Dear Sir,
The revision of ordinary family pension is not done properly by the banks. As per the Govt order dated 11.11.2008 Annexure I is not beneficial and only Annexure II (in case of Officers families) and Annexure III (in case of PBOR families) are beneficial. But the banks have revised their family pension as per Annexure I.
All the Bank's Head Offices must be informed to correct the mistake, otherwise our family pensioners will be the losers. The MOD and the PCDA(P) are keeping silent in the matter.
I have worked out the details on the subject for your perusal, approval and publishing for the information of all concerned in the Blogs.
While our Fight for One Rank One Pension in on one side, let there also be our fight for a correct pension from the Banks by educating our readers through our Blogs.
I request you to kindly verify my statement if found correct, make all out efforts to force all the Banks to pay this pension to our poor family pensioners immediately.
I have come across a number of cases, that a wife of a subedar major is drawing the pension of a sepoy's wife. The Bankers do not understand our ranks and they are not interested to learn and do correctly.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
C Muthukrishnan (Ex Sgt)
Family Pension tables and correct entitlements: PBORS and Officers
Saturday, February 21, 2009
SCPC: Family Pension current entitlements
1. The minimum family pension w.e.f. 1.1.2006 is = Rs.3,500 + D.A + Medical Allowance.
2. The Dearness Relief rates payable from 1.1.2006 are as follows:-
From Jan 2006 to Jun 2006 - Nil
From Jul 2006 to Dec 2006 - 2%
From Jan 2007 to Jun 2007 - 6%
From Jul 2007 to Dec 2007 - 9%
From Jan 2008 to Jun 2008 - 12%
From Jul 2008 to Dec 2008 - 16%
Note: The D.R. rates are revised twice every year in Jan & July. The present 16% will be increased to 22% w.e.f. Jan 09 after Govt. approval & orders.
3. As of now the minimum family pension is =Rs 3,500
Dearness Relief @ 16% = Rs. 560
Fixed medical allowance = Rs. 100
Total = Rs. 4,160/-
If any family pensioner is getting less than this amount as pension (Except some ex- gratia pension cases) please help them to get their full and correct pension. Also tell them the amount of 40% arrears will have to be Rs 14,391/-. And the remaining 60% arrears which will be paid later Rs.21,586/-
If any of the family pensioners you come across got less arrears than as indicated above, please help them to get correct amount. The ESM organisations need to be proactive on this matter.
If the pensioner’s age is 80 to 85 the min. pension should be Rs.4,872/-
If the pensioner’s age is 85 to 90 the min. pension should be Rs.5,278/-
If the pensioner’s age is 90 to 95 the min. pension should be Rs.5,684/-
If the pensioner’s age is 95 to 100 the min. pension should be Rs.6,090/-
If the pensioner’s age is above 100 the min pension should be Rs.8,120/-
I hope this information will be of much help to the aged family pensioners, also you will have the satisfaction that you have helped some one. Pray God, your grand parents to live longer to get more pension. Please look after them well with the help of this pension. If any of the aged pensioner is unable to get their date of birth, try to convince the Banker with their voter identity cards, exservicemen identity cards, esm widows identity cards (Pink colour card) or civil family cards etc. The readers of this blog may take a print out, and paste in the notice boards of all the Zilla sainik boards, ECHS Poly clinics and all CSD/ ESM canteens for their information. If necessary translate into local language suitably.
Muthukrishnan (ex sgt)
Family Pension: Kendriya Sainik Board
We thank Sgt Muthukrishnan for up-to-date family pension entitlements. You will notice the ESM Website shows the Family Pension entitlements of 1996. Our ESM organisations will be doing a great service by assisting affected widows to obtain their current entitlements.
2. The Dearness Relief rates payable from 1.1.2006 are as follows:-
From Jan 2006 to Jun 2006 - Nil
From Jul 2006 to Dec 2006 - 2%
From Jan 2007 to Jun 2007 - 6%
From Jul 2007 to Dec 2007 - 9%
From Jan 2008 to Jun 2008 - 12%
From Jul 2008 to Dec 2008 - 16%
Note: The D.R. rates are revised twice every year in Jan & July. The present 16% will be increased to 22% w.e.f. Jan 09 after Govt. approval & orders.
3. As of now the minimum family pension is =Rs 3,500
Dearness Relief @ 16% = Rs. 560
Fixed medical allowance = Rs. 100
Total = Rs. 4,160/-
If any family pensioner is getting less than this amount as pension (Except some ex- gratia pension cases) please help them to get their full and correct pension. Also tell them the amount of 40% arrears will have to be Rs 14,391/-. And the remaining 60% arrears which will be paid later Rs.21,586/-
If any of the family pensioners you come across got less arrears than as indicated above, please help them to get correct amount. The ESM organisations need to be proactive on this matter.
If the pensioner’s age is 80 to 85 the min. pension should be Rs.4,872/-
If the pensioner’s age is 85 to 90 the min. pension should be Rs.5,278/-
If the pensioner’s age is 90 to 95 the min. pension should be Rs.5,684/-
If the pensioner’s age is 95 to 100 the min. pension should be Rs.6,090/-
If the pensioner’s age is above 100 the min pension should be Rs.8,120/-
I hope this information will be of much help to the aged family pensioners, also you will have the satisfaction that you have helped some one. Pray God, your grand parents to live longer to get more pension. Please look after them well with the help of this pension. If any of the aged pensioner is unable to get their date of birth, try to convince the Banker with their voter identity cards, exservicemen identity cards, esm widows identity cards (Pink colour card) or civil family cards etc. The readers of this blog may take a print out, and paste in the notice boards of all the Zilla sainik boards, ECHS Poly clinics and all CSD/ ESM canteens for their information. If necessary translate into local language suitably.
Muthukrishnan (ex sgt)
Family Pension: Kendriya Sainik Board
We thank Sgt Muthukrishnan for up-to-date family pension entitlements. You will notice the ESM Website shows the Family Pension entitlements of 1996. Our ESM organisations will be doing a great service by assisting affected widows to obtain their current entitlements.
IESM: Battling for One Rank One Pension- Bureaucrats negating the just demands
Letter to Maj Gen Satbir Singh, IESM
Respected Sir,
I am extremely happy to learn that you are taking all out efforts to get the One Rank one Pension to all the Defence Pensioners. It is 25 years dream of 20 lakh ex servicemen of this country.
I am sure, that under your leadership we will definitely get it. May God bless all the leaders of the IESM and its members with good health and spirit to enjoy the benefits by the end of next election.
This is the first time in 25 years that a large number of Senior Retired Officers coming out and together calling the PBORs also for the fight. This is a good Spirit Sir. We will succeed. I am mobilising about 500 to 1000 ex servicemen in Southern Tamilnadu within 2 months time Sir. to join IESM. My health is not good at present. Please bear with me. Give me some time, to spread the movement in TN.
Thank u very much for your regular email. This is very informative. The blog Reportmysignal.blogspot.com is also highly informative. I sincerely thank all the team members for the efforts to update the blog daily. I am sending my membership form. My Good wishes to u all.
Thanking you,
Yous sincerely,
C Muthukrishnan (Ex Sgt)
Former Gen Secy, Tirunelveli Dt ESM Welfare Assn
Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu PIN 627002.
Dear friends,
A news item from Hindustan Times New Delhi of 20 Feb 2009 is appended below. The news item says in the end: "The government has, however, said that the demand was unacceptable as it had huge administrative, financial and legal ramifications."
I distinctly remember reading in the email sent out by Gen Raj Kadyan after his meeting with Secy ESM Welfare that he was assured by the FA that funds were no problem!! AND, there was no mention of any admn or legal ramifications as apparently there were none that existed at that time!! It seems they are at their old games again.
Regards,
K K Punchhi
(Cdr KK Punchhi, Naval Aviation, 7 JSW/B Sqn, settled in Canada)
Major General Satbir Singh (retd), vice chairman, Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM), said, “War veterans have been given a raw deal by the government. Hundreds of ex-servicemen have pledged to return their medals in Delhi on February 21.” Singh has also returned his Sena Medal.
Over 20 lakh armed forces pensioners argue that defence personnel of same rank and same length of service must draw same pension, irrespective of the date of retirement. Various ex-servicemen organisations have criticised the Sixth Pay Commission for creating “four classes within a class” --- pre 1996, post 1996 to December 2005, post January 2006 to September 2008 and post October 2008. Hundreds of veterans have been on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since December 16, celebrated as Vijay Diwas to mark India’s victory in the 1971 war.
All pre 2006 pensioners receive lesser pension than not only their compatriots in service but also their juniors. A havildar who retired before 1996 draws less pension than a sepoy who retired after 2006. Similarly, a lieutenant general draws less pension than a lieutenant colonel. The veterans are willing to reclaim their medals if their OROP demand is accepted. The government has, however, said that the demand was unacceptable as it had huge administrative, financial and legal ramifications.
Excerpts: More army veterans to return medals: Hindustan Times
Respected Sir,
I am extremely happy to learn that you are taking all out efforts to get the One Rank one Pension to all the Defence Pensioners. It is 25 years dream of 20 lakh ex servicemen of this country.
I am sure, that under your leadership we will definitely get it. May God bless all the leaders of the IESM and its members with good health and spirit to enjoy the benefits by the end of next election.
This is the first time in 25 years that a large number of Senior Retired Officers coming out and together calling the PBORs also for the fight. This is a good Spirit Sir. We will succeed. I am mobilising about 500 to 1000 ex servicemen in Southern Tamilnadu within 2 months time Sir. to join IESM. My health is not good at present. Please bear with me. Give me some time, to spread the movement in TN.
Thank u very much for your regular email. This is very informative. The blog Reportmysignal.blogspot.com is also highly informative. I sincerely thank all the team members for the efforts to update the blog daily. I am sending my membership form. My Good wishes to u all.
Thanking you,
Yous sincerely,
C Muthukrishnan (Ex Sgt)
Former Gen Secy, Tirunelveli Dt ESM Welfare Assn
Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu PIN 627002.
Dear friends,
A news item from Hindustan Times New Delhi of 20 Feb 2009 is appended below. The news item says in the end: "The government has, however, said that the demand was unacceptable as it had huge administrative, financial and legal ramifications."
I distinctly remember reading in the email sent out by Gen Raj Kadyan after his meeting with Secy ESM Welfare that he was assured by the FA that funds were no problem!! AND, there was no mention of any admn or legal ramifications as apparently there were none that existed at that time!! It seems they are at their old games again.
Regards,
K K Punchhi
(Cdr KK Punchhi, Naval Aviation, 7 JSW/B Sqn, settled in Canada)
Major General Satbir Singh (retd), vice chairman, Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM), said, “War veterans have been given a raw deal by the government. Hundreds of ex-servicemen have pledged to return their medals in Delhi on February 21.” Singh has also returned his Sena Medal.
Over 20 lakh armed forces pensioners argue that defence personnel of same rank and same length of service must draw same pension, irrespective of the date of retirement. Various ex-servicemen organisations have criticised the Sixth Pay Commission for creating “four classes within a class” --- pre 1996, post 1996 to December 2005, post January 2006 to September 2008 and post October 2008. Hundreds of veterans have been on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since December 16, celebrated as Vijay Diwas to mark India’s victory in the 1971 war.
All pre 2006 pensioners receive lesser pension than not only their compatriots in service but also their juniors. A havildar who retired before 1996 draws less pension than a sepoy who retired after 2006. Similarly, a lieutenant general draws less pension than a lieutenant colonel. The veterans are willing to reclaim their medals if their OROP demand is accepted. The government has, however, said that the demand was unacceptable as it had huge administrative, financial and legal ramifications.
Excerpts: More army veterans to return medals: Hindustan Times
IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- sixty fifth day
Date: Friday, 20 February, 2009, 10:42 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Bawal (Haryana) contingent retains charge of Jantar Mantar venue.
Medals
Media people have been calling us to know how many medals are likely to be deposited February 21. “Thousands” we have assured them.
The President is not available to meet our delegation tomorrow. My request for an audience has been pending since 24 November 2008. I will keep trying. I am not sure how far she can or will want to go to get us justice. However, we do not wish to let any door remain unknocked.
TV Programme
When Karan Thapar’s programme was aired at 1730 hours today, (to be repeated at 2230 hours on 23 February), I was not close to a facility and did not watch. However, many friends called up to say that we have put across our point well. Lt Gen NS Malik from NOIDA, Air Marshal Prakash Pingale from Pune, Subedar Bhagwan Singh from Sikar, Lt Gen SBS Kochar from Panchkula, Col SS Sohi from Chandigarh, Dr Shabnam Pandit from Guragaon, Maj Gen Das from Lucknow, Col RP Chaturvedi from NOIDA, Lt Gen KD Samantha from Delhi were some of the callers. My grateful thanks to them all. Not that every call was laudatory; there were critics too. For example, during the first commercial break wife Anita called up to point out that I needed to change my hair brush.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
An email received from Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, Chairman IESM, giving IESM SITREP for 20 Feb 09, is reproduced above. No doubt that the show by Gen Kadyan and Gen Surjit on CNBC 18 was excellent. No sooner the programme ended, I started receiving tele calls and emails from Veterans and some civilian friends whom I had asked to see the programme.
The first caller was Maj Gen DN Varma, who wanted me to convey his appreciation and congratulations to Gen Kadyan and Gen Surjit. Next was Lt Col MG Kapoor. I have lost the count of other phone calls. A few of the emails received early are being forwarded to you in my next email. It is not possible to reproduce all the congratulatory emails received.
On behalf of Gen Kadyan and Gen Surjit I thank all the veterans and civilian friends who called on phone and sent emails to congratulate the two IESM leaders for their excellent performance on Karan Thapar's show.
I also thank Mr Karan Thapar for his excellent conduct of the show. We also need to learn some lessons from this CNBC programme. Very composed posture of the two military veterans was really impressive. They were sounding very confident and convincing. On the other hand Shree Tiwari of Congress was so agitated all the time that his statements were not sounding convincing. We also need to make a note that Compare of a TV programme gives very little reaction time and very little time to speak. Therefore, the facts and figures must be handy and memorised to the extent possible. A guess question paper should be prepared and answers rehearsed. The sequence of points for answers to various type of questions should be carefully organised so that the essentials are covered before the Compare tells the speaker to shut up. What more could have been covered if sufficient time was given to Gen Kadyan and Gen Surjit-
On 8th Feb 09, at Jantar Mantar, Gen Kadyan during the talk given by him repeated a statement often made by the babus - "If we give OROP to Defence personnel, others will ask the same". Gen Kadyan's response to this statement was "Yes please give OROP to all those who retire before the age of 60, yes give OROP to all those who join the service with the condition that they are willing to sacrifice their lives while performing service, yes give OROP to those who have been denied the fundamental rights by the Constitution of India, yes give OROP to all those who spend major portion of their young lives away from their families and so on. It was a superb talk by Gen Kadyan. Similarly, if sufficient time was given Gen Surjit while answering a similar question he should have first stated the retirement age of Jawans in stead of officers' first. Before he could mention the retirement age of jawans, the compare cut him short. It is the retirement age of jawans which is most shocking.
Whatever it was -
IT WAS A GRAND SHOW BY KADYAN, SURJIT AND KARAN THAPAR.
Our congratulations to them.
Before finishing the programme Karan Thapar very intelligently made the Congress rep commit that they will soon find a solution to the problem of pension to Defence personnel (words to that effect).
All of you, who are likely to be called on some TV programme in future - please prepare well like Kadyan and Surjit. Anticipate questions, prepare answers in logical sequence and the points in order of importance. Rehearse the script with your friends and let them throw impromptu questions to you. I have a gut feeling that some other channels will soon have similar programmes. So prepare from today onwards.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
Dear Sirs,
I watched the program today at 1730 hrs. I was thoroughly impressed with the content and the way Karan handled it. Gen Kadyan was personification of dignity, gentlemanly behaviour, and firmness in his presentation of the case while the spokesperson for UPA presented a sorry image with his lack of knowledge of facts (genuine or otherwise), bad body language, using vocal power to compensate for his convincing abilities etc (I can go on, but cut it short). The only regret I have is that Gen Surjit did not get adequate chance to present the facts which he has gained over two decades of experience with the issue. If we get another chance to have this OROP broadcast my suggestion would be to have a rep of CDA(P) in attendance to refute the kind of data Mr Tiwary was trying to present and mislead the audience the way he tried today. Sirs, I do know I was very critical about the disappointment on the 18th for not being able to see this program. But watching it today I felt that the old saying "Safar ka pal Meeta Hota Hai" to be true here also. My Salute to the Generals and all those who were behind making this programme.
Best Regards,
Col T N Baba (Veteran)
Dear Colleagues,
Bawal (Haryana) contingent retains charge of Jantar Mantar venue.
Medals
Media people have been calling us to know how many medals are likely to be deposited February 21. “Thousands” we have assured them.
