Saturday, April 4, 2009

Defending India: No compromise, no concession

The Indian Army, Air Force and Navy need to be strengthened in view of rapidly changing regional and global realities. Tragically, the services have been ignored by the Congress and failure to address the concerns of the Army, Air Force and Navy has bred undesirable discontent. The BJP will address all pending issues immediately. It will be guided by the following solemn commitments while dealing with the defense of India:

1. The long-pending acquisition of military hardware will be expedited through absolutely transparent means in a time-bound manner.

2. Budget allocations for defense forces will be spent without being allowed to lapse. The criminal negligence of the defense forces by the UPA Government has resulted in nearly Rs 24,000 crore by way of budgetary allocations being allowed to lapse over five years. This not only endangers the lives of our soldiers but also the security of the nation.

3. Our forces are performing a service to the nation and deserve better pay and privileges.

Towards this end, the BJP is committed to the following measures:
  • The pending issues of pay and privileges will be revisited and resolved to the satisfaction of the defense forces. The modalities for setting up a separate Pay Commission for the forces will be expedited
  • All personnel of the Army, Air Force and Navy, as also paramilitary forces, will be exempt from paying income tax on their salaries and perquisites
  • The honorarium for winners of gallantry awards like Pram Vir Chakra, which is abysmally low at Rs 500 to Rs 3,000, will be increased ten-fold to Rs 5,000 to Rs 30,000. This will be done with retrospective effect; the honorarium will be tax free
  • The principle of one rank, one pension will be implemented
  • Incentive-based steps will be taken to make joining the defence services an exciting proposition for young men and women to overcome the shortage of officers
  • Incentives will be offered to State Governments for ensuring honourable settlement of retired personnel of the defence services.

    4. The present shortage of defence personnel at all levels will be met by making the Services an attractive career option. This would include competitive pay and privileges, and pension benefits. This task will be completed in a time-bound manner.

    5. The capacities of Defence Research and Development Organisation will be enhanced. The PPP route will be explored for conventional defence production bearing in mind the nation’s needs and to make India a competitive player in the global market by 2020.
    BJP Manifesto

    Comment: If BJP manifesto is sincere and not a vote bank gimmick it is bound to win the elections. If it is a vote catching gimmick it will surely lose. The Defence Forces today need to be addressed in all angles to ensure security of the Nation.
  • IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- hundred and eighth day

    Date: Friday, 3 April, 2009, 10:16 PM
    Dear Colleagues,
    The Jantar Mantar remains active.
    Maha Rally on 12 Apr 2009
    Preparations are continuing. We are expecting a large number of ESM. That day we are to also give out our advisory on the voting choice, which the environment has been consistently demanding.
    Visit
    Col Kanwar Bhardwaj, Maj IS Jakhar, Sub maj Sant Ram Dahiya, Sub Ramswaroop and self visited Nizampur (Narnaul) in Haryana today. The gathering of ESM was not large, but the spark of enthusiasm was burning bright. They all vowed to continue the Movement till we get justice.
    BJP Manifesto
    The BJP manifesto has been issued today. Being out the whole day, one remained cut off from news. However, in the afternoon a BJP functionariy called to give me the gist on phone. Thereafter I received calls from three different TV channels for evening appearance, which I could not make. Apart from other benefits, the manifesto says that they will implement OROP. It is a reiteration of what Mr Advani had said on 19 March at Jantar Mantar.

    Best regards,
    Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    Chairman IESM

    दिनांक: शुक्रवार, 3 अप्रैल, 2009, 10:16
    प्रिय साथियों,
    इस Jantar Mantar सक्रिय रहता है.
    महा रैली 12 अप्रैल 2009 पर
    तैयारी जारी है. हम ESM की एक बड़ी संख्या उम्मीद कर रहे हैं. हम भी लगातार मांग पर्यावरण जो कर दिया गया है कि मतदान की पसंद, पर हमारे सलाहकार बाहर देने के लिए कर रहे हैं उस दिन.
    यात्रा
    कर्नल कंवर भारद्वाज, मेजर Jakhar, सूबेदार मेजर संत राम दहिया, उप Ramswaroop और आत्म है (Narnaul) हरियाणा में आज Nizampur का दौरा किया. ESM की भीड़ है, लेकिन बड़ी नहीं थी उत्साह की चिंगारी उज्ज्वल जल गया था. वे सभी तक हम न्याय दिलाने के आंदोलन जारी करने की धमकी दी.
    भाजपा के घोषणा पत्र
    भाजपा का घोषणा पत्र आज जारी की गई है. सारा दिन बाहर होने के नाते, एक खबर से काट रहे. बहरहाल, भाजपा के एक पदाधिकारी ने मुझे फोन पर इस निष्कर्ष देने के लिए बुलाया दोपहर में. इसके बाद मैं जो मैं नहीं कर पाया शाम उपस्थिति के लिए तीन अलग अलग टीवी चैनलों से कॉल प्राप्त की. के अलावा अन्य लाभ से, इस घोषणापत्र कि वे OROP लागू हो जाएगा. यह श्री आडवाणी 19 मार्च पर Jantar Mantar में क्या कहा था एक पुनरावृत्ति है.

    सादर,
    लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल (Emeritus) राज Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    अध्यक्ष IESM

    Dear Members,
    A copy of the reply received in response to NFDC letter to CNS for help for tackling the Maj Gens case is attached below for your info please.
    Regards
    Cdr Sharan Ahuja (Retd)

    Friday, April 3, 2009

    Army gets ready to vote for its rights

    Dear Friends,
    Jai Hind.
    A news cutting from Hindustan Times, 03 Apr 09, New Delhi Edition, is reproduced below.
    Most of us, while in service, never cared about elections. If the present serving personnel also do the same, we cannot blame them. But the environment for Defence Services personnel, serving and retired, today are quite different that they were two or three decades ago. Therefore, to get justice for Defence Services, voting by all Defence personnel and their families is very necessary.
    I suggest that All Indian Military Veterans located at places, where the Defence units are located, should liaise with the units of their respective Service and ensure that all serving Defence personnel and their families get registered as the voters at their station of posting. Unless we the veterans chase the issue, some serving personnel may feel too lazy to vote, like most of us did while in service.
    IT IS NOW OR NEVER. LET US ALL STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER AND ENSURE JUSTICE FOR DEFENCE SERVICES. HONGE KAMYAB HUM EK DIN.
    In Service of Indian Military Veterans
    Chander Kamboj

    Hindustan Times, April 03, 2009
    Army gets ready to vote for its rights
    THE ARMY didn't like the rough deal handed to it by the sixth pay commission. It protested and petitioned whoever could help. Stonewalled at every stage, it is now ready to fire its most potent weapon yet: the vote. There are 11.3 lakh men and women in the Indian Army and together with their families and ex-servicemen, they add up to one crore, according to one estimate.

