ECHS Smart Card reduced to a dummy

India's First National Level SCOSTA Based Health Project: A Smart Card Failure Story
Various Schemes have been operational in India and the Government has been spending millions of Rupees on these schemes, but the benefits of these schemes do not reach the entitled beneficiaries to the desired extent. Various leakages of revenue, improper management of resources and overall mismanagement results into increased expenditure. Many of these problems can be resolved through appropriate use of Information Technology. Smart Card technologies and Biometrics can play a key role through proper system integration.

The ECHS Smart Card would have been India's largest Nationwide Smart Card project covering the entire country. As quoted by the DG (ECHS), Lt Gen Vijay Dua, during the inauguration of the Smart Card project, 'the scheme would be larger and better than the French Health Scheme which also uses the Smart Card'. Volume issuance from all the 13 regions has started, hardware and software for Central location, Regional centers and polyclinics has already been deployed. Remote polyclinics have already started providing services to Ex-servicemen. Smart cards play a pivotal role in the scheme.
Read more:
ECHS Smart Card

Present status after spending millions of Rupees
The ECHS Polyclinics have made the SMART Card a paper dummy and its use is confined to identify the ESM and dependants. There is no networked computers visible in the ECHS Polyclinics. The registration at OPD is carried out manually by 2 to 3 clerks with multiple registers and using methods evolved and in vogue 40 years back for documentation of patients. The time taken for each ESM Patient averages about 15 minutes. Practically each clerk can handle about 20 patients in a day. What a waste of time. A typical cart before the horse scheme for welfare of Ex- servicemen! Had DG ECHS witnessed the French Bastille day celebrated on July 14, 2009 led this year by a detachment of the Indian army, he would have certainly put the horse before the cart. Today we are nowhere anywhere near the French Health Scheme, just that similarity ends with the SMART card.

Indian Army chief's warning to Pakistan: NDTV

Nitin Gokhale, Friday September 4, 2009, New Delhi

The Line of Control(LoC) is active again after months of lying low as the Pakistani army has revived its attempts to push in more militants into Jammu and Kashmir.

Two days ago, a soldier was killed in firing by Pakistani army in the Poonch sector and five infiltrators were killed in the Gurez area earlier this week prompting Indian Army chief General Deepak Kapoor to warn Pakistan in an unusually strong language.

Now, the Army chief General Deepak Kapoor has sent out a tough message -- India will retaliate if this keeps on happening.

"If ceasefire violation is not stopped, we will be forced to take retaliatory action. We normally observe restraint but if this does not stop, we will have to think of retaliatory action," the General said.

The Army believes that Pakistan is desperate to push in as many militants as possible before fresh snow blocks the high mountain passes two months later:

In July and August 2009 there have been 10-15 infiltration attempts -- up from 7-8 in July and August last year

At least 17 militant camps have been reactivated in PoK over the last two months

400 militants believed to be waiting in these camps to infiltrate

22 truce violations since January

Troops in J&K are now on maximum alert to prevent a spurt in infiltration that is likely to take place in coming weeks.
Indian Army chief's warning to Pakistan: NDTV

IESM: Chairman's Desk

Friday, 4 September, 2009 9:43:11 PM
Dear Colleagues,
There have been many ESM calls from various parts of the country after the 30 Aug meeting, expressing support and solidarity with the IESM. There is unanimity in continuing the struggle through depositing of medals, the next schedule of which is on Sunday, 13 Sep 2009.
Some ESM were not happy that they did not get a chance to speak on 30 Aug. They have our apologies. The only constraint was shortage of time, particularly since many participants had to get back home and had far to go. However, a large number of the participants expressed their views freely and frankly.
The creation of ECHS, Pension and CSD Divisions by the IESM, have fetched a very enthusiastic response. This step has been in keeping with the IESM philosophy of taking care of all welfare related aspects of the ESM brotherhood. A large number of suggestions continue to pour in on these and other facets and we are grateful for such constructive inputs. We plan to enlarge the scope as time passes.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM.

SCPC: Pension Parity- Analysis of Cabinet Secretary's Report

Parity in Pension for Military promised on billboards but Cabinet Secretary recommendations nails the Politicians as liars
Dear Veterans,
Attached is the Word 2003 document titled ‘Analysis of CS’s Report’: click me. I have sent this document with the appendices to the CVO dept of ESW to put it up to the RM. The paper is lengthy and some may find it verbose. It is meant only for those who have the time and the inclination and of course the patience to go through.
Regards,
Maj Gen RN Radhakrishnan (Retd)

Analysis of CS's Report on Military Pension Parity

Military Pension Parity: A logical and sound solution

Friday, 4 September, 2009 11:54:24 AM
Dear Brigadier Kamboj,
I am giving below a note about OROP that we discussed yesterday.
Regards,
VK Singh
(Maj Gen VK Singh)

ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)- THE PROBLEM & SOLUTION
Background
Before 1970, armed forces personnel were granted pension based only on the rank held by them when they retired. A soldier became eligible for pension after having served for the minimum period laid down. Extra service did not earn him more pension. This really meant One Rank One Pension (OROP).

