessary and desirable. Taking into account the table at para 12 above, the following minimum pensions are suggested:-
(a) Lt(Army) - Rs 13,500.(No change, as an officer who retired in this rank, would have spent, only 3-4 years, as a commissioned officer)
(b) Capt (Army) - Rs 16,500. (As an officer in this rank would have spent 11 years as a commissioned officer)
(c) Major - Rs 19,500 (An officer who retired in this rank, would have at least completed time for pension i.e. 20 years)
(d) Lt Col - Rs 25,700. (No change, as this pension is given to a Lt Col, who has completed 26 years of service)
(e) Brigadier - Rs 31,500. (An officer who retired in this rank, even prematurely, would have completed at least 32 years of service)
(f) Major Gen - Rs 33,500. (This pension is recommended as less than 1% of Armed Forces officers attain Flag Rank)
OROP -Other Ranks:
20. In this paper, I have not discussed this subject, as there are many other factors that are quite different as compared to Officers. Firstly their careers are truncated to a far greater extent. Secondly, although their pensions are decided at the top of the scale in which they retired, even with the assured career progression approved by the Sixth CPC, they may not be able to get the third pay promotion before they retire, unlike civil servants. Consequent to the Sixth Pay Commission awards, there were positive changes made to the modified assured career progression methodology for civilians that have so far not been made applicable to the other ranks of the Armed Forces. This is therefore a subject that needs to be considered separately, which will follow in a subsequent article.
Conclusion:
21. This paper seeks to bring out issues that, if not corrected, will result in a sense of despondency and disillusionment amongst the officer cadre of the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces officer does not desire more compensation, either in his service career or after his retirement. He just wants, what justifiably should have come his way, without having to fight for his rights. Lowering of his status and thereby his pay, without a valid reason, cannot help keep his morale high. Unfortunately the Armed Forces have never shown the resolve they display in battle, as do when it comes to matters pertaining to their pay and perks. This is all the more reason, why they should be treated with the respect that is their due.
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THE END
Ex -Chairman PARC Sixth CPCIntroduction:
1. For sometime past, I have contemplated putting my thoughts together on OROP (One rank, one pension) and penning them down, in such a way that the reader could appreciate the nuances of the subject, that would eventually lead to some of our intellectuals ,examining the issue in its entirety and determining a way ahead. It would be presumptuous on my part to assume, that I could put all the facts down, but am attempting to focus on the main issues, that I feel could be brought into our case. I would like to place on record, that I am in full agreement with the article written by Group Capt AG Bewoor, on 21 Mar 11, that was circulated on the IESM network. Complications - OROP:
2. OROP, is not a simple issue, which has been further complicated by the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, in a similar fashion as was done in the Fourth Pay Commission, when a vertical Pay Band, created ostensibly, to address stagnation in the ranks of Armed Forces officers, up to the rank of Brigadier, laid the cornerstone for denigration of ranks, within the Armed Forces. This happened, because Rank pay was introduced up to the rank of Brigadier but was subsumed from the replacement scale, instead of being given over and above the replacement scale (this is the famous Major Dhanapalan case for which a final decision is awaited from the Supreme Court). Furthermore, because Major Generals and above did not get Rank pay, those Major Generals who retired prior to the fourth CPC, found their pensions lower than that of a Brigadier, which was much later brought at par. Some justice.
3. The Sixth Pay Commission, introduced pay promotions, for the All India Services and the Organised Group A services, on a non-functional basis up to the HAG Grade, but did not consider it fit to extend this largesse to officers of the Armed Forces whose pay traditionally was at par with the Organised Group A services.
Functioning of the Pay Commission:
4. I will not delve on why OROP is required. This aspect has been clearly brought out by Group Capt Bewoor. One aspect of his article however is worth mentioning and I will restate it. He, like all members of the Services Pay Cells, in the Sixth Pay Commission, always wondered why, the Pay Commission (and subsequently those same individuals, who continued to function in the Finance Ministry, after the Pay Commission was wound up) in examining the issues relating to Fauji's, came out with solutions, “crafted with deliberate cussedness and meanness". All Pay Commissions (3, 4, 5 and 6) had Armed Forces Pay Cells that interacted with the Pay Commission. Some to a greater extent and some to a lesser extent. I understand that in the Fifth Pay Commission, there was hardly any interaction. What was common in all cases, however, was the fact that the Armed Forces Pay Cells, had dedicated and competent Officers, who did their homework and in no time at all, could present their cases, or clarify issues to the Pay Commission.