The President is not available to meet our delegation tomorrow. My request for an audience has been pending since 24 November 2008. I will keep trying. I am not sure how far she can or will want to go to get us justice. However, we do not wish to let any door remain unknocked.
TV Programme
When Karan Thapar’s programme was aired at 1730 hours today, (to be repeated at 2230 hours on 23 February), I was not close to a facility and did not watch. However, many friends called up to say that we have put across our point well. Lt Gen NS Malik from NOIDA, Air Marshal Prakash Pingale from Pune, Subedar Bhagwan Singh from Sikar, Lt Gen SBS Kochar from Panchkula, Col SS Sohi from Chandigarh, Dr Shabnam Pandit from Guragaon, Maj Gen Das from Lucknow, Col RP Chaturvedi from NOIDA, Lt Gen KD Samantha from Delhi were some of the callers. My grateful thanks to them all. Not that every call was laudatory; there were critics too. For example, during the first commercial break wife Anita called up to point out that I needed to change my hair brush.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
An email received from Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, Chairman IESM, giving IESM SITREP for 20 Feb 09, is reproduced above. No doubt that the show by Gen Kadyan and Gen Surjit on CNBC 18 was excellent. No sooner the programme ended, I started receiving tele calls and emails from Veterans and some civilian friends whom I had asked to see the programme.
The first caller was Maj Gen DN Varma, who wanted me to convey his appreciation and congratulations to Gen Kadyan and Gen Surjit. Next was Lt Col MG Kapoor. I have lost the count of other phone calls. A few of the emails received early are being forwarded to you in my next email. It is not possible to reproduce all the congratulatory emails received.
On behalf of Gen Kadyan and Gen Surjit I thank all the veterans and civilian friends who called on phone and sent emails to congratulate the two IESM leaders for their excellent performance on Karan Thapar's show.
I also thank Mr Karan Thapar for his excellent conduct of the show. We also need to learn some lessons from this CNBC programme. Very composed posture of the two military veterans was really impressive. They were sounding very confident and convincing. On the other hand Shree Tiwari of Congress was so agitated all the time that his statements were not sounding convincing. We also need to make a note that Compare of a TV programme gives very little reaction time and very little time to speak. Therefore, the facts and figures must be handy and memorised to the extent possible. A guess question paper should be prepared and answers rehearsed. The sequence of points for answers to various type of questions should be carefully organised so that the essentials are covered before the Compare tells the speaker to shut up. What more could have been covered if sufficient time was given to Gen Kadyan and Gen Surjit-
On 8th Feb 09, at Jantar Mantar, Gen Kadyan during the talk given by him repeated a statement often made by the babus - "If we give OROP to Defence personnel, others will ask the same". Gen Kadyan's response to this statement was "Yes please give OROP to all those who retire before the age of 60, yes give OROP to all those who join the service with the condition that they are willing to sacrifice their lives while performing service, yes give OROP to those who have been denied the fundamental rights by the Constitution of India, yes give OROP to all those who spend major portion of their young lives away from their families and so on. It was a superb talk by Gen Kadyan. Similarly, if sufficient time was given Gen Surjit while answering a similar question he should have first stated the retirement age of Jawans in stead of officers' first. Before he could mention the retirement age of jawans, the compare cut him short. It is the retirement age of jawans which is most shocking.
Whatever it was -
IT WAS A GRAND SHOW BY KADYAN, SURJIT AND KARAN THAPAR.
Our congratulations to them.
Before finishing the programme Karan Thapar very intelligently made the Congress rep commit that they will soon find a solution to the problem of pension to Defence personnel (words to that effect).
All of you, who are likely to be called on some TV programme in future - please prepare well like Kadyan and Surjit. Anticipate questions, prepare answers in logical sequence and the points in order of importance. Rehearse the script with your friends and let them throw impromptu questions to you. I have a gut feeling that some other channels will soon have similar programmes. So prepare from today onwards.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
Dear Sirs,
I watched the program today at 1730 hrs. I was thoroughly impressed with the content and the way Karan handled it. Gen Kadyan was personification of dignity, gentlemanly behaviour, and firmness in his presentation of the case while the spokesperson for UPA presented a sorry image with his lack of knowledge of facts (genuine or otherwise), bad body language, using vocal power to compensate for his convincing abilities etc (I can go on, but cut it short). The only regret I have is that Gen Surjit did not get adequate chance to present the facts which he has gained over two decades of experience with the issue. If we get another chance to have this OROP broadcast my suggestion would be to have a rep of CDA(P) in attendance to refute the kind of data Mr Tiwary was trying to present and mislead the audience the way he tried today. Sirs, I do know I was very critical about the disappointment on the 18th for not being able to see this program. But watching it today I felt that the old saying "Safar ka pal Meeta Hota Hai" to be true here also. My Salute to the Generals and all those who were behind making this programme.
Best Regards,
Col T N Baba (Veteran)
Friday, February 20, 2009
IESM: Return of Medals on 21 Feb 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009 3:03 PM
Dear Friends,
1. The government continues to ignore our demand of Equal Service same Rank Same Pension (We call it “One Rank One Pension”). The reasons being given by the Government for rejecting our demand are flimsy, unethical, unjust and humiliating to the soldiers who had given their youth for the security, sovereignty and integrity of the country. The reasons given by the Govt are as under:
It is not necessary to give “One Rank One Pension” to the Veterans, meaning they are the Fired Cartridges and can be thrown away and forgotten.
It will not affect the Morale and Motivation of serving defence personnel. One should ask the bureaucrats and politicians as to whose children are the serving soldiers ? Surely, not theirs. They are our children. When they know their elders are being degraded and mistreated, their morale will definitely be affected. Secondly, they know very well that when they become veterans, they would also be treated in the same way as their elders.
It is financially not feasible. When the Govt can waive off over Rupees one lac crores loan, spare thousands of crores to bail out inefficiency and scams, this reason is a crude joke played on the veterans. Any one can see though the negative attitude on the part of the Government.
The demand for one rank one pension stands already examined in detail and was not found acceptable due to administrative, financial and legal reasons.
2. Well friends, we are up against the uphill mountain. We will have to upgrade the intensity and volume of our Movement and take our cause to the people of our country. It is the duty of every veteran to join the Movement and strengthen Unity. It is the numbers which will make the Govt change its attitude towards our genuine demands.
3. Utterly disappointed with the absence of any visible positive response from the Government, many more Ex-servicemen across India have decided to return their medals in large numbers to the President on 21 Feb 2009. The Ex Servicemen in NCR who have not been able to deposit their medals centrally are requested to do so at Jantar Mantar on 21 Feb 2009 from 11 AM to 3 PM. Thereafter the delegation of veterans will proceed to Rashtrapati Bhavan to return the medals to the President. We have also requested an audience with the President.
4. All veterans are requested to reach Jantar Mantar at 11 AM on 21 Feb 2009. Together, We Win.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Dear Friends,
1. The government continues to ignore our demand of Equal Service same Rank Same Pension (We call it “One Rank One Pension”). The reasons being given by the Government for rejecting our demand are flimsy, unethical, unjust and humiliating to the soldiers who had given their youth for the security, sovereignty and integrity of the country. The reasons given by the Govt are as under:
2. Well friends, we are up against the uphill mountain. We will have to upgrade the intensity and volume of our Movement and take our cause to the people of our country. It is the duty of every veteran to join the Movement and strengthen Unity. It is the numbers which will make the Govt change its attitude towards our genuine demands.
3. Utterly disappointed with the absence of any visible positive response from the Government, many more Ex-servicemen across India have decided to return their medals in large numbers to the President on 21 Feb 2009. The Ex Servicemen in NCR who have not been able to deposit their medals centrally are requested to do so at Jantar Mantar on 21 Feb 2009 from 11 AM to 3 PM. Thereafter the delegation of veterans will proceed to Rashtrapati Bhavan to return the medals to the President. We have also requested an audience with the President.
4. All veterans are requested to reach Jantar Mantar at 11 AM on 21 Feb 2009. Together, We Win.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
IESM: Ex-Serviceman demanding one-rank-one-pension
Ex-servicemen deposit their gallantry medals before returning them to the President Pratibha Patil demanding the implementation of 'one-rank-one-pension' at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Sunday 08 Feb 2009. Video /RAJEEV TYAGI/ Mid-day. One minute video clip.
IESM: One-rank one-pension for Ex-Servicemen
Wednesday, February 18, 2009- 17:18 IST
RAJYA SABHA
The demand for one-rank one-pension stands already examined in detail and was not found acceptable due to administrative, financial and legal reasons. Moreover, the pensionary benefits of the Personnel Below Officer Rank, particularly of the three ranks of Sepoy, Naik and Havildar, were significantly increased wef 1.1.2006 by increasing weightage from 5 years to 10, 8 and 6 years respectively and by allowing pension of pre-1.1.1996 retirees to be computed with reference to the maximum of the pay-scale introduced wef 01.01.1996. In consultation with Ministry of Finance, the benefits thus accrued to PBOR have been allowed to be retained while revising their pension as per Government decision on the 6th CPC recommendations wef 1.1.2006. However, the Government is also examining whether certain improvements can be made in the pension being given to the old pensioners.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in a written reply to Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha today.
ERECTION OF WAR MEMORIAL
A concept plan for National War Memorial has been presented before the regulatory bodies namely, Delhi Urban Arts Commission, the Central Vista Committee and the Heritage Conservation Committee. Ministry of Urban Development has been approached for assignment of suitable land around ‘Chhatri’ in the India Gate Complex which has not been obtained. A time frame can be set only after the land is obtained for the purpose.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in a written statement to Shri Prakash Javadekar in Rajya Sabha today.
DM/PK/JP
One Rank One Pension for Ex- Servicemen
It's not pay - it's a question of status
Q&A: Lt Gen HS Bagga- Aditi Phadnis/ New Delhi October 12, 2008, 0:44 IST
Lt Gen HS Bagga (Retd), former Director General (Personnel) in the Army and co-author of the Ajay Vikram Singh (AVS) Committee report on restructuring the Army officer cadre, tells Aditi Phadnis why the men in uniform are not happy.
The government has taken two important HR steps to address the problems of defence personnel. It has announced some financial breaks in the Sixth Pay Commission report, and it has accepted recommendations of the AVS Committee relating to promotions. Are you satisfied?
Must Read Article: It's not pay - it's a question of status- Click Here
RAJYA SABHA
The demand for one-rank one-pension stands already examined in detail and was not found acceptable due to administrative, financial and legal reasons. Moreover, the pensionary benefits of the Personnel Below Officer Rank, particularly of the three ranks of Sepoy, Naik and Havildar, were significantly increased wef 1.1.2006 by increasing weightage from 5 years to 10, 8 and 6 years respectively and by allowing pension of pre-1.1.1996 retirees to be computed with reference to the maximum of the pay-scale introduced wef 01.01.1996. In consultation with Ministry of Finance, the benefits thus accrued to PBOR have been allowed to be retained while revising their pension as per Government decision on the 6th CPC recommendations wef 1.1.2006. However, the Government is also examining whether certain improvements can be made in the pension being given to the old pensioners.
This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in a written reply to Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha today.
ERECTION OF WAR MEMORIAL
A concept plan for National War Memorial has been presented before the regulatory bodies namely, Delhi Urban Arts Commission, the Central Vista Committee and the Heritage Conservation Committee. Ministry of Urban Development has been approached for assignment of suitable land around ‘Chhatri’ in the India Gate Complex which has not been obtained. A time frame can be set only after the land is obtained for the purpose.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in a written statement to Shri Prakash Javadekar in Rajya Sabha today.
DM/PK/JP
One Rank One Pension for Ex- Servicemen
It's not pay - it's a question of status
Q&A: Lt Gen HS Bagga- Aditi Phadnis/ New Delhi October 12, 2008, 0:44 IST
Lt Gen HS Bagga (Retd), former Director General (Personnel) in the Army and co-author of the Ajay Vikram Singh (AVS) Committee report on restructuring the Army officer cadre, tells Aditi Phadnis why the men in uniform are not happy.The government has taken two important HR steps to address the problems of defence personnel. It has announced some financial breaks in the Sixth Pay Commission report, and it has accepted recommendations of the AVS Committee relating to promotions. Are you satisfied?
Must Read Article: It's not pay - it's a question of status- Click Here
IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- sixty fourth day
Dear Colleagues,
Bawal (Haryana) contingent continues to keep Jantar Mantar venue under their charge.
New Members (NOIDA). We heartfully welcome the following new members:
1. Hav Dharam Pal
2. Hav avtar singh
3. Hony Sub Maj JS Panwar
4. Lt Col Som Prakash
5. Col Ajit Datta
6. Col MP Singh
7. Lt Col Mangat Rai
8. Lt Col M K Satija
9. Lt col(Mrs) J Bhakuni
10. Brig SP Mehta
Surrender of Medals
Medals are being collected in good number for handing over to Rashtrapati Bhawan on 21 Feb.
Our senior veteran from 1st JSW course, Lt Gen Satish Bahri, also deposited his medals today.
I am sure his action will inspire many others who are still undecided.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Goa Veterans
Report from Goa: 08 Feb 2009
Dear Colleagues
Jai hind
I am sending a report from Goa. An ex- servicemen get together was organised in Goa at two locations, Nusi Maritime Academy and IPSHEM(ONGC). IESM objectives and memorandum was discussed. All exservicemen have extended their unconditional support for the movement. Many are yet to know their pension and their dues. Membership forms were issued and the need to unite was explained. A total of 28 exservicemen attended the meet. We have decided to meet again at a convenient date. Orop was explained. I have registered members who have submitted the membership forms along with the cheque. I will post it to you when I collect a significant number. Thank you and God bless you.
Vien Azavedo, Goa
Bawal (Haryana) contingent continues to keep Jantar Mantar venue under their charge.
New Members (NOIDA). We heartfully welcome the following new members:
1. Hav Dharam Pal
2. Hav avtar singh
3. Hony Sub Maj JS Panwar
4. Lt Col Som Prakash
5. Col Ajit Datta
6. Col MP Singh
7. Lt Col Mangat Rai
8. Lt Col M K Satija
9. Lt col(Mrs) J Bhakuni
10. Brig SP Mehta
Surrender of Medals
Medals are being collected in good number for handing over to Rashtrapati Bhawan on 21 Feb.
Our senior veteran from 1st JSW course, Lt Gen Satish Bahri, also deposited his medals today.
I am sure his action will inspire many others who are still undecided.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Report from Goa: 08 Feb 2009
Dear Colleagues
Jai hind
I am sending a report from Goa. An ex- servicemen get together was organised in Goa at two locations, Nusi Maritime Academy and IPSHEM(ONGC). IESM objectives and memorandum was discussed. All exservicemen have extended their unconditional support for the movement. Many are yet to know their pension and their dues. Membership forms were issued and the need to unite was explained. A total of 28 exservicemen attended the meet. We have decided to meet again at a convenient date. Orop was explained. I have registered members who have submitted the membership forms along with the cheque. I will post it to you when I collect a significant number. Thank you and God bless you.
Vien Azavedo, Goa
IESM: Reply by Shree Jaswant Singh to Maj Gen SCN Jatar
From: Jaswant Singh
To: Sudhir Jatar
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 6:34 PM
Subject: Re: Diluting valour
Dear General,
Thank you for your email of February 15 which included an article on the devaluation of gallantry awards by the former VCOAS, Gen Vijay Oberoi.
You are right: there is a need for a much greater transparency and credible yardstick through which nominations to various awards are vetted and recommendations endorsed. That some of the awards in the recent past and those of the Republic Day this year reveal a dilution on account of political expediency can be gauged by the outcry raised by the veterans, some verbally and some in well crafted prose, as has been done by General Vijay Oberoi. I share his disappointment on the multiple criteria adopted in recognition of valour.
With good wishes,
Jaswant Singh
EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH BY SHREE JASWANT SINGH, HON’ MEMBER RAJYA SABHA TO THE JOINT SESSION OF PARLIAMENT ON 17.02.2009...MKS-HMS/3.35/2R
SHRI JASWANT SINGH (CONTD.): … edited …
Sir, I will take the next point which relates to the Armed Forces. Raksha Senao ka jo masla hai,usme main 2-3 buniyadi bate aap se urz karooga.come to the question: why does a citizen enrol and does he agree to die? Of course, it is a complex question, and I will not attempt an answer to this complex question. This is an immensely complex question: why does a citizen agree to die? ", the factors that go amongst various others are the factors of morale, of izzat, of iqbal, of standing and the prestige of our Armed Forces, therefore, of the soldiers and sailors. Sir, there are some aspects which I have underscored; seemingly trivial, but, I think, they are profoundly important, wrongly important as it is, and much more important in consequence. Sir, the first question which the hon. Pranab Babu, again, in a Group of Ministers meeting was required, he chaired it, to address is the question of pay, pensions and emoluments. I will come to it in a minute.
