Saturday, May 30, 2009

The Defence Agenda- ESM getting a raw deal?

The ex-servicemen too have had a raw deal and have been holding fasts for justice on their most legitimate demand of “one rank-one pension”. Many of them have taken the extreme step of returning their medals to the President. One rank-one pension is an idea whose time has come and it must be implemented without further delay and without appointing any more committees of bureaucrats to look into the issue. While a Department of Ex-servicemen’s Welfare has been created in the Ministry of Defence in keeping with the UPA’s Common Minimum Programme, there isn’t a single ex-serviceman in it. Such measures do not generate confidence in the civilian leadership among serving soldiers and retired veterans. Finally, India is still without a National War Memorial!
The writer is Director, Centre for Land Warfare Studies, New Delhi.
Read the full article:
The security agenda- New govt must fill the gaps fast by Brig Gurmeet Kanwal

Join the Indian Army

Officer in the Indian Army
As an officer in the Indian Army, you will be heir to a glorious heritage. Blended perfectly with the latest in hi-technology, training techniques and strategic doctrines. You will be part of one of the world's finest Armies. Trained not just to be an officer, but a SOLDIER'S SOLDIER.
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We build Men and Women of Character
An Indian Army Officer is the hallmark of what every human being aspires to be... a pillar of strength and courage, whose mettle has been put through the acid test time and again. A career in the Army. It will teach you to face the toughest of situations in life with panache you have never known before. It will help you become a multidimensional personality who will be a force to reckon with. Interested? UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES While the Indian Army trains you in the art of war the curriculum consists of academic subjects too. Besides it also gives you ample scope to acquire new skills constantly. You can participate in activities like river rafting, para jumping, rock climbing, trekking, mountaineering or even desert safaris. When it comes to adventure and sports, there’s no place like the army.
Unparalleled Education
The Indian Army is a place where you’ll never stop learning. Nowhere else can you get such phenomenal opportunities to constantly hone and upgrade your skills. NDA awards you a Bachelor’s degree in Arts, Science or Computer Science on completion of your training. If you join the technical stream, you will be offered a Graduate and Post Graduate degree in Engineering from one of the finest institutes of technology in the country. If you are selected for the prestigious Defence Services Staff College course. You’ll be awarded a Master of Science degree in Defence and Strategic Studies. The Indian Army also runs some of the country’s most prestigious academies and institutes. This covers a wide range of subjects from engineering to medicine, administration to strategy, and armament technology to management. The choice is indeed limitless. In fact, you can even get into Research & Development, if you desire. That’s not all. You can also take a study leave amidst your tenure for an added educational qualification.
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As an Indian Army Officer at 21, you’d be looking at a lifestyle that one cannot imagine in any other profession, so early in life. For all those of you who want to take the plunge, here’s how you can get into the Indian Army. You have several options. You can join right after school or after graduating. Read on to find out more.

PERMANENT COMMISSION
A Permanent Commission means a career in the Army till you retire. For a Permanent Commission you have to join the National Defence Academy (NDA) or the Indian Military Academy (IMA)).
SHORT SERVICE COMMISSION
The Indian Army has a wonderful alternative career for all those of you who aspire to serve it for a few years. It is called Short Service Commission. It gives you the option of joining the Indian Army and serving it as a Commissioned Officer for 5 years. Once your tenure is over, you are allowed to opt for a Permanent Commission. Alternatively, you can also choose for a 5 year extension and can choose to resign from your post any time during this period. With a Short Service Commission you will have the best of both worlds. Even as it gives you the privileges and benefits of a full-fledged commission, you will be imbibing qualities that will make you an invaluable asset to any organisation that you join after the army - Analytical thinking skills - Planning ability - Administrative powers - Organisational talent, the works at the end of the day, it will train you to become a good leader and a successful manager.
HOW TO ENTER: click me
Permanently Commissioned Women Officers in Indian Armed Forces by 2013

Hiearchical and Protocol Problems
The move to induct women as permanent commission officers has also caused worries among the top brass. Some have asked: What if a woman officer decides to marry someone from the ranks? That would upset the strict hierarchical order of the forces, and throw up social and protocol problems.

The Indian Air Force has already experienced this problem. When a woman officer said she wanted to marry a sergeant- who falls under the non-commissioned ranks- the air force made it clear that it would stick to hierarchical protocols.

'We understand that a sergeant cannot come to the Officers' Mess as per protocol. If he resigns or is retired, the person can come as the spouse of the officer,' said Air Marshal Mukerji. A non-commissioned officer in the army is also said to have resigned before he married a woman officer.
Straits Times, 20 August 2008- Women to rescue India's military

Regimental Commissioned Officers
The retirement age of Regimental Commissioned Officers (RCOs) was enhanced by 2 years as in case of other regular service officers, w.e.f. 30th May 1998. The retirement age of RCOs was enhanced from 50 years or 10 years of service to 52 years or 12 years of service, whichever is earlier. A proposal to further enhance the retirement age of RCOs to 54 years of age or 14 years of service, whichever is earlier, has been referred to the VI Central pay Commission so that the RCOs become eligible for time based promotion to the rank of Lt Col after 13 years of reckonable service as recommended by the AV Singh Committee. This is a measure for enhancing the availability of officers in the Indian Army. The army faces a shortage of officers.
Enhanced Service Extension

IESM: Chairman's Desk

29 May 2009
Dear Colleagues,
A very large number of suggestions have been received for the scheduled Core Gp meetings May 30 and 31. We express deep gratitude to all ESM who have spared time and put in effort in thinking up and sending these constructive suggestions.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM

Gearing India's defence preparedness

Antony has to be radically different as a defence minister in this tenure.
Soli Sorabjee is fond of reminding us of this one-liner. Justice Stewart of the US Supreme Court confessed that he could not define obscenity but recognised it when he saw it.

It would not be an exaggeration to say the same about AK Antony’s effectiveness [or lack of it] as the defence minister— hard to define but easily recognisable. An inherently decent man, he is exactly not the kind of head of defence that India needs. His leadership on issues of national defence has been inept and his penchant for overtly displayed probity and honesty has put many a defence deals on the back-burner.

In post-independence India, the lowest ebb in civil-military relations was reached during Mr. Antony’s tenure. Rather than act as a firm leader, Shekhar Gupta felt that Antony had started acting like a trade union leader for the members of the defence services. The damage caused by his misguided zeal led to — for the first time in India’s political history — an ex-servicemen organisation giving an unequivocal call to vote for a political party, the BJP. These portend dangerous times for India’s national security; although they are creeping up in a rather insidious manner and thus pass under the radar unnoticed.

Arjun Singh finished the HRD ministry in a blatant manner whereas Antony has done the same to defence ministry in a more discreet manner. Why a mention of AK Antony does not receive the same indignant reaction as Arjun Singh is only because of the opacity of media coverage and a lack of public knowledge on defence issues in India.