    Army chief General Deepak Kapoor has directed all formations across the country to make vigorous efforts to achieve 100 per cent registration of service voters. Soldiers have also been asked to get their families registered as voters.

    And the Army headquarters are not leaving it at that- just another order There is going to be regular follow-up. All units have been directed to send monthly reports on progress made.

    "A large number of regiments have achieved complete registration of service voters," said an army officer, refusing to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

    "Soldiers now have the potential to change political fortunes." This may make the UPA a litt1e nervous. The army believes the sixth pay commission handed it a bad deal.

    There is sweeping discontent in the military over the government still sitting on a revised proposal to place lieutenant colonels and equivalent posts in the air force and navy in the same pay band as their counterparts in the paramilitary/ Group A services and IAS. There have been more such issues: The Army had to virtually wage a lonely battle with the government last year to restore the existing pensionary weightages for jawans from 50 per cent to 70 per cent to cater to their truncated careers.

    The generals too have felt betrayed by the government with lieutenant generals and equivalent (who are not army commanders) being excluded from the HAG+ (higher administrative grade) pay band. Only army commanders and DGP (director generals of police) figure in this grade. Pay scales have traditionally determined inter-se status among government ofIicials.

    The veterans are also unhappy as their demand for one-rank-one-pay has not been accepted. There are over 20 lakh defence pensioners in the country and ex-servicemen groups claim they can influence at least two to three crore votes.

    "Rank and pay concerns raised by the armed forces have still not been addressed. As usual, the bureaucrats have walked away with the benefits," said a senior officer discontent fuelled by the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission had triggered an exodus from the armed forces with officers in the middle rung seeking premature release in large numbers last year. Now the army is fighting back with their votes.

    Documents with Hindustan Times show that Army cantonments and military stations have been asked to make adequate provisions to address requests for canvassing by political parties in cantonment areas.

    Citing relevant government rules, the Army headquarters has told all units that there is no need for them to seek prior permission from anyone for hosting public meetings on defence land. The Army headquarters has instructed all commands including the Andaman and Nicobar Command and the Strategic Forces Command to encourage soldiers to cast their votes at their place of posting in the forthcoming elections. Official Army identity cards may be accepted as proof of identity at the time of voting. Regiments have also been asked to explain the provisions for proxy voting and postal ballot to soldiers to have the highest ever service voter turn out. vamhese.geome@hindustantimes.com
    Army gets ready to vote for its rights

    IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- hundred and seventh day



    Date: Thursday, 2 April, 2009, 9:13 PM
    Dear Colleagues,
    The Jantar Mantar continues to remain active.
    Maha Rally on 12 Apr 2009
    It is again clarified that, irrespective of the IESL keeping away, the planned Maha rally will be held at Jantar Mantar from 1100 to 1430 hours on Sunday, 12 April 2009. At the end of the rally, as before, a party will proceed to deposit the medals at the Rashtra Pathi Bhawan. It is still to be known whether the Supreme Commander herself would be in station.
    It is also clarified that the medals are only being deposited. We intend taking these back once our demand for OROP is met. In this connection a scanned copy of a letter written by Rashtra Pathi Bhawan to the Ministry of Defence is attached, which clarifies our position.

    Best regards,
    Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    Chairman IESM

    दिनांक: गुरुवार, 2 अप्रैल, 2009, 9:13
    प्रिय साथियों,
    इस Jantar Mantar सक्रिय रहने के लिए जारी है.
    महा रैली 12 अप्रैल 2009 पर
    फिर यह है कि, भले ही इस IESL से दूर, इस योजना बनाई महा रैली Jantar Mantar में 1100 से 1430 घंटों से रविवार, 12 अप्रैल 2009 को आयोजित किया जाएगा रख स्पष्ट किया है. रैली के अंत, के रूप में से पहले में, एक पार्टी को राष्ट्र Pathi भवन में पदक जमा करने के लिए आगे बढ़ना होगा. यह अभी भी है कि सुप्रीम कमांडर ने खुद को थाने में किया जाएगा ज्ञात किया जाता है.
    यह भी कहा कि पदक ही जमा किया जा रहा है स्पष्ट किया है. एक बार OROP के लिए हमारी मांग को पूरा किया जाता है हम इन वापस लेने का इरादा रखते हैं. एक पत्र राष्ट्र Pathi भवन ने रक्षा मंत्रालय को लिखा का एक स्कैन कॉपी है, जो हमारी स्थिति स्पष्ट संलग्न है इस संबंध में.

