IESM: Chairman's Desk- Service Medals

Monday, 14 September, 2009 11:40:35 PM
Dear Colleagues,
In consonance with the decision taken in this regard, another tranche of medals was deposited with the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 13 Sep 2009. All credit to the Steering Committee members who through their deep personal commitment made the event a grand success. 5000 medals were deposited by the delegation of ten led by Gen PK Renjen, which included Sqn Ldr Dhiman, WO Balakrishnan, WO KS Rohil, Sub Phool Singh Samoda, Sub DS Yadav, Sub Hari Singh, Hony Capt Dhir Singh, Sub Maj Sardara Singh and Hav Pritam Singh.
As per plan only medals were called for from various regions and it was not a rally in the traditional sense. Hence only approx 300 ESM representatives came from across the country for the event. Jatha of 40 ESM led by Sub Maj Sardara Singh came from Sangrur (Pb), 10 ESM came from Garhshankar, Sub DS Yadav from Farukhabad brought 258 medals. Col Mahabir Dhankar from Rohtak along with number of JCOs and Jawans also attended. Veterans Maha Singh, Ramsarup, Dhir Singh, Manphool, Lt Pandey, W/O Bala, W/O KS Rohil, Hony Capt Krishan Kumar Yadav, COPO Awasthi, MCPO Chauhan, Sub Hari Singh and Hav Pritam Singh were also among the participants.
That the government was/is concerned became evident though actions of the IESL leaflet, as well as through the mail from Capt Praveen Davar, the latter on the very eve of the event.
Many colleagues have commented on Capt Praveen’s email. Some, presuming that he is not aware of the nuances of OROP, have tried to give him the benefit of doubt. I have known Praveen and hold him in high personal regard and would have gladly contributed to giving him the alibi. However, in this case the facts do not support his perceived lack of understanding of OROP. We have been together during presentations to various political leaders, including one to the PM where including Brig KP Singhdeo, we were the only three. OROP was clearly explained on these occasions. Besides, BRIG KP Singhdeo is the originator of the OROP concept and heading the AICC ESM Welfare Cell of which Praveen is the Secretary/Coordinator. It is beyond doubt that whatever might have been his motivation or compulsion in circulating that mail, his lack of understanding the concept, was not it. We can rightly conclude that this is how the government wanted the message spread. And in that lies the success of the action.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM.
OROP: More Responses to Praveen
Blog Post of Praveen's letter