Saturday, January 16, 2010

Land scam: Protect Army Image

Shankar Roychowdhury
Jan 12, 2010, The Asian Age
The Indian Army has been under sustained battering in the media around a running series of incidents and allegations regarding senior and middle-level officers involved in various acts of alleged impropriety. The latest is that of three of its very senior officers in an issue pertaining to security clearance for commercial utilisation of non-military land in the vicinity of a formation headquarters in north Bengal. Whatever be the truth of the matter (and there most assuredly has to be another side to the story, too), seeing their proud and beloved institution under siege has been mortifying for veterans watching from the sidelines, and undoubtedly for their serving brethren as well.

The general reaction to the whole mess is anger, dismay and exasperation at the activities of a handful of individuals who have smeared the otherwise highly positive public image of the Army, painfully built and maintained by the achievements and sacrifices of successive generations of soldiers and commanders.

The perplexing aspect of the latest incident is — what on earth possessed these undoubtedly distinguished officers with unblemished records to become involved with a class of commercial entrepreneurs with whom they obviously have nothing in common? If reports of their supposed involvement are eventually found to be even partially correct, it would signify an abrupt and startling reversal of character which would indeed be incomprehensible. The truth lies somewhere out there and will perhaps emerge over time.
Read the full article from Asian Age
Protect Army image: Asian Age

The Soldiers' 2nd Innings


Dear Brigadier Kamboj,
A book on "Life after retirement from military service" with the title, "The soldiers' 2nd Innings" was released during the EME Corps Reunion at Secunderabad on 8 Jan 2010. It has been published by Macmillan India Ltd. A synopsis of the contents and picture of the cover are attached.
This hard cover book is priced at Rs 495 and can be obtained from any of the Macmillan offices at Delhi, Bengaluru,Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Chandigarh,Coimbatore, Cuttak, Guwahati, Hubli, Hyderabad,Jaipur, Lucknow, Madurai, Nagpur Patna, Pune Thiruvanantapuram and Vishakhapatanam.
Direct orders can be sent to Mr Suresh Gopal, at his e-mail ID: sgopal@macmillan.co.in
I shall, indeed, be looking forward to hear your comments and observations on this 'labor of love' And should you need any assistance for obtaining a copy of the book please feel free to revert to me.
With best wishes,
Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)

click here for Table of Contents

Indo Pak War 1971: "Hands in your Pockets"

It was in September 1971 that my tank regiment received its long anticipated orders to move to the Indo-Pak border. Those last few days in Patiala cantonment were full of palpable excitement, intense preparation, anticipation of combat and the brash feeling of invincibility that all subalterns seem to have in their DNA.

Forgotten were the endless dinner nights when we would sit bolt upright in stiff summer formals, compelled by intractable Mess protocol to listen with sham interest as our 1965 Indo-Pak war veterans carried on animatedly, sometimes fractiously, about the mystique of war; inter-unit war rivalries and the like.

With war near certain, the ’65 veterans suddenly found us now listening with rapt attention on what it actually felt like when “crossing the border,” or firing to destroy a real Patton tank 800 metres away; crushed with the kinetic force of tank-defeating ammunition generating a massive force of 50 tons per square inch on impact.

I recall the memorable night when we hit the GT road in an endless column of ammunition-carrying vehicles and our monstrous, 80 feet long, Centurion tank-carrying tank transporters, all headlights blanked out. Lying facing a starlit sky in our black dungarees on bundles of camouflage nets dumped in the transporter-trailer, Pushkar, a fellow subaltern and I spoke in monosyllables, each lost in his thoughts. We instinctively sensed that, in an ineffable way, the war would change us; converting from callow subalterns to real men of substance.

The long wait in our operational area under cover and camouflage was one of intense activity. In keeping with our higher plans, the regiment moved several times, each movement conducted in pitch darkness and filled with excitement and anticipation. Most available time was spent on day and night border reconnaissance or in battle-group operational planning.