The Third Pay Commission, set up in April 1970, equated military pension with the civil pension. Eligibility for pension was related to the civil service requirement of 33 years service. The Commission ignored the fact that soldiers rarely serve for 33 years, since the age of retirement is not uniform, but related to rank. The earlier inbuilt monetary compensation for a truncated career was dispensed with and in lieu a weightage in years of service was introduced. These measures effectively neutralised the prevailing edge that military pension had until then.

In 1985, Shri KP Singh Deo, the then RRM, suggested that OROP should mean ‘same rank same total length of service same pension’. (This needs to be verified). The guiding principle or logic was “No two soldiers holding the same rank and same total length of service to their credit shall draw different pensions.” Since then, OROP has come to mean just this, with a length of service forming part of the eligibility criteria, unlike the pre 1970 definition when only rank was considered.

Successive pay commissions have continued with this trend, revising pay and pensions of military personnel from a certain date. This has effectively made classes within each rank, nullifying the principle given above ie soldiers holding the same rank and same length of service should get the same pension. This also contrary to the judgment of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of 17 December 1982 that stated: “by introducing an arbitrary eligibility, being in service and retiring subsequent to the specified date, or being eligible for the regularised pension scheme and thereby dividing a homogeneous class, these classifications being not based on any discernible rational principle ... are unconstitutional and are struck down."

The Problem
The constraints at present stems from the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission, which has decided to fix the pension based on pay bands, instead of rank. The concept of clubbing several ranks in one pay band is illogical, especially in the military, which has distinct ranks. These pay bands are applicable from a particular date, leading to a differential in the pensions of persons of the same rank retiring before 1997, between 1997 and 2006, and after 2006.

The Solutions
The ideal solution would be to revert to the pre 1970 concept of one rank one pension, without taking into account the length of service. This solution is simple, logical and would be permanent. This provision can be incorporated in Defence Service Regulations and approved by Parliament. It would not be subject to debate and protests after every pay commission.

Another solution would be to fix the pensions in line with the latest Supreme Court judgment of September 2008 in the Major Generals’ case, which directed that “the pay of all pensioners ----- be notionally fixed at the rate given to similar officers of the same rank after the revision of pay scales ------, and, thereafter, to compute their pensionary benefits on such basis”. This solution appears to be logical, but would result in the pay of every retiree being fixed, notionally, into the new pay scale/ band, requiring issue of fresh individual PPOs – a herculean task. This exercise would have to be repeated every ten years or so, when a new pay commission is constituted.

There is a view that the truncated service of a soldier should not viewed as a loss which has to be compensated. A soldier who retires at the age of 45 with full pension is able to start a new career, where he earns a salary. In addition, he gets his pension. Civil servants who retire at the age of 60 are too old to start a new career, and have to make do with the pension only. There is merit in the argument. An out of the box solution would be to ensure that all government servants, including soldiers, retire at the age of 60. It is possible, as explained below.

Due to the peculiar demands of military service, soldiers cannot serve beyond a certain age in the Armed Forces. Then how does he serve up to the age of 60? By side stepping to a non military government job. This need not be only in the para military forces, but in any government department, such as forests, irrigation, education, agriculture, horticulture, electricity boards, telecom, PSUs and so on. The second career will be treated as a continuation of his service in the military, and he will start getting his pension only after his superannuation at the age of 60.

Consider the advantages. Every soldier will be assured of a government job till the age of 60. This will do wonders to his morale.. The induction of trained and disciplined personnel will gradually improve the motivation and discipline of the government work force, which is at present lacking these attributes. The State will save a lot of money. Today, a soldier gets a salary for 20 years and then draws a pension for 40 years, assuming he lives up to the age of 80. If he was to be side stepped to a government job, he would serve for 40 years and draw a pension for only 20 years. The pension bill for the Armed Forces would be reduced by almost half! The major objection to grant of OROP is that it will cost a lot of money.