Rajiv Gandhi’s defence minister in the 1980s, Arun Singh did a lot to change the face of India’s defence preparedness. It has to be conceded that under his watch, IPKF turned out to be a fiasco and the Bofors controversy also happened during the same time. But Arun Singh came with a fresh set of ideas, a vision and a plan which he tried to put in place. With Mr. Antony, we see some one who wants to maintain the status quo, and is a master of pusillanimity. For him, inaction to prevent corruption seems preferable to urgent procurement to meet pressing defence needs.

During Antony’s tenure, more money has gone into defence than ever before in India’s history. But where has that additional money really gone. Revenue expenditure in defence services has shot through the roof while a fair share of capital expenditure continues to be returned unexpended every year. Despite many months having passed since the pay commission was announced, the clamour for more from the pay commission seems to be a never-ending saga. India needs a firm hand to put an end to this row. If enough carrots have been given, it is perhaps time to wield the long stick now. By all accounts, Mr. Antony seems singularly incapable of taking a strong line. The members of the defence services are not the only constituency that he has to look after; it is India’s national security needs that have to be his utmost priority. And when there is conflict between the two requirements, the latter has to always take priority notwithstanding the heartburn any such decision might cause to the service members or the veterans.

Mr. Antony, or for that matter any defence minister, has to play his role at two levels. One is as the member of CCS, where he has to provide inputs to the cabinet on the way defence services perceive various issues of national security confronting the country. The second, and the more important part in today’s times, is when he has to look inwards — towards the defence ministry and the defence services. Is the higher defence mechanism — political, bureaucratic and military — suited to India’s defence needs today? What does he envisage the future of the Indian defence services to be? And what can be done to achieve that? Is there a roadmap to achieve the desired end-state? An honest introspection, coupled with a comprehensive review, will tell Mr. Antony that the higher defence setup and the defence services in India are in an urgent need of reform and restructuring.

By all accounts, the services have been given almost everything that they wanted from the government in the pay commission row. Now it is time that the services give back to the nation what India deserves — an effective and efficient fighting force, capable of successfully waging the wars of the future, that provides the proverbial bang for the buck. It is Mr. Antony’s responsibility to not only demand this, but ensure this efficient delivery from the defence services. That will be the real benchmark to judge his current tenure as the defence minister. And if he fails now, it is this failure that will come to haunt this nation in the years to come.
More of the same: Pragmatic Euphony

Friday, May 29, 2009

ECHS: Present status and complaints

Membership as on date approximately nine lakhs with 27 lakhs beneficiaries. Approx 40% of eligible pensioners have become members.
Medical Treatment to ex-servicemen who have not joined ECHS. Veterans who have not joined the ECHS will continue to be treated in service hospitals subject to availability of beds and facilities. Veterans are not entitled to transfer/ referral from one service hospital to another and also treatment in empanelled hospitals.
Last Date for Veterans to Subscribe to the ECHS System was 31 Mar 2008. If you have not subscribed by then, you have lost your privilege of medical cover from the Armed Forces.
ECHS Newsletter

Teething Problems Galore
Posted: 2009-04-11 by G.K. EBRAHIM
Non-effectiveness.....
Sir,
Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme is seen non-effective for most of the members because of following reasons:
1. Referral by the concerned Poly Clinic is necessary. Those who are staying about 20 to 50 km away from registered Poly Clinic, will never travel so long to treat their illness; especially specilized medical services are available at their door steps.
2. With experience, the Poly Clinic(s) and/or even service hospitals are seen quite incompetant to treat even the minor illness properly and satisfactorily inview of today's highly sophiscated facilities and medicines available at every corner of our country. As such, people are quite hesitant to approach any polyclinics or service hospitals to get their illness treated.
3. The patients have the right to get treatment to his full satisfaction. They will look into ECHS only if their cases are immediately transferred to hospitals of their choice and not just service hospitals or any other facilities as per the will and wish of PolyClinics/ or as per the direction by ECHS rulings. Nobody will waste their time behind such an awful arrangement.
4. Ex-servicemen residing byond 5 or 10 Kms away from the registered Poly Clinics, must be allowed to attend directly at nearest empaneled hospitals without any referral by Poly Clinics or without any kind of indulgence by service hospitals.
5. Those who knows where they can get specialized treatment for their illness must be allowed to attend those hospitals without any consent by any Poly Clinics or Service Hospitals under the ECHS facility.
Until and unless, these problems are solved, ECHS facility is quite ineffective. Many Ex-Servicemen are seen ignoring this facility even though they are members of ECHS.

Posted: 2009-04-25 by Sunil Devendra Gondkar
Refusal of Medical Treatment at Mumbai Upnagar
I Ex-Sgt Sunil D. Gondkar is suffering from Diabetes Mallitus, Hypertension CAD and Osteo-Arthritis in both the knees, since last 10 years. I am undergoing mediacal attention at ECHS Mumbai – Upnagar naval Hospital, Powai.since 28.01.2008. However, as usual on 23.03.09, I approached the said hospital for monthly review. To my utter shock, Mr. S.P Dhyani LT. Commander (Retd.) Officer I/c Mumbai Upnagar Powai. He cited that INS Ashwini is my parent unit and I should approach INS Ashwini. I clarified to Mr. S.P. Dhyani that as I am residing in Thane as evident from the details of my Smart Card I am supposed to get treatment from ECHS Polyclinic Mumbai– Upnagar. But he bluntly refused to agree to render treatment.
Meanwhile, I Also approached Ashwini, where they clearly stated that since I am residing in Thane I am eligible for treatment at Mumbai- Upnagar till the time the incident of 23.03.09 as briefly above occurred.
The status as of now is, I am denied medical treatment and without medication I am experiencing serious problems related to my health. This trauma of uncerainity prevailing over my medical treatment is consistently bothering me. I fail to understand how can Mumbai-Upanagar stop rendering medical treatment given to me since 28.1.2008

Posted: 2009-03-02 by Jaaved
not functioning properly
sir,
im a son of ex service man living in Bareilly UP. here all the officials appointed by the government are not taking care of the people but they are adding up to their pains just because of the commision or whatever the reasons might be they are sending the patients to a hospital 15 km away out of city if a single test is to be done they refer to that hospital. there are many patients who do not live in bareilly. it is problem for them on top of it the operations that can be done in the mh bareilly they do not refer to mh doctors often specially when the patient need to admitted the bill of the private hospital has to be paid by the government than why not they can be treated in the mh. if this is what the government will do to the soldiers who have proudly worked for the nation and made it proud and after retirement in their days of rest when government need to serve it is not done. so why should they not restrict their children to join the defence. if any authority reading this please do something and save the soldiers pride and faith in the government or someone who could do anything just to save your soldiers
thanking you

Posted: 2009-02-17 by Shailesh Rai
Medicine Unavailability
Sir,
I am a retired defense personnel undergone kidney transplant and now I am a ECHS member drawing my transplant medicine from ECHS (Nerul) Navi Mumbai as the transplant medicines are costly, I have not been issued the same since last many months, as they are life saving medicine for me I had to procure same from civil which is difficult for me to afford, I just want to know why the medicines are not issued even when they are procured from regional centres. kindly help me out.