The second question is of distinction, distinction and distinctiveness of uniforms, the rights and the duties of the respective security organisations of the country. Please do not confuse one with the other. The hon. Minister, Pranab Babu, handled responsibility as the Defence Minister of the country, with distinction and competence. And, no doubt, you realise, Sir, how to uniform a man, whether a General or a Field Marshal or Justice Inquiry or a Warrant Officer; izzat is of the greatest importance. The izzat that the individual gets is an account of the uniform which he wears; the uniform is of this Republic of India. If you belittle the uniform, you belittle, in a very rare sense, the Republic.
Phoz ki jo dress hai, hum dekhte hai ki yeh jo bahut badi- badi companiya hai, ishe humare distinguished friend vimal babu neb hi dekha hoga ki un companiyo ke darbano ko phoz ki dress me vahan khada kar dete hai, phir vahi medals lagate hai. Ish bare me kanoon banana chahiye.
Please do not permit the copying of military uniform by any other force, but the Military. aur usme choti choti bate aa jati hai. Phoz ka chahe rishala ho ya pultan ho, yeh choti-choti bate hai aur usme kimat dekar right equare kiya gaya hota hai. Sir, iske sath hi main yaha example nahi dena chahuga kyonki usme vakt lagega. Yeha jo down grading aapne ki hai of the Armed Forces, of their Officers, in the Warrant of Precedence, this is not acceptable. This is totally unacceptable. Please address it because this is a seemingly, quite seemingly, clearly an illogical and a destructive step that over the decades successive Governments of India have been continuing, and, perhaps, almost as if they have been deliberately doing it.
The next point, in addition to the point of Armed Forces, is about the ex-servicemen.
(Contd. by TMV/2S) -MKS-TMV-DS/2S/3.40
SHRI JASWANT SINGH (CONTD.): The ex-servicemen today number almost three million, if I am not mistaken. So, they are stung by the various anomalies that have been thrown up by the Sixth Pay Commission and their confusion has been compounded by a variety of interpretations that have been put out in the successive letters of the Controller of Defence Accounts. I have been, for several years, the victim of the vagaries of the Controller of Defence Accounts' rules. I won't go into those details. I can't simply understand how the pensions of a Lt. General, a Major General and a Brigadier are going to be exactly the same as that of a rank which is about half that service of a Lt. Colonel, except, perhaps, for a difference of a hundred rupees. On what ground? You chaired the Group of Ministers, but the discontentment remains. Precedence is very important. Pension is very important. On both you dent the standing of the Armed Forces and you expect them to deliver the best that they can. Sir, the question of one rank one pension has bedevilled the Armed Forces for a very long time. I was greatly troubled. I am greatly troubled and uniformed or officers and men who were once in uniform are compelled to take action of the kind that they have been compelled to take, either by returning their medals or by sitting in protest. Please take your own example. I didn't hear my friends. I may be wrong. But I don't think why a Member of Parliament, should get a pension, personally, because it is a very unpopular thought. I know it. I am also not at all of the view as to why we should get Rs 1 crore or Rs 2 crores for whatever we do. But there again I am a minority. So, I withdraw mine. But I don't understand, when we, as Members of Parliament, have given to ourselves what tantamounts to one rank one pension, how can you deny it to the ex-servicemen? Sir, suppose a senior colleague of mine retired from Parliament, say, in 1957 and didn't come back to the Parliament. The kind of pension that a Member of Parliament receives today, say, in 2009, is what you will give to a Member who left the Parliament in 1957. Between 1957 and 2009, there is a difference of almost half-a-century. So, you adjust the pension that you are giving to him, but you refuse to adjust it to the ex-servicemen who are out of service at the age of 38. There is a full life ahead of him with no employment or limited employment opportunities available. I have addressed this question in detail. Please don't throw it in my face—you are entitled to throw—that you also held this job and why you didn't do it. I was also a Member of a Commission appointed during late Mrs. Gandhi's days. I appeal to the Government to re-address itself to the complex question of one rank one pension and to immediately find as equitable an answer as you find for the Members of Parliament and not let the servicemen and the ex-servicemen suffer on account of differentials of precedence of pay, emoluments and pensions and of one rank and one pension. (Contd. by 2T/VK) VK/2T/3.45
SHRI JASWANT SINGH
To: Sudhir Jatar
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 6:34 PM
Subject: Re: Diluting valour
Dear General,
Thank you for your email of February 15 which included an article on the devaluation of gallantry awards by the former VCOAS, Gen Vijay Oberoi.
You are right: there is a need for a much greater transparency and credible yardstick through which nominations to various awards are vetted and recommendations endorsed. That some of the awards in the recent past and those of the Republic Day this year reveal a dilution on account of political expediency can be gauged by the outcry raised by the veterans, some verbally and some in well crafted prose, as has been done by General Vijay Oberoi. I share his disappointment on the multiple criteria adopted in recognition of valour.
With good wishes,
Jaswant Singh
EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH BY SHREE JASWANT SINGH, HON’ MEMBER RAJYA SABHA TO THE JOINT SESSION OF PARLIAMENT ON 17.02.2009...MKS-HMS/3.35/2R
SHRI JASWANT SINGH (CONTD.): … edited …
Sir, I will take the next point which relates to the Armed Forces. Raksha Senao ka jo masla hai,usme main 2-3 buniyadi bate aap se urz karooga.come to the question: why does a citizen enrol and does he agree to die? Of course, it is a complex question, and I will not attempt an answer to this complex question. This is an immensely complex question: why does a citizen agree to die? ", the factors that go amongst various others are the factors of morale, of izzat, of iqbal, of standing and the prestige of our Armed Forces, therefore, of the soldiers and sailors. Sir, there are some aspects which I have underscored; seemingly trivial, but, I think, they are profoundly important, wrongly important as it is, and much more important in consequence. Sir, the first question which the hon. Pranab Babu, again, in a Group of Ministers meeting was required, he chaired it, to address is the question of pay, pensions and emoluments. I will come to it in a minute.
The second question is of distinction, distinction and distinctiveness of uniforms, the rights and the duties of the respective security organisations of the country. Please do not confuse one with the other. The hon. Minister, Pranab Babu, handled responsibility as the Defence Minister of the country, with distinction and competence. And, no doubt, you realise, Sir, how to uniform a man, whether a General or a Field Marshal or Justice Inquiry or a Warrant Officer; izzat is of the greatest importance. The izzat that the individual gets is an account of the uniform which he wears; the uniform is of this Republic of India. If you belittle the uniform, you belittle, in a very rare sense, the Republic.
Phoz ki jo dress hai, hum dekhte hai ki yeh jo bahut badi- badi companiya hai, ishe humare distinguished friend vimal babu neb hi dekha hoga ki un companiyo ke darbano ko phoz ki dress me vahan khada kar dete hai, phir vahi medals lagate hai. Ish bare me kanoon banana chahiye.
Please do not permit the copying of military uniform by any other force, but the Military. aur usme choti choti bate aa jati hai. Phoz ka chahe rishala ho ya pultan ho, yeh choti-choti bate hai aur usme kimat dekar right equare kiya gaya hota hai. Sir, iske sath hi main yaha example nahi dena chahuga kyonki usme vakt lagega. Yeha jo down grading aapne ki hai of the Armed Forces, of their Officers, in the Warrant of Precedence, this is not acceptable. This is totally unacceptable. Please address it because this is a seemingly, quite seemingly, clearly an illogical and a destructive step that over the decades successive Governments of India have been continuing, and, perhaps, almost as if they have been deliberately doing it.
The next point, in addition to the point of Armed Forces, is about the ex-servicemen.
(Contd. by TMV/2S) -MKS-TMV-DS/2S/3.40
SHRI JASWANT SINGH (CONTD.): The ex-servicemen today number almost three million, if I am not mistaken. So, they are stung by the various anomalies that have been thrown up by the Sixth Pay Commission and their confusion has been compounded by a variety of interpretations that have been put out in the successive letters of the Controller of Defence Accounts. I have been, for several years, the victim of the vagaries of the Controller of Defence Accounts' rules. I won't go into those details. I can't simply understand how the pensions of a Lt. General, a Major General and a Brigadier are going to be exactly the same as that of a rank which is about half that service of a Lt. Colonel, except, perhaps, for a difference of a hundred rupees. On what ground? You chaired the Group of Ministers, but the discontentment remains. Precedence is very important. Pension is very important. On both you dent the standing of the Armed Forces and you expect them to deliver the best that they can. Sir, the question of one rank one pension has bedevilled the Armed Forces for a very long time. I was greatly troubled. I am greatly troubled and uniformed or officers and men who were once in uniform are compelled to take action of the kind that they have been compelled to take, either by returning their medals or by sitting in protest. Please take your own example. I didn't hear my friends. I may be wrong. But I don't think why a Member of Parliament, should get a pension, personally, because it is a very unpopular thought. I know it. I am also not at all of the view as to why we should get Rs 1 crore or Rs 2 crores for whatever we do. But there again I am a minority. So, I withdraw mine. But I don't understand, when we, as Members of Parliament, have given to ourselves what tantamounts to one rank one pension, how can you deny it to the ex-servicemen? Sir, suppose a senior colleague of mine retired from Parliament, say, in 1957 and didn't come back to the Parliament. The kind of pension that a Member of Parliament receives today, say, in 2009, is what you will give to a Member who left the Parliament in 1957. Between 1957 and 2009, there is a difference of almost half-a-century. So, you adjust the pension that you are giving to him, but you refuse to adjust it to the ex-servicemen who are out of service at the age of 38. There is a full life ahead of him with no employment or limited employment opportunities available. I have addressed this question in detail. Please don't throw it in my face—you are entitled to throw—that you also held this job and why you didn't do it. I was also a Member of a Commission appointed during late Mrs. Gandhi's days. I appeal to the Government to re-address itself to the complex question of one rank one pension and to immediately find as equitable an answer as you find for the Members of Parliament and not let the servicemen and the ex-servicemen suffer on account of differentials of precedence of pay, emoluments and pensions and of one rank and one pension. (Contd. by 2T/VK) VK/2T/3.45
SHRI JASWANT SINGH
SCPC: Armed forces form panel to resolve pay matters
Ajay Banerjee, Tribune News Service, New Delhi, February 18
Realising that the forthcoming general elections would put their pending demands on hold, the top brass of the armed forces have formed a high-powered committee to seek early resolution of the two remaining pay and status-related issues that have had the troops worried over the past six-eight months.
The committee was formed following directions from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in December last to sort out the four-core issues raised by the armed forces after the Sixth Pay Commission was implemented. While two issues had been resolved, the rest remained.
As the model code of conduct was impending, the armed forces fear that their two demands needed immediate attention, a senior officer said. One is that grade pay for all ranks of officers to be at par with the their counterparts in the civil services. Presently, the committee of secretaries that was looking into the anomalies of the Sixth Pay Commission had created difference by raising the grade pay of civil service officers. This means the salary of person on civil side, including the police, would be higher and was affecting the entire lot of officers.
The other pending issue is putting all lieutenant generals at par with director generals of police. In the previous Fifth Pay Commission, the DGPs were at par with lieutenant generals. Now, the Sixth Pay Commission has bifurcated the lieutenant generals and the equivalent ranks in the Navy and IAF into two. The GOC-in-C, their Naval and IAF equivalents and few other officers at the headquarters are in a grade that is higher than that of the DGPs while other lieutenant generals are in a grade lower than the DGPs. This anomaly is affecting about 150 officers.
Armed forces form panel to resolve pay matters
Realising that the forthcoming general elections would put their pending demands on hold, the top brass of the armed forces have formed a high-powered committee to seek early resolution of the two remaining pay and status-related issues that have had the troops worried over the past six-eight months.
The committee was formed following directions from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in December last to sort out the four-core issues raised by the armed forces after the Sixth Pay Commission was implemented. While two issues had been resolved, the rest remained.
As the model code of conduct was impending, the armed forces fear that their two demands needed immediate attention, a senior officer said. One is that grade pay for all ranks of officers to be at par with the their counterparts in the civil services. Presently, the committee of secretaries that was looking into the anomalies of the Sixth Pay Commission had created difference by raising the grade pay of civil service officers. This means the salary of person on civil side, including the police, would be higher and was affecting the entire lot of officers.
The other pending issue is putting all lieutenant generals at par with director generals of police. In the previous Fifth Pay Commission, the DGPs were at par with lieutenant generals. Now, the Sixth Pay Commission has bifurcated the lieutenant generals and the equivalent ranks in the Navy and IAF into two. The GOC-in-C, their Naval and IAF equivalents and few other officers at the headquarters are in a grade that is higher than that of the DGPs while other lieutenant generals are in a grade lower than the DGPs. This anomaly is affecting about 150 officers.
Armed forces form panel to resolve pay matters
Mumbai Mayhem: India must have best defence system
The Indian Government has been sensible in hiking the defence budget. The terrorist attack on Mumbai, originating from Pakistani soil, redefines policy and operating paradigms in the region. In strategising its relations with Pakistan, India must take cognisance of the emerging power equations and economic realities.
First, with an expected growth rate of 7 to 10 per cent, India will evoke jealousy among its neighbours like China, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Pakistan particularly will not be able to digest India’s economic progress and eminence. China may not directly attack India, but it will certainly ride on Pakistan’s back to keep troubling India.
India should aim to build the largest and strongest army in the world in terms of equipment, armoury and personnel. Every Indian should undergo mandatory army service. India must strengthen internal and external defence systems, have the best intelligence system in the world, base rapid-action commando forces in all cities, modernise and equip the police force. India should also compress reaction time to attacks to 10 to 15 minutes, plan proactive counter-attacks, punitive punishment plans, ensure zero loss of life and place CCTV cameras across cities. What is the use of being economically and technologically advanced if terrorists can enter our country through an inflatable rubber boat and massacre innocent citizens and reduce the country to a laughing stock?
RAJENDRA K ANEJA, Dubai
The Tribune: India must have best defence system
First, with an expected growth rate of 7 to 10 per cent, India will evoke jealousy among its neighbours like China, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Pakistan particularly will not be able to digest India’s economic progress and eminence. China may not directly attack India, but it will certainly ride on Pakistan’s back to keep troubling India.
India should aim to build the largest and strongest army in the world in terms of equipment, armoury and personnel. Every Indian should undergo mandatory army service. India must strengthen internal and external defence systems, have the best intelligence system in the world, base rapid-action commando forces in all cities, modernise and equip the police force. India should also compress reaction time to attacks to 10 to 15 minutes, plan proactive counter-attacks, punitive punishment plans, ensure zero loss of life and place CCTV cameras across cities. What is the use of being economically and technologically advanced if terrorists can enter our country through an inflatable rubber boat and massacre innocent citizens and reduce the country to a laughing stock?
RAJENDRA K ANEJA, Dubai
The Tribune: India must have best defence system
Thursday, February 19, 2009
IESM: Military Pensions- CNN IBN Network 18 at 1730 hrs on 20 Feb 2009
Dear friend,
The program on our pensions which was scheduled for 18th Feb 2009 will now be telecast on Friday, the 20th Feb 2009 at 1730 hrs and Monday 23rd Feb at 2230 hrs. The change became necessary because of Mr Obama's program. Our apologies (a million of them) for any inconvenience which this may have caused to you.
Regards,
Maj Gen Surjit Singh
PS Just to remind you: It will be on CNBC TV 18 and it is Karan Thapar's program entitled, "India Tonight"
Click here to link up
The program on our pensions which was scheduled for 18th Feb 2009 will now be telecast on Friday, the 20th Feb 2009 at 1730 hrs and Monday 23rd Feb at 2230 hrs. The change became necessary because of Mr Obama's program. Our apologies (a million of them) for any inconvenience which this may have caused to you.
Regards,
Maj Gen Surjit Singh
PS Just to remind you: It will be on CNBC TV 18 and it is Karan Thapar's program entitled, "India Tonight"
Click here to link up
IESM: Mass surrender of gallantry awards on 21 Feb 2009
Dear Friends,
We have sent reminder to the media today for covering our Return of Medal event on 21 Feb 09 at Jantar Mantar at 12 “O” Clock (see below). We request all ESM and their relations who have any contact with media to get our event covered extensively. 08 Feb 09 Rally was well covered, however the follow up coverage was much to be desired.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Invitation
Return of Medals to the President by Ex Servicemen
on 21 Feb 2009 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
Dear Members of the Media,
1. Utterly disappointed with the absence of any visible positive response from the Government for grant of One Rank One Pension (OROP) even consequent to the trauma of returning their medals on 08 Feb 2009 in a Mammoth Rally held at Jantar Mantar, many more ex servicemen across India have also decided to return their medals in large numbers to the President on 21 Feb 09. The State units of the IESM have been directed to collect medals centrally and bring these to Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from where these will be returned to the President- The Supreme Commander of Defence Forces of India.