Once we suggest a solution that saves money, how can anyone object? At least the Finance Minister should jump at it.
Maj Gen VK Singh (Retd)

Armed Forces to accelerate Network Centric Systems

18:48 IST
The Minister of State for Defence Dr. MM Pallam Raju has called upon the armed forces to take advantage of the economic downturn and utilize the idle capacity in the IT industry to expedite their computerization and network centric systems. Presiding over the 4th meeting of the Defence IT Consultative Committee (DITCC) here today he exhorted the industry and academia to come up with fresh ideas and proposals to bring the defence services at the forefront of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Expressing satisfaction over the progress in the ICT roadmap of the three Services for the last fiscal, Dr Pallam Raju hoped that the forces will sustain the endeavour started by the DITCC in the coming years.
Pallam Raju preside over 4th meeting of Defence I.T. Consultative Committee

National e-governance status
Critics argue that crores of rupees have already been spent on e-governance projects and the citizen has not gained any major benefit. There is still no consensus about the deployment of open source and proprietary software. Complaints regarding IT implementation are surfacing one by one.
We are over two decades behind most of the Asian Nations (except for nations like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Burma and Thailand) and are likely to slide further because of spokes generated by corrupt bureaucrats in the implementation of e-governance at National Level.

Dearness Allowance awaiting Cabinet Approval

Tuesday, September 1, 2009
DA is waiting for Cabinet Approval...!
All India Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) on base 2001=100 for the month of June, 2009 increased by 2 points and stood at 153 (one hundred and fiftythree).
Calculation upto June only
DA will be increased from 22 to 27 per cent
Hike will be applicable from 1.7.2009

All India Consumer Price Index Number for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) on base 2001=100 for the month of July, 2009 increased by 7 points and stood at 160 (one hundred and sixty).

Pension arrears: Second installment of 60%
The PCDA(P) has issued a separate circular today to all banks directing them to release the balance 60% arrears in respect of pensioners of the three defence services. click me

Soldiers who join after school may keep studying

By Ritu Sharma
New Delhi, Sep 3 (IANS) The Indian Army has outlined an ambitious plan by which its soldiers who join after school will be able to study for a degree while they are in service.

The scheme will benefit many of the 1.2 million soldiers of the Indian Army. The system will be based on the US system of community colleges.

“The community colleges will be located in our training, human resource and regimental centres,” a senior Indian Army official told IANS, requesting anonymity.

Every year nearly 50,000 trained soldiers retire from the army after an average of 15 years of service.

“The army jawans retire generally after 15 years of service and form a part of highly trained, dedicated, disciplined and loyal work force. But most of them are merely school pass-outs. A graduate degree will open up whole lots of avenues for them,” an army official associated with the project said.

For its programme, the Indian Army has tied up with Indira Gandhi National Open Univeristy (IGNOU). A memorandum in this regard will be signed between the Indian Army and IGNOU Sep 4.

“The jawans will be given BA, BBA, BSc and BCom degrees depending on their area of work,” the official added.

The soldiers will work to earn 92 credits for getting a graduation degree.

The first 64 credits will be given to the soldier for his work within the army. He will also need to do some courses for which he will be awarded certificates.

Thereafter he will go to the IGNOU programme to earn the remaining credits.

For those soldiers who join after Class 10, the army will be organising bridge courses to bring them at par with those who have completed Class 12.

“It will provide a lot of benefit to the soldiers. They will become graduates for less money and will get a degree from an internationally recognised university. Most jawans who look for second employment in the open market post retirement will get better options. These benefits will be besides the value addition to the quality of life of the jawan and his family,” another official added.

“The programme will have international ramifications, as after their graduation the soldiers may go abroad for higher studies or for work and will form a viable work force globally,” said the official.
Soldiers who join after school may keep studying

Appointment of new Army vice chief sparks a row

Dear Sir,
The report, 'Appointment of new Army vice-chief sparks off row' (September 02, 2009) has several factual errors in it. Firstly, it erroneously presumes that, on his appointment as vice-chief, Lt Gen PC Bhardwaj will bypass the senior most serving Army Commander, Lt Gen VK Singh. Nothing could be further from the truth.The vice-chief is equivalent in rank to an Army Commander, and, in any case, the assumption of supersession is irrelevant as Army Commanders report directly to the Chief and not to the vice-chief. Secondly, there is no malafide intent in the Army Chief recommending to MoD that he needs an officer with adequate residual service to take over as the vice-chief. The charter of the officer is to handle the critically important Operations, Intelligence and Operational Logistics directorates, and, it is for this reason that the Chief had recommended to MoD that he needed an officer who could provide continuity in the job. With a tenure of 15 months available to him, Lt Gen Bhardwaj is expected to do just that. It is also wrongly stated that the vice-chief is a Principal Staff Officer (PSO) who handles procurement of hardware and personnel issues. It may be noted that he is not a PSO. He does not handle either procurement, for which the PSO is the Deputy Chief (Planning and Systems), or personnel issues, for which the PSO's are the Military Secretary and the Adjutant General. Lastly, there is no existing protocol which rules that the vice-chief takes over as Chief. The question of supersession is therefore unfounded. You are requested to carry these clarifications for the benefit of your readership.
Maj Gen Raj Mehta (Retd)

Defence Forces lead the search for Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister

Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in May 2009, during his swearing-in-ceremony as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh state in Hyderabad, India. (Mahesh Kumar A. / Associated Press)
Frantic search on for Andhra CM as daylight slips away
New Delhi, Sep.2 (ANI): As the search for the missing Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has intensified, the Air Force’s Sukhoi-30 aircraft has been pressed into service to help in the ongoing operations.