5. The Pay Commissions were always headed by an eminent Jurist, but there was no opportunity given to the Armed Forces Pay Cells, to clarify issues or to defend themselves, during the proceedings, with him present. The whole exercise was carried out behind closed doors at the whims of bureaucrats in the commission. The Armed Forces were never informed of the devious methodologies being determined, that would always put them on the back foot. If they were, I am sure many of the anomalies could have been easily resolved, before the recommendations were finalised. The Sixth CPC even boasted, that for quicker decision making (and secrecy) their Officer complement was kept to a minimum. Their final recommendations, were given to the Armed Forces Pay Cells the night before the recommendations were placed in the public domain, at a dinner hosted by them, at the India International Centre. I am saying this, so that the reader can understand, why it was necessary for the Armed Forces Pay Cells, to try and get back what was denied in the first instance. Furthermore, as I already stated, the same individuals who crafted the Sixth CPC recommendations, were promptly appointed to the Finance Ministry, so that they could continue their mission to sidestep and deflect our objections, which they did with considerable success.
Unfinished agenda of the Sixth CPC:
6. In my first e-mail, I had mentioned, that there were two issues that bothered me the most and which were swept under the carpet. The first, concerned the status of Lt Colonels, who being in a higher Pay Scale compared to civil servants (equivalent to Commandant in the Para military services) prior to the Sixth CPC, were given a lower Grade Pay of Rs 8000, instead of Rs 8700. The second and equally vital issue was the introduction of a methodology to isolate the Service Officer from the largesse proposed for Organised Group A Officers. The latter, would ensure that during the currency of the Sixth CPC, almost all officers of the Organised Group A services, would cross the rubicon of Pay Band 4 and move to HAG, whereas 99% Service Officers will be stuck in Pay Band 4. Sadly, though the PARC had got the COSC approval (July 2008), to place on record the objections of the Armed Forces to the Government, this has not been progressed. This, if not ironed out, will have very serious consequences for the Pay equivalence and status of Armed Forces Officers in the future. It also means that the Civil Services have taken our lead and given unto themselves OROP, which is at the moment enjoyed by Lt Generals and above, who are placed in HAG and HAG +. A mere 0.02% of the Officer cadre in the Armed Forces, vis a vis 100% of Officers from the Organised Group A services. I would also like to point out, that PARC had fought and brought Lt Generals (non C-in-C) into HAG. They were earlier also in Pay Band 4. Thus, within the same Pay Band, the difference in pay (Lt Col to Lt Gen), were the increments on account of length of Service and Grade Pay. For pensions for those who retired prior to 1 Jan 2006, the difference in pension between a Lt Colonel and Lt General was half the difference of Grade Pay. This changed only subsequently for Lt Generals (non C-in-C).
Pay promotions for IAS Officers and other Organised Group A services on a Non-Functional basis:
7. The Govt have approved the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, (Art 3.3.12, Page 174, of the Sixth CPC recommendations) which states, “The Govt. should consider batch-wise parity while empanelling and\or posting at Centre between respective batches of the IAS and other Organised Group A services, with the gap being restricted to 2 years. Whenever any IAS Officer of a particular batch is posted in the Centre to a particular grade, carrying a specific grade pay in PB 3 or PB 4, grant of a higher Pay Scale on non-functional basis to officers belonging to batches of organised Group A services, that are senior by two years or more, should be given by the Government”. Subsequently, the Govt. have also clarified that an Officer in the civil services, who has completed 5 years in the SAG grade will be given a pay promotion to the HAG scale on a non-functional basis.
8. In connection with the above, I would like to add that a Joint Secy to the Govt of India and a Major General equivalent, are SAG officers, but in protocol are higher than SAG officers of the Organised Group A services, who are not appointed to the post of Joint Secy to the Govt of India. This means, that an Organised Group A Service Officer, will attain SAG grade in 18 years (2 years astern of the IAS). He will not be equivalent to a Major General in protocol but would move up to the HAG grade (Lt General) on a non functional, pay promotion basis in 23 years, whereas a Brigadier if selected, is promoted to Major General in 32 years (SAG grade) and in most cases will retire in that grade. A mere 30% of Major Generals will attain HAG grade. The other Major Generals retiring in the SAG grade even though they may have completed 5 years of service in that grade. Is such a gross disparity acceptable to the Armed Forces?
