CSD restricts mobility of Officers and PBORs- More bureaucratic controls more corruption

Monday, August 24, 2009
Regression
“The way to procure insults is to submit to them: a man meets with no more respect than he exacts”: William Hazlitt (1778-1830)

What can I say about this ?
How often do we hear this thing today about military izzat that is on constant decline on the societal ladder ? And our veterans and serving members alike are quick to point the finger at the bureaucracy. But what about the issues that are directly under our control ?

The world is moving towards an era of transparency, the end of license raaj, RTI, simplification of procedures et al. But still we ourselves ensure at times that we live in an age of regressive approach. Or else why would we let others put into motion such a cumbersome procedure wherein in order to buy cars from CSD serving and retired defence personnel are made to undertake numerous rounds of Agencies, Depot Managers, and, this takes the cake - even tax barriers and excise staff !!!

‘The Tribune’, Chandigarh reports how officers, besides dealing with other documentary red-tapism, have to ‘report’ to the CSD Depot Manager in Ambala Cantt alongwith a representative of the Agency to get their vehicles ‘inspected’. This inspection is also refused unless there are a certain number of cars available on a particular day. Moreover even the days are set when the ‘Manager’ would oblige serving and retired military officers with the ‘inspection’. The Depot Manager then issues a slip which the officers have to carry to the excise staff manning excise barriers for obtaining a stamp on it. To put it shortly, the entire procedure is not only time-consuming and unwieldy but also utterly disgusting, retrograde and humiliating.

Since institutions such as the CSD exist for our welfare, I would request officers posted at Delhi to kindly apprise the concerned section at the AG’s/QMG’s branch about what is happening on ground and to simplify the procedure, and also, if I may put it crudely, immediately stop this nonsense. ‘Adelphi’, Mumbai also needs to be taken in the loop. I’m sure the CSD staff (like always) would come up with a hundred justifications and excuses on this retrograde approach, but please do not buy such explanations !!! The Canteen Stores Department is meant to render services to fauj, not the other way around.

Following is a reproduction of what appeared in the newspaper:
Car through CSD: New system raises officers’ hackle
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh
Regression

CSD (I) spins it own formulae to mask its real Mission
Riders for PBORs
Following conditions are to be fulfilled by the PBORs before they can purchase car:-
1. PBOR should have retired honorably with pension after a colour service of 15 years.
2. The retired PBORs shall submit an affidavit of Rs. 5/-on Non Judicial Stamp Paper stating the following:

He has not purchased the car in the last 5 years (for JCO) and 7 years (for other rank).

The vehicle is for his personal use.

Vehicle will be registered on his name.
Entry with regards to purchase of car by retd PBOR will be made on the original PPO at the Depot.
After that CSD will take the following action:

Verify the correctness of the details furnished by the PBOR.

Cross check from CSD HO whether the Concerned PBOR has already purchased a car from any other CSD Depot in the last 5/ 7 years.

Share the data with regards to purchase of car by PBOR with other depots.
PBOR will be allowed to purchase the car only after receipt of confirmation from CSD Head Office.
Inputs received from: Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS (Retd)
President, Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab & Chandigarh