“A Sukhoi-30 aircraft has left Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh to search out for the missing Andhra Pradesh CM. It will carry out its search in the Nallamalla region for the CM,” stated a TV report at 8 o’clock.

As part of government attempts to search for the missing CM, the Army is sending 500 commandos of its Special Force “Ghatak”, who are specially trained in the jungle warfare.
Air Force pressed into service for search
Frantic search on for Andhra CM as daylight slips away

Pak going beyond degree of deterrence: Army chief

Photo courtesy click here
Army chief General Deepak Kapoor on Wednesday said that Pakistan was now going well beyond an acceptable level of deterrence in expanding its nuclear arsenal.

"Pakistan is going well beyond the degree of deterrence... it's definitely a matter of concern," said Gen Kapoor while on a visit to the artificial limb centre in Pune.

The General's remarks come amidst reports that Pakistan had increased the number of nuclear warheads it possessed and was working to induct cruise missiles into its arsenal.

On China's intrusion, he said, "No need for alarm. The basic issue is to resolve the border issue." The Army chief said that the media figures on intrusions were not correct.
Pak going beyond degree of deterrence: Army chief
Related reading
Pak now has 90 nuclear warheads, India concerned

Malaise of the Armed Forces: The decline of rank, status and honour of men in uniform

1. The malaise that has afflicted the Defence Services does not begin and end with OROP.
2. The apathy and laissez-faire attitude of successive Chiefs of the three services, barring an odd one, towards the welfare of their Officers and men are largely to blame for the morass the Services are in now. In the ever evolving national social milieu, let alone obtain added benefits, they even failed to protect the existing rights and privileges. It is horrifying that right up to mid 1980s, Officers and men went into battle or fought the insurgency without an insurance cover. What the next of kin of a casualty got was a pittance of a pension. I presume that whatever coverage available even now is financed by the service personnel themselves.
3. Instead of projecting the unique identity of the Services and demanding and obtaining attendant compensation and perquisites, the Services groveled for crumbs like extension of retirement age and time scale ranks. One high profile Committee proposed a wholesale grant of time scale ranks and strutted that it had won the war for the Services. The Babus gleefully let the proposal sail through and had the last laugh when the corridors of Formations were cluttered with the red tabs ending up doing clerical work. And of course, riding pillion with the DR. The famous Committee had apparently forgotten to demand appropriate infrastructure and perquisites for the truckloads of time scale promotees. The Babus had the Services truly and properly emasculated at last. So at this juncture it is not surprising that the Bureaucracy considers the Services and their top brass cerebrally deficient and equates them as such. The grave has already been dug by our top brass and the Babus are only driving the last nails on the coffin.
4. At the other end our JCOs and NCOs have been deprived of their identity and status altogether. Bracketed under a totally new category as PBOR, these personnel who are the sinews of the Services now appear to be equated with the lowest of the low in the civilian rungs. It is a great injustice indeed, to which the Officer Class appears to have paid scant attention.
5. The Service Chiefs have a commitment to their Officers and men and also to the nation. They are morally bound to ensure that the nation’s Armed Forces retain their élan and remain young and vibrant and capable of delivering on demand. The nation will not accept its Armed Forces to be a doddering and sulking mammoth bogged down by age and inertia. It is therefore imperative that the Chiefs convince and compel the Government to provide the wherewithal for maintaining such Forces. Lateral diversification, guaranteed second career, etc, are a miniscule part of the wherewithal.
6. As regards the ESM’s demand for OROP and other facilities, it is apparent that the present Government is stonewalling the case on the advice of the Bureaucracy. We should therefore be prepared for a long haul and as a first step sink our differences and get united. Second step is to get organized at national, state and Panchayat levels. Third step is to aggressively employ constitutional, legal and political means to compel the Government to accede to our rightful demands. All out efforts should be made to reach out and contact Veteran JCOs and Ors since it appears that they have been presently left out of the loop.
Lt Col Sushil Chilimbi (Retd)

