Saturday, April 23, 2011
Reality- National Geographic Channel Shows Indian Army
Anil Bhat 4/12/2011 10:24:15 PM
“March with the Indian Army and pay tribute to the saga of the unknown soldier with honour and pride” is the slogan of the ten - serial television reality show produced by National Geographic (Nat Geo) and currently being aired extensively on the Star Network.
Having produced Mission Udaan -Inside the Indian Air Force, in 2005 and Mission Navy- Lehron ke Sartaj in 2008, showcasing both the services in their full glory, Nat Geo launched a project to make the same on Indian Army, called Mission Army – Desh ke Rakshak.
Extensive interaction between the Army and Nat Geo resulted in this mega reality show aimed at giving television viewers an insight into the ‘making of an Army officer’ and ‘life in the Army’, through the eyes of a few civilian youth, selected and further trained. The serial showcases the history, values, customs and traditions as also operational and administrative activities of various combat arms and services of the Army, in varied terrain and extremes of climatic conditions.
Three young men and two young women were selected after passing physical, mental and medical tests of actual Army standards during the auditions Chib, a former Army officer of the Kumaon Regiment has as such a great asset to Nat Geo in making such programmes across Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi, for which 30,000 participants from all over India came to try to be a part of this mega reality show. They were, Ela Vohra 23, working at working IBM India, Pune, Priyanka Chand Oswal 19, from Pune College, Rohan Vijay Takalkar 24, running a fitness club in Pune, Rudrashish Sengupta 22, from St Xavier’s college, Mumbai and Kuldeep Rana 24, pursuing MBA from JIMS, Delhi.
Interacting at length with The Asian Age, Mr. Ramon Chibb, Senior Vice President, National Geographic and Fox International Channel, India, said “After grilling 30,000 enthusiastic and patriotic youth applicants across the country, Nat Geo selected the final five who embarked on a journey to win themselves a never before opportunity to experience the life of an Indian Army Officer. National Geographic Channel has taken the viewers to locations and places where none ever has and our Mission properties in the past have lived up to this tradition. We have worked closely with the Indian Army for our biggest Mission property – Mission Army “Desh ke Rakshak” and will take our viewers into the second largest army of the world – The Indian Army. I firmly believe that in the age of scripted reality shows, a docu-reality show like Mission Army will attract millions of people from different age groups across the country. Mission Army- Desh Ke Rakshak is a ten part series which will give us an insight into all arms and services of the Army”
‘Inside the Indian Army’, the first episode starts with a re-created story of Capt Vikram Batra, hero of the Kargil Intrusion of 1999 narrated by his then Commanding Officer, Brigadier Joshi. It is followed by the introduction to the Indian Army, considered as third largest in the world and what it takes to be an officer in it. Through the eyes of young civilians, viewers watch the selection process with high medical fitness standards and the aspirants going through a battle obstacle course at the Rajputana Rifles Regimental Centre to get their first feel of training in the Army.
In Episode 2, on Indian Military Academy, the Alma Mater of an Indian Army officers, the chosen five go through a tough training schedule of the academy by learning the basics of Army life as Gentleman Cadets and Lady Cadets - of drill, physical training, firing an INSAS rifle, doing night outdoor camping, negotiating the tough Russian obstacle course and finally crossing obstacles while live bullets are fired over their heads as a doze of ‘battle inoculation’.
Episode 3, with the Infantry, shows how it operates in various and toughest of terrains in the country, including the highest battlefield of the world – Siachen- where the temperature can be as low as minus 60 degrees centigrade. This episode covers the training in the Siachen Battle School and the High Altitude Battle School. The five contestants go through commando training at the Infantry school in Belgaum, compulsory for all Infantry officers. This includes unarmed combat, raid, rock climbing, escape and evasion and surviving by living off the land, which also involves catching, skinning, cooking and eating a snake. Their final task is the challenging climb and crawl to a 60 feet high board and jumping from into a swimming pool.
Episode 4, takes the team to the Armored Corps and the Mechanized Infantry Regimental Centres at Ahmednagar, where the contestants learn about customs and traditions of the cavalry and functioning mechanized forces. They get a great opportunity to learn how to drive the state of the art T-72 and the T-90 battle tanks, fire their guns and watch the complex flotation maneuvers by the amphibious Infantry Combat Vehicles in water.