Posted: 2009-04-29 by Rajeshkumar Chauhan
required to be change process
"Sir,
My self Rajeshkumar Chauhan ECHS member,
Generally I observed that patients visiting the ECHC clinic face lot prob from ECHS clinic to further refer to MH, civil hosp & back to ECHS clinic.
My experience with ECHS Ahmedabad
Visited ECHS, checked and refer to MH for surgical SPL. Find Ambulance but not availabe as knew that under repair. I made local arrangement and reached MH. Checked Surgical Spl and advised to MRI. Again visited ECHS, made the necessary form and got signature. Further advised to go MH for Signature of Surgical Spl twice visited the MH & got signature. Same is to get medicine. As my request to concerned authority, is it possible for some changes in this process to avoid frequent visits. Moreover I expect that patient to be treated with sympathetic behaviour.
ECHS: Consumer Complaints

WELCOME TO DOWA COCHIN- A blog created on Mar 27, 2009

DEFENCE SERVICE OFFICERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION COCHIN
Established in 1988 by a small group of retired officers at Cochin to promote the interests of veteran officers. Welfare, Charity, Social and humanitarian activities are some of its charters. DOWA has a noticeable strength of 245 members today. The kith and kin of the members further enhance its size. DOWA has a pan India network through well wishers and friends. Life membership is given to all retired defence service officers at a nominal fee. Retired and serving defence and civilian dignitaries are welcome to become honorary members. DOWA is registered under the Travancore Cochin Literary, Scientific and charitable societies Registration Act XII of 1955.

BLOG TEAM
Brig (Retd) VA Narayanan, President
Col (Retd) MS Yohannan, Vice President cum Treasurer
Col (Retd) RB Nair, Secretary and Blog Moderator
Col VSM Makkar, Executive Member
DOWA Cochin: Click me

Comment: Col RB Nair is retired Corps of Signals Officer and we congratulate him and the blog team on launching the DOWA Blog.

IESM: Battling and seeking justice for its members

Dear Friends,
1. All members of the Steering Committee with the positive cooperation of state, district and city convenor have been working tirelessly to run the Movement as smoothly as possible. All of us who have volunteered to do this task need to be encouraged to remain charged, motivated and enthusiastic to work for getting justice for the Defence Services. I wish to assure all ESMs of the country and specially the members of IESM that the highest form of integrity and honesty have always formed part of the cardinal principles of our functioning and management. We assure everyone the total transparency in management of funds available with the IESM.
2. However, a few of our ESM friends have made comments through emails alleging impropriety without definite evidence, which is not only incorrect but humiliating to those who are managing the affairs. I wish to clarify the following:
  • It is hereby stated that not a paisa of IESM funds has been spent while addressing ESM meetings/ press conferences in support of BJP during elections.
  • Since, we are all part time honorary volunteers working for welfare of ESM without any staff or office support; there may have been some delay in sending acknowledgments/ receipts to members for membership’s fee/ contributions. If any ESM who has sent his registration fee/ contributions and has not yet received, his receipt/ acknowledgement may please write to us. Expeditious action will be taken to reply the query.
  • Earlier, limited Part time staff had been employed to carry out the functions due to limited availability of funds. Shortly we will employ additional staff to speed up the office functions. Effort will be made to ensure that ESM have no reason to complain. All queries will be expeditiously dealt with.
  • Total collection as on 31 Mar 2009 has been Rs 23, 43,384.00 and total expenditure has been Rs 5, 69,363.00. FD for Rs 16 lakh has also been made. All ESM should note that we are subject to external audit. Audited balance sheet will be placed on the website for the information of all members after submission of our IT Return.
    With Kind Regards,
    Jai Hind
    Yours Sincerely,
    Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
    Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement

    Date: Thursday, 28 May, 2009, 4:10 PM
    Dear Sirs,
    Blessings. It is most regrettable that some ESM members have actually made such statements about the funds. It is well that Gen Satbir Singh has made the position very clear. But to my mind, it was not necessary. We should all be grateful to the members of the Core Group. They have achieved a miracle to organise ESM with out any staff or outside assistance. We must continue to offer what ever little support we can to further the cause of the ESM. I have no doubt you would have noted the number of EX Servicemen approaching the ESM for assistance to solve their long outstanding problems. This movement, by the grace of God and support of all members, is bound to grow in strength. The Powers that be are already taking note of us. I am 85 years old now and may not be able to do very much except pray for our success. I thank Gen Kadyan, Gen Satbir Singh, Gen Renjen, Brig Kamboj and all others who have been carrying the flag at their own expense, largely.
    May God continue to bless us with success.
    Veteran Pran Parashar

    Lt Col SS Sohi's Letters to addressed to AHQ, MOD, PCDA and ESM Welfare Department
    Banks & Bureaucrats bankrupts benefits to Ex-Servicemen
    Disability and Family Pension anomalies and disparities
  • What has Pakistan got to do with LTTE defeat? Plenty, says report

    Thursday, May 28, 2009
    London: Pakistan's supply of high-tech military equipment and positioning of some of its highly trained army officers in Sri Lanka played a key role in the ultimate defeat of Tamil Tigers, Pakistani media has claimed.

    "It was the Pakistani defence cooperation with Sri Lanka as the largest suppliers of high-tech military equipment that played a major role in the ultimate defeat of the LTTE at the hands of the Sri Lankan army," The News quoted well placed sources in the Pakistani establishment as saying.

    The newspaper said the defence cooperation between Sri Lanka and Pakistan had grown significantly in recent years as Islamabad, unlike New Delhi, had no problems supplying the state-of-the-art weaponry to Lankan army to accelerate its counter-insurgency operations against the LTTE which finally ended with the killing of Tamil chief Vellupillai Prabhakaran.

    It was exactly a year ago, in the first week of May 2008, that Sri Lankan Army Chief Lt Gen Fonseka visited Pakistan and held detailed talks with his Pakistani counterpart Chief of Army Staff General Asfaq Parvez Kayani to finalise the purchase of high-tech arms for the Lankan armed forces, which were embroiled in an intense battle with the LTTE forces even at that time.

    According to the report, during the talks with Pakistani military authorities, Lt Gen Fonseka had finalised a deal under which Pakistan supplied 22 Al-Khalid main battle tanks to Sri Lanka worth $100 million.

    Fonseka also gave a shopping list of weaponry worth about $65 million to the Pakistani military authorities, the newspaper said.

    While the Sri Lankan army chief's shopping list for the army was pegged at $25 million, the inventory for the Lankan air force was worth $40 million. He had further sought 250,000 rounds of 60mm, 81mm, 120mm and 130mm mortar ammunition worth $25 million and 150,000 hand grenades for immediate delivery to the Lankan army within a month.

    Pakistan also accepted the visiting General's request to send one shipload of the items needed every 10 days to bolster the Lankan military efforts to take over Kilinochchi, the political headquarters of the LTTE.
    Read more:
    What has Pakistan got to do with LTTE defeat? Plenty, says report

    Pak's n-assets may fall into terrorist hands: US report

    Thursday, May 28, 2009
    Washington: Chronic political instability in Pakistan and the current offensive against the Taliban has raised fears that Islamabad's strategic nuclear assets could be obtained by terrorists or used by elements in the Pakistani government, US lawmakers have been told.