    सादर,
    लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल (Emeritus) राज Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM

    Thursday, April 2, 2009

    IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- hundred and sixth day

    Date: Wednesday, 1 April, 2009, 10:22 PM
    Dear Colleagues,
    The Jantar Mantar remains active.
    Unity Efforts run Aground
    The IESL- IESM joining up is under strain. You may recall the meeting we had in IESL HQ at 1830 hours on 27 Mar 2009. This had been scheduled after the IESL President had clarified on 26 Mar that there was no ‘lakshman rekha’ in the methods adopted to achieve our goal. The 27 Mar meeting was on request of IESL, including Brig RK Gulia, and the place, the time and the date were as suggested by him. Despite less than 24 hours notice, ten members of IESM Core Gp came for the meeting. Unfortunately, Brig Gulia did not attend himself. Reportedly, he was busy in the adjoining room with his AGM. Quite a few of our Core Gp members objected to his absence, both on grounds of propriety and practicality. Even though I was myself surprised and shared their concern, I played coolant by telling all that there must be some genuine compulsion that Brig Gulia could not attend.
    During the meeting, Col Verma, Senior Vice President, Maj Gen Radhakrishnan, President Tamil Nadu ESL, Brig Kartar Singh, President Rajasthan ESL, Brig Nath, President Andhra Pradesh ESL and Col Janu, Governing Body member were present. Since Brig Gulia was himself not attending, it was a logical inference that his Senior Vice President and others had been empowered to take decisions. To assume otherwise would have rendered the whole exercise of sitting there meaningless. The decisions taken have already been included in the sitrep on 27 Mar 09. The extract:
    1. There was ‘in principle’ agreement that the two would henceforth work together.
    2. Each can retain its identity and fly its own flag for joint gatherings.
    3. The four core demands of the IESM would form the common minimum programme.
    4. The IESL agreed to join the 12 April rally at Jantar Mantar. An event-specific joint task force was constituted comprising four members from either side to button up details.
    5. Depositing of medals (that the IESM is planning to do again on 12 April) was left to individuals’ choice.


    It is noteworthy that the point about depositing of medals was discussed and it was decided that it be left to individuals. On 28 Mar the members from both sides met to discuss the nitty-gritty. There were some issues of difference but nothing substantial. Brig Gulia spoke to me on 29 March when I was on my way to Mathura. He expressed difficulty on two accounts: in sharing expenses and in attending the rally that was going to deposit medals. I told him that the first issue was resolvable. On the second issue I clearly told that we had already returned medals thrice and this is the format we have been following and would continue to follow. I also pointed out that this point was not raised in 27 Mar meeting. He kept repeating “aap dekh lena”.

    Two other developments are significant. I attended the Jhajjar rally on 28 Mar and Mathura/ Agra rally the next day. In Jhajjar the organizers told me that there had been a caveat from Col VK Singh of the IESL asking their members not to attend the rally. In Mathura the anchor Col Vikram Singh told me that there had been a caveat issued on 29 Mar by Brig Solanki in Meerut asking IESL members to keep away. While such reports had been coming in regularly for the last one year, I never took notice. And notice I did not take even this time. However, this ran counter to the spirit of the 27 Mar meeting and could possibly raise doubts on whether there was a disconnect between declarations and intent.

    On 31 Mar Maj Gen Radhakrishnan (President TN ESL) came on a to-and-fro visit from Karnal and we met on his request. I admire his total sincerity in trying to bring the two organizations together. We had a long and detailed discussion. Some of the points that came up were (his points shown in Blue):
    1. There is a strong belief that the representation through proper channel will in due course lead to OROP.
    I pointed out that for the last 25 years various IESL Presidents had been making representations without OROP being sanctioned, and it cannot be said that all of them were mere push-overs. Besides, facts run counter to such a belief; govt has already rejected OROP in Parliament.
    2. There was an impression based on dialogue between the IESL delegates and the Secretary ESW that there is a positive change of perception on the OROP.
    I raised a flag of caution against such misplaced optimism and warned against falling into the trap of honey talk. Contextually speaking, I mentioned that during our meeting on 14 Jan 09, after being briefed on OROP the Secretary ESW had remarked that till that day he had not understood OROP and that now he did. Gen Radha looked wide-eyed in disbelief and disclosed that the Secretary had used these very words in IESL HQ on 27 March.
    3. He said that while he does not see any policy change granting OROP immediately, but something substantial is likely to be announced. Continuing, he talked of correction of an error in pension calculations due to the misinterpretation of the policy by the concerned officials.
    My take was that we are not looking for corrections and compensations but a principle- based OROP decision.
    4. He appealed that I reconsider the sentiments of the President IESL and find a mutually agreeable compromise.
    While agreeing to a spirit of accommodation, I underscored depositing of medals being the raison d’être of IESM approach and expressed my inability to compromise on it. I also pointed out that IESL insistence that we drop this crucial element from our efforts amounted to IESL wanting to put conditionality for working together. Gen Radhakrishnan resolved to continue his efforts at the unity till the last minute. I genuinely wished him success.

    Best regards,
    Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    Chairman IESM

    Medals and Gallantry Awards
    I quote a remark attributed to Gen Thimayya in Maj Gen KK Tewari's
    book 'A Soldier's Voyage Of Self Discovery.- Quote'"one of the things
    that a soldier prided himself on was having some colourful
    operational medals ribbons on his chest..." -Unquote
    We retired with rows and rows of medals with colourful ribbons.
    Alas, thanks to the sixth pay commission, now our chests are bare
    like the bottom of a new born child.
    Brig Lakshman Singh (Retd)

    Thought for the day: Unity efforts grounded
    We all know that Soldiers are wedded to victory, but like other married couples they sometimes live apart.

    Delayed Flight- Respect for a veteran something to ponder!

    This past week I was on a four and a half hour, non-stop flight from Seattle, Washington, to Atlanta, Georgia. In all my years of traveling, I have learned that each time a plane has the opportunity to stop, there is potential for unexpected challenges. Flight delays, weather and airline crews can create unanticipated challenges on any trip. Therefore, I always try to fly non-stop between my destinations.

    About an hour into this particular flight, the Captain's voice rang over the intercom. He asked if there was a physician or nurse on the plane. If so, he asked them to identify themselves by ringing the flight attendant call button beside their seat.

    I listened carefully but heard no one ring their bell. I immediately began to wonder what was happening. In a few minutes, the Captain informed us that there was a medical emergency onboard and asked again if there was a physician or a nurse who could help.

    When there was no response, we were told that we were going to make an emergency stop in Denver, Colorado. He apologized but told us that there would be a medical emergency team waiting to meet us at the gate, and that we would probably only be delayed by about thirty minutes. Though it was necessary, we knew we would all be inconvenienced by the extra stop.

    About half an hour later, we landed at Denver International Airport and the medical crew immediately came on board. However, everything took longer than had previously been expected. An elderly gentleman, about 85 years old, had suddenly taken ill. It was not clear whether he had experienced a stroke or a heart attack.