Episode 5, about Artillery and Air Defence involves deployment of these big high-decibel guns in all terrains, learning about the artillery’s role and the performance of Bofors field guns in the Kargil war, the contestants functioning as artillery observation post officers, who guide the firing of guns over long ranges.
Episode 6, on the Army Aviation finds the team in the Army’s helicopters, watching the complexity of flying in high altitude and the role of Army Aviation Corps in support of the combat arms. The indigenously designed Advanced Light Helicopter, Dhruv and the versatile Cheetah and Chetak choppers are profiled in extremely challenging conditions of flying in inaccessible terrain like the Siachen heights and the scorching deserts. At the Combat Aviation Training School the contestants learn what it takes to be an army aviator, fly the Cheetah simulator and navigate a Chetak helicopter in a casualty evacuation mission.
Episode 7, on the technical arms of the Army, has the team watching the Sappers (Engineers) construct bridges, lay mines and handle high explosives as well as work with sophisticated communication equipment of the Corps of Signals. They get to drive the tank trawler and lay underwater depth charges. Their final task is breaching a minefield and blowing up a railway track with explosives.
Episode 8, covers the Army Service Corps, Army Ordnance Corps, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (EME) and the Army Medical Corps. The team learns how the Army is administered, how it gets its logistics support and how it is kept battle-ready at all times. The contestants get a feel of repairing and maintaining a battle tank with EME.
Episode 9, shows counter terrorist operations in the Kashmir Valley and on the Line of Control(LoC). The Corps Battle School at Srinagar imparting training for counter terrorist operations is showcased, includes fighting a battle in a built-up urban areas, where the margin of error is very small. While here the contestants get trained and tasked to flush out terrorists from a mock village, on the LoC, they learn how the Indian Army soldier is alert 24 x 7.
Episode 10, The Grand Finale, is about Indian Army’s men who spend their lives reinventing themselves to fight in all possible scenarios – the Paratroopers. Specialists of raid and know no obstacle and are trained to operate behind enemy lines. On rare display are some of the unique customs and traditions of this coveted maroon berets regiment, which has tough standards and a probation period, not everybody can pass. The final task for the five contestants is a parachute jump from a helicopter. This episode will also decide the winner of Mission Army, who will have the opportunity to be a part of an overseas Indian military contingent.
Chib, a former Army officer of the Kumaon Regiment and as such a great asset to Nat Geo in producing such monumental programmes, says the viewer ratings on the five episodes broad casted so far have been excellent.
An exciting development for contestant Ela Vohra has been that she has very recently been selected for pre-commission training at the Officers Training Academy, Chennai.
While there is no doubt that the serials mentioned and movies like JP Dutta’s Border, LOC and yet to be produced Border II go well with viewers, it remains to be seen how much of a difference they will make in the near future in attracting more academically, physically and mentally fit youngsters to join the Army, which is still short of about 12,000 officers.
REALITY SHOW OF WHAT INDIAN ARMY IS ALL ABOUT
Platoon attack on a Brigade of Corruption will fail without force multipliers
From: rs chhikara Sent: 21 April 2011 12:32
Dear Chander,
May i request you to consider putting the attached write up on RMS.
Chhikara
(Brig RS Chhikara, Secy Gen INA Trust)
ERADICATE CORRUPTION- BANISH THE CORRUPT
It all started at Ram Leela Ground. Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi were a worried lot. Will the people of India respond to their call adequately or will they remain despondent and cynical. Indians had got used to living with corruption and to participating in corruption if opportunity arose. In the event 30000 people attended as against 3000 expected and planned for. Enthusiastic speakers from civil society out spaced the dais and over ran the time plan. There was a flicker of hope. Obviously, people were angry at the scale and spread of corruption . It was pent up resentment awaiting a lead- a spark, to be ignited. There was hope- yet.
When Anna the disciplined, humble Soldier, turned social worker, turned social activist, came on the scene on 5 April, people were still doubtful. They came to watch but wait. Many had not yet known this man who was but a mere foot soldier in the Indian Army in 1965 when the hand of destiny spared his life in battle and infused him with a desire to serve his fellow humans – gave him a greater mission for his life.