2. The Ex Servicemen residing in NCR who have not been able to deposit the medals centrally will do so at Jantar Mantar on 21 Feb 2009 forenoon. The medals will be escorted by a delegation of IESM to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. A request has been made for the delegation carrying the medals to meet Hon’ able President to apprise her of the demand of One Rank One Pension which had been pledged in the Congress election manifesto in the last Parliamentary elections, and the pledge is being reneged now.
3. You are requested to kindly cover the event extensively.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Media highlights Government's Insensitivity to Ex- Servicemen
In our democratic set up, no political party can afford to ignore ex-servicemen’
Government rejects ex-soldiers’ ‘one rank one pension’ plea
We have sent reminder to the media today for covering our Return of Medal event on 21 Feb 09 at Jantar Mantar at 12 “O” Clock (see below). We request all ESM and their relations who have any contact with media to get our event covered extensively. 08 Feb 09 Rally was well covered, however the follow up coverage was much to be desired.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Return of Medals to the President by Ex Servicemen
on 21 Feb 2009 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
Dear Members of the Media,
1. Utterly disappointed with the absence of any visible positive response from the Government for grant of One Rank One Pension (OROP) even consequent to the trauma of returning their medals on 08 Feb 2009 in a Mammoth Rally held at Jantar Mantar, many more ex servicemen across India have also decided to return their medals in large numbers to the President on 21 Feb 09. The State units of the IESM have been directed to collect medals centrally and bring these to Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from where these will be returned to the President- The Supreme Commander of Defence Forces of India.
2. The Ex Servicemen residing in NCR who have not been able to deposit the medals centrally will do so at Jantar Mantar on 21 Feb 2009 forenoon. The medals will be escorted by a delegation of IESM to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. A request has been made for the delegation carrying the medals to meet Hon’ able President to apprise her of the demand of One Rank One Pension which had been pledged in the Congress election manifesto in the last Parliamentary elections, and the pledge is being reneged now.
3. You are requested to kindly cover the event extensively.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Media highlights Government's Insensitivity to Ex- Servicemen
In our democratic set up, no political party can afford to ignore ex-servicemen’
Government rejects ex-soldiers’ ‘one rank one pension’ plea
Navy Chief warns of nuclear threat
Navy chief warns of nuclear threat
Admiral Sureesh Mehta, Indian navy chief, warned that nuclear weapons may be smuggled into India in cargo containers via the sea route. Mehta was addressing a conference on port sector development and security in New Delhi on February 18.
Click Picture to play the Video Clip
Who is in the highest position in the world?
Babu Sassi from India, a fearless young man from southern India is the cult hero of Dubai's army of construction workers. Known as the "Indian on the top of the world", Babu is the crane operator at the world's tallest building- the 819-metre Burj Dubai. His office, the cramped crane cab perched on top of the Burj, is also his home. Apparently it takes too long to come down to the ground each day to make it worthwhile. When the building is completed, its elevators will be the world's fastest. Stories about his daily dalliance with death are discussed in revered terms by Dubai's workers. Some say he has been up there for more than a year, others whisper that he's paid 30,000 dirhams ($8,168) a month compared with the average wage of 800 dirhams a month.
Babu Sassi who lives in the crane
IESM: Jaswant takes up case of ex-armymen in RS
Mail Today, Wednesday, February 18, 2009
FEW DAYS after former soldiers, including three- star generals, returned their gallantry medals to President Pratibha Patil to press for a one rank- one pension system, the issue resurfaced in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Speaking on the motion of thanks to the President’s address to Parliament, the leader of Opposition in the House, Jaswant Singh, said the government’s failure to meet the demand went against the izzat (honour) of the ex- servicemen. The BJP leader said it was a “complex” issue but the government should have addressed it.
“It is unfortunate a Lt Colonel retiring today gets a pension equal to a Lt General who retired a few years ago,” he said. Jaswant compared the “shortcoming” with the “equal pension system” applicable to the MPs irrespective of the term during which he was a member. Jaswant also said there was “confusion” galore because the pension system of former soldiers was open to “a variety of interpretations” by the CDA, the pay and pension disbursement authority for the armed forces. He also pointed out the misuse of the uniform by civilians, especially security agencies.
Jaswant takes up case of ex-armymen in RS
Comment: Rampant misuse of non- pattern Uniforms by Security Agencies poses an Internal security threat. Security Agencies employing ESM are exploiting them with shabby and fancy uniforms and dishonouring their status, rank with meagre wages.
FEW DAYS after former soldiers, including three- star generals, returned their gallantry medals to President Pratibha Patil to press for a one rank- one pension system, the issue resurfaced in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Speaking on the motion of thanks to the President’s address to Parliament, the leader of Opposition in the House, Jaswant Singh, said the government’s failure to meet the demand went against the izzat (honour) of the ex- servicemen. The BJP leader said it was a “complex” issue but the government should have addressed it.
“It is unfortunate a Lt Colonel retiring today gets a pension equal to a Lt General who retired a few years ago,” he said. Jaswant compared the “shortcoming” with the “equal pension system” applicable to the MPs irrespective of the term during which he was a member. Jaswant also said there was “confusion” galore because the pension system of former soldiers was open to “a variety of interpretations” by the CDA, the pay and pension disbursement authority for the armed forces. He also pointed out the misuse of the uniform by civilians, especially security agencies.
Jaswant takes up case of ex-armymen in RS
Comment: Rampant misuse of non- pattern Uniforms by Security Agencies poses an Internal security threat. Security Agencies employing ESM are exploiting them with shabby and fancy uniforms and dishonouring their status, rank with meagre wages.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- sixty third day
Date: Wednesday, 18 February, 2009, 8:38 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Sub Ram Chander and his braves from Bawal (Haryana) are in charge of Jantar Mantar today.
Visit
Maj Gen Adit Jaini, Colonel Kanwar Bhardwaj, Maj Ishwar Jakhar Sub Dahira, Hav balwant and some others visited Palwal (Haryana) today. They interacted with a large gathering of over 250 very entusiastic ESM.
Support
Gen Sher Amir called up this evening from Faizabad, where he is attanding his Regimental Reunion. Following his interaction with a large number of officers from all over India, he conveyed the unqualified support of all for the cause and the efforts being put in by the IESM to get justice. Such oxygen keeps us going.
Misinformation
There seems an effort by the government to convey an impression that after the Sixth PC, there is no (major) problem with the PBOR; the problem is only officer centric. This came from the Congress National Spokesperson Manish Tewari during a TV debate Feb 18 (being aired on CNBC 18 under ‘India Tonite’ at 2230 hours Feb 18 and 1600 hours Feb 19). This was of course countered by asserting that the hardest hit is the lowest rank of Sepoy, with a pre-1996 retiree Sepoy getting 82% lower pension than a post-1.1.2006 Sepoy pensioner does. We must be on the watch against efforts to create a divide among the ESM. It has been and must continue to be a joint effort by all.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Dear Colleagues,
Sub Ram Chander and his braves from Bawal (Haryana) are in charge of Jantar Mantar today.
Visit
Maj Gen Adit Jaini, Colonel Kanwar Bhardwaj, Maj Ishwar Jakhar Sub Dahira, Hav balwant and some others visited Palwal (Haryana) today. They interacted with a large gathering of over 250 very entusiastic ESM.
Support
Gen Sher Amir called up this evening from Faizabad, where he is attanding his Regimental Reunion. Following his interaction with a large number of officers from all over India, he conveyed the unqualified support of all for the cause and the efforts being put in by the IESM to get justice. Such oxygen keeps us going.
Misinformation
There seems an effort by the government to convey an impression that after the Sixth PC, there is no (major) problem with the PBOR; the problem is only officer centric. This came from the Congress National Spokesperson Manish Tewari during a TV debate Feb 18 (being aired on CNBC 18 under ‘India Tonite’ at 2230 hours Feb 18 and 1600 hours Feb 19). This was of course countered by asserting that the hardest hit is the lowest rank of Sepoy, with a pre-1996 retiree Sepoy getting 82% lower pension than a post-1.1.2006 Sepoy pensioner does. We must be on the watch against efforts to create a divide among the ESM. It has been and must continue to be a joint effort by all.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
IESM: Military Pensions- CNN IBN Network 18 at 2230 hrs on 18 Feb 2009
Dear Friend,
CNN IBN Network 18 will be telecasting a program on military pensions at 2230 under the title, "India Tonight" The interview has been recorded a little while back by the well known TV personality Karan Thapar (incidentally, he is the youngest child of our former Chief, Gen Thapar 1961- 62) and it features Raj Kadyan, Manish Tewari of the Congress and me.
The program will be re-telecast at 1600 hrs tomorrow.
With best wishes,
Maj Gen Surjit Singh
Government has not found acceptable the demand of Ex-Servicemen for one rank one pension
about Network 18
Network18 [BSE: 532798,NSE: Network18] is one of India's leading full play media conglomerates with interests in television, print, internet, filmed entertainment, mobile content and allied businesses. Through its holding in Television Eighteen India Ltd (TV18) [BSE: 532299, NSE: TV-18], Network18 operates India’s leading business news television channels, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz. It also runs one of India’s largest Internet players - Web18, as well as one of India’s leading real time financial information and news terminals - Newswire18. TV18 has recently expanded into print with Infomedia18, a newly formed entity following the acquisition of Infomedia, India's leading player in the special interest publishing and printing operations space.TV18 has also announced a collaboration with Forbes media for the launch of a business magazine in India. Through its holding in ibn18 Broadcast Ltd (ibn18) [BSE: 532800,NSE: ibn18], Network18 operates in the general news and entertainment space with leading general news channels CNN-IBN and IBN7 and has launched IBN Lokmat, a Marathi news channel in partnership with the Lokmat group. ibn18 also operates a joint venture with Viacom, called Viacom18 which houses the MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon channels in India - as also Studio18, the Group’s filmed entertainment operation and has launched ‘Colors’, a Hindi general entertainment channel. Additionally, Network18 holds the Group’s online & on-air home shopping venture, Homeshop18 and its full spectrum events management venture, E18.
Defence Talk- Drones at war
DRONES, ALSO termed Unmanned Combat Vehicles or Remotely Piloted Vehicles, have been identified as force multipliers since their successful employment in the 1991 Gulf War. It is, however, the “arbitrary” Bush legacy (June 2008) of trans-border Predator drone usage by the CIA — for taking out Al Qaeda/Taliban terrorists operating within the Pakistani side of the Afghan-Pak border — that has added a new dimension to their war against terror, besides throwing up issues of ethics and diplomatic propriety. The latest drone attack occurred on February 14, 2009, when 25 Mujahideen owing allegiance to Baitullah Mehsud, the Taliban chief in Pakistan, were killed in a Predator strike in Shwangai, South Waziristan. The attack came even as the Pakistani President acknowledged that the Taliban were “making the survival of Pakistan” difficult. On the same day, Dianne Feinstein, chairperson, Senate Intelligence Committee, revealed that the Predator aircraft were being flown from an airbase inside Pakistan. The unintended disclosure, a diplomatic gaffe that Presidents Obama and Zardari could do without, has seriously jeopardised Pakistan’s counterterrorism collaboration with America.
As per the Council of Foreign Relations in Washington, American drones have, since June 2008, carried out more than 30 missile attacks against Al Qaeda and Taliban targets. Already , civilian casualties in Afghanistan and areas of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan have climbed from 929 in 2006 to almost 2,000 in 2008, from the US-led air attacks. Some are attributable to Predator strikes and have given adverse publicity to both American and Pakistani governments. On January 13, 2006, several US Predators struck Damadola village in Pakistan where Ayman al-Zawahiri was reportedly located, killing 18 civilians. On October 30, 2006, the Bajaur air strike, targeted a militant training camp and Zawahiri. Although he escaped, 85 villagers died.
Analysts are debating whether such attacks, which unilaterally transgress national borders, should continue. Supporters say they are useful against an enemy carrying out Fourth Generation Warfare (4GW); a warfare characterised by a blurring of lines between war and politics, soldier and civilian, battlefield and safety!
Maj Gen Raj Mehta (Retd)
The writer, who is settled in S.A.S. Nagar, is a security analyst
Read the full article:
Drones at war- text
Drones at war- Image article
IESM: To return more medals on Feb 21, 2009
New Delhi, Feb 15: Demanding implementation of One Rank One Pension rule (OROP), ex-servicemen will continue with their protest and will return more gallantry medals on February 21.
"We once again appeal to the government to immediately implement OROP otherwise more of our brothers will come out and return the medals," Vice Chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) Maj Gen (retd) Satbir Singh said.
Expressing his anguish over the government for not responding to the return of medals by the veterans on February 8, he said, "This shows government's apathetic attitude towards the armed forces and we will intensify our movement till the time government meet our demands."
Singh said that ESM has written letters to both President Pratibha Patil and Defence Minister A K Antony informing them about the future course of action to be taken by the veterans.
On February 8, IESM held a protest rally at Jantar mantar here where over 300 former officers and Jawans returned their gallantry awards.
Similarly placed retired officers (with the same rank and number of years in service) receive different amounts as pension with central pay commissions increasing the pay of armed forces personnel every 10 years. This increases the gap between the pensions received by those who retired before the implementation of the respective commissions.
Click here to see the rankwise discrimination
Ex-servicemen to return more medals on Feb 21- Zee News Bureau Report
Tarlochan bats for ex-servicemem: Tribune News Service
"We once again appeal to the government to immediately implement OROP otherwise more of our brothers will come out and return the medals," Vice Chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) Maj Gen (retd) Satbir Singh said.
Expressing his anguish over the government for not responding to the return of medals by the veterans on February 8, he said, "This shows government's apathetic attitude towards the armed forces and we will intensify our movement till the time government meet our demands."
Singh said that ESM has written letters to both President Pratibha Patil and Defence Minister A K Antony informing them about the future course of action to be taken by the veterans.
On February 8, IESM held a protest rally at Jantar mantar here where over 300 former officers and Jawans returned their gallantry awards.
Similarly placed retired officers (with the same rank and number of years in service) receive different amounts as pension with central pay commissions increasing the pay of armed forces personnel every 10 years. This increases the gap between the pensions received by those who retired before the implementation of the respective commissions.
Click here to see the rankwise discrimination
Ex-servicemen to return more medals on Feb 21- Zee News Bureau Report
Tarlochan bats for ex-servicemem: Tribune News Service
IESM: Sad demise of Cdr Radhakrishnan
Dear friends
I am shocked to hear of the sudden demise of a very dear friend and a valuable senior who helped us in many ventures including the current agitation against the injustices meted out to the ESM by the Govt. of India.We all know of his deep commitment towards this cause, and he was ever willing to give useful suggestions and appropriate help at crucial stages of our work. We will all miss him in the IESM community.
I was associated with Cdr. Radhakrishnan, Radha to us, in a number of initiatives for the welfare of the ESM. Three of us ie. Radha, Maj. Gen. Satish Suri and self were appointed to a committee by the MOD in early 1999 to propose a suitable, comprehensive medical cover for the ESM.This committee was still-born though it had very prominent members and was headed by Addl. Secy. of the MOD, since the babus were not keen on its success. We were joined by Late VADM. R B Suri, Ex.VCNS in an informal and unofficial committee of persons committed to a cause. This group followed up the project till the ECHS got sanctioned in 2003. Radha was always deeply involved and was instrumental in getting us appointments with various functionaries of the Govt. He was constantly getting us information about the CGHS, Railways and other retired govt. employees medical benefit schemes of the GOI. We were able to submit a very comprehensive proposal to the ARUN SINGH COMMITTEE which reviewed the functioning of MOD during Mr. Jaswant Singh's tenure. We were fortunate that he sanctioned the ECHS and was able to sanction the funds as the Finance Minister, soon afterwards.
I will never be able to forget Radha's caring attitude, humility, commitment to social causes and his capability to access very senior political & service bosses of the country without any fuss. I am deeply indebted to Sita and Radha for socially interacting with us on many occasions. My heartfelt condolences to Sita on this very sad occasion. May the Almighty give her the courage to cope up with this huge loss.
We will never be able to forget him and pray he finds a place in Heaven.
Yours
Kuldip Rai. Air Marshal Retd.
(Former DG MS, IAF)
PS. I have joined the IESM on 8th Feb '09 at the rally site.