One day in late November, we received the electrifying news that “Sam Bahadur”, our iconic Army Chief, General SHFJ Manekshaw, would address us in our operational area close to the border. I had a vantage view of his handsome, dapper, faultlessly turned out visage, as he bounded to the stage with his swagger stick raised to his rakish side cap in acknowledgement. You could have heard the proverbial pin drop when he spoke to us soldier-to-soldier.

Recounting the monstrous evil that Pakistan had wrought in then East Pakistan, he said that the Pakistani Army had raped, murdered and pillaged, thus dishonouring and defiling the noble profession of arms.

“When you go in, soldiers, remember to ‘keep your hands in your pockets,’ he thundered. “Do not do anything that brings dishonour to our just war! Now give me your word!” he demanded. We did, with a roar that must have been heard up to Shakargarh. In the war that followed in West Pakistan, we regrettably did not go deep enough, but, hell, we honoured his diktat fully — right through the 1971 Indo-Pak war!

“Hands in your pockets” by Raj Mehta: The Tribune

Land scam: "The War Within"

Editor,
'Hindustan Times'
New Delhi.

A COUNTER-VIEW - "THE WAR WITHIN" BY S HARALNKAR (click here)

Sir,
In fairness to ethical journalism, the vehemence and ignorance displayed in the above opinion- piece, deserves to be debated, and it is to this end that I request you to consider my counter-view (click here) for publication in the HT. A "letter to the Editor" (compulsorily brief) cannot possibly do justice to this issue.
Yours faithfully,
Rajendra Prakash
(Rajendra Prakash)
Maj Gen (Retd)

India pays homage to its martyrs

Posted on Fri , 15 Jan '10

The Indian army today commemorated its 62nd Foundation Day by paying homage to soldier at the country's largest war memorial known as the Amar Jawan Jyoti in New Delhi. Chiefs of the three wings of the armed forces, General Deepak Kapoor, chief of army staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma, navy chief and Air Chief Marshal PV Naik, chief of the air staff, offered floral tributes at the Amar Jawan Jyoti. Army Day is observed every year on January 15 to commemorate Indian General, Field Marshal K.M.Cariappa's taking over as the commander-in-chief of the Indian army from Sir Francis Butcher, the last British commander, in 1949.
India pays homage to its martyrs to mark 62nd army day: click here to view video

ECHS Clinic at Bangalore

I have been reading appeal by IESM ECHS cell for volunteers for attending to problems at ECHS clinics.
I am presently at Bangalore and my ECHS card was stolen in Rajdhani express during my journey from Hazrat Nizamuddin to Bangalore. As my place of residence at Bangalore is very close to the ECHS clinic and Command hospital, our medical specialist at Gurgaon had recommended that I should consult a specialist while at Bangalore. I did not know whether the clinic will attend to me as I had lost identity card also in the theft. On going to the clinic here, I found a help desk just at the entrance. It is manned on all days by Air Force veterans, officers, warrant ranks and ORs. One Wg Cdr Jaya was there on that day. When I told him about the theft and that I have only my treatment book and photo copiy of my ECHS card. He went out of his way,and made sure I am referred to the specialist by the doctor at the clinic. Later, on another day, I sat down at the help desk for an hour and found that many people came for help which was provided with all humility. Many of them thanked the persons manning the desk when they were leaving the clinic. Officer in charge clinic, Wg Cdr Nair also was seen moving around the patients at regular intervals and people were very happy with him.
I may now request you to take up following problems with ECHS Authorities.
1. We are supposed to carry ECHS cards with us as no treatment is permissible without them. Knowing the law and order situation when a hand bag can be stolen even in a fully reserved train with controlled entry and exit, how does a member get treatment at outstation if he has lost his ECHS card due to theft etc. This is particularly so if in emergency, he/ she has to be be admitted to an empanelled hospital. A way out has to be found.
2. As per present regulations, if the card is lost a second time, the membership is terminated. It is understandable in a country where minor thefts are exceptions. But, in our country, where pickpockets and thefts are common place and, in several cases, with the connivance of police, cancellation of membership should not be done. In any case, the card can not be misused as it has photo of the member on it. This stipulation in the Rules has to be deleted.
With regards,
AVM RP Mishra