Anna provided the spark. It ignited the dormant desires and hopes of millions in quick time. Trickle became torrent. Participation increased from hundreds to lacs . The movement spread world wide in a matter of just three days. By the fifth day the phenomenon was Tsunami like not destructive but consolidating, constructive. Media, barring the anti national few and the subservient few, was electrified. They sensed their chance for the largest ever TRP ratings and pitched in. A revolution was in the making. Some media outlets joined the race for mere self survival.
Politicians started by deflecting blame on usual party lines. They found ghost provocateurs and conspirators. They called the organizers irresponsible non entities. They brought forth convoluted logic and excuses. They attempted to discredit and divide the people. Every trick of the trade was tried. The Manish Tiwaris and Manu Singhvis were all very clever and shameless but very scared indeed. Other opportunists tried to appropriate the movement for building their personal and party images. The people (unfortunately, more than the organizers) saw through their game immediately. For the first time television debates were not slanging matches, Congress Vs BJP, with each trying to disrupt and outshout the other. Arguments could now be articulated and heard. Politicians were compelled to listen. Face book, Twitter and Blogs brought the issues to the forefront of public domain.
People came together physically and virtually to start a revolution with total clarity on objectives and options. They knew that they were joining a long and demanding war against a wily and powerful adversary who could be relied upon to fight hard for every inch of space. They knew that there will be several bloody battles ahead, before the objective could be secured. Yet, with new found hope and faith in their combined power, they were determined to persevere and prevail.
Today, on April the 8th, they have captured the preliminary objective. (Or have they only secured the FUP- Forming up place) It symbolizes the first success but only the most preliminary and limited. Many more and difficult objectives lie ahead. This is time for hope and confidence but not for rejoicing and rest, yet. As I have said earlier, the problems confronting India and we Indians lie rooted in our democratic system and practices. Those maladies are the root cause of symptoms like Poor governance and corruption. Our party system, our electoral system, Politics of parochialism, caste politics, vote bank appeasement, family and dynastic power houses, politics through patronage, cronyism, the list is long. These are the maladies that will need to be conquered. We have found the weapon– The Brahmastra of collective people’s action. We have to learn to wield this power for the greater good of India.
But In order to be able to wield this power repeatedly and successfully, we will need self discipline and perseverance. We will need to sacrifice parochial and personal interest at the alter of national interest. Clerks will need to work without gratification. Business men will have to tread the straight path of reasonable profits without subverting rules and competition through bribes. Our chartered accountants will have to stop helping entities by helping fudge the accounts. Politicians will have to reconcile to their role as servants of the people rather than as unbridled rulers over the people. Senior bureaucrats will have to reign in their greed for money, power and grandeur. They will need to stop facilitating and conniving with political interests. And above all we will need to learn the imperative of refusing to offer bribes for gain and resist bribing for convenience. We all will need to learn to say no to black money in all our dealings as buyers or sellers. We will need to learn to demand our rights and fight for them where necessary. Be prepared to pay the cost of eradicating corruption.
The last will be painful at times but unless each of us leads this assault on corruption individually and leads by example. The objectives, howsoever laudable, will remain elusive.
As for the corrupt, They need to be exposed for what they are. They need to be shown their place by society. Banish them from society rob them of social respect and acceptance. Hukka Pani Band.
So friends, Let us join the battle against corruption not just corruption by others but by us as well. Jai Bajrang Bali – Jo Bole So Nihal – Allah u Akbar
The Next Phase of War Against Corruption
Only 15 days have passed since I wrote the above. The tenacity of the adversary is clearly visible. It is a battle, the corrupt will not like to loose. They will fight tooth and nail with all the power and cunning at their command. While we have sampled their intent and strength, we need to learn from our own mistakes and deficiencies.
Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal appear to have launched the attack on corruption in a hurry without a realistic appreciation of enemy reaction and consequently, without the required level of preparation and force mobilization. They appear to have launched a platoon sized attack where a Brigade attack was needed. Firstly, Anna Hazare’s support group needs to be strengthened by co opting several others with battle experience and credible leadership potential. While some names are obvious, others need to be thrown up. Politicians are generally detestable but there are exceptions. These need to be activated. Care will need to be exercised in selection to exclude fifth coloumnists. Secondly, local leadership in over 500 locations countrywide need to be organized. As counter attacks will continue to be launched against the movement, many more battles will certainly need to be fought and won.