Sad Demise of Cdr (Retd) N Radhakrishnan at Chennai
Date: Monday, 16 February, 2009, 11:59 AM
Dear All,
It is extremely disheartening and sad news. I knew Cdr Radhakrishnan much before the IESM was thought of. His association and mature advice on Personnel issues, whilst I was a youngster in the Navy was actively looked forward to. He knew not only his peers in the Navy but a host of latter Chiefs, who all had time for his wide experience and knowledge. I recall his very active contribution to setting up of ECHS and doing away with its varying shortcomings. He had the well being of the Armed Forces pensioners always at heart. His support to the IESM by arranging meetings with various leaders of the political hierarchy which I attended with Renjen and Satbir demonstrated that age had not in anyway diminished his committment to IESM causes especially OROP. I could go on writing pages about Radha Sir but suffice to conclude that may God bless his soul. RIP
Vice Admiral Barin Ghose (Retd)
Member Core Group IESM
Date: Monday, 16 February, 2009, 1:26 PM
I got to know him (Cdr N Radhakrishnan) only in the course of IESM activities, in which he was actively involved and a constant source of info and strength. As Barin has said, he was instrumental in arranging some of our meetings with Politicians and urging them thereafter to continue supporting our cause. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered. IESM family would want to convey its deepest condolences to his wife, children and family. May God Bless his soul and may it rest in eternal peace.
Maj Gen (Retd) PK Renjen, AVSM
(Treasurer IESM)
I and my wife called on Mrs Sita Radhakrishnan at their residence in Chennai on 16 Feb 2009 (11am to 1pm) expressed our grief and conveyed our heartfelt condolences to her and to all family members on behalf of the IESM fraternity.
Lt Col Kanagaraj James (Retd)
I am shocked to hear of the sudden demise of a very dear friend and a valuable senior who helped us in many ventures including the current agitation against the injustices meted out to the ESM by the Govt. of India.We all know of his deep commitment towards this cause, and he was ever willing to give useful suggestions and appropriate help at crucial stages of our work. We will all miss him in the IESM community.
I was associated with Cdr. Radhakrishnan, Radha to us, in a number of initiatives for the welfare of the ESM. Three of us ie. Radha, Maj. Gen. Satish Suri and self were appointed to a committee by the MOD in early 1999 to propose a suitable, comprehensive medical cover for the ESM.This committee was still-born though it had very prominent members and was headed by Addl. Secy. of the MOD, since the babus were not keen on its success. We were joined by Late VADM. R B Suri, Ex.VCNS in an informal and unofficial committee of persons committed to a cause. This group followed up the project till the ECHS got sanctioned in 2003. Radha was always deeply involved and was instrumental in getting us appointments with various functionaries of the Govt. He was constantly getting us information about the CGHS, Railways and other retired govt. employees medical benefit schemes of the GOI. We were able to submit a very comprehensive proposal to the ARUN SINGH COMMITTEE which reviewed the functioning of MOD during Mr. Jaswant Singh's tenure. We were fortunate that he sanctioned the ECHS and was able to sanction the funds as the Finance Minister, soon afterwards.
I will never be able to forget Radha's caring attitude, humility, commitment to social causes and his capability to access very senior political & service bosses of the country without any fuss. I am deeply indebted to Sita and Radha for socially interacting with us on many occasions. My heartfelt condolences to Sita on this very sad occasion. May the Almighty give her the courage to cope up with this huge loss.
We will never be able to forget him and pray he finds a place in Heaven.
Yours
Kuldip Rai. Air Marshal Retd.
(Former DG MS, IAF)
PS. I have joined the IESM on 8th Feb '09 at the rally site.
Sad Demise of Cdr (Retd) N Radhakrishnan at Chennai
Date: Monday, 16 February, 2009, 11:59 AM
Dear All,
It is extremely disheartening and sad news. I knew Cdr Radhakrishnan much before the IESM was thought of. His association and mature advice on Personnel issues, whilst I was a youngster in the Navy was actively looked forward to. He knew not only his peers in the Navy but a host of latter Chiefs, who all had time for his wide experience and knowledge. I recall his very active contribution to setting up of ECHS and doing away with its varying shortcomings. He had the well being of the Armed Forces pensioners always at heart. His support to the IESM by arranging meetings with various leaders of the political hierarchy which I attended with Renjen and Satbir demonstrated that age had not in anyway diminished his committment to IESM causes especially OROP. I could go on writing pages about Radha Sir but suffice to conclude that may God bless his soul. RIP
Vice Admiral Barin Ghose (Retd)
Member Core Group IESM
Date: Monday, 16 February, 2009, 1:26 PM
I got to know him (Cdr N Radhakrishnan) only in the course of IESM activities, in which he was actively involved and a constant source of info and strength. As Barin has said, he was instrumental in arranging some of our meetings with Politicians and urging them thereafter to continue supporting our cause. He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered. IESM family would want to convey its deepest condolences to his wife, children and family. May God Bless his soul and may it rest in eternal peace.
Maj Gen (Retd) PK Renjen, AVSM
(Treasurer IESM)
I and my wife called on Mrs Sita Radhakrishnan at their residence in Chennai on 16 Feb 2009 (11am to 1pm) expressed our grief and conveyed our heartfelt condolences to her and to all family members on behalf of the IESM fraternity.
Lt Col Kanagaraj James (Retd)
IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- sixty second day
Arrangements have been tied up to meet the President and handover the second batch of medals on 21 Feb 09, at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Date: Tuesday, 17 February, 2009, 10:43 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Local boys from Gurgaon are manning the Jantar Mantar venue.
Medal Return
Core Gp members have been touring Haryana areas informing ESM about the plans to deposit medals on 21 Feb 2009. Veteran Shrivastava called up from Lucknow to update me on his efforts in this regard. Veteran SR Singh is doing the same in Varanasi.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Date: Tuesday, 17 February, 2009, 10:12 PM
Dear All,
The IESM Veterans had returned hundreds of Medals to The President On 08 Feb 2009 after the Rally at Jantar Mantar including the Shaurya Chakra of the son by Col and Mrs Bhardwaj. The next date for returning the medals already conveyed to the President's Office by the Chairman IESM Lt Gen Raj Kadyan is Saturday 21 Feb 2009.
All Veterans in Noida desirous of giving their Big Medals are requested to kindly give the same neatly packed in a polythene bag with their names and address and phone numbers to either– Col SP Singh, Secy RWA Sec 37 or Col Sekhri or Col Kewal Malhotra. Veterans of Jal Vayu Vihar can give the same to Cdr SS Ahuja (retd), J-180, Sec 25, Noida. Kindly give this message wide publicity and send this mail to all your friends. Those who want to give their medals directly can also do so by coming to the Jantar mantar on 21 Feb 2009 in the forenoon.
Regards
Cdr Sharan Ahuja (Retd)
Member core Group IESM
Dear All,
These are photos taken by me on 21st Jan at IESM Relay Fast at Jantar Mantar and also at Mavalankar Hall on 14th Feb at Function organised by Col Tyagi and addressed by Swami Ramdev. There are 23 Photos under caption Iphone. The 14th Feb function was a huge success and made a tremendous Impact. Full details were narrated to Cdr Sharan Ahuja by me and he has already sent email on the subject.
Thanks
Cdr N S Chauhan
Slideshow: iphone
Dear All,
The meeting at Mavlankar hall , Rafi Marg New Delhi organised by Col TP Tyagi VrC (retd) of Rashtrya Sainik Sanstha and IESM on 14 Feb at 3PM was a big success where in Baba Ramdev said that today the govt has corrupt people in it and the Saints and the Soldiers and the kisans would only save the country from the evils. we have to bring in a new Kranti movement for this. Kudos to Col Tejinder Pal Tyagi of IESM for organising this great event and also the special caps brought out for this occasion.
The article which came out in Page 5 of dainik Jagran Delhi edition is placed below.
Regards
Cdr Sharan Ahuja (Retd)
Member Core Group IESM
संत, सैनिक व किसान बचाएंगे देश
नई दिल्ली, जागरण संवाददाता : देश में फैले भ्रष्टाचार को खत्म करने के लिए अब संत, सैनिक और किसान साथ मिलकर राष्ट्रधर्म की अलख जगाएंगे। राजनीतिक गुलामी से देश को आजाद कराना होगा। इसके लिए नई क्रांति लानी होगी और यह क्रांति करेंगे संत, सैनिक और किसान। ये बातें शनिवार को मावलंकर हॉल में आयोजित स्वाभिमान दिवस समारोह में योगगुरु स्वामी रामदेव महराज ने कहीं। इस मौके पर उन्होंने भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ बिगुल फूंका। उन्होंने कहा कि भ्रष्टाचार के कारण देश में बेरोजगारी बढ़ी है। इससे गरीबी का शिकार होकर लाखों लोग रोज भूखे सो जाते हैं, तो रोज हजारों बच्चे भूख से तड़प कर मर जाते हैं। लेकिन, भ्रष्टाचार में डूबे राजनीतिक लोग करोड़ों रुपये विदेशी बैंकों में जमा कर रहे हैं। जब कानून बनाने वाले ही कानून तोड़ने लगें और लोकतंत्र के मंदिर लोकसभा, विधानसभा में बैठने वाले तथाकथित नेता संविधान की कसमें खाकर संविधान का कत्ल करने लगें तो नई आजादी, नई व्यवस्था, नए विधान की आवाज हर भारतीय के अंतर्गत से निकलती है जिसका नाम है भारत स्वाभिमान। योगगुरु ने कहा कि देश की सत्ता भ्रष्ट, बेइमान, चरित्रहीन, अपराधी, कायर, कमजोर, बुजदिल एवं गैर जिम्मेदार लोगों के हाथों में सौंपना देश का अपमान है। उन्होंने कहा कि देश के कई नेता भ्रष्टाचार की दलदल में धंस चुके हैं। इनके चंगुल से देश को बचाना होगा। उन्होंने कहा कि वे सक्रिय राजनीति में नहीं आएंगे, लेकिन इससे बाहर रहकर देश की सत्ता राष्ट्रवादी पराक्रमी, पारदर्शी, मानवतावादी, अध्यात्मवादी व विनयशील, देशभक्त एवं ईमानदार लोगों के हाथों में सौंपकर शक्तिशाली लोकतांत्रिक भारत बनाने का प्रयास करेंगे। इस मौके पर हजारों पूर्व सैनिकों ने स्वामी रामदेव के नेतृत्व में आस्था जताते हुए भारत स्वाभिमान के यज्ञ में आहुति देने का संकल्प लिया। राष्ट्रीय सैनिक संस्था के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष कर्नल तेजेंद्र पाल त्यागी, लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल प्रेम सागर, जेएम गार्गा, एसके कौशल, ओके दुग्गल, मेजर जनरल आरके कौशल, मेजर जनरल सतबीर सिंह, राष्ट्रीय सलाहकार आदेश त्यागी, पवन कुमार, डा. जयदीप आर्या, राजेंद्र बगासी, ब्रिगेडियर अनिल कोहली आदि मौजूद थे।__,_._
IESM - OROP Karan Thapar please see program at 10.30pm on 18 Feb CNBC TV
Dear Friends,
Pls see CNBC TV at 10.30 pm, on 18 Feb 2009 (tomorrow) on OROP with Karan Thapar.
Please pass on information to all friends.
Regards
Cdr Sharan Ahuja (Retd)
Member Core Group IESM
Date: Tuesday, 17 February, 2009, 10:43 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Local boys from Gurgaon are manning the Jantar Mantar venue.
Medal Return
Core Gp members have been touring Haryana areas informing ESM about the plans to deposit medals on 21 Feb 2009. Veteran Shrivastava called up from Lucknow to update me on his efforts in this regard. Veteran SR Singh is doing the same in Varanasi.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Date: Tuesday, 17 February, 2009, 10:12 PM
Dear All,
The IESM Veterans had returned hundreds of Medals to The President On 08 Feb 2009 after the Rally at Jantar Mantar including the Shaurya Chakra of the son by Col and Mrs Bhardwaj. The next date for returning the medals already conveyed to the President's Office by the Chairman IESM Lt Gen Raj Kadyan is Saturday 21 Feb 2009.
All Veterans in Noida desirous of giving their Big Medals are requested to kindly give the same neatly packed in a polythene bag with their names and address and phone numbers to either– Col SP Singh, Secy RWA Sec 37 or Col Sekhri or Col Kewal Malhotra. Veterans of Jal Vayu Vihar can give the same to Cdr SS Ahuja (retd), J-180, Sec 25, Noida. Kindly give this message wide publicity and send this mail to all your friends. Those who want to give their medals directly can also do so by coming to the Jantar mantar on 21 Feb 2009 in the forenoon.
Regards
Cdr Sharan Ahuja (Retd)
Member core Group IESM
Dear All,
These are photos taken by me on 21st Jan at IESM Relay Fast at Jantar Mantar and also at Mavalankar Hall on 14th Feb at Function organised by Col Tyagi and addressed by Swami Ramdev. There are 23 Photos under caption Iphone. The 14th Feb function was a huge success and made a tremendous Impact. Full details were narrated to Cdr Sharan Ahuja by me and he has already sent email on the subject.
Thanks
Cdr N S Chauhan
Slideshow: iphone
Dear All,
The meeting at Mavlankar hall , Rafi Marg New Delhi organised by Col TP Tyagi VrC (retd) of Rashtrya Sainik Sanstha and IESM on 14 Feb at 3PM was a big success where in Baba Ramdev said that today the govt has corrupt people in it and the Saints and the Soldiers and the kisans would only save the country from the evils. we have to bring in a new Kranti movement for this. Kudos to Col Tejinder Pal Tyagi of IESM for organising this great event and also the special caps brought out for this occasion.
The article which came out in Page 5 of dainik Jagran Delhi edition is placed below.
Regards
Cdr Sharan Ahuja (Retd)
Member Core Group IESM
संत, सैनिक व किसान बचाएंगे देश
नई दिल्ली, जागरण संवाददाता : देश में फैले भ्रष्टाचार को खत्म करने के लिए अब संत, सैनिक और किसान साथ मिलकर राष्ट्रधर्म की अलख जगाएंगे। राजनीतिक गुलामी से देश को आजाद कराना होगा। इसके लिए नई क्रांति लानी होगी और यह क्रांति करेंगे संत, सैनिक और किसान। ये बातें शनिवार को मावलंकर हॉल में आयोजित स्वाभिमान दिवस समारोह में योगगुरु स्वामी रामदेव महराज ने कहीं। इस मौके पर उन्होंने भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ बिगुल फूंका। उन्होंने कहा कि भ्रष्टाचार के कारण देश में बेरोजगारी बढ़ी है। इससे गरीबी का शिकार होकर लाखों लोग रोज भूखे सो जाते हैं, तो रोज हजारों बच्चे भूख से तड़प कर मर जाते हैं। लेकिन, भ्रष्टाचार में डूबे राजनीतिक लोग करोड़ों रुपये विदेशी बैंकों में जमा कर रहे हैं। जब कानून बनाने वाले ही कानून तोड़ने लगें और लोकतंत्र के मंदिर लोकसभा, विधानसभा में बैठने वाले तथाकथित नेता संविधान की कसमें खाकर संविधान का कत्ल करने लगें तो नई आजादी, नई व्यवस्था, नए विधान की आवाज हर भारतीय के अंतर्गत से निकलती है जिसका नाम है भारत स्वाभिमान। योगगुरु ने कहा कि देश की सत्ता भ्रष्ट, बेइमान, चरित्रहीन, अपराधी, कायर, कमजोर, बुजदिल एवं गैर जिम्मेदार लोगों के हाथों में सौंपना देश का अपमान है। उन्होंने कहा कि देश के कई नेता भ्रष्टाचार की दलदल में धंस चुके हैं। इनके चंगुल से देश को बचाना होगा। उन्होंने कहा कि वे सक्रिय राजनीति में नहीं आएंगे, लेकिन इससे बाहर रहकर देश की सत्ता राष्ट्रवादी पराक्रमी, पारदर्शी, मानवतावादी, अध्यात्मवादी व विनयशील, देशभक्त एवं ईमानदार लोगों के हाथों में सौंपकर शक्तिशाली लोकतांत्रिक भारत बनाने का प्रयास करेंगे। इस मौके पर हजारों पूर्व सैनिकों ने स्वामी रामदेव के नेतृत्व में आस्था जताते हुए भारत स्वाभिमान के यज्ञ में आहुति देने का संकल्प लिया। राष्ट्रीय सैनिक संस्था के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष कर्नल तेजेंद्र पाल त्यागी, लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल प्रेम सागर, जेएम गार्गा, एसके कौशल, ओके दुग्गल, मेजर जनरल आरके कौशल, मेजर जनरल सतबीर सिंह, राष्ट्रीय सलाहकार आदेश त्यागी, पवन कुमार, डा. जयदीप आर्या, राजेंद्र बगासी, ब्रिगेडियर अनिल कोहली आदि मौजूद थे।__,_._
IESM - OROP Karan Thapar please see program at 10.30pm on 18 Feb CNBC TV
Dear Friends,
Pls see CNBC TV at 10.30 pm, on 18 Feb 2009 (tomorrow) on OROP with Karan Thapar.
Please pass on information to all friends.