    While US and Pakistani officials have expressed confidence in controls over Pakistan's nuclear weapons, continued instability in the country could impact these safeguards, according to a new US Congressional Research Report on "Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons: Proliferation and Security Issues."

    "Some observers fear radical takeover of a government that possesses a nuclear bomb, or proliferation by radical sympathisers within Pakistan's nuclear complex in case of a breakdown of controls," says the report prepared by two non-proliferation experts for US lawmakers.

    Pakistan, which already has a nuclear arsenal of about 60 nuclear warheads, continues fissile material production for weapons, and is adding to its weapons production facilities and delivery vehicles, notes the report by Paul K. Kerr and Mary Beth Nikitin.

    Pakistan does not have a stated nuclear policy, but its "minimum credible deterrent" is thought to be primarily a deterrent to Indian military action, the report suggests.
    Read more:
    Pak's n-assets may fall into terrorist hands: US report

    Thursday, May 28, 2009

    It is the Veteran

    It is the Veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.
    It is the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
    It is the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
    It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.
    It is the Veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
    It is the Veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
    It is the Veteran, who salutes the Flag,
    It is the Veteran, who serves under the Flag,
    To be buried by the flag.
    by Aneshte Shaman
    It is the Veteran
    It was the Veteran who gave us our freedom
    About our veterans

    IESM: Chairman's Desk

    Date: Wednesday, 27 May, 2009, 11:01 PM
    Dear Colleagues,
    Retired Subedar Verma calls up from Faridabad complaining that the bank is not giving the 20% enhanced pension to those veterans above 80. He further complains that the DPDO at Red Fort tells the affected to approach their Record Offices. They need help.
    A call from Veteran CPO Ramdev from Jhunjhunu speaks of harassment by the police of a Service widow. Help is needed.
    A Veteran Sepoy Devinder calls up from a ECHS policlinic requesting intervention because having waited long to see the visiting Cardiologist, he is told that only up to token number 45 would be seen; he is 53.
    And the list continues...problems ranging from individual to general.
    It at least shows that the ESM have begun to have confidence in the IESM that their problems would be attended to. I do hope we measure up to their expectations.
    Best regards,
    Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    Chairman IESM

    ECHS: Efficiency Ranking/ Rating
    We have in all 227 Polyclinics catering to about 9 lakh ESM and remainder 14 lakh ESM are still not members. This indicates that overall popularity of the scheme is just about 40%. Each polyclinic has its own standards and operational and organisational efficiency. There is a need to rate each one of them so as to get a fair idea and distinguish the performers from non performers. Members are advised to make assessment of performance after each visit to the polyclinic and grade them on scale from 0 to 10. This rating should be submitted to ESM Organisations IESM, IESL and so forth and consolidated results published yearly to get an overall picture of the Polyclinics which is designed primarily for the Health Care of Ex- Servicemen and dependants. One shudders to think of Polyclinics efficiency if all eligible ESM opt to become members of ECHS- can it take on additional 14 lakh members and their dependants?

    Wednesday, May 27, 2009

    Malpractices in Defence acquisition won’t be tolerated - Antony

    Wednesday, May 27, 2009
    In the toughest ever message to stem corruption in Defence Procurement, the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony today said the Government ‘would not hesitate to ruthlessly cancel contracts’, if malpractices are found in any acquisition. Deviating from the prepared text at the inauguration of DEFCOM India – 2009, in New Delhi today, Shri Antony asked organisations such as CII, FICCI, etc to help the Government in this regard.

    Shri Antony said the Government has consciously taken a decision to minimise the country’s dependence on import of defence systems and platforms. He also agreed that more products should be sourced on the basis of ‘buy and make’ rather than ‘buy’ category alone. He lamented that nearly 70% of Defence weapons and systems are still being imported and only 30% are being indigenously produced.

    The Defence Minister said the turbulence in our immediate neighbourhood puts the political stability in our country in an even better perspective. He said the need to modernise our defence forces to preserve our territorial integrity in the face of asymmetric and unconventional means of warfare cannot be overemphasized. He called for a synergy of efforts of the Armed Forces, the Industry, the Academia and Research and Development Establishments to transform our Defence Forces to a network centric force.

    Shri Antony said the transformation of Defence Forces is a continuous process, and the overall aim should be to bring about sustained competitive advantages in warfare.

    Referring to the new challenges before the Armed Forces, both in terms of the concepts involved and the material needed, the Minister said it is neither possible nor feasible to have equipment and systems on stand-by for all conceivable variants of modern military conflicts. Shri Antony suggested developing of parallel capabilities and evolution of concept, process, organisations and technologies.

    Shri Antony was of the opinion that development of military capabilities through complex systems will depend on a close collaboration between the end users – our Armed Forces and the industry. The Defence Minister said, the existing capability of the industry will have to be significantly enhanced. He said, Military capabilities will have to be shaped by a combination of knowledge and defence technologies, paving the way for new areas of activity offering substantial potential to innovate. Underlying the need for a strong cooperation between the Defence force and industry, Shri Antony expressed hope that the Seminar will address the issue of Informatics for Defence Force Transformation and Technology Development in Information age.

    The two-day seminar on Informatics for Defence Force Transformation and Technology Development in the Information Age called ‘DEFCOM India – 2009’ has been organised by Corps of Signals of Indian Army in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry. The Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor was also present during the inaugural session. DEFCOM India aims at identifying specific goals and measures towards technology development in the information age in order to enable creation of info structure for defence force transformation. The Seminar is also expected to identity a feasible and realistic Road Map for Infrastructure transformation and provide the industry an insight into the expectations of Defence Forces regarding future communication requirements.
    Sitanshu Kar/Samir/RAJ
    Malpractices in Defence acquisition won’t be tolerated- Antony
    Ex-Navy chief got kickbacks, claims CBI
    Comments: Government should ban all retired defence service personnel (receiving pension and other benefits) and their families from acting as touts, brokers or contractors for Arms Purchase engineered by MOD. The scams show ESM in very poor light as they should instead lead a honourable retired life givng back to the society rather than be involved in defence scams and kickbacks which is truly shameful.

    Dynastic rule a divine right: Indian Democracy a Mockery of a Monarchy

    26 May 2009 By M Gautham Machaiah
    The Congress may be accused of patenting dynastic rule in India, but other political parties are not far behind.

    Dynastic rule is today universalised in Indian politics, cutting across parties, regions and ideologies. Politicians, like erstwhile monarchs, seem to believe in the concept of divine right to rule. No doubt, opposition politicians who once harangued the Congress for perpetuating dynastic rule, have their tails tucked between their legs.

    The BJP which has been the most vitriolic in its attack on the Congress has itself become a victim of dynastic politics. Take for instance, the case of senior leader Jaswant Singh, who has passed the mantle on to his son Manvendra Singh, or Maneka Gandhi who has handed over the baton to her son Varun Gandhi.

    But nobody could have been more brazen that BJP’s Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa who publicly swore in the name of God that he would not field his son B.Y. Raghavendra for the Lok Sabha elections, only to eat his words a few days later. Incidentally, it was the same Yediyurappa who had spewed fire and brimstone against his arch rival and Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Deve Gowda for running a “father and sons” party. Pray, how is Yediyurappa now different from Deve Gowda?