Responses and Comments
2010/1/14 Rakesh Prasad Chaturvedi

It is extremely encouraging to learn about the helpful attitude of the Volunteers, who played a very interesting role in the entire episode. It strengthens our belief that EVEN GOD helps those that HELP THEMSELVES. It has been our vision that this model can be replicated in EACH polyclinic............specially those like NOIDA, with preponderance of ESM habitations close to the polyclinic.
The points about the manifestations of a lost card are being separately projected to the ECHS Hq, and hopefully a pragmatic solution should emerge.
The ECHS Div Hq compliments the Bangalore team for the EXCELLENT response.
-----------
On Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 7:12 AM, Col NR Kurup wrote:

We forget the reason for computerisation of ECHS Card. All that one to remember is his card Number. It should have been reachable from any computer anywhere . The authenticity of the person can easily verifiable with his fingerprints recorded. When ECHS cannot make this functional what can we expect ?

Col NR Kurup (Retd)
------------
From: Rakesh Prasad Chaturvedi
Sent: 15 January 2010 07:50
To: Col NR Kurup
Subject: Re: ECHS Clinic at Bangalore and points to be taken up with ECHS Authorities

On retirement, we not only leave our uniform behind, but also perhaps the 'non computerized culture' in which we grew up and got along fine. Suddenly unleashed, our net savviness motivates us to wonder why the forces are not 'that way'.
Its firstly economics. And second the inability of so many of us in service to appreciate the potential of the net/ chip. So many of us shy away from computers..........and so many of them are in the decision making chain.
That aside, in a country like ours, misuse/ frauds of even small scale, militate against the free- albeit friendly use of just card number being allowed to access the facilities. AND mind you, staffing at ECHS at any level is bone dry...... innovations in cards are outsourced but unless the ECHS itself has an idea WHAT they want the software guy to do, the latter cant do it. AND as I said earlier, THAT imagination is perhaps not there, though a desire to improve is. Things are changing, but this developmental process will take time.
This is in response to your last question. WHAT we can expect. A lot I would say...........provided the ECHS and its users -us- put our shoulder together.

Suggestions
If credit/ debit cards are lost on intimation to the bankers the cards which have a number are made null and void and a new card is issued within 48 hours. Similarly ECHS should cancel the card and issue a new one with a new serial number with all existing details like photo and thumb impression which are available on the data base within 48 hours. Payment for cost of blank Sim card which is about Rs 50/ approx can be recovered from the individual. ECHS which has 227 polyclinics should have a toll free number to enable users to register complaints or seek advice.

SCPC: Pension anomaly- pre-2006 Majors

My dear Veterans,
I would like to pay my sincere thanks to all senior veterans, especially to Brig Subramanian and Col Raman for taking a lot of pains in bringing out the shocking pension anomaly of pre-2006 Majors and equivalents. Further, I would like to air my own views on the subject in succeeding paras.

As the learned veterans may be aware, the Government had set up a National Anomaly Committee to address the anomalies arising out of the implementation of 6CPC. The terms of this committee are expiring on 4th February 2010 and it has to give its recommendations by that date. The civilian staff side members of the committee have already finalized the points to be discussed and first meeting has already been held on 12th December 2009. For details, please visit Anomaly Committee (the details of first meeting has been posted on 14th December 2009 and the items to be discussed by the anomaly committee have been posted on 22nd April 2009). Our main interest remains with Item No. 14 of the agenda which has been deferred for next meeting.

Please go through Item No. 14 carefully to assess the likely changes in the minimum assured pension. It is needless to mention that pension of service officers is regulated on the lines of pension of civilian central Government employees.

I personally feel that in case the above point is decided favorably, there may be some changes in the pension of not only in respect of Majors but also in respect of Cols, Brigs and Maj Gens. Though there may be some changes but pension anomaly of Majors will still exist with revised data.