Regards
Cdr Sharan Ahuja (Retd)
Member Core Group IESM
IESM: Letters from Members Galvanising the Momentum
Date: Monday, 16 February, 2009, 8:09 PM
Dear veterans
I had earlier transferred an amount of Rs 30,000/- on 1 Jan 2009 on behalf of DSOI, Palakkad and some members/non-members. This was an advance payment. Today I have transferred another Rs 35,700/- to the same a/c (HDFC SB a/c No 06162000001330 of IESM). This was the total collection till date on account of subscription towards membership of 50 veterans/widows and their donations, including donations from two veterans who have not become members. The details are in the Excel document attached. (Not in the format provided by IESM. That data sheet shall be send shortly). The covering letter, cheque deposit receipt of 16/2/09 and speedpost receipt of 16/2/09 are all in jpg form. The effort to get more members shall continue but the forwarding of applications/transfer of money shall be done only if the number exceeds 10 or the amount exceeds Rs 10,000/-.
Wishing the movement all the best.
Incidently the Kerala State Ex-services League, affiliated to the IESL, has organised a vehicle jaatha from Kasargode to Thiruvananthapuram. It commenced on 8th Feb and will end on 21 Feb. It was at Palakkad on 13th. The obectives as declared by the organisers are manifold:
* One India, one people
* Against communal separatism
* Against terrorism
* Know your armed forces and veterans
* Stop discrimination against veterans
* Condemn the 6th cpc anomalies
* One rank, one pension
* Provide financial assistance of Rs 1000/- to WWII veterans and to their widows
* Allot land for ECHS polyclinics.
The jatha captain is Varghese Kappil, Secretary of KSESL.
Regards and best wishes
Maj PM Ravindran (Retd)
VERY WELL DONE MAJ RAVINDRAN. To do this single handed is great. Many other veterans should follow your example to ensure the success of IESM– REPORT MY SIGNAL
Dear Brig Kamboj,
It is a heartening to see the IESM being carried forward with the precision and clarity the Armed Forces operations are known for. It is a precise action and your vigour along with that of Gen Kadyan, Gen Surjit Singh and others is truly commendable and must be complimented. Very rightly as suggested- the pressure must not be eased and the movement must stir the conscience of the nation.
It would be a fine gesture if the other Ex Servicemen organisations are invited to join and be part of a movement for common goals. Knowing you, it must have been done already. The older organisations have their own standing and imperatives but probably if invited, they will join. They are democratic setups and their members will find an invitation individually beneficial and irresistable. We have certain pockets where exservicemen live in clusters. I wonder if they have given substantial support to the IESM. The Aim is clear and unambiguous, and will be achieved,
Even after this event is over, we as an org must make sure that our presence continues to be felt. The dedicated and selfless leadership that is emerging based on concensus and common goals, aided by a massive communication network will be able to achieve so much more that has gone adrift and amiss for the ESM in the last five decades.
It is good to see the response of ESM - will it be feasible to put up names of those who have become members via normal post on the e-mail? It means that every member will be listed on the Net.
Best of Luck- keep up the tremendous work
Col NK Chaudhry (Retd)
Dear veterans
I had earlier transferred an amount of Rs 30,000/- on 1 Jan 2009 on behalf of DSOI, Palakkad and some members/non-members. This was an advance payment. Today I have transferred another Rs 35,700/- to the same a/c (HDFC SB a/c No 06162000001330 of IESM). This was the total collection till date on account of subscription towards membership of 50 veterans/widows and their donations, including donations from two veterans who have not become members. The details are in the Excel document attached. (Not in the format provided by IESM. That data sheet shall be send shortly). The covering letter, cheque deposit receipt of 16/2/09 and speedpost receipt of 16/2/09 are all in jpg form. The effort to get more members shall continue but the forwarding of applications/transfer of money shall be done only if the number exceeds 10 or the amount exceeds Rs 10,000/-.
Wishing the movement all the best.
Incidently the Kerala State Ex-services League, affiliated to the IESL, has organised a vehicle jaatha from Kasargode to Thiruvananthapuram. It commenced on 8th Feb and will end on 21 Feb. It was at Palakkad on 13th. The obectives as declared by the organisers are manifold:
* One India, one people
* Against communal separatism
* Against terrorism
* Know your armed forces and veterans
* Stop discrimination against veterans
* Condemn the 6th cpc anomalies
* One rank, one pension
* Provide financial assistance of Rs 1000/- to WWII veterans and to their widows
* Allot land for ECHS polyclinics.
The jatha captain is Varghese Kappil, Secretary of KSESL.
Regards and best wishes
Maj PM Ravindran (Retd)
VERY WELL DONE MAJ RAVINDRAN. To do this single handed is great. Many other veterans should follow your example to ensure the success of IESM– REPORT MY SIGNAL
Dear Brig Kamboj,
It is a heartening to see the IESM being carried forward with the precision and clarity the Armed Forces operations are known for. It is a precise action and your vigour along with that of Gen Kadyan, Gen Surjit Singh and others is truly commendable and must be complimented. Very rightly as suggested- the pressure must not be eased and the movement must stir the conscience of the nation.
It would be a fine gesture if the other Ex Servicemen organisations are invited to join and be part of a movement for common goals. Knowing you, it must have been done already. The older organisations have their own standing and imperatives but probably if invited, they will join. They are democratic setups and their members will find an invitation individually beneficial and irresistable. We have certain pockets where exservicemen live in clusters. I wonder if they have given substantial support to the IESM. The Aim is clear and unambiguous, and will be achieved,
Even after this event is over, we as an org must make sure that our presence continues to be felt. The dedicated and selfless leadership that is emerging based on concensus and common goals, aided by a massive communication network will be able to achieve so much more that has gone adrift and amiss for the ESM in the last five decades.
It is good to see the response of ESM - will it be feasible to put up names of those who have become members via normal post on the e-mail? It means that every member will be listed on the Net.
Best of Luck- keep up the tremendous work
Col NK Chaudhry (Retd)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
A Soldier’s Journey through Life With Two Wives
He was commissioned, post Independence, from IMA Dehradun in Jun 1955. The officers of that vintage were trying to come to terms with the lifestyle of the bygone era, a legacy left by the British Army, albeit with a drastically reduced pay-packet in hand. Thanks to the first pay commission, life was managed by the magic of post-dated cheques, payments by instalments, supplemented by frequent withdrawals from the provident fund. A technical graduate, competing with ex NDA and Direct entry compatriots, managed well to overcome the numerous obstacles faced during training and later in service. He has had a chequered career including a long tenure with DRDO while in service and later in R&AW followed by a stint with ECIL, a PSU, as their Defence advisor. Council member of IETE, these days he spends his time in painting, writing and at times interacting with Management and IT students on the topic of Soft- Skills his area of interest.The reader joins the author in his ‘Journey through Life’ some times in 1935-36, following him through the simple ways of life in Western UP villages as perceived by a child of five and six, then to Delhi of yore and the small towns of the province. He feels the cultural shock of the move to Lucknow in the 50’s and the freewheeling life in the university is introduced to the new concept of ‘Love at Far Site. Next on to Indian Military Academy at Dehradun in the foothills of Shiwaliks with its dreaded Drill Square and the Obstacle Course, passing-out with the proud but shaky 2nd Lieutenant married to his new, but virtual wife; the ‘Army, to face the pains of growing up in the post Independence Army, a blend of the British traditions and the Indian value system. Soon the reader is introduced with the new ‘Babbler’, post facing the young officer’s ‘Love at First Sight’, feels the pangs of separation in married life and the author’s mental agony due to the conflicting needs and demands of the two wives, one loving and demanding; the other just demanding. Moves with him in the battle ground on entering the ‘Valley of Death’ to soon face the uncertainties to life and limb, during the 1962 Sino-Indian Conflict, As the author climbs his career ladder, the reader has a chance to look at the intricacies of Command and Staff at Army HQ and the student – instructor relationship in a service environment, so different from traditional institutions. The reader is saddened watching the author’s trauma on being a helpless witness to his wife’s tenacious fight with cancer, with his only partly successful efforts, to minimise her pains through the long struggle, culminating in her untimely demise, finally to sympathise with his efforts to cope with remorse, pain and guilt of living without her.
Brig Lakshman Singh VSM (Retd)
MSc, PTSC, LDMC, FIET, FNTF, MSEMC (India)
Book Release: BLS Publishers, P 539, Sector- 21, Noida 201301
For the Book Release Function At Vatika Signals Enclave Rao Tula Marg, New Delhi on 2nd March 2009 at 6 PM of ‘A Soldier’s Journey through Life With Two Wives’ By Brig Lakshman Singh VSM (Retd)
Members attending are requested to confirm by e- mail lakshman31auto@gmail.com so the a formal invitation can be sent and arrangements made- Note- delete auto when sending email.
To read all posts of Brig Lakshman Singh in the Blog: Click here and continue with "Older posts" at the bottom of page
BJP promises satisfactory solution to ex-servicemen's issue
New Delhi (PTI): Extending its support to the ex-servicemen's demand of one rank one pension, the BJP on Sunday said that the party will ensure a "satisfactory solution" to the issue if NDA comes to power in the Centre.
"The BJP extends its full support to the ex-servicemen of the country and assures them that the party will consider the issue seriously by including their demand of one rank one pension in the NDA manifesto and ensure that a satisfactory solution is found at the earliest after coming to power at the Centre," party chief Rajnath Singh said in a statement here.
It is the prime responsibility and duty of the government in power to sincerely consider the problems faced by the ex-servicemen as every serving soldier today is an ex-serviceman tomorrow, he said.
"The BJP firmly believes that the issues pertaining to the ESM like one rank one pension, resettlement of veterans, formation of a separate commission for the ESM, compensation for war-disabled and early retirement need to be addressed on priority basis," he said.
With the Sixth Pay Commission recommendation of increasing the salaries of the armed forces every 10 years, the gap between the pensions received by those who retired before the implementation of the respective commissions has widened and it will further complicate the situation in the future, Singh said. A delegation of ex-servicemen had called on Rajnath Singh at his residence earlier this week.
BJP promises satisfactory solution to ex-servicemen's issue
SANTOKH said...
It looks nice to see now opposition party blaming UPA for not accepting One Rank One Pension Demand. Dear Mr Rajnath Singh Ji could you explain as to why it could not be implemented during NDA's rule inspite of making public announcement by Mr George Fernades at Shri Anandpur Sahib?
New Delhi, Dec 15 Rejecting a long-standing demand of ex-servicemen, the government today said it was not contemplating providing "one rank-one pension" to similarly placed officers and jawans after their retirement. Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju said the demand was "not found acceptable" due to administrative, financial and legal reasons. Moreover, Raju said, the pensionary benefits of personnel below officer rank, particularly of the three ranks of Sepoy, Naik and Havildar have been significantly increased by increasing weightage from five years to ten, eight and six years respectively.
Pallu Raju rejects OROP for ESM
Related Media Report on Promises
Rajnath backs ex-servicemen's 'one rank one pension' demand
Ex-serviceman files RTI plea over 'one rank one pension' issue
NDA for one-rank-one pension for ex-servicemen
Press Statement issued by the BJP National President Shri Rajnath Singh
"The BJP extends its full support to the ex-servicemen of the country and assures them that the party will consider the issue seriously by including their demand of one rank one pension in the NDA manifesto and ensure that a satisfactory solution is found at the earliest after coming to power at the Centre," party chief Rajnath Singh said in a statement here.
It is the prime responsibility and duty of the government in power to sincerely consider the problems faced by the ex-servicemen as every serving soldier today is an ex-serviceman tomorrow, he said.
"The BJP firmly believes that the issues pertaining to the ESM like one rank one pension, resettlement of veterans, formation of a separate commission for the ESM, compensation for war-disabled and early retirement need to be addressed on priority basis," he said.
With the Sixth Pay Commission recommendation of increasing the salaries of the armed forces every 10 years, the gap between the pensions received by those who retired before the implementation of the respective commissions has widened and it will further complicate the situation in the future, Singh said. A delegation of ex-servicemen had called on Rajnath Singh at his residence earlier this week.
BJP promises satisfactory solution to ex-servicemen's issue
SANTOKH said...
It looks nice to see now opposition party blaming UPA for not accepting One Rank One Pension Demand. Dear Mr Rajnath Singh Ji could you explain as to why it could not be implemented during NDA's rule inspite of making public announcement by Mr George Fernades at Shri Anandpur Sahib?
New Delhi, Dec 15 Rejecting a long-standing demand of ex-servicemen, the government today said it was not contemplating providing "one rank-one pension" to similarly placed officers and jawans after their retirement. Replying to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju said the demand was "not found acceptable" due to administrative, financial and legal reasons. Moreover, Raju said, the pensionary benefits of personnel below officer rank, particularly of the three ranks of Sepoy, Naik and Havildar have been significantly increased by increasing weightage from five years to ten, eight and six years respectively.
Pallu Raju rejects OROP for ESM
Related Media Report on Promises
Rajnath backs ex-servicemen's 'one rank one pension' demand
Ex-serviceman files RTI plea over 'one rank one pension' issue
NDA for one-rank-one pension for ex-servicemen
Press Statement issued by the BJP National President Shri Rajnath Singh
IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- sixty first day
Date: Monday, 16 February, 2009, 10:13 PM
Dear Colleagues,
A mixed force from Bawal and Gurgaon is operating the Jantar Mantar venue.
Media Report on OROP
The Pioneer has a news item Feb 16 titled, ‘One-rank-one-pension demand gets BJP support’ Click Here. It says the BJP “assured it would consider the issue seriously and include it in the NDA manifesto”. It is a positive development. However, we have been short-changed so many times that cynicism is inevitable. Noting that the Congress too had said something similar in their manifesto, “The long-pending issue of one-rank, one-pension will once again be re-examined and the satisfactory solution arrived at expeditiously”, one cannot avoid an uneasy déjà vu. It may be worthwhile having a meeting with Shri LK Advani and/ or Rajnath Singh to see through the smoke. Efforts are afoot in this regard.
Correspondence
Over the weekend, I wrote to the following (Copies attached):
Sardar Tarlochan Singh, MP
Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Rashtrapati Bhawan
Medal Return
Now that we have made a commitment, large number of us must return the medals to the President on 21 Feb. This has been a very effective lens-catching action so far. We must keep the pressure on.
Election Code of Conduct
The Election Commission might impose the code of conduct as early as 24 Feb 2009.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Letter sent to Sardar Tarlochan Singh, MP
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009 15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
I write this to express collective gratitude on behalf of the Indian Ex Servicemen for your espousal of our cause by raising the point in the Rajya Sabha. Our demand of ‘one rank one pension’ is a demand for equity and justice and not merely for more money. We are all responsible people, full of national fervour and patriotism. For a soldier his medals are his most prized possession. It was with great pain and anguish that we were literally pushed into returning our medals to the President. The action reflects our disenchantment with the Government reneging on the pledge made in the Congress election manifesto. We will request your continued support to our just and fair demand. It is sad that the government is not seeing the serious ramification their intransigence might have for the national defence.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Letter sent to Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009
15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
The Ex Servicemen as a community are greatly enthused by your continuous sympathy and support to their cause in the past. Having headed all the important Ministries, no one is in a better position than you to understand the various issues at national level. I approach you with a request to seek your blessings once again. You may be aware that the Ex Servicemen have been demanding ‘one rank one pension’. This is an old demand resolution of which also found mention in the Congress manifesto during the 2005 Parliamentary elections. The demand is for justice and equity. Our only request is that all pensioners who have rendered equal service to the nation should get equal pension, irrespective of the year of their retirement. Lack of this provision hurts the defence employees the most since they start retiring at an early age of 35 years at a meager penson. The Sixth Pay Commission has created a grossly inequitous situaion with a pre 1996 Sepoy pensioner getting 82% lower pension than his post 1.1.2006 counterpart does. The disparity spreads across all ranks to the extent that senior rank pensioners who retired earlier are getting lower pension that juniors who retired after 1.1 2006.
We are very hopeful that you will get us justice.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs
South Block
New Delhi
Letter sent to Rashtrapati Bhawan
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM,
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009
15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
Further to my letter of even number dated 26 January 2009.
In the absence of any response from the government to their pending demand of ‘one rank one pension’, more Ex Servicemen have now decided to surrender their medals to the President. In some Districts, these have already been handed over to the local Deputy Commissioners for onward despatch to Delhi. In other cases, these are being sent to us for handing over centrally by the Indian Ex Servicemen Movement. You are requested to have these received at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 21 February at 1530 hours. The delegation carrying the medals would also like to meet the Hon’ble President and apprise her of their demand of ‘one rank one pension’, which had been pledged in the Congress election manifesto in the last Parliamentary elections, and the pledge is being reneged now. Do kindly intimate if it would be convenient to the Hon’ble President so that the delegation can be suitably composed. I had already sought an audience vide my letter dated 24 November 2008 (copy attached), which is pending.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Dr Christy Fernandez
Secretary to the President
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi
Copy to:
Shri AK Antony
Hon’ble Defence Minister
South Block
New Delhi – 110 011
Dear Colleagues,
A mixed force from Bawal and Gurgaon is operating the Jantar Mantar venue.