9. The above provisions, made by the IAS for themselves and the Organised Group A services, will keep them laughing all the way to the bank, not only in their service career, but also in their retirement. These provisions facilitate them leap frogging to higher posts on a non functional basis, with the pay of higher posts, whereas the Armed Forces Officer stagnates in rank and at the end of it all, 99% will retire in Pay Band 4.The question is, how is it that pay promotions on a non functional basis, are within the realm of reasonability, when it pertains to the IAS and Organised Group A services, but is absolutely unacceptable for the Armed Forces. This disparity and bias I am sure, is without precedent anywhere in the world. One of the specious arguments used by the Finance Ministry is that, consequent to the AVS Committee report, Majors are promoted to Lt Colonel in 13 years, by time. How unholy an unorthodox, but are they able to explain how they have gone even further for the civil services in their proposals at Article 3.3.12. Is it an acceptable logic that IAS Officers are mature enough to attain the SAG grade in 16 years (maximum), whereas Armed Forces officers need 32 years to reach the same level?. Yet another oft repeated, half truth, is that Armed Forces officers are commissioned at the age of 20 years and IAS Officers join at 28 years. In other words, the Armed Forces Officer has to pay the price of qualifying earlier, after meeting the graduation criteria and also getting through the Services Selection Board and still losing out to the Organised Group A services Officer. What they conveniently gloss over, is that they enjoy a full career up to 60 years and beyond, whereas 99% of Armed Forces officers, retire between 54 to 58 years. Furthermore, the IAS lobby ensures that 90% of their kin continue to serve in various capacities in the Government up to the age of 65 and beyond. A case for raising the retirement age of Civil Government servants to 65 years is in fact being currently considered by the DoP&T.
10. One aspect, always brought out by the Finance Ministry, is that all those who joined the Civil Services, post 1 January 2004, will be governed by a New pension scheme that is self contributory, unlike the Armed Forces that continue to enjoy a pension scheme. First of all, nobody can say for certain, that there will be no change of policy in 2024. Secondly, this does not make martyrs of those who joined the Civil Services, before 1 January 2004 for which they need to give themselves fast track pay promotions and eventually the highest slab to retire from.
Key Issues-OROP:
11. The following are the main reasons for OROP: -
· Giving the Armed Forces officer, the same pay promotions on a non-functional basis, as approved by the Govt, for the All India Services and the Organised Group A services (Article 3.3.12 of the Sixth CPC report).
· Reducing the disparity in pensions, between those who retire in the currency of a Pay Commission and those who retired earlier.
· Ensuring that an Armed forces officer is correctly compensated for his length of service and rank in which he retired (Comparable to the Organised Group A services).
· Rationalising the pension gaps between ranks, with special emphasis on those ranks in which a large number of officers retire (Major and Lt Col).
· Bridging the pension gaps, resulting from the skewed imbalance, caused by adjusting all ranks from Major General and below, within Pay Band 3 & 4. This is further compounded, as pre 1 January 2006 pensioners, are brought down to the minimum of the Band in which they retired and the difference in pensions being half the difference of Grade Pay.
· Addressing the issue of Armed Forces officers, stagnating below, Joint Secy level, due to their traditional rank structures and denying them pay promotions, at par with the changes invoked for the All India Services and Organised Group A services. This, despite the fact that successive Pay Commissions have ruled that parity needs to be maintained between the Armed Forces and the Organised Group A services.
· Stepping up (notionally) the pensions of Majors who retired in the previous pay commissions and who are now affected in their present pensions, which are based on 13 years of service, whereas these officers in the past had served at least 20 years before they took premature retirement.
· Protection to retired Armed Forces officers whose pensionary status has been reduced, consequent to Cadre reviews of the Organised Group A services, thereby upsetting the parity that existed at the time of their retirement (Status of a Lt Col, who retired prior to the Sixth CPC, was higher than a Commandant in the para military forces. There is thus no reason why, these officer’s pension should now be lower than a Commandant of the para military forces).
