ESM: Our Voices and Demands are they heard? Yes Mortified and Degraded!

Respected Sirs,

Of late I came to know that the wave of disgruntlement and frustration amongst Armed Forces (serving as well as retired) is being highlighted by eminent and prominent personalities and in this regard a lot has been done.

I agree that there is virtually no public voice and hue and cry on the issue of the demands raised by the defence forces. You all have taken up the burden to communicate to all ESM of the country to unite and raise their voice which is very encouraging. Every body acknowledges the fact, that is the defence forces still remain the only true and honest Indian institution that has been relatively immune from politicisation and institutionalised corruption. As a result, the Indian Armed Forces soldier, sailor or airman is the most misfit person on the civvy street and the Netas & Babus treat them with indignity and ignominy. The ESM himself is equally at a loss and is unaware as to where does he stand. The DGR is doing the greatest harm by converting ESMs capability to a mere Chowkidar. They could have tied up with PSUs on various other jobs rather than Security.

I therefore feel that the fight for of status and not for money is laudable; money will come along with status.

I am located in Chhattisgarh. Although there are a handful of ESM in the State but the State is unable to utilise their expertise. As a result, the image of ESM is further mortified and degraded. Lately, the State authorities have conceded to my request to have a Golf course created (there in none in the state) to attract international golf tourism; the state immediately accepted the fact and reserved 130 hect but when I suggested that an ESM body be give the task of monitoring, they are quiet and have conveyed a reply with silence that these are the privileges of Bureaucracy. An IAS fella can head the State Transport despite not knowing ABC of Motoring, and an Army Officer who has handled a MT fleet with different types of transport besides other skills of HR, planning, Technical or has been an Instructor in D & M has no value. There are many such similarities. Most of the corporate sector has learnt management from the ESM and have now flourished. At one time, the Govt and Corporate were seeking the services of Ex- Armed Forces Officer. If IA or AI is what it is today, it is because of Armed Forces Officers giving it an impetus or fillip at the right time and if that has gone to dogs then it is because of the Babus heading it later.

It may be prudent to take along some organisations like BRSP of Shiv Khera and Foundation India launched by Capt SP Chaudhary, an IFS officer.

Jai Hind
Col Siddhartha Bose (Retd)

Comment: ESM are totally averse to the DGR Policy of brandishing the Veterans as "Chowkidhars". You can see them all over, shabbily dressed in all the banks and public sector firms and also an array of security personnel recruited by own Defence Forces Companies run by ESM Officers. The manpower Employment Policy of DGR is skewed! DGR Service is a disservice to ESM.