In view of the above, we must re-assess our case of pension anomaly of Majors after the outcome of National Anomaly Committee. In case of legal battle, the case should be fought under the umbrella of IESM (who is already in touch with some best advocates). The affected Majors should also be made petitioners along with IESM who should also contribute towards the expenditure of legal battle.
With profound regards,
Major S K Jain (Retd)

Leadership Qualities, Governance and Hockey

From The Tribune, Chandigarh of 15 Jan 2010.
Rites of passage by Vijay Oberoi (click here)
A very nice story by Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi Retd.

You all might remember a few odd cases where some of our colleagues were indicted/ faced action for LMF or lack of moral fibre. Well, the very young hero of this tale seems to have a lot of MF as well as OLQ.

Two more items of interest from The Tribune, Chandigarh of 15 Jan 2010
Reform Governance and Rejuvinate Hockey (click me)
Regards,
Cdr K K Punchhi (Retd)

Friday, January 15, 2010

Annular Solar Eclipse 2010 - Maldives



The solar eclipse of January 15, 2010 is an annular eclipse of the Sun with a magnitude of 0.9190. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring Earth's view of the Sun. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon's apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun, causing the sun to look like an annulus (ring), blocking most of the Sun's light. An annular eclipse will appear as partial eclipse over a region thousands of kilometres wide.

This is the longest annular solar eclipse of the millennium, and the longest until December 23, 3043, with a maximum length of 11 mins and 7.8 seconds. (The solar eclipse of January 4, 1992 was longer, at 11 minutes, 41 seconds, occuring in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.)

It is visible as a partial eclipse in much of Africa, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Asia. It is seen as annular within a narrow stretch of 300 km (190 mi) width across Central Africa, Maldives, South Kerala (India), South Tamil Nadu (India), North Sri Lanka, parts of Burma and parts of China.

Solar eclipse of January 15, 2010: Annular visibile only within the Red Path

62nd Army Day Greetings

PTI: Army chief General Deepak Kapoor addresses a press conference ahead of the 62nd Army Day in New Delhi on Thursday. Photo: AP
{COAS Press Conference: Click here}


“REPORT MY SIGNAL”

WISHES ALL ITS MEMBERS

A VERY HAPPY ARMY DAY

HAVE A NICE TIME.


In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj

CJI under RTI Act

The Supreme Court of India building in New Delhi. The Delhi High Court has held that the office of the Chief Justice of India comes within the ambit of RTI. Photo: R.V. Moorthy Read Full Story


Dear Veterans,
This refers to the report CJI under RTI Act in Hindu on 12 Jan 2009.
The CJI's office was under the purview of RTI Act was never in doubt to those who knew how to read and write and could read the Act for themselves. The question remains why did and how could the CJI make such absurd claims? And now that the Central Information Commission, and two benches of the Delhi High Court have held him wrong isn't it time our representatives in parliament thought of impeaching him? Having lowered the image of the judiciary to such an extent he doesn't even deserve the honourable option of resigning.
It is pertinent to highlight here the fact that while the apex court had filed its appeal against the decision of the Central Information Commission with the Delhi Court in the judges' assets case, it has opted to go on appeal to the apex court directly against the orders of the Central Information Commission in the case of appointment and posting of judges. It is also necessary to ask at this moment what is the role of the judiciary? While it is tasked and empowered to sit in judgement over disputes between citizens, between citizens and govt and between govts, can it sit in judgement over disputes involving itself? Natural justice and common sense would dictate an unambiguous NO. But with the only option of impeachment available to prevent the CJI from perpetuating a devastating fraud, will our law-makers measure up to their responsibilities?
Your's truly
Veteran P M Ravindran