Anna Hazare appears to have co opted Sonia Gandhi as part of the solution finding process. I share the wide spread view that she and Manmohan Singh are at the heart of the problem. They cannot and must not be seen as potential part of the solution.
The movement has electrified the nation especially the youth. This energy and enthusiasm of astronomical proportions will need to be directed constructively, no body wants a Middle East like situation to develop in India. This will require contingency planning with much foresight. What if miscreants and misguided elements create disorder? What if the state foolishly, tries to use its coersive force against the movement? What if an opportunistic group within the leadership attempts to hijack the movement for political gain? What if external interest groups try fishing in troubled waters? There is need to formulate a strategic plan and control group comprising a few commited and experienced persons.
25 Lac ex servicemen spread throughout the country is one resource that can be of critical value in several potential contingencies. Trade unions are another and perhaps bigger resource. Student unions can be very effective too. Prepartatory work is needed in all these areas to ensure prudent and cautious selection.
The enemy is bound to launch diversionary and deceptive forays. We must not get carried away by these and react in knee jerk fashion. Maintenance of aim and concentration of force are two time tested principles of war. We must therefore learn to stand fast on our course while keeping a sharp eye on adversary tactics and intent. Let us not withdraw under false threat, let us retain cohesion of force and stick with the aim. For example, now is not the time to jettison Bhushans or marginalize Agnivesh. It is time to defend solidarity of the people– All people. Internal differences need to be contained not vehemently aired.
Brig R S Chhikara, Veteran
21 April 2011
Related Reading
Soldiering for village uplift by Lieut-Gen Baljit Singh (Retd)
Draft Lokpal Bill expected to be ready by June 30: Moily
SONIA UNDER SCANNER- Dirty tricks By Ramakrishna Upadhya
Dear Chander,
May i request you to consider putting the attached write up on RMS.
Chhikara
(Brig RS Chhikara, Secy Gen INA Trust)
ERADICATE CORRUPTION- BANISH THE CORRUPT
It all started at Ram Leela Ground. Arvind Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi were a worried lot. Will the people of India respond to their call adequately or will they remain despondent and cynical. Indians had got used to living with corruption and to participating in corruption if opportunity arose. In the event 30000 people attended as against 3000 expected and planned for. Enthusiastic speakers from civil society out spaced the dais and over ran the time plan. There was a flicker of hope. Obviously, people were angry at the scale and spread of corruption . It was pent up resentment awaiting a lead- a spark, to be ignited. There was hope- yet.
When Anna the disciplined, humble Soldier, turned social worker, turned social activist, came on the scene on 5 April, people were still doubtful. They came to watch but wait. Many had not yet known this man who was but a mere foot soldier in the Indian Army in 1965 when the hand of destiny spared his life in battle and infused him with a desire to serve his fellow humans – gave him a greater mission for his life.
Anna provided the spark. It ignited the dormant desires and hopes of millions in quick time. Trickle became torrent. Participation increased from hundreds to lacs . The movement spread world wide in a matter of just three days. By the fifth day the phenomenon was Tsunami like not destructive but consolidating, constructive. Media, barring the anti national few and the subservient few, was electrified. They sensed their chance for the largest ever TRP ratings and pitched in. A revolution was in the making. Some media outlets joined the race for mere self survival.
Politicians started by deflecting blame on usual party lines. They found ghost provocateurs and conspirators. They called the organizers irresponsible non entities. They brought forth convoluted logic and excuses. They attempted to discredit and divide the people. Every trick of the trade was tried. The Manish Tiwaris and Manu Singhvis were all very clever and shameless but very scared indeed. Other opportunists tried to appropriate the movement for building their personal and party images. The people (unfortunately, more than the organizers) saw through their game immediately. For the first time television debates were not slanging matches, Congress Vs BJP, with each trying to disrupt and outshout the other. Arguments could now be articulated and heard. Politicians were compelled to listen. Face book, Twitter and Blogs brought the issues to the forefront of public domain.