Media Report on OROP
The Pioneer has a news item Feb 16 titled, ‘One-rank-one-pension demand gets BJP support’ Click Here. It says the BJP “assured it would consider the issue seriously and include it in the NDA manifesto”. It is a positive development. However, we have been short-changed so many times that cynicism is inevitable. Noting that the Congress too had said something similar in their manifesto, “The long-pending issue of one-rank, one-pension will once again be re-examined and the satisfactory solution arrived at expeditiously”, one cannot avoid an uneasy déjà vu. It may be worthwhile having a meeting with Shri LK Advani and/ or Rajnath Singh to see through the smoke. Efforts are afoot in this regard.
Correspondence
Over the weekend, I wrote to the following (Copies attached):
Medal Return
Now that we have made a commitment, large number of us must return the medals to the President on 21 Feb. This has been a very effective lens-catching action so far. We must keep the pressure on.
Election Code of Conduct
The Election Commission might impose the code of conduct as early as 24 Feb 2009.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Letter sent to Sardar Tarlochan Singh, MP
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009 15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
I write this to express collective gratitude on behalf of the Indian Ex Servicemen for your espousal of our cause by raising the point in the Rajya Sabha. Our demand of ‘one rank one pension’ is a demand for equity and justice and not merely for more money. We are all responsible people, full of national fervour and patriotism. For a soldier his medals are his most prized possession. It was with great pain and anguish that we were literally pushed into returning our medals to the President. The action reflects our disenchantment with the Government reneging on the pledge made in the Congress election manifesto. We will request your continued support to our just and fair demand. It is sad that the government is not seeing the serious ramification their intransigence might have for the national defence.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Letter sent to Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009
15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
The Ex Servicemen as a community are greatly enthused by your continuous sympathy and support to their cause in the past. Having headed all the important Ministries, no one is in a better position than you to understand the various issues at national level. I approach you with a request to seek your blessings once again. You may be aware that the Ex Servicemen have been demanding ‘one rank one pension’. This is an old demand resolution of which also found mention in the Congress manifesto during the 2005 Parliamentary elections. The demand is for justice and equity. Our only request is that all pensioners who have rendered equal service to the nation should get equal pension, irrespective of the year of their retirement. Lack of this provision hurts the defence employees the most since they start retiring at an early age of 35 years at a meager penson. The Sixth Pay Commission has created a grossly inequitous situaion with a pre 1996 Sepoy pensioner getting 82% lower pension than his post 1.1.2006 counterpart does. The disparity spreads across all ranks to the extent that senior rank pensioners who retired earlier are getting lower pension that juniors who retired after 1.1 2006.
We are very hopeful that you will get us justice.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs
South Block
New Delhi
Letter sent to Rashtrapati Bhawan
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM,
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009
15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
Further to my letter of even number dated 26 January 2009.
In the absence of any response from the government to their pending demand of ‘one rank one pension’, more Ex Servicemen have now decided to surrender their medals to the President. In some Districts, these have already been handed over to the local Deputy Commissioners for onward despatch to Delhi. In other cases, these are being sent to us for handing over centrally by the Indian Ex Servicemen Movement. You are requested to have these received at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 21 February at 1530 hours. The delegation carrying the medals would also like to meet the Hon’ble President and apprise her of their demand of ‘one rank one pension’, which had been pledged in the Congress election manifesto in the last Parliamentary elections, and the pledge is being reneged now. Do kindly intimate if it would be convenient to the Hon’ble President so that the delegation can be suitably composed. I had already sought an audience vide my letter dated 24 November 2008 (copy attached), which is pending.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Dr Christy Fernandez
Secretary to the President
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi
Copy to:
Shri AK Antony
Hon’ble Defence Minister
South Block
New Delhi – 110 011
Monday, February 16, 2009
IESM: Press Release dated 15 Feb 2009
Dear Friends,
Press Release dated 15 Feb 09 regarding Return of Medals to the President by Ex Servicemen is circulated herewith.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Press Release
Dated: 15 Feb 2009
Return of Medals to the President by Ex Servicemen
Dear Members of the Media,
1. The Indian Ex Servicemen Movement (IESM) thanks all members of Media for giving extensive coverage to our mammoth Rally at Jantar Mantar on 08 Feb 2009. The rally was to express disenchantment of the Ex Servicemen community with the non implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP). This emotive issue has been on the manifesto of all political parties and its implementation was promised by Mrs Sonia Gandhi at Chandigarh in 2002. Dismayed and deeply disappointed by the UPA Government reneging on its promise to implement it, many ex servicemen returned their Medals to the President consequent to the rally.
2. Utterly disappointed with the absence of any visible positive response from the Government even consequent to the trauma of returning their medals, many more ex servicemen across India have also decided to return their medals in large numbers to the President on 21 Feb 09. The State units of the IESM have been directed to collect medals centrally and bring these to Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from where these will be returned to the President- The Supreme Commander of Defence Forces of India. A letter to this effect has been written to the President by Chairman IESM (copy attached).
3. We once again appeal to the Govt to immediately implement One Rank One Pension before the elections are announced. Failing this, our movement will be intensified across the country to bring the Congress' betrayal of our trust of Ex Servicemen to not only ALL our brothers but also the citizenry at large.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
A letter to this effect has been written to the President by Chairman IESM (copy attached).
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009
15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
Further to my letter of even number dated 26 January 2009.
In the absence of any response from the government to their pending demand of 'one rank one pension', more Ex Servicemen have now decided to surrender their medals to the President. In some Districts, these have already been handed over to the local Deputy Commissioners for onward despatch to Delhi. In other cases, these are being sent to us for handing over centrally by the Indian Ex Servicemen Movement. You are requested to have these received at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 21 February at 1530 hours.
The delegation carrying the medals would also like to meet the Hon'ble President and apprise her of their demand of 'one rank one pension', which had been pledged in the Congress election manifesto in the last Parliamentary elections, and the pledge is being reneged now. Do kindly intimate if it would be convenient to the Hon'ble President so that the delegation can be suitably composed. I had already sought an audience vide my letter dated 24 November 2008 (copy attached), which is pending.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Dr Christy Fernandez
Secretary to the President
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi
Copy to:
Shri AK Antony
Hon'ble Defence Minister
South Block
New Delhi – 110 011
Press Release dated 15 Feb 09 regarding Return of Medals to the President by Ex Servicemen is circulated herewith.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Dated: 15 Feb 2009
Return of Medals to the President by Ex Servicemen
Dear Members of the Media,
1. The Indian Ex Servicemen Movement (IESM) thanks all members of Media for giving extensive coverage to our mammoth Rally at Jantar Mantar on 08 Feb 2009. The rally was to express disenchantment of the Ex Servicemen community with the non implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP). This emotive issue has been on the manifesto of all political parties and its implementation was promised by Mrs Sonia Gandhi at Chandigarh in 2002. Dismayed and deeply disappointed by the UPA Government reneging on its promise to implement it, many ex servicemen returned their Medals to the President consequent to the rally.
2. Utterly disappointed with the absence of any visible positive response from the Government even consequent to the trauma of returning their medals, many more ex servicemen across India have also decided to return their medals in large numbers to the President on 21 Feb 09. The State units of the IESM have been directed to collect medals centrally and bring these to Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from where these will be returned to the President- The Supreme Commander of Defence Forces of India. A letter to this effect has been written to the President by Chairman IESM (copy attached).
3. We once again appeal to the Govt to immediately implement One Rank One Pension before the elections are announced. Failing this, our movement will be intensified across the country to bring the Congress' betrayal of our trust of Ex Servicemen to not only ALL our brothers but also the citizenry at large.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
A letter to this effect has been written to the President by Chairman IESM (copy attached).
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM (Retd)
Chairman, IESM
IESM/OROP/Medals/2009
15 February 2009
Dear Sir,
Further to my letter of even number dated 26 January 2009.
In the absence of any response from the government to their pending demand of 'one rank one pension', more Ex Servicemen have now decided to surrender their medals to the President. In some Districts, these have already been handed over to the local Deputy Commissioners for onward despatch to Delhi. In other cases, these are being sent to us for handing over centrally by the Indian Ex Servicemen Movement. You are requested to have these received at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 21 February at 1530 hours.
The delegation carrying the medals would also like to meet the Hon'ble President and apprise her of their demand of 'one rank one pension', which had been pledged in the Congress election manifesto in the last Parliamentary elections, and the pledge is being reneged now. Do kindly intimate if it would be convenient to the Hon'ble President so that the delegation can be suitably composed. I had already sought an audience vide my letter dated 24 November 2008 (copy attached), which is pending.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Dr Christy Fernandez
Secretary to the President
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi
Copy to:
Shri AK Antony
Hon'ble Defence Minister
South Block
New Delhi – 110 011
SCPC: Waste not, want not- lateral induction of ex-servicemen
No other pay commission has come under so much of attack from the armed forces as the Sixth Central Pay Commission (CPC). Discussion at every social gathering invariably veers around to the recommendations of CPC. Surprisingly, everyone appears convinced that members of CPC were hand picked for their anti-services bias. “Not one member had any relation or progeny in the services. Their knowledge of the military is limited to what is displayed during the Republic Day Parade,” is a common refrain. According to a veteran, “The services should have anticipated such a deal. In a country where the Finance Minister (an ex-bureaucrat) expresses his inability to spend a few crores on soldiers while writing off thousands of crores of farmers’ loans, the military should learn to be thankful for whatever crumbs are thrown at it.”
Many military personnel feel that every pay commission should be asked to stay at Siachen Glacier for just a week to get a true feel of army life prior to finalizing their recommendations. An email making the rounds is indicative of prevailing despondency amongst soldiers who are unable to understand the reasons for Government’s apathy. It reads, “ISI and all other entities inimical to India have passed a resolution thanking Indian Pay Commission for achieving in one stroke what they have been unsuccessfully trying to achieve for decades – demoralization of the Indian armed forces.”
Notwithstanding general disenchantment with its apparent anti-military bias, CPC deserves credit for proposing an extremely viable scheme to help the services overcome the twin problems of shortage of officers and resettlement of ex-servicemen. Both the problems are acute and have been defying solution. Currently, the Indian Army is facing a shortage of over 11,000 officers, close to 24 percent of its authorisation of 46,615 officers. The other two services face a similar problem. The only solution lies in making Short Service Commission (SSC) attractive. Presently, adequate number of suitable candidates do not apply for SSC due to their sense of insecurity about future prospects. They fear that failure to get Permanent Commission will make them jobless in the prime of their lives with full family responsibilities to boot. As regards resettlement of ex-servicemen, over 40,000 young, trained and disciplined soldiers are released from the defence forces every year. The Government has to bear a huge pension bill while this large pool of highly skilled manpower is lost to the country without being put to any productive use.
CPC rightly recognised that only an assured second career can make SSC attractive as financial packages can never compensate for short tenure of service and uncertainty about future employment. Similarly, CPC felt that provision of alternate Government service to ex-servicemen can ensure utilisation of their full potential whilst reducing the pension bill. It, therefore, suggested a scheme of assured lateral induction of retired service personnel into suitable Government organisations. The scheme is easy to implement and cannot be faulted on any count.
Proposed Scheme
Due to similarity of functions, central police organisations and paramilitary forces (collectively referred to as CPO) provide ideal opportunity for optimum utilisation of training and experience of service personnel. Additionally, various defence civilian organisations (DCO) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) can also absorb suitable ex-servicemen. The total average intake of all CPO and DCO is around 35,000 annually. Thus, almost all retiring SSC officers and soldiers can be conveniently absorbed.
CPC recommended that recruitment of soldiers should continue as hitherto fore under the services. Depending on the requirement of the services and vacancy position in CPO/DCO, service period in the defence forces could vary between 7 and 17 years. Thereafter, depending on the availability of posts, choice and medical fitness, retiring personnel should be laterally shifted to analogous posts in different CPO/DCO with protection of salary and seniority. Such lateral shift would be optional - soldiers can opt to retire with their normal pension as at present.
According to CPC, the following major benefits would accrue from the proposed scheme:-
CPO/DCO would save over Rs 100 crores per annum currently spent on recruitment and training of personnel as they would get trained manpower.
Servicemen would come with rich experience of anti-terrorist and counterinsurgency duties.
The pension bill of the Government would get significantly curtailed as pension would be due to the retiring servicemen only after 30/33 years of service as against 17 years of service at present. Growing cumulatively, the annual savings on this account would be to the tune of Rs 7800 crore after 13 years.
SSC would become more attractive with assured second career option, thereby ensuring adequate intake of officers. It would also help keep the age profile of the defence forces young.
CPC sought views of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) before finalising its recommendations. As was expected, MHA opposed the scheme citing frivolous reasons like the likely adverse effect on the age profile of CPO, problems regarding fixation of parity and career progression. The most ridiculous argument offered against the scheme was that soldiers are trained to kill whereas police personnel are trained to control. CPC found all reasons to be specious and untenable. It dismissed them out of hand. Soldiers are highly disciplined personnel and have acquitted themselves admirably in counter insurgency operations and aid to civil authority in the maintenance of law and order. They have never been accused of excessive or indiscriminate use of force. CPC considered the scheme to be ‘extremely viable, beneficial and with no real drawbacks existing in its effective implementation’. It recommended its implementation in entirety without any delay.
As was expected, the Government rejected the proposed scheme without making public reasons for the same. Even the Committee of Secretaries did not bother to examine it.
Opposition to Induction of SSC Officers
Induction of SSC officers was bound to be opposed both by the political leadership and CPO. Political leadership has already politicised CPO to the extent that the officers have been rendered spineless. They do the bidding of their political masters without a whimper of protest. Politicians fear that SSC officers may not toe their line. Having served in an apolitical environment they may resist political pressures. On the other hand, officer cadre in CPO resents induction of ex-service officers for the following reasons:-
Due to their better training and experience, they make police officers feel inferior and ill-equipped. This sense of inadequacy results in petty groupism and jealousies.
SSC officers are liked by the rank and file due to their better man-management skills and empathy for subordinates.
SSC officers pose a threat to their advancement in career because of better professional proficiency, physical fitness and operational acumen.
Resistance to Side-stepping of Ex-servicemen
As regards side-stepping of ex-servicemen into CPO, resistance appears to be on the following grounds:
CPO are considered personal fiefdoms of political leaders and bureaucrats of MHA. Any policy that appears to be diluting their absolute control is perceived as an unacceptable threat.
Recruitment to CPO is a highly lucrative activity with political patronage playing an important role. Lateral induction would halt it totally.
Military training makes ex-servicemen averse to carrying out chores which are routine in CPO.
Additionally, military culture imbibed by soldiers inhibits their use for partisan purposes.
Conclusion
Opposition from MHA was on expected lines. However, what came as a big shock was total indifference displayed by MoD as well. Inability of MoD to force MHA to accept induction into CPO is understandable. However, DCO are directly under MoD. It could have made a beginning and set an example by admitting ex-servicemen in DCO. But then, MoD has always been more interested in ‘keeping the armed forces in their place’ rather than looking after their welfare. It is incongruous that MoD wants other organisations (including private sector) to provide employment to ex-servicemen but refuses to accept them in organisations under its own direct control.
In view of the new threats emerging, there is an emergent need to improve the quality of CPO. Induction of ex-servicemen, both at officer and subordinate levels, with long experience of fighting terrorism and insurgency will prove to be of immense value to CPO. It will also bring in much-needed professionalism.
As is obvious, the scheme has been rejected to protect fiefdoms. As lateral induction is construed as a threat, the decision makers are not ready to consider it seriously. No reasons have been made public for its rejection. Selfishness has been the bane of Indian governance. Every proposal is evaluated on the basis of personal benefits accruing to the decision makers. National interests mean little. Subordination of personal interests to national interests requires rare vision and altruism. It is not a trait which is prevalent amongst India’s governing authorities. It is time political leaders and bureaucrats rise above narrow partisan outlook to prove their concern for national security. Proposal mooted by CPC must be implemented without dilution and delay.
Major General Mrinal Suman
gfiles
Many military personnel feel that every pay commission should be asked to stay at Siachen Glacier for just a week to get a true feel of army life prior to finalizing their recommendations. An email making the rounds is indicative of prevailing despondency amongst soldiers who are unable to understand the reasons for Government’s apathy. It reads, “ISI and all other entities inimical to India have passed a resolution thanking Indian Pay Commission for achieving in one stroke what they have been unsuccessfully trying to achieve for decades – demoralization of the Indian armed forces.”