Additional Red Tabs entails colossal infrastructure and perquisites sucked out from scarce resources
Dated 23/4/2007
Television news channel 'Times Now' reported that the Indian Armed Forces is about to become "top heavy" with a general consensus to appoint 150 more generals, admirals and marshals to the three services. Appointing 150 top officers would translate into a 40 per cent increase over the current force strength at senior levels. Under the plan, the army will get 95 more lieutenant and major generals, the navy 23 admirals and the air force 38 marshals.
Armed Forces Top Brass Structure Reforms

Those who defend India's borders, especially our jawans, deserve a far better deal than what has been proposed
The constant hankering by the armed forces for equivalence with the civil services, and particularly with the IAS, is somewhat unrealistic. It is easy to see how untenable it is considering that the sanctioned strength of officers in the Army is over 40,000 while there are barely about 4,000 IAS officers in all. It is not that the civil services in general are treated any better than the Army. The very different functions of the armed forces and the civil services account for differences in their organisational structures, reflected in pay packets. The armed forces have a steep pyramid for an organisational structure, which results in few promotion posts for officers. To alter this command structure beyond a point would render the Army top-heavy and inefficacious. The comparison with the civil services is also unfair as more civil servants make it to the top only because in modern societies the peacetime functions of Government are all pervasive and there are many Government departments. Yet, whatever the emoluments of the armed forces, there really has been no radical departure in recent years in the principles on which these are based.
Indian Armed Forces deserve more

IESM: Meeting at Noida on 30 Aug 2009

Maj Gen PK Renjen, Treasurer IESM.
Fifty percent of amount donated to IESM under section U/S 80(G) of income tax act can be deducted from total income.
IESM: Guidelines, Accounts and Membership Despatch Instructions
Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM, Vice Chairman IESM
IESM: Life Membership Application
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, Chairman IESM
IESM Memorandum of Association
Col MS Krishnamoorthy, A WW II Veteran. When some one asked him how does depositing of medals help the ESM Movement, he said "same way as Namak Satyagraha helped India get independence".
Cmde LK Batra, A Social Activist, helping IESM in RTI Cases
RTI plea over 'one rank one pension' issue: click me
Cdr Sharan Ahuja, attending to registration and new members of IESM.
click here to visit IESM webpage
Col SS Rajan, IESM Convener Karnataka
Karnataka Ex-servicemen all set to hand over medals

PBOR: Acronym coined by MoD

New PBOR accn at CMM
It would be interesting to Know as to who coined the Abbreviation PBOR. I retired in 1985 till the then it was Officers, JCOs and Jawans . Even a NCO is an officer in military parlance. The term, though bringing brevity in speech and writing, is hurting the feelings of JCOs and equivalent ranks of Air force and Navy and it is high time that we reverted back to the old system of classifying the service personnel..
Brig Lakshman Singh

Comments
The acronym PBOR has been coined by MoD and AHQ who have classified JCOs and NCOs as Personnel Below Officer Rank probably after the 5th Central Pay Commission recommendations were implemented. This is extension of degradation of the Armed Forces by bureaucrats and the AHQ staff have fallen prey to actively participate in reducing the "Rank and Honour" of the Armed Forces. Other possible definitions of PBOR:
Partial Bladder Outlet Reconstruction
Patients Bill of Rights
Programmable Brown Out Reset
Personnel Below Officers Rank
Pagan Bill of Rights
PhpBB Backup Offline Reader
Pittsburg Board of Realtors

1965 Indo Pak War- Corps History cell needs help

I need some help from Signals veterans in compiling the Corps History. I have just finished the draft of the chapter dealing with the 1965 War. In some cases, I have not been able to find out the names of officers. Apart from the CO, I would like to include the names of the 2ic, company commanders (including the brigade signal companies/ sections), adjutant, and QM.
I am giving the link of extracts - click here of some units where there are gaps in the names of officers. I would request veterans who have served in these units or in staff, who are aware of the names of the missing officers to kindly to fill in the blanks.
Inputs can be sent to my personal emails or the Corps History Cell.
Maj Gen VK Singh (Retd)

Hony Lt Kameshwar Pandey addresses IESM meeting

Hony Lt Kameshwar Pandey addressing IESM meeting at Noida
Respected, Honorable Senior Veterans and my Dear Friends!
Today is a historic day in the history of Indian Military Veterans of all arms. We all have completed one year of our peaceful struggle for OROP. The GOI has been compelled and forced to consider our justified and legitimate demand for ONE RANK ONE PENSION. In my view we have all gathered here to contemplate on our past actions and discuss and explore our future plans of action. In my brief talk, I will try to cover the following points:

Achievements of IESM in the past one year

Actions taken by the government, the politicians and the bureaucrats

Possible reasons behind OROP not being granted as yet

Course of action for the future

And finally and most importantly, how each and every ESM can contribute to this mission

1. Achievements of IESM in the past one year
This is the first time that the issue of OROP has been mentioned in the Presidential Speech in the Parliament. This has been possible only because of the massive action taken by IESM.
A large number of senior officers and all Ranks of all arm have come together under the IESM umbrella. This involvement has been totally selfless from all members and it is an astonishing feat achieved by the Indian Military Veterans community.
A dedicated, able and effective leadership has taken charge of this mission and will most definitely steer the mission to victory and success.
The government is now fully aware of the fact that the planning and execution of IESM is way beyond their control and that IESM is growing faster than they could ever imagine. That is why the government is reluctant to talk and negotiate with the IESM.

2. Actions taken by the government, the politicians and the bureaucrats
Divide and Rule- Instead of solving the problems of ESM and carefully considering the legitimate demand of OROP by the military veterans, the government has been trying to divide us in segments like ranks, arms, Officers, JCOs, ORs. They have been trying to segment and divide our power and strength.
Using small ESM organizations with vested interests, the government has been trying to advertise that they care for the welfare of the veteran community, all of which is a false propaganda.
The GOI should recognize and be grateful to the officer community especially the chairman IESM, for it is because of them this mission is still peaceful.
The PBOR community is so full of anguish that if left uncontrolled/ unguided they will not refrain from resorting to other means of making the deaf hear our voice. That said, I must underline the fact that this is a rather dangerous game the GOI is playing and it better be aware of the consequences of this.

3. Possible reasons behind OROP not being granted

I feel that reason behind the fact that OROP has not been implanted in its true nature and spirit is the fact that each and every action/ decision/ step taken by the IESM leadership is being debated.

This is a clear sign for the GoI that the ESM community is not united. The proverb “Too many cooks spoil the broth” is so truly applicable to this situation. We must all understand that this too is like a war for justice and no war can ever be won if there are more than one orders given at the same time or if, on every decision, a committee or a consensus must be formed.

With respect, I want to bring forth a very important and serious issue regarding the devaluation of JCOs, NCOs and equivalent ranks of all arms. The JCOs are commissioned by the President of India and it is a class II Gazetted Rank. Now it has been replaced by a term “PBOR”. Where did this term “PBOR” come from? I find it amusing and rather disturbing that it has been so easily accepted by our service chiefs and the boards of JCOs and NCOs have been replaced by PBOR!

Rank degradation was a major issue taken up by most ESM organizations. Similarly the same issue of rank degradation holds good in coining this term “PBOR” and must be dealt with utmost seriousness. On the Blog REPORTMYSIGNAL it is seen that each rank is interested about its own interest. This is a point I have personally raised with the Vice Chairman in the past as well. It has also been raised earlier by Sgt Prabhjot Singh PlS (Retd), President, Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab and Chandigarh.

This is the root cause of defamation of the Army. It starts from the soldiers and creeps all the way up to the levels of senior officers as well. The time has now come for all ranks to forget about their individual benefits and unite for Social Justice and Respect of the Indian Military Services. Many senior officers have rightly pointed out that we should learn from neighbors and the past history. Service years were different and the times now are different. Why is any body/ organization not thinking for the benefit of all ranks all arms (from Sep to Gen, including Ex Service Men)? Has GOI been successful in its divide and rule policy inherited from the British?

4. Course of action for the future
Organizations founded for the welfare of ESM have failed the very purpose of their existence. IESM, in my humble opinion, must make an effort, to get rid of the people filling holding these appointments (and making a mess of the entire organization) and to replace these people with those who are really devoted to the cause of the ESM, who can understand and appreciate the reason why these bodies were founded.
Many states like Punjab have been exemplary in this regard where these organizations still perform the duties they are supposed to.
Let us all be united in our thoughts, actions and words. That is the only way we can become a force strong enough to shake the high offices in New Delhi.
Let us all have faith in the IESM leadership. The chairman and the steering committee is what the Captain is to a boat or a Pilot to an airplane.
Let us not criticize others. Instead, do the best we can in our own capacities to help the mission become successful.
Once a decision has been taken, let us all own it– for better or for worse– understanding that the intent behind taking that decision was the success of the entire mission.
Please do not criticize our leaders, do not comment on there integrity and leadership capabilities. They have brought us here and they will, most definitely, make this mission successful.
Lastly I whole heartedly support the suggestions of Vice Chairman Maj Gen Satbir Singh and Col Rajan for the future plan of action.