Pension Structure:
12. Consequent to adjustments, post the Sixth CPC report, the levels of pensions for various ranks in the Officer Cadre, as also family pensions, have been promulgated vide a MoD letter of 15 Nov 2010. These are indicated below –
SerialRankOfficer’s PensionFamily Pension
(a)Lt (Army)Rs 13,500Rs 8,100
(b)Capt (Army)Rs 13,850Rs 8,310
(c)Major Rs 14,100Rs 8,460
(d)Lt Col Rs 25,700Rs 15,420
(e)Col Rs 26,050Rs 15,630
(f)BrigadierRs 26,150Rs 15,690
(g)Major GeneralRs 26,700Rs 16,020
(h)Lt GeneralRs 36,500Rs 21,900
(j)Army CommanderRs 40,000Rs 24,000
(k)Army ChiefRs 45,000Rs 27,000
13. The table indicates qualifying service from 10 years to 30 years and the amount of pension indicated is inclusive of the Rank weightage admissible that varies from 9 years for Lt (Army) to 3 years for a General.
Service required for maximum pension:
14. Pension in a rank, varies depending on the length of service that plateaus at different levels, depending on the Rank in which the Officer retired, as shown below
(a)Lt(Army) to Capt (Army)24 Years
(b)Major25 Years
(c)Lt Col(TS)28 Years
(d)Lt Col (Select)26 Years
(e)Col(TS &Select)26 Years
(f)Brigadier28 Years
(g)Major General and above30 Years
15. From the above it is obvious, that the Pay Band structure coupled with a methodology of adjusting pensions at the minimum of the Pay Band in the subsequent Pay Commission is designed to cause dissatisfaction in the Armed Forces, but is perfectly suited to the changes invoked by the Sixth CPC for the AIS and Organised Group A Services, where officers will stagnate (if this is the correct term) at the highest levels, all crossing the HAG barrier, whereas, in the Armed Forces 99% officers will stagnate in Pay Band 4.
Fault lines in the pension structure:
16. These are indicated below-
· The difference of pension of a Lt Col ( Select) who retires after 26 years of service is only Rs. 1,000 less than a Major General with over 30 years service
· The difference in pension between a Col (Battalion Commander) and a Brigadier (Brigade Commander), who retired before 1 Jan 2006, is Rs 100. (3 cone ice-creams or one bottle of rum and a packet of Lays)
· The difference in pension between a Lt Col and Brigadier, who retired prior to 1 Jan 2006, is Rs 450. And the rank of Brigadier is attained after an officer qualifies two promotion Boards.
· Artificial gulfs have been created between Majors and Lt Colonels (Rs 11,600) and also between Major Generals and Lt Generals, non C-in C (Rs 9,800). The question is whether the convenience to adhering to artificially created barriers is logical and acceptable.
· For ranks at the bottom of the scale (PB - 3 and higher), the pensionary awards are reasonable i.e. in the ranks of Lt (Army), Lt Col, Lt Gens and above. Offcourse as brought out earlier, the Armed Forces need to press for an enhancement of Grade pay of Lt Col from Rs 8000 to Rs 8700,which was a faulty and arbitrary dispensation, when it became inevitable for the Govt to bring Lt Col's to Pay Band -4.
· For ranks not mentioned above, the pensionary awards should have been spaced out more evenly for pensions. In this connection, the Sixth CPC found no difficulty in creating four Pay Bands above the SAG scale i.e. HAG, HAG+, Secy to the Govt of India and Cabinet Secy scales. However, they only devised a single scale below SAG, which has caused so much heart burn in the Armed Forces, since 99% officers currently retire in that scale, as against 100% IAS officers who go up to the Apex scale.