Notwithstanding general disenchantment with its apparent anti-military bias, CPC deserves credit for proposing an extremely viable scheme to help the services overcome the twin problems of shortage of officers and resettlement of ex-servicemen. Both the problems are acute and have been defying solution. Currently, the Indian Army is facing a shortage of over 11,000 officers, close to 24 percent of its authorisation of 46,615 officers. The other two services face a similar problem. The only solution lies in making Short Service Commission (SSC) attractive. Presently, adequate number of suitable candidates do not apply for SSC due to their sense of insecurity about future prospects. They fear that failure to get Permanent Commission will make them jobless in the prime of their lives with full family responsibilities to boot. As regards resettlement of ex-servicemen, over 40,000 young, trained and disciplined soldiers are released from the defence forces every year. The Government has to bear a huge pension bill while this large pool of highly skilled manpower is lost to the country without being put to any productive use.
CPC rightly recognised that only an assured second career can make SSC attractive as financial packages can never compensate for short tenure of service and uncertainty about future employment. Similarly, CPC felt that provision of alternate Government service to ex-servicemen can ensure utilisation of their full potential whilst reducing the pension bill. It, therefore, suggested a scheme of assured lateral induction of retired service personnel into suitable Government organisations. The scheme is easy to implement and cannot be faulted on any count.
Proposed Scheme
Due to similarity of functions, central police organisations and paramilitary forces (collectively referred to as CPO) provide ideal opportunity for optimum utilisation of training and experience of service personnel. Additionally, various defence civilian organisations (DCO) under the Ministry of Defence (MoD) can also absorb suitable ex-servicemen. The total average intake of all CPO and DCO is around 35,000 annually. Thus, almost all retiring SSC officers and soldiers can be conveniently absorbed.
CPC recommended that recruitment of soldiers should continue as hitherto fore under the services. Depending on the requirement of the services and vacancy position in CPO/DCO, service period in the defence forces could vary between 7 and 17 years. Thereafter, depending on the availability of posts, choice and medical fitness, retiring personnel should be laterally shifted to analogous posts in different CPO/DCO with protection of salary and seniority. Such lateral shift would be optional - soldiers can opt to retire with their normal pension as at present.
According to CPC, the following major benefits would accrue from the proposed scheme:-
Servicemen would come with rich experience of anti-terrorist and counterinsurgency duties.
CPC sought views of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) before finalising its recommendations. As was expected, MHA opposed the scheme citing frivolous reasons like the likely adverse effect on the age profile of CPO, problems regarding fixation of parity and career progression. The most ridiculous argument offered against the scheme was that soldiers are trained to kill whereas police personnel are trained to control. CPC found all reasons to be specious and untenable. It dismissed them out of hand. Soldiers are highly disciplined personnel and have acquitted themselves admirably in counter insurgency operations and aid to civil authority in the maintenance of law and order. They have never been accused of excessive or indiscriminate use of force. CPC considered the scheme to be ‘extremely viable, beneficial and with no real drawbacks existing in its effective implementation’. It recommended its implementation in entirety without any delay.
As was expected, the Government rejected the proposed scheme without making public reasons for the same. Even the Committee of Secretaries did not bother to examine it.
Opposition to Induction of SSC Officers
Induction of SSC officers was bound to be opposed both by the political leadership and CPO. Political leadership has already politicised CPO to the extent that the officers have been rendered spineless. They do the bidding of their political masters without a whimper of protest. Politicians fear that SSC officers may not toe their line. Having served in an apolitical environment they may resist political pressures. On the other hand, officer cadre in CPO resents induction of ex-service officers for the following reasons:-
Due to their better training and experience, they make police officers feel inferior and ill-equipped. This sense of inadequacy results in petty groupism and jealousies.
SSC officers are liked by the rank and file due to their better man-management skills and empathy for subordinates.
SSC officers pose a threat to their advancement in career because of better professional proficiency, physical fitness and operational acumen.
Resistance to Side-stepping of Ex-servicemen
As regards side-stepping of ex-servicemen into CPO, resistance appears to be on the following grounds:
Conclusion
Opposition from MHA was on expected lines. However, what came as a big shock was total indifference displayed by MoD as well. Inability of MoD to force MHA to accept induction into CPO is understandable. However, DCO are directly under MoD. It could have made a beginning and set an example by admitting ex-servicemen in DCO. But then, MoD has always been more interested in ‘keeping the armed forces in their place’ rather than looking after their welfare. It is incongruous that MoD wants other organisations (including private sector) to provide employment to ex-servicemen but refuses to accept them in organisations under its own direct control.
In view of the new threats emerging, there is an emergent need to improve the quality of CPO. Induction of ex-servicemen, both at officer and subordinate levels, with long experience of fighting terrorism and insurgency will prove to be of immense value to CPO. It will also bring in much-needed professionalism.
As is obvious, the scheme has been rejected to protect fiefdoms. As lateral induction is construed as a threat, the decision makers are not ready to consider it seriously. No reasons have been made public for its rejection. Selfishness has been the bane of Indian governance. Every proposal is evaluated on the basis of personal benefits accruing to the decision makers. National interests mean little. Subordination of personal interests to national interests requires rare vision and altruism. It is not a trait which is prevalent amongst India’s governing authorities. It is time political leaders and bureaucrats rise above narrow partisan outlook to prove their concern for national security. Proposal mooted by CPC must be implemented without dilution and delay.
Major General Mrinal Suman
gfiles
IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- sixtieth day
Date: Sunday, 15 February, 2009, 10:02 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Condolences
We are deeply shocked to learn of the sad demise of Veteran Cdr Radhakrishnan, who passed away at Chennai last night. He had been a very active member of the Movement and contributed greatly by arranging our meetings with political leaders of different hue. Every time we spoke on phone, he always sounded energetic and eager for our Cause. For 78 years, he had tremendous energy and verve.
We pray for peace for his soul. The IESM shares the grief of the family in this grim hour. I will call up Mrs Radhakrishnan Feb 16 to condole with her.
Jantar Mantar
Bhiwani boys continue to be in charge.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
A SAD DAY FOR IESM: WE HAVE LOST A VALUABLE MEMBER
Dear Friends,
The untimely demise of Cdr N Radhakrishnan, is a very big loss to "Report My Signal" and all its members. It was just four days ago that he called me from Bangalore and told me about the letters he had sent to the Prime Minister and few other political leaders regarding the problems created by 6 CPC. He said that he will soon forward those letters to me after he receives their replies. Shri Jaswant Singh, Honourable Member of Rajya Sabha, was a cadet in Dog Sqn NDA, when Cdr N Radhakrishnan was the Div Officer there.
Cdr N Radhakrishnan, along with two other veterans, was responsible to push the case of ECHS and got it going for the first time. With the support of MD ECHS, he was now in the process of carrying out a study of the whole ECHS systems and procedures to rectify its problems as faced by veterans. It will be a big loss to the veterans as far as the process of improvements in ECHS is concerned. Some one will have to restart the whole process. I pray to Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to all the near ones and dear ones to bear this irreparable loss.
In sorrow -
Chander Kamboj.
16 Feb 09.
Date: Sunday, 15 February, 2009, 8:50 PM
Sad news just came in from Cmdre Pk Viswanathan (Retd) that Commander (Retd) N Radhakrishnan a very old active Veteran (NFDC membership no 001) passed away last night at Chennai. Survived by Mrs Sita Radhakrishnan presently at Chennai.
Navy Foundation Delhi Charter deeply mourns the passing away of an energetic Veteran and prays for peace to the departed soul. He would always be remembered and missed by all of us at the NFDC functions in the years to come.
Regards,
Cdr SS Ahuja (Retd)
Dear Colleagues,
Condolences
We are deeply shocked to learn of the sad demise of Veteran Cdr Radhakrishnan, who passed away at Chennai last night. He had been a very active member of the Movement and contributed greatly by arranging our meetings with political leaders of different hue. Every time we spoke on phone, he always sounded energetic and eager for our Cause. For 78 years, he had tremendous energy and verve.
We pray for peace for his soul. The IESM shares the grief of the family in this grim hour. I will call up Mrs Radhakrishnan Feb 16 to condole with her.
Jantar Mantar
Bhiwani boys continue to be in charge.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
Dear Friends,
The untimely demise of Cdr N Radhakrishnan, is a very big loss to "Report My Signal" and all its members. It was just four days ago that he called me from Bangalore and told me about the letters he had sent to the Prime Minister and few other political leaders regarding the problems created by 6 CPC. He said that he will soon forward those letters to me after he receives their replies. Shri Jaswant Singh, Honourable Member of Rajya Sabha, was a cadet in Dog Sqn NDA, when Cdr N Radhakrishnan was the Div Officer there.
Cdr N Radhakrishnan, along with two other veterans, was responsible to push the case of ECHS and got it going for the first time. With the support of MD ECHS, he was now in the process of carrying out a study of the whole ECHS systems and procedures to rectify its problems as faced by veterans. It will be a big loss to the veterans as far as the process of improvements in ECHS is concerned. Some one will have to restart the whole process. I pray to Almighty to give peace to the departed soul and strength to all the near ones and dear ones to bear this irreparable loss.
In sorrow -
Chander Kamboj.
16 Feb 09.
Date: Sunday, 15 February, 2009, 8:50 PM
Sad news just came in from Cmdre Pk Viswanathan (Retd) that Commander (Retd) N Radhakrishnan a very old active Veteran (NFDC membership no 001) passed away last night at Chennai. Survived by Mrs Sita Radhakrishnan presently at Chennai.
Navy Foundation Delhi Charter deeply mourns the passing away of an energetic Veteran and prays for peace to the departed soul. He would always be remembered and missed by all of us at the NFDC functions in the years to come.
Regards,
Cdr SS Ahuja (Retd)
Review Private Detective Agencies Bill
NEW DELHI: Taking a serious view of the Union Home Ministry’s replies on important policy issues relating to the regulation of private security agencies in a perfunctory manner, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs has recommended that the Ministry re-look the provisions of the Private Detective Agencies (Regulation) Bill, 2007.
In its 139th report , presented to Parliament past week, the Parliamentary panel, headed by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj, termed the responses of the Ministry to the Committee “laboured explanations.”
The panel noted that that the group, constituted by the Ministry itself, could not arrive at a consensus on important policy issues.
In replies and explanations to the Committee, senior Home Ministry officials had ruled out framing of common law to govern security and detective services on the lines of some foreign countries. Vinay Kumar- The Hindu
review Private Detective Agencies Bill
ESM: A Bill to avert exploitation of ESM employed by Security Agencies need to be strictly implemented. Norms laid down by the ESM Welfare Dept under the MoD is flouted as there is no monitoring agency to oversee the functioning of these agencies or a method of feedback from ex- servicemen who are grossly taken for a ride.
In its 139th report , presented to Parliament past week, the Parliamentary panel, headed by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj, termed the responses of the Ministry to the Committee “laboured explanations.”
The panel noted that that the group, constituted by the Ministry itself, could not arrive at a consensus on important policy issues.
In replies and explanations to the Committee, senior Home Ministry officials had ruled out framing of common law to govern security and detective services on the lines of some foreign countries. Vinay Kumar- The Hindu
review Private Detective Agencies Bill
ESM: A Bill to avert exploitation of ESM employed by Security Agencies need to be strictly implemented. Norms laid down by the ESM Welfare Dept under the MoD is flouted as there is no monitoring agency to oversee the functioning of these agencies or a method of feedback from ex- servicemen who are grossly taken for a ride.
NDA for one-rank-one pension for ex-servicemen
NEW DELHI: BJP president Rajnath Singh on Sunday criticised the United Progressive Alliance government’s “neglect” of ex-servicemen’s demand of “one-rank-one pension” even after they returned to the government their most precious life possession – medals, which they earned while serving the country.
In a statement, he said the BJP fully supported their demand, which include resettlement of veterans, formation of a separate commission for the ex-servicemen, compensation for war-disabled and early retirement. He assured them that the party would consider the issue seriously by including their demand of “one-rank-one pension” in the NDA manifesto and ensure a satisfactory solution was found at the earliest after coming to power at the Centre.
With the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendation of increasing the salaries of the armed forces every 10 years, the gap between the pensions received by those who retired before the implementation of the respective commissions had widened and it would further complicate the situation in the future.
“It is the prime responsibility and duty of the government in power to sincerely consider the problems faced by ex-servicemen, as every serving soldier today will be an ex-servicemen tomorrow,” he said.
NDA for one-rank-one pension for ex-servicemen
Comment: One hopes this is not an election slogan to be forgotten! Both ruling and opposition parties make promises for welfare of ESM but nothing tangible has materialised through the Red Tape Bureaucracy in the past 60 years!
In a statement, he said the BJP fully supported their demand, which include resettlement of veterans, formation of a separate commission for the ex-servicemen, compensation for war-disabled and early retirement. He assured them that the party would consider the issue seriously by including their demand of “one-rank-one pension” in the NDA manifesto and ensure a satisfactory solution was found at the earliest after coming to power at the Centre.
With the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendation of increasing the salaries of the armed forces every 10 years, the gap between the pensions received by those who retired before the implementation of the respective commissions had widened and it would further complicate the situation in the future.
“It is the prime responsibility and duty of the government in power to sincerely consider the problems faced by ex-servicemen, as every serving soldier today will be an ex-servicemen tomorrow,” he said.
NDA for one-rank-one pension for ex-servicemen
Comment: One hopes this is not an election slogan to be forgotten! Both ruling and opposition parties make promises for welfare of ESM but nothing tangible has materialised through the Red Tape Bureaucracy in the past 60 years!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Success of war must be examined
© 1996-2009 The Honolulu Star-Bulletin | www.starbulletin.comSuccess of war must be examined- Another Perspective by Amarjit Singh
WE'VE BEEN hearing relentlessly during the past few months that the Iraq war is not successful. But have we paused to define what constitutes success? Have we paused to determine whether our objectives have been met? Are we sure we are not changing our definition of success as time goes along, forgetting why we went into Iraq in the first place? Let's take a look at these questions and analyze what's really going on.
Let's not forget that we went into Iraq to topple Saddam to wipe off a cancer from the face of the Earth, ensure that there were no weapons of mass destruction, eliminate refuge for terrorists, clamp Iraqi support for terrorists in Palestine and ensure that oil is not used as a weapon by a mad dictator. There is no doubt that all these were accomplished. Nowhere in our mission statement was it anywhere mentioned that we were going into Iraq to quell sectarian hatred that had been simmering for a thousand years.
The United States succeeded in exposing and thwarting numerous plans of the terrorists to attack it. What you didn't get by way of another terrorist attack in the United States was a success of the Iraqi, Afghan and other covert international operations. Think about what could have happened if you had turned your cheek. To think that the war is not a crusade is also naive because the determination and doggedness of the misguided Muslim terrorists gunning for the United States is close to madness. Burying our head in the sand and thinking they won't come after us on our soil is too naive, too unreal. Moreover, the evidence existed after the Afghan operation started in October 2001 that terrorist elements were planning attacks on U.S. soil.
The 2003 exposure of Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan's nuclear proliferation network irrefutably disclosed that Pakistan supplied uranium enrichment technology to Iraq as far back as 1990. By 1991, Iraq was building a facility for a centrifuge. Also recall that the Iraq war convinced Libya's Moammar Gadhafi to come clean on WMDs, a fantastic intelligence and diplomatic success by all counts. (Of course, Pakistan also supplied centrifuge cascade to North Korea and Iran, which is why we now have the problem with those two countries, as well).
There is also a very high likelihood that Khan sold cascades to al-Qaida, which is known to have tried in 1994 and 1995 through Sudanese individuals to acquire nuclear material. Going into Iraq and Afghanistan places the United States in a better position to intercept terrorist and nuclear traffic in the Mideast that might be eventually directed against it.
Former U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blitz singularly led the world astray in his tirade against the United States. He had reports in the early 1990s that Pakistan supplied centrifuge cascades to Iraq, and yet refused ever to acknowledge that because he couldn't find them. Try hunting for a needle in a haystack, since chemical weapons and centrifuge cascades can be operated behind chicken sheds and dairy farms, and enriched uranium can be hidden in cow sheds behind heaps of cow dung, not to mention that cascades, drawings and uranium can be taken across to neighboring countries.
The Iraq war influenced Syria to pull out of Lebanon, another success milestone. That sectarian violence erupted in Iraq does not mean that the U.S. mission in Iraq is not successful. We did not go into Iraq to bring peace to them, but to bring peace to us. Let all know this truth -- that those who mess with a hornet's nest must face the consequences. Every nation has an inalienable right to live in peace. The United States is no exception.
Finally, those who believe the purpose of the Iraq war is to halt the sectarian violence are not looking beyond their noses, not to mention that they are shifting from initial objectives. The United States is responsible for itself, not for others. The United States can't and needn't stop that violence. What the United States is doing in Iraq is clearly designed at self-preservation and the future security of the world. Leaving a vacuum there might well encourage rogue powers to gain dominance in the Middle East, and that would make the calculus much too complicated for comfort.
Amarjit Singh is an associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Hawaii-Manoa.
Vol. 12, Issue 7 - Sunday, January 7, 2007
Article URL: Success of war must be examined
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