    It is no secret that for Deve Gowda, the Janata Dal (S) is no more than a family venture. Deve Gowda made his son H.D. Kumaraswamy the Chief Minister of Karnataka, while another son H.D. Revanna became a Minister. Now, the focus has shifted to the daughters-in-law of the family, with one of them Anita, wife of Kumaraswamy, already becoming an MLA. More are likely to follow.

    Deve Gowda seems to be having some serious competition from M. Karunanidhi, Chief Minister of the neighbouring Tamil Nadu, who wants all plum posts for his extended family. His son MK Stalin is already a Minister in Tamil Nadu. Now, Karunanidhi has succeeded in securing central cabinet berths for his elder son MK Azhagiri and grand nephew Dayanidhi Maran, though his unabashed attempt at ensuring a ministership for daughter Kanhimozi too, has fallen flat.

    The Sharad Pawars, Mulayam Singh Yadavs, Bal Thackareys, Farooq Abdullahs and Shibu Sorens of the world are also no exception.

    Maharashtra satrap and National Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar has already anointed his daughter Supriya Sule, who is now an MP, as his successor. His colleague in Meghalaya, former Lok Sabha Speaker PA Sangma has followed suit by making his daughter Agatha an MP.

    In Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav has emerged as successor to his father, Samajwadi Party chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav. In Haryana, the reins of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) have passed from the legendary Devi Lal to his son Om Prakash Chautala. In Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference president Farooq Abdulla has already crowned his son, Omar Abdulla as the Chief Minister of the State. In Shiv Sena, power has changed hands from Bal Thackarey to son, Udhav Thackarey. It is the same story in virtually every State and party.

    But there are many politicians who have not reduced politics to a family business. They include former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha, Union Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Well, all of them are unmarried.

    With dynastic rule being ingrained in all political parties, none is in a position to point a finger at the other. At least on one issue there seems to be a consensus among all parties!
    Dynastic rule no longer limited to Congress

    IESM: Chairman's Desk

    Date: Tuesday, 26 May, 2009, 10:39 PM
    Dear Colleagues,
    After the publication/ dissemination of government orders putting Lt Colonels in PB-4, there have been many calls from the PBOR. One apprehends that some of them might sense a pro-officer tilt in the grant of benefits. I have written a letter to the Defence Minister May 26, 2009 on the subject. Extracts:
    “ .... You would recall our meeting on 18th December 2008 ...
    During the meeting you had mentioned that out of the four core issues projected by the Defence Services the following three would be agreed by the Government.
    A) Enhanced weightage (70%) for PBOR pensioners
    B) Up-gradation of Lt Colonels to PB-4
    C) Placing a certain percentage of Lt Generals in HAG+ scale

    It is noted that out of the above, government orders have already been issued for Serials B & C whereas there has been no progress on serial A. It just so happens that both benefits announced so far pertain to officers. This runs counter to the military ethos of ‘subordinate first’ as taught to all officer cadets during training and punctiliously followed thereafter. Unwittingly, this has also laid the government open to criticism by some motivated reports alleging that the government is deliberately doing this to create a divide between PBOR and officers. This is an unfortunate fallout of giving priority to issues pertaining to officers vis-à-vis PBOR.
    May I request you to kindly have the government orders for implementation of enhanced weightage for the PBOR pensioners issued at the earliest...
    Best regards,
    Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    Chairman IESM
    Click me to read: Pension Perspective since Independence by Veteran Vice Admiral Barin Ghose

    Tuesday, May 26, 2009

    Ex-servicemen help family get body

    Mohali, May 25
    Members of various bodies of ex-servicemen gathered at Fortis Hospital here today to get the body of a defence personnel released who had died at the hospital. According to reports, warrant officer Baldev Raj (64) died at the hospital, but the management was allegedly not handing over the body to members of his family because the pending payments were not cleared.

    Daughter of a warrant officer thanks the president of the Ex-Servicemen Grievance Cell, Col SS Sohi (Retd), for getting the body of her father from Fortis Hospital, Mohali, and (inset) the deceased Baldev Raj. Tribune Photo: Vicky Gharu

    Ex-servicemen help family get body
    Related reading:
    After kin protest, Fortis Hospital releases ex-serviceman’s body
    Kin fight over release of body

    Dear Col S Sohi,
    1. We are proud of You for your excellent and fabulous work and selfless sacrifice to the cause of needy ESM, their widows, children at all times.
    2. We are aware that you sit in front of CSD Canteen on all Saturdays from 0900h to 1400h under a Tree Shade without even a hand fan in this scorching summer heat. This sacrifice is for the ESM community, so that ESM visiting CSD Canteen can contact you to resolve their problems. The Army Authorities i.e Western Command under whose jurisdiction the CSD falls does not even accommodate you with a small room with a table and chair or any other facility like electricity/ drinking water.
    3. Hats off to you," Hamra Tuje salam". You have many feathers in you cap (Turban) since last 15 years, Keep doing good job we are with you, any contribution required call us any time. I pray to God if other ESM League also contribute One day in a week to function from The CSD canteen in remote area to facilitate ESM for easy personal contact.
    4. We also pay our gratitude to the Print media for highlighting the camaraderie of ESM Community and have become source of inspiration for ESM Leagues to continue good work for the needy ESM.
    With warm Regards
    Col Khera (Retd)

    Comment: We need more and more dedicated Veterans like Col SS Sohi to look after our brethren and their wards in their twilight years. All Veteran Officers should be dedicated to a cause and continue to help our fraternity especially the powerless and simple Jawans who continue to be exploited.

    IESM: Chairman's Desk

    Date: Monday, 25 May, 2009, 10:13 PM
    Dear Colleagues,
    PBOR from different areas have been calling up to reaffirm their support for the OROP-related actions taken by IESM so far and conveying their readiness to follow whatever directions are issued in future.
    Best regards,
    Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    Chairman IESM

    SCPC: Degraded Rank of Lt Cols Normalised

    No. 17(4)/2008(1 )/D (Pen/Policy), Government of India, Ministry of Defence, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, New Delhi, Dated: 21st May 2009
    To,
    The Chief of the Army Staff
    The Chief of the Naval Staff
    The Chief of the Air Staff
    SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT DECISION ON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SIXTH CENTRAL PAY· COMMISSION ­REVISION OF PENSION OF PRE-1.1.2006 ARMED FORCES PENSIONERS/ FAMILY PENSIONERS.
    Sir,
    The undersigned is directed to refer to this Ministry's letter No. 17(4)/2008(1)/ D(PenlPolicy) dated 11.11.2008 on the above subject as amended vide this Ministry's letter of even No. dated 20.1.2009 and to state that the pay structure for the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army (other than MNS Officers) and equivalent ranks in Navy and Air Force issued in implementation of the recommendations of Sixth CPC, has been further revised under Special Army Instruction No. 2/S/2008, Special Navy Instruction No. 2/S/2008 and Special Air Force Instruction No. 2/S/2008 dated 21st April 2009 respectively, under which Lieutenant Colonel and equivalent officer in Navy and Air Force have been placed in Pay Band- 4 (i.e. Rs. 37400 - Rs. 67000) with Grade Pay of Rs. 8,000/- p.m. and MSP of Rs. 6,000/- p.m. Accordingly, the rates of minimum guaranteed pensionlfamily pension for the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Substantive)/ Lieutenant Colonel (Time Scale) and equivalent ranks in Navy & Air Force, as notified in Annexure-II (Revised) to this Ministry's above quoted letter dated 20.1.2009, are substituted with the rates indicated in enclosed Annexure.
    2. All other enteries remain unchanged.
    3. This issues with the concurrence of the Finance Division of this Ministry vide their UO No.1817/09/D(Fin/Pen) dated 5.5.2009.
    4. Hindi version will follow.
    Sd xxx
    (Harbans Singh)
    Director (Pension/Policy)
    Copy to: As per standard distribution list.