    Even after the gentleman was carried off of the plane, we still sat there for quite a while. The original "short" stop turned into about an hour and a half. When we finally pushed back from the gate and were in the air, the pilot apologized profusely for the unavoidable delay. He said that since the stop had taken longer than expected, those passengers who needed to make connections in Atlanta would miss their flights, but would automatically be booked on the next flight out.

    You could almost hear the moans and groans throughout the airplane of everyone who was being inconvenienced by the unexpected stop. Then the pilot did one of the classiest things I have personally ever seen or heard anyone do. He spoke into the intercom and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I thought you might be interested in one bit of information. The elderly gentleman who was taken off the plane was a Marine in World War II. I am holding in my hand a copy of the Congressional Medal of Honor that was awarded to him and signed by President Harry Truman in 1945." The pilot went on to say, "I realize that we have all been inconvenienced today. However, in light of the fact that this gentleman was a war hero and was inconvenienced for four years of his life in order that we might experience the freedoms that we enjoy today, I thought you all should know that."

    Immediately, the airplane was filled with applause. Everyone was cheering and so pleased to know that the gentleman had been cared for in a way that was fitting and appropriate. As we continued to fly, I thought to myself, "Isn't that interesting? We were concerned that we were inconvenienced for a couple of hours, and yet this gentleman's entire life was interrupted and inconvenienced for over four years while he went and fought in a war to protect the freedoms and values that we love and hold dear in this country today."

    I breathed a prayer for the gentleman and asked God to bless him for all he had done to help us understand what freedom is all about. Dont we wish our citizens in this country also have this same type of attitude towards our Soldiers? Since- FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

    Lt Gen SK Bahri

    We thank Brig VA Subramanyam for sending us this real life story as narrated by Gen Bahri.

    IESM: report of Rally held at Garhshankar on 27 Mar 2009




    Date: Friday, 27 March, 2009, 8:36 PM
    1. IESM & ESM Welfare Society Garhshankar (Pb) organised ESM Rally coordinated by Capt RS Pathania & Sub Balbir Singh, which was attended by about 1000 ESM & Widows. About six ESM organisations in Punjab had joined the Rally.

    2. Brig Harwant Singh, Brig Nawab Singh, Lt Col SS Sohi, Maj SS Dhillon, Col AS Bhinder & Cpl JS Kumbrah also attended & spoke at Rally. It was very well organised ESM Rally covering a rgion of nearly 50 Kms in radius.

    3. Main Talking points were One Rank One Pension (OROP), 27 other ESM problems/ issues, IESM & League Unity, Policy on voting aspects and fielding candidates/ tie up for LS Seats with like minded groups/ Political Parties all over India. "We must create strong pressure group to meet our aim", was stressed there.

    4. Lot of ethusiasm was displayed by the veterans and determined to join the 12 Apr 2009 IESM Rally at Jantar Mantar Delhi.
    Col SS Sohi (Retd)

    Wednesday, April 1, 2009

    Mumbai Mayhem: Pakistan epicentre of world terror

    Baitullah Mehsud

    The United States has put a $5 million bounty on his head, and he says militants under his control are planning a terrorist attack in Washington that "will amaze everyone in the world."

    And he isn't Usama bin Laden. Baitullah Mehsud, commander of the Taliban in Pakistan, told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday that his group was responsible for Monday's attack on a police academy in his country that killed seven police officers and injured more than 90 others.

    He also said, chillingly: "Soon we will launch an attack in Washington that will amaze everyone in the world."

    In an interview with local Dewa Radio, which was obtained by The Associated Press, Mehsud identified the White House as one of the targets.

    FBI spokesman Richard Kolko told FOXNews.com that the bureau is not aware of a specific or imminent threat to the United States. He added, without elaborating, that Mehsud has made similar threats to the U.S..

    But terrorism experts call Mehsud a "rising young star" who is linked both to the December 2007 assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and the bombing last September that killed 54 people in the Marriott hotel in Islamabad -- and they say his threat to carry out an attack in Washington should not be discounted.

    "It should be taken seriously because [Mehsud] has ordered the deaths of many Pakistanis and Afghans and has a close alliance with Al Qaeda," said James Phillips, a terrorism expert and senior research fellow for Middle Eastern Affairs at the Heritage Foundation.

    "It's not too much of a stretch to think he might be involved in an attack on the U.S. if he's able to get his followers inside the United States. He's a militant extremist whose threats cannot be ignored."

    Mehsud, 35, is the senior leader of Tehrik-e-Taliban, or the Taliban Movement of Pakistan, and is a key Al Qaeda facilitator in the tribal areas of South Waziristan in Pakistan, according to the U.S. State Department. A $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction was announced just last week.
    Taliban Leader's Washington Threat Is Credible, Analysts Say

    IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- hundred and fifth day

    Date: Tuesday, 31 March, 2009, 10:23 PM
    Dear Colleagues,
    The Jantar Mantar continues to remain active.
    Media Coverage
    Col Vikram Singh, who had anchored the Mathura visit Mar 29, called up to say that there has been extensive media coverage of the event. The worried Congress candidate there called him up on our remarks that:
    1. No government leader has thus far come to Jantar Mantar to talk to us.
    2. The President on 9 Mar 2009 told us that she had not been informed that we had already deposited the medals twice.
    Best regards,
    Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    Chairman IESM

    Google Translation: English>>Hindi
    तिथि: मंगलवार, 31 मार्च, 2009, 10:23
    प्रिय साथियों,
    इस जंतर मंतर सक्रिय रहने के लिए जारी है.
    मीडिया कवरेज
    कर्नल विक्रम सिंह, जो इस यात्रा 29 मार्च, मथुरा फोन किया कि इस घटना का व्यापक मीडिया कवरेज कर दिया गया है कहने के लिए मुरलीधरन था. यह चिंता कांग्रेस उम्मीदवार वहाँ हमारी टिप्पणी पर उसे फोन किया कि:
    1. कोई सरकार नेता इस प्रकार दूर जंतर मंतर (Jantar Mantar) को हमसे बात करने के लिए आ गया है.
    2. राष्ट्रपति पर 9 मार्च 2009 है कि वह है कि हम पहले से ही दो बार पदक जमा था सूचित नहीं किया गया था हमें बताया.
    सादर,
    लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल (Emeritus) राज Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    अध्यक्ष भारतीय भूतपूर्व सैनिक आंदोलन (IESM)

    ESM: Dependants of Defence Security Personnel Neglected

    The Defence Security Corps, with 31,000 personnel, provides security at Defence Ministry sites. The role of Defence Security Corps is to ensure the protection and security of designated Defence Installations against sabotage and pilferage.