People came together physically and virtually to start a revolution with total clarity on objectives and options. They knew that they were joining a long and demanding war against a wily and powerful adversary who could be relied upon to fight hard for every inch of space. They knew that there will be several bloody battles ahead, before the objective could be secured. Yet, with new found hope and faith in their combined power, they were determined to persevere and prevail.
Today, on April the 8th, they have captured the preliminary objective. (Or have they only secured the FUP- Forming up place) It symbolizes the first success but only the most preliminary and limited. Many more and difficult objectives lie ahead. This is time for hope and confidence but not for rejoicing and rest, yet. As I have said earlier, the problems confronting India and we Indians lie rooted in our democratic system and practices. Those maladies are the root cause of symptoms like Poor governance and corruption. Our party system, our electoral system, Politics of parochialism, caste politics, vote bank appeasement, family and dynastic power houses, politics through patronage, cronyism, the list is long. These are the maladies that will need to be conquered. We have found the weapon– The Brahmastra of collective people’s action. We have to learn to wield this power for the greater good of India.
But In order to be able to wield this power repeatedly and successfully, we will need self discipline and perseverance. We will need to sacrifice parochial and personal interest at the alter of national interest. Clerks will need to work without gratification. Business men will have to tread the straight path of reasonable profits without subverting rules and competition through bribes. Our chartered accountants will have to stop helping entities by helping fudge the accounts. Politicians will have to reconcile to their role as servants of the people rather than as unbridled rulers over the people. Senior bureaucrats will have to reign in their greed for money, power and grandeur. They will need to stop facilitating and conniving with political interests. And above all we will need to learn the imperative of refusing to offer bribes for gain and resist bribing for convenience. We all will need to learn to say no to black money in all our dealings as buyers or sellers. We will need to learn to demand our rights and fight for them where necessary. Be prepared to pay the cost of eradicating corruption.
The last will be painful at times but unless each of us leads this assault on corruption individually and leads by example. The objectives, howsoever laudable, will remain elusive.
As for the corrupt, They need to be exposed for what they are. They need to be shown their place by society. Banish them from society rob them of social respect and acceptance. Hukka Pani Band.
So friends, Let us join the battle against corruption not just corruption by others but by us as well. Jai Bajrang Bali – Jo Bole So Nihal – Allah u Akbar
The Next Phase of War Against Corruption
Only 15 days have passed since I wrote the above. The tenacity of the adversary is clearly visible. It is a battle, the corrupt will not like to loose. They will fight tooth and nail with all the power and cunning at their command. While we have sampled their intent and strength, we need to learn from our own mistakes and deficiencies.
Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal appear to have launched the attack on corruption in a hurry without a realistic appreciation of enemy reaction and consequently, without the required level of preparation and force mobilization. They appear to have launched a platoon sized attack where a Brigade attack was needed. Firstly, Anna Hazare’s support group needs to be strengthened by co opting several others with battle experience and credible leadership potential. While some names are obvious, others need to be thrown up. Politicians are generally detestable but there are exceptions. These need to be activated. Care will need to be exercised in selection to exclude fifth coloumnists. Secondly, local leadership in over 500 locations countrywide need to be organized. As counter attacks will continue to be launched against the movement, many more battles will certainly need to be fought and won.
Anna Hazare appears to have co opted Sonia Gandhi as part of the solution finding process. I share the wide spread view that she and Manmohan Singh are at the heart of the problem. They cannot and must not be seen as potential part of the solution.
The movement has electrified the nation especially the youth. This energy and enthusiasm of astronomical proportions will need to be directed constructively, no body wants a Middle East like situation to develop in India. This will require contingency planning with much foresight. What if miscreants and misguided elements create disorder? What if the state foolishly, tries to use its coersive force against the movement? What if an opportunistic group within the leadership attempts to hijack the movement for political gain? What if external interest groups try fishing in troubled waters? There is need to formulate a strategic plan and control group comprising a few commited and experienced persons.
25 Lac ex servicemen spread throughout the country is one resource that can be of critical value in several potential contingencies. Trade unions are another and perhaps bigger resource. Student unions can be very effective too. Prepartatory work is needed in all these areas to ensure prudent and cautious selection.