RTI Activist murdered in Talegaon
Dear All,
Reference TOI Report: click here.
In these difficult hours, we RTIns together express our solidarity with the family of Satish Shetty and convey our heartfelt condolence. We resolve with all our might that we will not let the sacrifice of Satish Shetty, a brave citizen of India go in vain. In October 2009, I had sent a comprehensive paper ‘4 Year of RTI’ which also contained “Major Impediments and Suggestions for effective implementation of the RTI Act” The very first issue raised in my Paper is reproduced below: Quote Protection of Whistle Blowers: While the RTI Act is meant “to contain corruption and to hold Governments and their instrumentalities accountable to the governed”. The act does not have any provision to protect ‘Whistle Blowers’ for RTI users. This anomaly needs urgent attention. Unquote. It is high time Government comes out of its slumber to face the reality on the ground. But why will they? It is Government functionaries who are being exposed by RTIns. Time we raised this issue in a big way.
In Grief,
Commodore Lokesh K Batra (Retd)
Social and RTI Activist

Thursday, January 14, 2010

IESM: Letter to Supreme Commander of Armed Forces

IESM: 11 January 2010
To,
Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil
President and Supreme Commander of Armed Forces
Rashtrapati Bhawan
New Delhi

Dear Hon’ble Supreme Commander,
I write this to convey the dismay and disappointment of the Ex Servicemen on the subject of ‘one rank one pension’ (OROP). Sadly, the government, in their reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on 09 December 2009 have again rejected OROP. The government rejection is stated to be based on the Cabinet Secretary Committee report that has not found OROP feasible on ‘administrative’ grounds. The Committee have of course made some other ameliorative recommendations with respect to pensions, which have yet to be notified by the government. However, though welcome, these address a very small section of the veterans’ population. An average pre-2006 pensioner, who is part of the vast majority, is again left to live with injustice.

The ‘administrative’ grounds preventing acceptance of the old pending demand of OROP have not been spelt out. If the government could remove the dividing line between the pre and post 10.10 1997 pensions, why the same formula cannot apply to the 1.1.2006 dividing line, defies comprehension. This has only added to the consternation of the veterans and has given rise to apprehension that the constitution of the Committee was only an electoral exercise on the eve of the last Parliamentary polls. The quality of the Committee report – which was a mere summary of a few selectively picked up earlier reports rather than breaking any new ground - further leads to the inference that it was merely to support a pre-determined outcome.

We have been repeatedly requesting the Supreme Commander since July 2009 for an audience. This has not materialized. Similar request has been pending for a meeting with the Hon’ble Defence Minister since October 2009. We are thus unaware of government’s ‘administrative’ compulsions that have come in the way of OROP. Noticeably, ‘financial’ grounds that were cited in December 2008 have not been given this time. We are happy to conclude that the country is no longer economically constrained in this regard. It must, therefore, be only a question of priorities where the veterans apparently do not figure. A veteran having been sent home in the prime of his life with inadequate means of sustenance, can only feel exploited and ‘used’.

India must be unique in the world where the veterans have been forced to take to the streets to seek justice. That too, regrettably in a country where the defence forces have played a unique and stellar role in retaining freedom and in maintaining integrity. The demand for OROP is neither bizarre nor huge. It is more psychological in nature to make old pensioners feel that their contribution and services to the country were not inferior to their younger colleagues. In a country that has been involved in five wars and a counter insurgency campaign almost continuously since Independence, such feeling of discrimination cannot be termed out of place.

Under the circumstances the veterans have no choice but to continue with their struggle. They will again be depositing medals – for the sixth time – on Sunday, 31 January 2010 at 2: pm at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. It is requested that instructions be issued for the reception of the medals.

We assure you of our unflinching loyalty to India and of our endeavour to keep the struggle disciplined and dignified.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan

Copy to:
Dr Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime Minister
South Block
New Delhi – 110 011

Shri AK Antony
Hon’ble Defence Minister
Ministry of Defence
South Block
New Delhi – 110 011

National Security: Chinese hackers target PMO computers

Ashish Khetan, New Delhi, January 14, 2010
Hackers from China have targeted computers in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Headlines Today has learnt that the sinister attempt was made around December 15 last year. Investigators are still coming to terms with the depth of the damage. The hackers had aimed high - their targets were the cream of India's national security set-up: National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan, Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrashekhar, PM's Special Envoy Shyam Saran and Deputy National Security Advisor Shekhar Dutt. The four and up to 26 others were squarely in the crosshairs of the hacking attempt.