    The Defence Department Constabulary Centre, now known as Defence Security Corps (DSC), was raised on 25th April 1947 at Muthura in Uttar Pradesh. The centre moved to Delhi on 3rd May 1947. It was formed in the form of a semi-police force with police title and badges of ranks. In 1948, military titles and badges of ranks were given to the DSC. In August 1958, the Corps was re-organised and redesignated as Defence Security Corps-DSC and brought under the control of Army Headquarters.

    The DSC and Records moved from Delhi to Chkrata in UP in April 1959 and then to Kannur on 21st November 1961. The centre imparts training to ex-service personnel of Army, Navy, Air Force and Territorial Army and recruits them to various agencies under the Army, Navy, Air Force and Territorial Army and to the Directorate General of Ordinance Factories and Directorate General of Research and Development. The DSC is a ministry of defence force, it comprises mainly superannuated soldiers who are re-employed for a few years.

    Dilemma of DSC Personnel: ALARMING DIAGNOSTIC COSTS POOR CANNOT AFFORD
    Recently I happened to accompany the wife of a DSC Sepoy for emergency medical treatment. The DSC Sepoy is serving in J&K Area and his wife and three children are living in a village in Southern Tamil Nadu. The DSC Sepoy and his families are eligible for free medical treatment in the Army hospitals. But in this case his family could not avail any free army hospital facility as she is living in a non-military area. Also they cannot avail ECHS facility as her husband is a serving in DSC.

    First for emergency, I took her to a Taluk level government hospital. The patient was having severe pain in the lower abdomen, unable to bear and started running here and there. A lady doctor in the government hospital attended her for emergency and later advised her to take so many diagnostic tests like, ultra sound scan, CT Scan, Xray, ECG and so forth. The above diagnostic facilities are not available in the government hospital. Finally I took her to a private hospital in a nearby town district head quarters. The Specialist in the private hospital wrote down a list of diagnostic tests to be conducted before starting any treatment. She was admitted on the morning of 29.03.09. The following tests were conducted:
  • Blood & urine analysis Rs.1000
  • Xray Rs. 500
  • Abdomen USG scan Rs. 500
  • Abdomen CT scan with IV Rs.4750
  • ECG & Eco cardiograph Rs.1000
  • Medicine/antibiotics Rs.1500
    Total Rs.9250 (Room rent and other hospital bills not included. Still the actual treatment not started)

    For the last 3 days I am running here helping the patient undergo above diagnostic tests. Still the specialist doctor is unable to find out what is the cause of severe pain in the abdomen. In 3 days the poor Sepoy’s family has paid around Rs.10,000/- for diagnostic tests only. But so far no relief from the pain. The visiting specialist doctors do not tell anything except advice to conduct more and more tests. The patient has paid all the hospital bills by pledging her jewels to a pawn broker for urgent medical diagnosis.

    Now the patient’s pain is more about the expenses than her actual abdomen pain. This is the condition of a serving DSC’s family (separated). Will the MOD and the ECHS authorities do something for free treatment at the ECHS polyclinics in the area where Jawans families are in dire medical need?

    C Muthukrishnan, (Ex Sgt)
  • Tuesday, March 31, 2009

    Mumbai Mayhem: Taliban new hierarchy emerges

    Taliban sources in Pakistan and Afghan intelligence sources say that the Taliban now has a recognizable hierarchy of leaders - some operating from Afghanistan and some from the Pashtun tribal areas of Pakistan's volatile Northwest Frontier Province.

    At the top of the military command structure is Mullah Beradar, who hails from Deh Rawood in Urozgan, the home village of former supreme Taliban leader Mullah Omar. Underneath Mullah Beradar are a number of Taliban commanders and religious leaders assigned to different territories.

    The most active region - from Nimroz Province to Helmand, on up to Kandahar, Zabul, and north to Urozgan - is under the joint control of Beradar's top three deputies. Akhtar Usmani was the Taliban corps commander in Kandahar. Mullah Abdur Razzaq was the Taliban Interior Minister. And Mullah Dadullah was the military chief in the northern city of Kunduz, on the front lines against the Northern Alliance when the Taliban lines crumbled.

    According to eyewitnesses, the men who captured an Ecuadorian Red Cross aid worker, Ricardo Munguia, in Urozgan Province last month, called up Mullah Dadullah on their satellite phone and under Dadullah's orders, shot Munguia dead.
    Taliban appears to be regrouped and well-funded

    Narco-trafficking is fueling the Taliban, and fat profits from poppies and opium are partially responsible for the militants' resurgence. Indeed, Afghanistan is supplying about 90 percent of the world's opium and nearly all of the heroin that ends up in Europe. Emerald trading from SWAT Valley has been taken over by Taliban. Smuggling and gun running go hand in gloves.
    Losing the war in Afghanistan
    Pakistan blames Taliban for Lahore attack which leaves 11 dead
    Indian Army Ready for Tackle Any Threat from Pakistan

    SCPC: Raksha Mantri assures sympathetic and prioritised consideration of anomalies

    You think you have the right/ wrong, good/ bad all prioritised...team of world-leading neuroscientists has developed a powerful technique that allows them to look deep inside a bureaucrat's brain and read his intentions before he prioritises the anomalies he has created.

    Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP, who incidentally happens to be the son of a retired Air Commodore, has been taking keen interest on the resolution of 6th CPC anomalies. He had been following up the issue with the Raksha Mantri who has sent out a signal in the affirmative.