5. How can an Individual ESM help
One must both generously and seriously think about how he/ she can help the Mission OROP. Some can help with money (donations), some with their organizations, some with organizing local meetings and seminars, some can give time and man power, and some can help with material/items. Where ever an ESM goes, let it be ECHS, CSD offices and any where, we can talk about this movement get membership form and deposit medals.

Once again I thank you all for giving me this opportunity to share my views with you.
Jai Hind!
Kameshwar Pandey
Sub/ Maj Hony Lt (Retd)

IESM: Chairman's Desk

Date: Monday, 31 August, 2009, 9:24 PM
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the IESM I express deep gratitude to the following veterans for their spot contribution during the 30 Aug NOIDA meet:
1. Lt Gen PD Bhargava, Signals Rs. 10,000.00
2. Maj KP Shreedharan, EME, Rs. 2,700.00 (Inclusive of membership)
3. Col Bipin Pandey, Signals, Rs. 10,000.00
4. Col MK Khera, Signals, Rs. 5,000.00 (Inclusive of Membership)
5. Col BS Ahluwalia, 3/4 GR, Rs. 2,000.00 (Inclusive of Membership)
6. Brig SS Jaswal, Panchkula, Rs. 5,000.00
7. LAC Ravi, Hyderabad, Rs. 1,000.00
8. Lt Col AK Vij, Rs 1,000.00

We also welcome the following members into the IESM fold:
1. Maj Gen KN Misra, Former JAG
2. Maj Gen RS Phagura, Arty
3. Air Cmdre RK Mahajan
4. Col AJ SIngh, EME
5. Lt Col UV Naik, Engrs
6. Sub Ambika Rai, ASC
7.Brig MK Modi, Engrs
8. Lt col DC Tiwari, Signals
9. Brig Ramendra Kumar, GRENADIERS
10. Brig Romesh Gupta, JAK
11. Col KS Sanghera, Signals
12. Maj JK Mayor, AOC
13. Wg Cdr Ramesh Mallik
14. Brig GVR Dayal, Engrs
15. Hont Capt Puran Chand, Punjab
16. Hony Capt Diwan Singh, ASC
17. Maj Sher Singh Aulakh, ASC
18. Col RK Aggarwal, EME
19. LT Col Lalit Kumar, Engrs
20. Lt Col GS Kilawala, ASC
21. L Naik Parshotam Lal, AOC
22. Cdr J Kumar Bhargava
23. Lt Col SM Dalal, Arty
24. N Sub Prem Singh, Engrs
25. Lt Col JS Sodhi, Arty
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

Absolute Parity in Pension: Presentation by Maj Gen RN Radhakrishnan, (Retd) Vice President of the Indian Ex-services League and President of Tamilnadu Ex-services League

Ex-servicemen to return medals to President seeking OROP

Published: Fri, 28 Aug 2009 at 19:18 IST
New Delhi, Aug 28 Sticking to their 'One Rank-One Pension' demand, the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) today said the armed forces' veterans will return their gallantry medals to the President on September 13.

"We will deposit our medals with the President on September 13 and continue to demand for the implementation of the OROP in totality," IESM Chairman Lieutenant General Raj Kadyan (retd) told reporters here.

"Till now, we have deposited 15,000 medals with the President in three instalments and will continue to do so in future also," Kadyan claimed.

Under the OROP demand, the ex-servicemen personnel have been seeking that personnel retiring from a same rank after having served for equal number of years should get same pension irrespective of the date and time of retirement. With the implementation of each pay commission, the gap between the pension amount increases.

IESM claimed that the government had created an impression that the OROP demand was accepted but its recent steps in this regard had just helped in equating pre-1997 and post-1997 pensioners and the difference in pensions still existed.

There are nearly 20 lakh ex-servicemen in the country.
Ex-servicemen to return medals to President seeking OROP: samaylive

Text of PM's Independence Day Address

We are proud of our brave soldiers. It is our duty to ensure that ex-servicemen are able to lead a life of comfort. Have accepted the recommendations of the committee on the issue of pension of ex-servicemen. This will benefit 12 lakh retired jawans and JCOs.

Grievance meeting held for ex-servicemen of 11 districts in Tamilnadu
The Army Record offices were being computerised and the veterans could access their records from home through Internet. Brigadier Jadhav apprised the veterans of the various schemes that had been initiated by the Central Government and Army Headquarters to improve the financial benefits and quality of life for the ex-servicemen. He also explained the various provisions of Sixth Pay Commission.