Top sources told Headlines Today that investigators are trying hard to find out who these hackers were and whether this was a devious espionage attempt by the Chinese government itself. When Headlines Today contacted the PMO regarding the espionage attempt, a spokesperson said no classified information had been breached, but added: "There are routine attempts to hack into various systems. The PMO has its own system in place to protect against such attempts." A top PMO official, whose e-mail account was cracked by the Chinese hackers, confirmed the espionage bid, saying: "These kind of hacking attempts are made. To think they are not made is wrong. The internet or intranet is not used for official purposes."

According to Bharat Karnad, a strategic affairs analyst, "China wants war by all means. It doesn't believe in peacetime. For China, it's always rivals, always competition." Pavan Duggal, chairman of Cyber Law and IT Act Committee, says: "China is very active in cyberspace. It has raised a cyber army of about 3,00,000 people and their only job is to intrude upon secured networks of other countries. All this is all aimed at supremacy. Every country must set up cyber armies to counter China."

R.S.N. Singh, a former RAW officer, says: "China wants to dominate and control this space. This cyber army has soldiers not in uniform but anybody and everybody, maybe college students. It's very serious as cyber warfare can bring a country to a crippling halt." The timing of the espionage attempt has investigators suspecting that the Chinese hackers were desperately trying to access any data on India's position at the Copenhagen Climate Summit. Until Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in Copenhagen on December 17, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and PM's Special Envoy Shyam Saran were singing different tunes. While Ramesh was in favour of scrapping the Kyoto Protocol, Saran was against the move.

On December 15 when India's final stand was still shrouded in mystery, the Chinese hackers targeted the PMO computers. But what has disturbed investigators the most is that the Chinese hackers quite likely had inside help. The possibility of a mole within the Indian establishment helping a foreign adversary is staring investigators in the face. And the technology being used is preoccupying the Indian sleuths no end.

The espionage attempt was highly evolved and well-researched. The mail was routed through several multi-proxy servers thus obliterating the trail. The hacking spyware itself was embedded in a PDF document. And the trojan was programmed to carry out an array of functions, including downloading files, accessing emails and passwords and also accessing the desktop from a remote location.
Chinese hackers target PMO computers

Mercury Golf 2010

ATTENTION SIGNALLERS!!!
MERCURY GOLF 2010
Date - 08 Feb 2010 (Monday).
Venue - At Army Golf Course, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi.

Participation - Retired and Serving Signal Offrs (Army) and their spouses can participate.
Tee Off Time - 0700 hrs onwards for below 65 year category and 0900 hrs onwards for veterans (above 65 Years).
Format - ‘Stableford’ team event.
Prizes - Winner and Runner up teams, Best Gross and Net Score, Nearest to Pin, Longest Drive, Max Birdies and Pars, other prizes.
Conduct -18 Holes for below 65 Year. 9 Holes for Veterans.
Ladies Putting -Will be conducted at the golf course at 1030 hrs.
Entry - E mail us at mercurygolf@gmail.com or contact at tele No 9910387519 or 9910387517

Maj Avinash Bhandare
Coordinator Mercury Golf 2010

SCPC: Pension Pay Scales of Majors and Equivalents

Dear Veterans,
Brig NB Subramaniam, has put up a Draft S of C (Statement of Case), which I request all the ESM Associations to kindly go through, amend or improve as deemed fit by them. I would like to thank Brig NB Subramanian, for his excellent presentation of the case. Kindly click here to read the presentation.
Veteran Raman
IESM

Related articles
Indian Military: Degradation of Rank Structure
6th Pay Commission further cements the legacy of degradation of Military Ranks

Greetings

“REPORT MY SIGNAL”
WISHES ALL ITS MEMBERS
VERY HAPPY LOHRI
VERY HAPPY SANKRANTI
AND
VERY HAPPY PONGAL.
MAY YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME DURING THESE FESTIVALS.
GOD BE WITH YOU ALL.