    The Raksha Mantri has informed Mr Chandrasekhar that the Govt has already decided on restoration of higher pensionary weightage to Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) and grant of Pay Band-4 to Lt Colonels and equivalent. It has also been stated by Mr Anthony that the issue of grant of HAG+ to ‘some’ Lt Generals was under consideration. The Raksha Mantri has also assured that all issues concerning the Armed Forces would be dealt with sympathetically and on priority.

    There are also indications that a percentage of Lt Generals may get placed in HAG+ even before the setting up of the High Power Committee. Though everyone seems to be referring to it in the official circles, the modalities still remain a mystery of the much talked about grant of higher pensionary weightage to PBOR. When there were separate scales for each rank during the 5th CPC era, the pension of PBOR was fixed by taking into consideration the higher end of the scale, however now after the 6th CPC the lower end of the pay band is taken into account for calculation. Probably, to enhance the pensionary benefits to PBOR, the govt may just take the earlier higher end of the scale as a reference point for fixation of pension in the new pay band. But this is just a conjecture at the moment since nothing is known of what is in store as of now.
    Raksha Mantri assures sympathetic and prioritised consideration of remaining anomalies (and HAG+ to Lt Gens may soon see light of the day)

    Comment: The Supreme Court Ruling in the case of Maj Gens pension parity has been consigned to the files by MOD. We appreciate Raksha Mantri's affirmative confirmation to set at rest the anomalies of SCPC which got further bugged by Bureaucrats. Anomalies to be Prioritised? The concept is mind boggling! It seems to be a new Red Tape now entangled in a delay loop!

    Management is building Human Relationships

    THE “PHOOK” THEORY
    The literal meaning of the Punjabi word, ‘phook’ is air pressure. Metaphorically, it is used to describe an ego-state. Thus, if someone is hogging a lot of ‘phook’, he is ‘gassed’ or brash.

    The year, 1988. Location: No 3 Base Repair Depot (BRD),IAF, Chandigarh
    The little man who sat as the Air Officer Commanding (AOC) of the BRD was my brother. Our father found him bone lazy, incapable doing any strenuous work. But I suspect he was clever. The Air Force chose to overlook his sloth and let him rise. Now, having completed his course at the National Defense College, it was clear that he was going places. I had gone to the BRD to learn the rudiments of command.

    As I entered, the two officers who were sitting in the office took leave of him. He sat there, completely relaxed. There was no paper in the two trays marked “IN” and: OUT” The customary “Pending” bin was conspicuous by its absence. The walls of the large office were bare. No bar charts, no performance curves. On the table, there was a small hand written paper, which my brother permitted me to see. It said, “I hate work. Even if some one else does it”.

    It was clear as crystal that my dear brother had not changed. I asked him how he managed such a large outfit. And he said, “Come, I will show you” And we set off for a ‘darshan’ of the unit. Wherever we went, people rushed to greet him. He had a word or two to say to every one. In most cases, he let his officers speak. He would then say just a sentence or two, and then move on. But I noticed that his tone was different each time. At one workstation, we saw a tall officer, who had a lot of charts and diagrams, and he gave us a detailed account of his achievements. The curve showed that the output of his shop had tripled since he took over. He was keen to give a lecture to the other officers of the BRD on the management techniques he had employed to achieve those results. My brother gave a cold look to him and said, “Yes. You can do that. But first you must improve the quality of your stuff. That gyro-stabilizer which failed in the flight test last month was overhauled here. Right? If the pilot was not alert, you would have his blood on your hands!”
    to continue reading... click here

    Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)

    IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- hundred and fourth day

    Date: Monday, 30 March, 2009, 9:53 PM
    Dear colleagues,
    Jantar Mantar remains active.
    Preparations are afoot for the 12 April 2009 Maha rally at Jantar Mantar. If the vim and vigour detected during various visits, gets translated on ground– and there is every reason to believe that it would– we can expect to fully fill the space available at and around the GTI of Jantar Mantar.
    Best regards,
    Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    Chairman, IESM

    दिनांक: सोमवार, 30 मार्च, 2009, 9:53
    प्रिय साथियों,
    जंतर मंतर (Jantar Mantar) सक्रिय रहता है.
    तैयारी कर रहे हैं जंतर मंतर में 12 अप्रैल 2009 महा रैली ज़ारी के लिए. यदि शक्ति और विभिन्न यात्राओं के दौरान पाया जोश, जमीन पर अनुवाद हो जाता है और वहाँ है कि हम पूरी तरह से अंतरिक्ष में और एक रणनीतिक महत्व के आधार जंतर मंतर (GTI Jantar Mantar) के आसपास उपलब्ध भरने की उम्मीद कर सकते हैं करेंगे विश्वास करने के लिए हर कारण है.
    सादर,
    लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल (Emeritus) राज Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    अध्यक्ष, भारतीय भूतपूर्व सैनिक आंदोलन (IESM)

    Monday, March 30, 2009

    IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- hundred and third day

    Date: Monday, 30 March, 2009, 1:45 AM
    Dear Colleagues,
    The Jantar Mantar continues to remain active.
    Visits
    Maj Gen Jaini, Col Joshipura, Col Tyagi and self visited Mathura and Agra today and interacted with ESM. Mathura visit, anchored by Col Vikram Singh, had 500 ESM and a few families attending. In Agra Hony Capt Keshav Dev played the hub, with some 60 ESM in attendance. At both places there was tremendous enthusiasm and all pedged to attend the 12 April rally and bring along maximum numbers. At both places there were repeated requests for directions on voting choice in the Parliamentary elections.
    Best regards,
    Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    Chairman IESM