Pakistan's Non-campaign Against the Taliban

By Bobby Ghosh / Washington Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

Pro-Taliban militants take control of a mosque in Pakistan's tribal area of Mohamand, along Afghanistan's border: Mohammad Zubair / AP
Despite strenuous entreaties by top U.S. officials, Pakistan has abandoned plans to mount a military offensive against the terrorist group responsible for a two-year campaign of suicide bombings across the country. Although the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has been in disarray since an Aug. 5 missile strike from a CIA-operated drone killed its leader, Baitullah Mehsud, the Pakistani military has concluded that a ground attack on its strongholds in South Waziristan would be too difficult.
Pakistan's Non-campaign Against the Taliban
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Q&A: 'India & Pakistan need to bring down threshold of mistrust'

Pakistan consistently trying to target India

Harpoon antiship missiles
P-3C Orion Naval Patrol Aircraft
American military and intelligence officials say they suspect that Pakistan has modified the Harpoon antiship missiles that the United States sold the country in the 1980s, a move that would be a violation of the Arms Control Export Act. The United States has also accused Pakistan of modifying American-made P-3C naval patrol aircraft for land-attack missions, another violation of United States law that the Obama administration has protested...

30 Aug 2009, 1742 hrs IST
Lt Gen (retd) Shankar Prasad, reacting on the accusations of the United States that Pakistan is illegally modifying American-made missiles to expand its capability to strike land targets in India, said Pakistan has been consistently trying to target India.

Shankar Prasad, said, "Pakistan forever is known for violating all laws and norms. It is quite possible that the missiles that the United States gave to Pakistan nearly 20 years ago have a limited range. The effort on the Pakistan is to see that it enhances its range so that they are capable of taking targets on India and cause devastating effect. Pakistan has consistently tried to do this and advertising it deliberately. Pakistan is trying to put caution on India and saying that it is better for you not to react to any of our misdeeds.
Pak consistently trying to target India

IESM: Chairman's Desk

Photos courtesy Brig CS Kamboj
Date: Sunday, 30 August, 2009, 10:36 PM
Dear Colleagues,
The IESM meeting took place in NOIDA as scheduled today. The venue, Arun Vihar Community Centre was overflowing with ESM from all over the country. There were colleagues sitting in the verandas. It was a memorable experience, with the morning rain having added greatly to the cordiality and bonhomie. Many spoke on the occasion and shared their views.
The occasion was the first anniversary of the IESM that took birth on 13 Aug 2008 in the same premises. Apart from the celebratory part it was also a stock taking of our efforts and achievements as well to pool views for future direction the Movement should follow.
A large number of ESM contributed funds generously to the cause. The individual names will be circulated subsequently.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

IESM: Chairman's Desk

Date: Saturday, 29 August, 2009, 10:12 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Satbir and other available members of the Steering Committee had an on-site meeting today to button up the arrangements of tomorrow’s assembly.
On behalf of you all I express my deep gratitude to the following:

Lt Col IM Chhabra for kindly contributing Rs 2,000.00 towards meeting the expenses of 30 Aug meet.

Col PK Singh and Maj SR Singh for their generous contribution of Rs 5,000.00 to the IESM.

Lt Col Vinay Khanna, for his generous contributions of Rs 10,000.00 towards lunch expenses on 30 Aug 09, during the All India Meeting of ESM at Noida.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM,
Chairman IESM

CDA (O) destroys records of Maj Gen's: Revised Pension subject to production of documents by affected officers

I, along with some other officers have recd a telegram from the CDA (O) saying that- The records of the officer have been destroyed being time expired, therefore, they have requested for copies of –

Last pay certificate.

Initial PPO.

Any other document containing last pay drawn.

CDA(O) A/C No.
It is therefore, suggested that all officers send the above info to CDA(O), even if they have not received the above telegram.
With best wishes.
Satish
Maj Gen SC Suri (Retd)

Date: Saturday, 29 August, 2009, 9:06 PM
I spent a greater part of the day answering phone calls from Maj Gen Suri and a kindly officer in the pay cell. The issue was the pension of pre-1996 retired Maj Gens. The Supreme Court judgements are well known. The confusion has been confounded by the government by issue of a letter which asks the CDA to work out their pension. The letter has been so brilliantly worded that it lends itself to multiple interpretations. I was trying to offer my two-penny worth to resolve the issue. Our adorable Ustad, Asadulla Khan Ghalib said,
"Dard minnat kash-e-davaa na hua
MaiN na achha hua bura na hua!"
(The capital N is silent, but adds a nasal sound)
"The pain did not yield to the pleading of medicine
I am neither any better nor worse."

Suddenly, it occurred to me that if these eighty year old generals have put up such a gallant fight, roughing it out in the courts on hot afternoons for a mere Rs 900 per month, what faces the government this time will be blood bath of a kind never known to mankind. In 1857 we had a sepoy mutiny. This one will need a different term, I suggest we call it "The veterans battle for equity" We know very well that "inequity is iniquitous."
Regards,
Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)