    Annexure to MoD letter No 17(4)/2008(1)/D(Pen/Pol) dated 21.5.2009
    Ammendment to Annexure – II (Revised) attached to MoD letter No 17(4)/2008(1)/D(Pen/ Pol) dated 11.11.2008 as ammended vide this ministy’s letter of even No. Dated 20.1.2009
    Qualifying Service/ Lt Col (TS)/ Lt Col (S)
    10/ 11682/ 13240
    10.5/ 12072/ 13629
    11/ 12461/ 14019
    11.5/ 12850/ 14408
    12/ 13240/ 14797
    12.5/ 13629/ 15187
    13/ 14019/ 15576
    13.5/ 14408/ 15966
    14/ 14797/ 16355
    14.5/ 15187/ 16744
    15/ 15576/ 17134
    15.5/ 15966/ 17523
    16/ 16355/ 17913
    16.5/ 16744/ 18302
    17/ 17134/ 18691
    17.5/ 17523/ 19081
    18/ 17913/ 19470
    18.5/ 18302/ 19860
    19/ 18691/ 20249
    19.5/ 19081/ 20638
    20/ 19470/ 21028
    20.5/ 19860/ 21417
    21/ 20249/ 21807
    21.5/ 20838/ 22198
    22/ 21028/ 22585
    22.5/ 21417/ 22975
    23/ 21807/ 23364
    23.5/ 22196/ 23754
    24/ 22585/ 24143
    24.5/ 22975/ 24532
    25/ 23364/ 24922
    25.5/ 23754/ 25311
    26/ 24143/ 25700
    26.5/ 24532/ 25700
    27/ 24922/ 25700
    27.5/ 25311/ 25700
    28/ 25700/ 25700
    28.5/ 25700/ 25700
    29/ 25700/ 25700
    29.5/ 25700/ 25700
    30 & above/ 25700/ 25700
    TABLE – 2 : FAMILY PENSION
    Lt Col(TS) 15430
    Lt Col(S) 15420
    NOTES:
    1. While the qualifying service indicated in the Table- 1 above is the actual qualifying service. the amount of pension indicated is inclusive of the rank weightage as admissible in terms of Para 5.1 (b) (II) of this Minstry's letter No. 1 (6)/98/D(Pen/Sers) cIt 3.2.1998.
    2. The difference in the amount of pension for the same qualifying service of Lt Col (TS) and LlCol (S) is due to dlfferent rank weightage available to Lt Col (TS) and Lt Col (S) in terms of Para 5.1 of MOD letter No 1(6)/98/D(Pension/Services) dated 3.2.1998.

    IESM: Marching ahead

    Dated: 25 May 2009
    Dear Friends,
    1. The new Government is getting into place. The party which promised to implement the OROP has not succeeded in the Elections. The congress did not include it in their manifesto for these elections, though their leaders including Mr. Rahul Gandhi and Mr. AK Antony had made statements that actions have been initiated to grant higher pensions closer to OROP. The UPA Govt constituting committee for grant of OROP and removal of anomalies on 04 May 2009 and their subsequent denial when asked by the Election Commission, indicate the positive effort of our Movement. Mr. Antony after taking over the Defence Ministry in the new Govt, has in a news appeared in Hindustan Times (HT) dated 24 May 2009 stated that fresh look at the One Rank One pension OROP demand of veterans is one of his priority agenda. This also is a positive indicator to the success of IESM.
    2. In view of the above, we will need to reorganize, regroup and evolve plans for the movement with larger strength, cohesion and unity to fight the Injustice till such time all our demands are satisfactorily addressed. The Steering Committee of IESM is meeting shortly to take stock of the situation and evolve future plans. We will inform all ESM organizations and veterans across the country about our events and actions and solicit their cooperation in men, material and time. Large number of suggestions have been received from veterans which will be given due consideration while evolving our future strategy, events and action activities.
    3. Besides, the four demands we had already projected for the ESM, there were strong suggestions by the large number of ESM to include two more demands as under :
  • Improving the Health Care of ESM. Need for revamping the ECHS to make it user friendly and convenient for basic, specialty and super specialty diagnosis and treatment systems.
  • Provisioning of Canteen facilities in the villages through Mobile Canteens. Areas and Sub Areas may be made responsible to do the task.
    4. During our visits to various states, we noticed lot of Josh amongst the rank and file to strengthen the IESM and accerlate the Movement to get justice for the Defence Personnel. It is here we need to work hard. The only way is to increase its Membership, Unite all ESM of India and project “One United Mass relentlessly to get our just and fair demands met”. I therefore request all state conveners to utilize this time to constitute District, city, Tehsil, Block and village committees and make them functional. There is need to go all out for the IESM Membership drive. All veteran organizations and veterans are requested to join the Movement and encourage others to do so. Instead of “ Chalta Hai, Mai kion, Jo Dosron Ko mile ga mujhe bhi mil jai ga” attitude, we need of motivate ourselves and other around for the cause of "Izzat, Equity and due Justice", evolving a positive frame of mind and volunteering to join the IESM.
    5. Our Website www.iesm.org is functional and is being regularly updated by Cdr Sharan Ahuja, Col Robin Ghosh and Gen PK Renjen. We are doing our best to put the names of all members on the net at the earliest. Members who have filled up the form and deposited the membership fee will be issued with the membership number and subsequently the membership card. The membership registration is being acknowledged through the email, receipts by posts and net registration. If any ESM who has filled up the registration form and paid the membership fee and has not yet received the acknowledgement/ receipt, please write back through email or through post. Expeditious action will be taken to address the issue.
    Looking forward to your cooperation and extensive membership drive.
    With regards,
    Jai Hind
    Yours Sincerely,
    Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
  • IESL: PBORs Clarion Call