Recommendations on OROP:
17. In my opinion, on first principle, the Armed Forces Officer, must be given the same benefits sanctioned by the Govt for officers of the organised Group A services, as successive Pay Commissions have ruled that, there should be pay parity between officers of the Armed Forces and the Group A services in general and the Indian Police, in particular. Even the Sixth CPC, have not made any comment to the contrary. Further, this needs to be done, immediately, as there is no justification whatsoever, for stymieing pay progression of an Armed Forces officer, on a non- functional basis(not linked to the extant rank structure) for pay enhancement up to the HAG level. It is only then that we can achieve a true OROP. Since this is an acceptable principle for the AIS and the Organised Group A services, there is no rationale for excluding Armed Forces Officers from this scheme. Ofcourse, it will actually benefit officers who will retire in the future, yet it will have to be taken into account, for pension fixation for those who retired before the next CPC. It may be relevant to point out that Lt Gens(non C -in C ) were placed in PB -4,by the Sixth CPC, but were subsequently raised to the HAG + scale after hardnosed negotiations, notwithstanding the fact that they were not in this scale, when they retired. Hence there is no reason, why Colonels and Brigadiers cannot also finally attain the HAG grade prior to retirement. This will only place them at par with their counterparts in the Group A services. Furthermore, a precedent exists in the fifth CPC, where Brigadiers owing to Rank Pay, drew more pension than a Maj Gen.
18. I believe that the dividing line for promotions in the Armed Forces is extremely fine and with promotional posts so limited, even outstanding Officers are not promoted, due to deep selection. We therefore cannot lose this opportunity of also taking Colonels and Brigadiers to the HAG scale, on a non - functional, pay promotion basis. In the Armed Forces, the rank and command structures are well defined and understood. Even today, a Colonel serving in the glacier or, a Capt(Navy) from the Aviation or submarine arms, would draw more pay in real terms than a Maj General or a Rear Admiral from the the general service. But that does not dilute the command structure. Yet, I know that there will be some reservations amongst the top management of the Armed Forces to accept this, whose doubts will be fuelled by those in the Finance Ministry. However could those at the helm of the Finance Ministry, then explain their actions with regard to the assured career progression from Pay Band -3, up to the HAG scale, for themselves and also for the Organised Group A services? My biggest fear is that if this anomaly is not corrected, then in the next Pay Commission, these differences will be fully exploited to further dilute, the status and pay of Armed Forces officers. This therefore requires immediate correction.
19. Notwithstanding the above, we need to also readjust pensionary benchmarks, for our retired fraternity, so that the differences in pension compensate a retired officer meaningfully, for his length of service and rank, in which he retired. Also, protecting the officers who retired, before changes in the time spent in the lower ranks was reduced, post the AVS Committee report. The methodology, of bunching various ranks and bringing them down to the minimum of the Pay Band, is clearly unsuited to the Armed Forces. Horizontal bands or striations are necessary and desirable. Taking into account the table at para 12 above, the following minimum pensions are suggested:-
(a) Lt(Army) - Rs 13,500.(No change, as an officer who retired in this rank, would have spent, only 3-4 years, as a commissioned officer)
(b) Capt (Army) - Rs 16,500. (As an officer in this rank would have spent 11 years as a commissioned officer)
(c) Major - Rs 19,500 (An officer who retired in this rank, would have at least completed time for pension i.e. 20 years)
(d) Lt Col - Rs 25,700. (No change, as this pension is given to a Lt Col, who has completed 26 years of service)
(e) Brigadier - Rs 31,500. (An officer who retired in this rank, even prematurely, would have completed at least 32 years of service)
(f) Major Gen - Rs 33,500. (This pension is recommended as less than 1% of Armed Forces officers attain Flag Rank)
OROP -Other Ranks:
20. In this paper, I have not discussed this subject, as there are many other factors that are quite different as compared to Officers. Firstly their careers are truncated to a far greater extent. Secondly, although their pensions are decided at the top of the scale in which they retired, even with the assured career progression approved by the Sixth CPC, they may not be able to get the third pay promotion before they retire, unlike civil servants. Consequent to the Sixth Pay Commission awards, there were positive changes made to the modified assured career progression methodology for civilians that have so far not been made applicable to the other ranks of the Armed Forces. This is therefore a subject that needs to be considered separately, which will follow in a subsequent article.
Conclusion:
21. This paper seeks to bring out issues that, if not corrected, will result in a sense of despondency and disillusionment amongst the officer cadre of the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces officer does not desire more compensation, either in his service career or after his retirement. He just wants, what justifiably should have come his way, without having to fight for his rights. Lowering of his status and thereby his pay, without a valid reason, cannot help keep his morale high. Unfortunately the Armed Forces have never shown the resolve they display in battle, as do when it comes to matters pertaining to their pay and perks. This is all the more reason, why they should be treated with the respect that is their due.
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THE END
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