In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Corps of Signals centenary celebrations and 14th Reunion

The Corps of Signals was raised on 15 Feb 1911 and will be celebrating its centenary on 15 Feb 2011. The journey of hundred years has been a saga of rich heritage, technological excellence, modernisation, brotherhood and pure soldiering. We intend holding several functions in various military stations throughout the Centenary Year (2010-2011) to have maximum participation of serving, retired personnels. The second part of the celebrations will be reunion which will enable old comrades to renew and maintain contacts with each other and to honour and pay homage to our heroes. It is an excellent expedient to inculcate a sense of tradition and espirt-de-corps. The aim is to acquaint the Signals fraternity about the Celebrations Plan and to keep them updated about the forth coming events.
Centenary Celebrations: Address, Tele Nos and email contact details
Celebration Plan
Calendar of events
Corps of Signals’ centenary this year: Tribune News Service

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Corruption in the Armed Forces- an open letter to COAS

Dear Colleagues,
Having spent 33 very fruitful and fulfilling years in the Army, I feel empty after reading the open letter by Col Rajinder Singh to COAS. Access the letter here along with comments of Air Cmde Raghubir Singh (Retd)
I have come across such officers but their number is minuscule. We were 20 odd COs in an infantry division, all open to 14000 soldiers. I recall only one CO who probably fits in the scenario as he escaped and became a Major General. My technical boss at the Corps HQ, who fitted in absolutely was court- martialed and sentenced severely. The latter also took some innocents along, one of whom was so honest that you could not find office stationery in his home but he signed some routine supply orders which got him in.
I am now 7 years in retirement. I do not think rot is as deep as the long letter says. Yes, it is getting worse and it needs to be arrested. And I think it will get arrested by the Internet era not by this or that COAS. They are products of the same system. There is no place left to hide now. If you think IAS etc are better, think again... If you think Corporate world is better, think Raju of Satyam. Every family owned business is a potential Raju Story...
Indian Armed Forces continue to be on the top of honesty charts in the public mind. I hope it continues.
Best Regards,
Brig KS Bhoon (Retd)



The Sukhna Land Scam: Corruption in army: Dent in the brass

China 'overtakes Germany as world's largest exporter'


Customs officials said China had come through a weak trading period. China's exports rose 17.7% in December, state media has reported, suggesting the country has overtaken Germany as the world's largest exporter.

The rise, compared to a year earlier, breaks a 13-month decline in trade as a result of the global downturn. Xinhua said total exports for 2009 were $1.2tn (£7.5tn), but that total foreign trade over the year was down 13.9%. Correspondents say the figures will lead to new demands from China's competitors that it devalue the yuan.

Last year saw a continuing decrease in China's trade as the global economic downturn led to a fall in demand for its products.

But in the last few weeks of the year, there was a far greater rise than forecasters had expected, with foreign exports reaching $130.7bn, up 17.7% on the previous December.

China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) said exports overall in the year were $1.2tn, down 16% from in 2008, while imports were 11.2% down from a year earlier at $1.01tn.

The politically sensitive total trade surplus was down 34.2% to $196.1bn, a fall of almost a third.

The figures suggests China will surpass Germany's export total for the whole of 2009, although this will not be confirmed until Germany's full-year data is published in February.
China 'overtakes Germany as world's largest exporter'

India's Export Performance
Indian Exporters Witness Worst of Times in 2009
NEW DELHI - India’s exports were swept into rough seas in 2009 owing to a sharp contraction in demand from Western consumers, whose household budget cuts to survive recession killed millions of jobs and eroded growth in emerging economies.

Exporters bled all through the year, with their woes peaking in May when consignments dropped 40 per cent, the most in 13 years, but hope appeared by way of 18.3 per cent growth in exports in November.