    Press Note Patiala- 25 May 2009
    In its letter, dt 25-5-2009 faxed to Defence Minister, A.K. Antony, Indian Ex-services League, Punjab and Chandigarh, the oldest and a non-political body ex-servicemen, has thanked the Government for issuing the orders for assigning Pay –Band IV to Lt Cols and equivalents in the other forces but reminded the Defense Minister that though the Centre govenment has done enough for the officer cadre, it can not shirk its responsibility towards the PBORs (Personnel below the officer rank) who count for 96% of the total strength and in fact form the backbone of the Armed Forces of India.
    The league has, categorically, demanded of Defence Minister that the Havildar and equivalents in other forces be placed in Pay Band PB-2 and Subedars and their equivalents in Pay Band PB-3 if the Govt really wants the justice to be done to the PBORs. The league has further demanded that provision of two family pensions be made for the widow of the ex-serviceman who drew two pensions during his life time. A large no. ex-servicemen, primarily PBORs up to the rank Hav. and equivalent have to seek second employment in the civil after their retirement from defence service and thus they earn second pension in their civil service but the widows of such PBORs are entitled for only one family pension as per the rules in vogue. The league has also asked for assured promotion up to JCO rank in 15 years for PBORs as has been provisioned for officers. It has also demanded suitable re-employment for PBOR up to age of 60 years as in the case civil employees.
    The League lamented that PBORs have been betrayed on both the fronts. While on one hand, the Sixth Pay Central Commission has not done the justice with PBORs while recommending the Pay Band applicable to different ranks among the PBORs, on the other hand, the Senior Brass of the defense forces, who have been projecting themselves as their saviors, used them only for their own benefits and did not utter even a single word even after seeing the PBORs of the rank of Havildar in Pay –Band PB-I at par with the Class- IV employees and Subedar Major, the senior most rank among the PBORs, in Pay Band PB-II.
    The league has sounded a clarion call to the PBORs, other like minded organizations and all well wishers of the ex-servicemen to gird up their loins and get ready for a long battle to get the injustice undone themselves because you can not breathe the air of heaven unless you die your-self. Even though, you stood firmly with big brothers, you can not be sure of their support when you need it now.
    Sgt Prabhjot Singh PLS (Retd)
    President,
    Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab and Chandigarh
    Posted By Muthukrishnan

    Monday, May 25, 2009

    IESM: Chairman's Desk

    Dear Colleagues,
    Our Colleague, Commander Sharan Ahuja, IN, sent the following email this morning:
    Quote
    Today's Hindustan Times 24 May 2009 gives 5 priorities for the Defence Minister the "TO-DO -LIST". They are listed on page 7 as under:
    1. Ensure transparency in Defence deals.
    2. Big tenders not secretive.
    3. Speed up procurement of fighter jets
    4. Define Indo-US military relations
    5. Take a fresh look at the One Rank one Pension demand of war Veterans (OROP) Unquote

    It is happy news that the OROP demand in on the government’s radar screen. It also validates the efforts put in by thousands of ESM over the last one year to bring the issue to this stage.
    Best regards,
    Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    Chairman IESM

    India's Greatest Failure

    INDIA JOURNAL
    MAY 20, 2009, 3:25 A.M. ET.
    By PAUL BECKETT of Wall Street Journal/ U.S.
    NEW DELHI -- Since he retired as India's most senior civil servant in 1998, T.S.R. Subramanian likes to say that he can be spotted frequently on a golf course. Recently, using a stenographer (four decades climbing the bureaucratic ladder means you don't learn to type) he put his mind to a question that appears to nag him as he marches the fairways: What has gone wrong in official India?

    Paul Beckett
    It is a timely question, given that we are at the start of a new administration. And it is one Mr. Subramanian is eminently qualified to address, given his rise through the Indian Administrative Service to become Cabinet secretary under three prime ministers. It is also one he is eminently capable of fudging, given that same resume and the many vested interests he might feel obliged to protect.

    Fortunately, he takes the attitude that if you're going to go to the trouble of thinking and writing, why coat it in gloss? The result is a pithy tome, almost a Victorian-style treatise, called "GovernMint in India." It assesses whether the Indian government is up to par when measured against the mandate of the Indian constitution. His verdict, if I may paraphrase: If the Indian government were a golfer, it would score quadruple bogeys on every hole, cheat on the score card, then grab the stakes the other players had bet with.

    The average Indian, Mr. Subramanian says in a chat over lunch, just wants the basics from his government. "I don't think Indians care about disparity but they want a minimum standard of living, food, a place to stay and clothing," he says. These are all things that the government has singularly failed to provide to the masses in the 62 years since independence.

    “Since no part of the Establishment has an interest in punishing corruption, trying for a more sweeping solution quickly leads into the realm of blind hope.”

    Why is that so? We start with history. The British may have committed many atrocities here but Mr. Subramanian speaks admiringly about the efficiency with which they ran the civil service and the caliber of those who inhabited it. An important factor in their success, however, was the fact that their political masters were thousands of miles away and unable to interfere.

    Then India minted its own constitution. The well-meaning framers, he says, failed to appreciate what would happen when the civil service and politicians operated in close quarters without significant checks -- legal, administrative or otherwise -- on how far the legislative class could influence the executive.

    Thus the framework was set for a steady, and alarming, transformation in the balance of power and the purpose of government. Politicians, unleashed by the knowledge that they are very unlikely ever to be called to account for their actions, have come to dominate the civil service and twist it for their own gain.

    T.S.R. Subramanian
    The executive, staffed by bright men and women schooled in the limits of their authority, have proven no match. As he writes: "Sadly, many of the middle-level officers, with growing children to educate, elderly parents to look after, cannot bear the constant pressure, and buckle; they either switch off and become irrelevant to the system, or they join the politician, and all is well thereafter!"

    The judiciary comes in for equally scathing criticism for its failure to bring politicians to heel and to exempt bad behavior that ordinary citizens would be jailed for. I sense no love lost between Mr. Subramanian and his brethren on the bench. At one point, he offers a theory as to the root of these judicial shortcomings. Judges and bureaucrats traditionally stemmed from the same English-educated class of graduates, he says. And "most people who came to the judiciary were people who failed the civil service exams."

    Where does all this leave us? "The political class," he writes, "is the only one which is not constrained by any checks or balances, follows no effective code of conduct and considers itself a king or an emperor, while extolling the virtues of democracy." In person, he puts it more starkly: In the last government, there were three Cabinet-level ministers making money. Yes, that kind of money. And nothing was done about it.

    GovernMint is a narrow polemic that doesn't go much beyond Mr. Subramanian's purpose of a governance scorecard. He is the first to admit that it doesn't seek to provide big answers partly, I suspect, because that is really where the hard thinking begins.

    He does offer a few practical suggestions: Suspend politicians facing criminal charges, as civil servants are suspended pending trial. Establish a fast-track court just for government officials so that cases are resolved expeditiously. Persuade judges to make an example of a few political wrongdoers as a public flogging for the rest.

    Since no part of the Establishment has an interest in punishing corruption, trying for a more sweeping solution quickly leads into the realm of blind hope. Mr. Subramanian believes the best way to retake the government and re-bend it to the will of the people is through what he rather surprisingly terms "a messiah."

    "Could one hope that there will be a new messiah, who will rise from the political class, to deliver the nation?" he asks in the final paragraph of the book. At a book launch party last week, some members of a panel filled with The Great And The Good (Retd.) of Delhi lambasted that notion, suggesting it was hopelessly naïve.

