SCPC Empowered Committee

Defence Minister A K Antony said on Monday 05 May 2008 that there was no ''large scale'' departures from the services despite the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations not coming up to their expectations.

"Army personnel are allowed to leave service on account of various reasons like suppression, extreme compassionate grounds, low medical category and failure to acquire minimum educational qualification," the minister said in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha.

He put the number of officers who were permitted to leave services due to various reasons during the last five years at 3474.

Revised pay package for armed forces to be finalised

Comments:
One Rank one Pension
The ESM simmering discontent is growing if one reads the widespread media coverage. The SCPC has buried the long pending "One Rank One Pension" forever. The empowered group of Cabinet Secretaries now going into the SCPC anomalies are not the enlightened set up to do Justice for Defence Services as can be perceived from the delay envisaged. The IAS lobbyists will negate any useful outcome. Justice delayed is justice denied.

Officer Shortages
From statistics given by RM it is fair to deduce that approx 700 officers are released prematurely every year. The total officer retirees is approx 3 percent of total officer strength in the Armed Forces which works out to approx 1000 per year. These statistics give a fair idea of the intake required if National Security is to be preserved. The present overall deficiency adds up to approx 12000. Will SCPC report if implemented address vital question of Officer Shortages in the Defence Services?

Ratio of Salaries
SCPC has evolved a ratio of 1:10 between highest salaried officer to lowest paid PBOR. This ratio is a sure formula to spell disaster. To maintain morale of troops the value of life of an Officer and PBOR is to be equated honourably. The prudent ratio of salaries ought to be 1:5 otherwise command of troops and maintaining morale will become a more vexing problem. The command and control structure need to be augmented rather than systematically destroyed.