The year also saw unveiling of five-year Foreign Trade Policy that sought to incentivise exports to new markets - ones that haven’t been hit as hard by recession as the West.

Exporters have been heavily dependent on the traditional markets of the US and Europe -almost contributing one-third to their kitty. India’s exports in the last fiscal of 2008-09 were $185 billion, according to revised official data.

Engineering goods, textiles and textiles products, gems and jewelery and petroleum products fill the major portion of the country’s export basket and most of it is destined to the western markets of the US and Europe. All these sectors which account significantly for 80 million employment in the export units were hit badly. However, the pace of decline in some of the segments seemed arrested since August after peaking in May. Their troubles started since October 2008.

According to a recent presentation by Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar, the decline in exports has “mellowed down”. Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma is hopeful of better future for the segment. Allaying concerns of law-makers, Sharma said he expects the situation to improve in the next few months. For the fiscal 2010-11, he would bet on 15 per cent growth. Joshi of IIFT, said going forward by June, 2010, “situation will be somewhat optimistic”.
Source : indiajournal.com
Indian Exporters Witness Worst of Times in 2009
Comments: The commerce and Industry Ministry should be wound up for its very poor performance and replaced by the Chinese Model if we intend to compete with China in the World Market.

Gymkhana Club Chembur honours Mafia Dons and associate Police Officers

The Chembur Gymkhana is a Leading Sports institution in the North east suburb of Mumbai - Chembur. Now under the able leadership of Shri Surinder Sharma who succeeded the eminent Shri Shadilal Chopra, it has blossomed into a multi-faceted sporting and social facility to serve the residents of Chembur. Spread over an area of 4 acres this club boasts of a semi olympic swimming pool, three billiards tables, a card room, squash court, two flood lit tennis courts, indoor badminton courts, two restaurants and bars, and 16 rooms for outstation guests to stay.

Five Mumbai cops caught on tape at mafia party at Gymkhana Club Chembur
Mumbai, Jan 2 : A day after eight Indian Police Service (IPS) officers were served with notices, Mumbai police faced another embarrassment Saturday after five officers, including one from the IPS, were caught on tape attending a Christmas-eve party thrown by the underworld.

A police enquiry into the incident has recommended suspension of Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishwas Salve, Assistant Commissioner of Police Prakash Wani, head of Chembur police station, Senior Police Inspector R.S. Khakale, Crime Branch Inspector Praful Phadke and Crime Branch Assistant Sub-Inspector T. Salunkhe for attending the bash.

The party was thrown in a private club in Chembur, a northeast Mumbai suburb, in which the cops were seen eating, drinking and dancing with the underworld men.

The party was ostensibly to celebrate the release of D.K. Rao, a mafia don belonging to the Chhota Rajan gang, from 31 serious cases earlier last year.

Video-clips of the party, telecast by a Mumbai TV channel Friday evening, showed the policmen celebrating in gay abandon with the criminals even as a huge contingent of cops maintained law and order all over the city on the night of Dec 24-25 Dec 2009.

"Police have gathered sufficient evidence in the matter to recommend suspension of these policemen," a crime branch officer said on condition of anonymity.

Taking serious umbrage at the unprecedented incident, Home Minister R.R. Patil had last week ordered Mumbai Police Commissioner D. Shivanandhan to enquire into the matter. --IANS
Five Mumbai cops caught on tape at mafia party
5 cops caught partying with mafia dons suspended

Caution to all Gymkhana Club Members
There is recent trend of Rich Criminals becoming members of prestigious Gymkhana Clubs which are chiefly controlled by Civilian Bureaucrats and Industrialists who cleverly undermine the governing body based on paying heavy bribes and colossal membership fees. Gentlemen Members are cautioned against nefarious activities in the club premises like the above mentioned incident. It is pertinent to note that ex- DGP SPS Rathore of Haryana was a Gymkhana club member whose membership has been cancelled recently in view of his molestation case of a teenage girl leading to her suicide.

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