    The criticism seems to have stuck. Over lunch a few days later, Mr. Subramanian suggests that no one else on the panel had any better answers. And he makes a point of explaining that he did not mean "a person falling from the sky" but someone from within the system with the will and the public backing to cleanse it.

    Does that person exist today? Maybe, he says, we just don't know yet. Maybe it's Rahul Gandhi, maybe its Nitish Kumar. One thing, he says, the public is starting to send a message with the election's focus on development that if that person emerges, he or she will have mass backing. Of course, the flip side is also true: "This government, if it doesn't look into development, will bite the dust and anger against the political class will come."
    —Paul Beckett is the WSJ's bureau chief in New Delhi
    India's Greatest Failure

    Sunday, May 24, 2009

    We have promises to keep, Manmohan tells team

    Sunil Prabhu
    Saturday, May 23, 2009, (New Delhi )
    A day after the swearing-in, the Prime Minister has sent out the message that he means business.

    In the Cabinet Manmohan Singh said: "We have promises to keep."

    Officially, the Cabinet meeting was called to convene a session of Parliament in the first week of June. And, it was decided that the 15th Lok Sabha will meet on the first of June. Two days later, the House will elect the Speaker. The Budget is expected by the 31st of July.

    Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee hopes to present the Budget as early as possible to remove uncertainty.

    The government seems to have decided on its immediate priority. That's sprucing up internal security through measures like setting up a permanent war-room, a comprehensive review of VVIP security, having a national security database and a crime and criminal tracking network.

    Similar plans have been drawn for key infrastructure ministries as well as social sector ministries.

    The Prime Minister has asked his ministers to implement in a time bound manner the promises that have been made.
    We have promises to keep, Manmohan tells team

    Comment: Dr Manmohan Singh should ensure his alliance partners who blackmail for obtaining juicy cabinet portfolios to make money must be checkmated and nipped at the bud. Corrupt Ministers must be targeted and got rid off. Politicians, Businessmen, Smugglers and Bureaucrats holding accounts in Swiss Banks and Safe Havens must be identified and prosecuted.

    पूर्व सैनिक कल्याण: झंडा दिवस संग्रह

    महत्व और प्रयोजन
    इस फ्लैग दिन मुख्य रूप से तीन मूल उद्देश्यों की सेवा करने के लिए मनाया जाता है:
  • पुनर्वास युद्ध हताहतों के
  • कल्याण कर्मियों और उनके परिवारों की सेवा के
  • पुनर्वास और पूर्व सैनिकों और उनके परिवारों के कल्याण

    झंडे के वितरण के माध्यम से सशस्त्र बल झंडा दिवस स्मरणोत्सव और धन की वसूली और एक परंपरा को सम्मानित किया गया है बहुत गर्व के साथ राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर हर आयोजन किया है. यह समुदाय के लिए एक प्रतिनिधित्व के रूप में अपनी कृतज्ञता और भारत के बहादुर सैनिक की प्रशंसा व्यक्त करने के लिए खड़ा है. यह शहीदों के बलिदान स्वीकार करने के लिए एक दिन, और साथ ही दोनों दिग्गजों और सेवारत सैन्य बलों के कर्मियों की सेवा है.

    इस झंडा दिवस पर सशस्त्र बलों के सभी तीन फार्मेशनों, भारतीय सेना, भारतीय वायु सेना और भारतीय नौसेना, अपनी इकाइयों के माध्यम से पता चलता है की एक किस्म, प्रदर्शनियों, नाटकों और प्रदर्शित करने के लिए दूसरे मनोरंजन कार्यक्रमों उनके कर्मियों के वीर प्रयासों की व्यवस्था आम जनता जबकि राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा सुनिश्चित करने. स्कूल, कॉलेज के लिए, कॉर्पोरेट समुदाय से आम जनता, टोकन झंडे और गाड़ी में झंडे को लाल, गहरा नीला और हल्का नीला रंग के तीन सेवाओं का प्रतिनिधित्व दान के बदले में वितरित कर रहे हैं से.
    सशस्त्र सेना झंडा दिवस

    उचित प्रश्न
    वहाँ निधियों का एक लेखा परीक्षा है कि वास्तव में धनराशि कल्याण प्रयोजनों के लिए उपयोग किया जाता है यह सुनिश्चित करने का इरादा? या यह एक तमाशा है? क्या संकेतकों है कि इन कल्याणकारी उपायों ESM के बड़े समुदाय को लाभ हुआ है रहे हैं? या क्या वे केवल योजनाएं कागज पर, नौकरशाही शैली, तैयार सार्वजनिक चालाकी करने के लिए? कौन उत्तरदायी है? सशस्त्र बल है जो ज्यादातर धनराशि की वसूली के लिए, वे जवाबदेह नहीं बनाया जाना चाहिए जिम्मेदार हैं?
  • ESM Welfare: Flag Day Collections

    Significance and Purpose
    The Flag day is mainly observed to serve three basic purposes:
  • Rehabilitation of battle casualties
  • Welfare of serving personnel and their families
  • Resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen and their families

    The Armed Forces Flag Day commemoration and the collection of funds through distribution of flags has been an honoured tradition and is organised every with much pride nationally. It stands as a representation for the community to express its gratitude and appreciation to the brave soldier of India. It is a day to acknowledge the supreme sacrifice of the martyrs, as well as the service of both veterans and the serving armed forces personnel.

    On the Flag Day all three formations of the armed forces, the Indian Army, the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, through their units arrange a variety of shows, carnivals, dramas and other entertainment programmes to showcase the heroic efforts of their personnel to the general public while ensuring national security. From schools, to colleges, from corporate community to general public, token flags and car flags in red, deep blue and light blue colours representing the three Services are distributed in return for donations.
    Armed Forces Flag Day

    Pertinent Questions
    Is there an audit of Funds to ensure that truly the funds are utilised for welfare purposes intended? Or is it a farce? What are the indicators that these welfare measures have benefited the the large community of ESM? Or are they only schemes drawn up on paper, bureaucratic style, to hoodwink the Public? Who is accountable? The Armed Forces who are mostly responsible for collection of funds, should they not be made accountable?
  • IESM: Chairman's Desk

    Sat, May 23, 2009 at 10:48 PM
    Dear Colleagues,
    New Members
    We extend a hearty welcome to the following new members from Pune and compliment Colonel RM (Michael) Bedi for his motivation:
    1. Brig KB Malik
    2. Col BS Chopra
    3. Lt Col BA Dsouza
    4. Lt Col Ram Sarup Sharma
    5. Col JS Mangat
    6. Lt Col RK Chawla
    7. Brig Vikram Jog
    8. Maj BN Balgu
    9. Lt Col Auinash Barge
    10. Col Ullhas Shankar Rao Parab
    11. Brig HC Dhodapkar
    12. Lt Gen BT Pandit, PVSM, VrC
    13. Sgt VN Varghese.
    14. Brig SK Sachdeva
    15. Lt Col Kuldipak Saini
    16. Cdr SP Taneja.
    17. Lt Col BK Rajput
    18. Col Inderjit Vohra
    Best regards,
    Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
    Chairman IESM

    Revised Pension Orders for Lt Col- click me

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