    दिनांक: सोमवार, 30 मार्च, 2009, 1:45
    प्रिय साथियों,
    इस जंतर मंतर Jantar Mantar सक्रिय रहने के लिए जारी है.
    दौरा
    मेजर जनरल Jaini, कर्नल Joshipura, कर्नल त्यागी और आत्म मथुरा और आगरा आज और ESM से बातचीत का दौरा किया. मथुरा यात्रा, कर्नल विक्रम सिंह ने मुरलीधरन (anchored), 500 अनुभवी (ESM) और कुछ परिवारों में उपस्थित थे. आगरा मानद कैप्टन केशव देव में, उपस्थिति में कुछ 60 ESM के साथ हब निभाई. दोनों स्थानों पर वहाँ जबरदस्त उत्साह और सभी pedged ने 12 अप्रैल रैली में भाग लेने के लिए और अधिक से अधिक संख्या में साथ लाने गया था. दोनों स्थानों पर वहाँ के संसदीय चुनावों में चुनाव मतदान पर निर्देश के लिए अनुरोध दोहराया गया.
    सादर,
    लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल (Emeritus) राज Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    अध्यक्ष भारतीय भूतपूर्व सैनिक आंदोलन (IESM)

    ESM: Resettlement sans Honour and Dignity

    Resettlement
    Leaving the Armed Forces and resettling into civilian life can seem a daunting prospect. Do we have a reliable organisation that can help an ESM make a successful transition? Does the organisation provide guidance, advice, and information to assist retiring service personnel and those who have served in the armed forces, free of charge? When weighing up the success of resettlement, the most important factor for the majority of Service personnel leaving/ retiring (75% or more) is whether a suitable job is secured especially the 60,000 PBORs who retire each year at a relatively young age. In an increasingly competitive environment where people are often the key differentiator, you need to think beyond the norm and continually raise the level of talent and skills you can offer to civilian organisations. Successful resettlement requires a clear aim, a thorough personal evaluation, good job intelligence, effective networking and a well thought out approach to employers. Let us not make caricatures and cartoons of our Jawans by employing them increasingly as a demeaning low end Security Sentinel sans weapons dignity and honour.

    Ex Servicemen Welfare Department
    Employment of retired Army Officers. Army Officers in substantive rank of Colonel and below may be re-employed in Regular Army for two years in first instance provided they are not 55 years of age as per SAI 1/S/80 and are medically fit.
    Comment: It is a degraded employment in that an Officer gets emoluments of a Junior Rank.

    Commercial Employment in Private Sector. As per the provisions of AI 2/S/74, retired service officers of the rank of Col and above are required to seek prior permission of the Govt before taking up commercial employment in the private sector within two years of their date of retirement.

    Resettlement in Civil Life. Retiring Army Officers may apply for civil employment. However, para 341 of Regulations for the Army 1987 enjoins that an officer who is granted any pension, gratuity or other benefit in respect of his/her Army service or who is likely to receive any pension, gratuity or other benefit, shall obtain the permission of the President before accepting any employment under a Government outside India at any time after his/her Army Service has ceased.

    Security Agencies. The DGR registers/ sponsors security agencies for providing security guards to various PSUs and industries in the private sector. The scheme offers good self-employment opportunities to retired officers and adequate employment opportunity to ex-PBORs in a field where they have sufficient expertise. The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) had issued instructions to all PSUs to get security personnel through DGR sponsored Security Agencies. The scheme has shown good results. Through this scheme about 1800 ESM security agencies have been empanelled and approximately over 1,50,000 ESM have gained employment. Fresh forays have been made into the banking sector with active intercession of the Reserve Bank of India and the Finance Ministry. The RBI has issued instructions that the security of the treasury chests of all Banks in the country be entrusted to DGR sponsored ESM Security Agencies only in the absence of the Banks own integral security.
    Comment: The security Guards are paid peanuts and the uniforms of the Guards are pathetic comic cartoon caricatures. They represent a debased exploited ESM employed in a despicable fashion. The whole scheme requires to be upgraded befitting of a Soldier's Honour.
    BROCHURE ON TERMINAL BENEFITS: Employment

    IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- hundred and second day

    Date: Saturday, 28 March, 2009, 10:23 PM
    Dear Colleagues,
    The Jantar Mantar continues to remain active.
    Visits
    Accompanied by Col Kanwar Bhardwaj I visited Jahajjar District in Haryana and attended a rally at village Dhor. Over 2000 ESM and families had come from far off villages. The address, received with rapt attention, was punctuated by loud applause. There were several among them who were in the Battalion that I commanded in 1978-1980 in Nagaland. I recalled how they were ever prepared and willing to lay down their life at my command in fighting insurgents. I could detect the same loyalty today. I was first overcome with guilt that so far we have not succeeded in getting them justice. Then I felt a renewed sense of resolve to carry on with the efforts till we get it.
    There was chorus demanding our orders on which party to vote in the elections. I promised to get back to them soon with our advisory. Tomorrow, Gen Jaini, Col Krit Joshipura, Col Tyagi and I will be visiting Mathura and Agra to meet more of our colleague ESM.
    Best regards,
    Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    Chairman IESM

    Translation: English » Hindi
    प्रिय साथियों,
    इस जंतर मंतर (Jantar Mantar) सक्रिय रहने के लिए जारी है.
    दौरा
    कर्नल कंवर भारद्वाज द्वारा मैं हरियाणा में Jahajjar जिले का दौरा किया और गांव में एक रैली में भाग लिया Dhor के साथ थे. 2000 ESM और परिवारों से अधिक दूर गांवों से दूर से आया था. यह पता, तन्मय ध्यान के साथ मिला, जोर से तालियाँ द्वारा दर था. उनके बीच में जो मैं 1978-1980 में नागालैंड में आज्ञा दी कि इस बटालियन में किए गए कई थे. मैं कैसे वे कभी और तैयार किए गए स्मरण विद्रोहियों से लड़ने में अपने आदेश में अपने जीवन डालने के लिए तैयार. मैं आज भी यही वफादारी की पहचान कर सके. मैं पहले दोष है कि अब तक हम उन्हें न्याय प्राप्त करने में सफल नहीं किया है के साथ पार किया गया. तो मुझे लगता है कि हम मिल तक के प्रयासों के साथ पर ले जाने के लिए समाधान के एक नवीकरण भावना महसूस किया.
    वहाँ कोरस जिस पर पार्टी को चुनावों में वोट करने के लिए हमारे आदेशों की मांग कर रहा था. मैं उन्हें जल्द ही हमारे सलाहकार के साथ प्राप्त करने का वादा किया. कल, जनरल जीत (Jaini), कर्नल कौशल उत्साह (Krit Joshipura), कर्नल त्यागी और मैं अपने सहयोगी ESM से अधिक को पूरा करने के लिए मथुरा और आगरा की यात्रा पर जाएंगे.
    सादर,
    लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल (आइशर) राज Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    अध्यक्ष IESM
    Readers are requested to send in improved version of translation for republication.

    Sunday, March 29, 2009

    GDP Count Down- Can the Nation afford to pay its Jawans?


    Normally, a 7.1% growth forecast in India’s gross domestic product (GDP), as suggested by the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council for 2008-09, would have scarcely raised an eyebrow. After all, the country has lived through five years of 8.8% average GDP growth, and recorded saving and investment rates of 37.7% and 39.1%, respectively, in 2007-08.

    But we are not living in normal times and the impact of the global financial turmoil seems to have had a far greater impact than what policymakers had anticipated; first in the financial sector, and then slowly in the real sector. And with lakhs of people losing jobs in textiles, leather, gems and jewellery, the government’s decoupling theory lies in tatters today.

    Hazy prospects
    That leaves the country with domestic consumption, the next big driver of growth in the country. Although the situation may be slightly better because of a good agriculture growth (expected to touch the 4% mark), the farm debt waiver, the two fiscal stimuli packages and the Sixth Pay Commission arrears, it is unlikely to balance out a weakening growth in private sector consumption. So, private consumption growth is likely to fall from 8.3%, last year to 6.8% this financial and to 5.5% in the next financial year.

    But the real danger in the current downturn is that despite the RBI releasing about Rs 3,88,000 crore into the market between September and January and the government borrowing Rs 2,50,000 crore—Rs 1,50,000 crore more than the budgeted amount (raising the combined fiscal deficit of states and the Centre to 11% of GDP)—there’s little respite in sight. And with things likely to get only worse in the first quarter of 2009, even 7% GDP growth seems a little distant.
    GDP: Counting down

    Sixth Central Pay Commission Impact
    The impact of the impending Sixth Pay Commission recommendations is expected to be within 0.4 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), according to Finance Secretary D Subbarao.
    The fifth Pay Commission award of 1996 had translated into an impact of 0.4 per cent of GDP then. “I do not expect it to be higher than that level this time,” Subbarao told Business Standard.
    Given that the Budget has projected GDP at Rs 53,03,770 crore in 2008-09, the impact of the award may well be Rs 21,215 crore.
    Subbarao added he expects the economy to grow faster than the government’s ballpark estimates of a real GDP growth rate of 8.5 per cent, and annual inflation rate to be 4.5 per cent, in 2008-09.
    On the question of off-Budget liabilities, the finance secretary said the Budget had acknowledged them for the first time, bringing greater transparency to the numbers.
    On his part, Revenue Secretary P V Bhide said it was not possible to simultaneously increase the income tax exemption limit as well as the deduction limit under section 80C. “We cannot satisfy everyone”, he said.
    Bhide also said that despite the higher exemption limit, it would not take much time for those people who go out of the tax net to come back into the net, as salaries are rising 15 to 20 per cent annually. “If not this year, they will come back again as they cross the threshold limit,” he said.
    Source : Business Standard
    SCPC: impact may top 20,000 crores

    Comment: The Nation can afford an additional 1500 crores (one time) and yearly incremental of Rs 600 crores to implement the "One Rank One Pension", for the derseving Jawans who sacrifice their lives for the security of the Nation. The Nation spends 2% of the GDP on Defence and the additional expenditure for OROP works out to mere 0.8% of Defence budget or 0.0016% of the GDP truly an insignificant amount.

    Balancing Military Spending and Economic Crisis

    Indian policy and military decision makers are facing a real quandary. On the one hand the country’s economy is suffering greatly, as consumer markets across the world shrink - a direct challenge to the double digit growth of Indian defense budgets over the last decade; on the other hand, perceived and real vulnerability to external and internal threats, both conventional and asymmetric, appear to be growing rapidly. Indian defense officials complain that the country’s chief potential rivals, Pakistan and China are spending about 4% of their GDP on defense, while India’s defense budget rises to a mere 2% of the country’s GDP. With that in mind, India’s defense budget is set to rise to about $40 billion next year (about 3% of GDP), bucking economic trends and no doubt raising eyebrows and maybe even real protest. India’s weapons imports have also seen a huge growth spur over the last decade, and are set to grow even more in the coming years, reaching more than $10 billion in 2012.

    With the economic crisis set to continue for at least another year, and with countries around the world getting used to the idea that the impact of this crisis will continue to effect their economies for several years to come, it is reasonable to assume that defense budgets will stagnate, if not shrink over the next several years, unless the economic crisis slides into a military crisis, in which case all bets are off. Either way, it seems like all of us, proponents and opponents of military spending are doomed to live the Chinese proverb: “May You Live in Interesting Times”.
    Read the full article at:
    Balancing Military Spending and Economic Crisis
    Related Reading
    ‘Global meltdown not to impact India’s military modernisation’
    Antony hopes for hike in 2009-10 defence budget

    PM urges India Inc to be sensitive in turbulent times


    New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday asked India's top industrialists to be sensitive to the adverse impact of the current economic crisis on the weaker sections of the society and sought their help in meeting the challenges.

    "I have great faith and confidence in India's entrepreneurs and particularly in the wisdom and experiences of captains of industry assembled here today to meet the challenges confronting our economy," he told a meeting with them at his official residence here.

    "We need to be particularly sensitive to the impact of slowdown on the weakest in the organised as well as unorganised sectors. We must meet the challenge of job losses caused by the slowdown," the prime minister added.

    Manmohan Singh had invited some 25 leading industrialists to hear their views on some of the key issues concerning the domestic and global economy and to help frame India's position ahead of his participation at the G20 summit in London April 2, 2009.
    PM urges India Inc to be sensitive in turbulent times
    Freedom means little to hungry stomachs:
    A heartrending true story of young boy and poverty

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