The enemy is bound to launch diversionary and deceptive forays. We must not get carried away by these and react in knee jerk fashion. Maintenance of aim and concentration of force are two time tested principles of war. We must therefore learn to stand fast on our course while keeping a sharp eye on adversary tactics and intent. Let us not withdraw under false threat, let us retain cohesion of force and stick with the aim. For example, now is not the time to jettison Bhushans or marginalize Agnivesh. It is time to defend solidarity of the people– All people. Internal differences need to be contained not vehemently aired.
Brig R S Chhikara, Veteran
21 April 2011
Related Reading
Friday, April 22, 2011
Jan Lokpal Bill: What will be Sonia’s response now?
S Gurumurthy Express News Service First Published : 21 Apr 2011 11:07:00 PM IST
Indeed it is an exciting, explosive, website. It lists the scams of India since Independence — Bofors, 2G, CWG included — with colour photographs of alleged scamsters. It exposes the “hidden truth” about the “Congress party” and “the dynasty”. Most important for Indian discourse, it is unquestionably ‘secular’! Next, it is not even remotely BJP’s work, nor Lohiites’, or Subramanian Swamy’s, or the work of anyone who the media can dismiss as reckless, or of someone inimical to Sonia Gandhi or the UPA. On the contrary it belongs to those who Sonia Gandhi herself seems to respect a lot. Whose site is this then? Wait till the climax. Here is a telling catalogue of its explosive contents.
Its star content is a video slide presentation titled ‘India: a republic of scams’. It starts off with a Brahma Challaney quote that the scams are “not just corruption, but plunder of India”. The fourth slide titled ‘2G-spectrum allocation fraud Rs 1.76 lakh crores’ shows a photo gallery of nine alleged scamsters. Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh figure as the third and fourth in the row after A Raja and M Karunanidhi. The next slide contains a famous cartoon of Ravi Shankar in India Today (January 2, 2011) showing the 2G loot with the number ‘176’ followed by an unending zeros — zooming like 0000000000 — with Sonia and Singh jointly proclaiming “Zero Tolerance” to corruption. This slide ends saying, “According to Swamy, Sonia has taken a big share of the loot deposited under her sisters’ names (Anushka and Nadia)”.
The next slide fixes the CWG scam at Rs 60,000 crore, shows Sonia and Singh along with Suresh Kalmadi and Sheila Dikshit in the gallery of CWG scamsters. A later slide is on Hasan Ali, of hawala fame, with his photograph figuring alongside Sonia Gandhi’s. It shows the scam value as Rs 1,00,000-cr. It talks of the CID interrogation of Hasan Ali revealing involvement of the then Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ahmed Patel, Sonia Gandhi’s political adviser. A further slide talks of Rajiv Gandhi’s $2 billion in Swiss banks as it appeared in Schweizer Illustrierte, a popular Swiss magazine, in 1991 which, it says, was never challenged. Another is about the Bofors scam with photos of Quattrocchi, Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi as scamsters saying that ‘the major cut was believed to be taken by Rajiv and his party with Quattrocchi (Q) close Italian friend of Sonia Gandhi brokering the deal’. It also says that, in 2005, the Solicitor General of India had helped to defreeze the frozen account of Q; and that, in 2007, Argentina had detained Q, but the UPA government submitted forged papers which helped him to escape detention; further that recently the CBI withdrew the red corner notice on Q.
A subsequent slide says that ‘a tight control of the media is exercised so as not to expose specifically the Gandhi family’. It adds, ‘people are fooled with hundreds of Indian institutions named after Gandhi family in spite of overwhelming proof and allegations (Bofors, Quattrocchi, KGB payments, 2G) of looting the country’. It also says, ‘Rahul Gandhi was arrested by FBI in US for money laundering’. Another slide shows the billion-dollar home of Mukesh Ambani, contrasting it with the slum in Dharavi in Mumbai and says ‘Ambani gave a jet plane as a birthday gift to his wife, which, Swamy says, is used by Sonia Gandhi as private jet for secret Italy trips.’
The site also contains the video speeches of Swamy on ‘Sonia family’s smuggling’; and on ‘the truth about Sonia Gandhi declining the position of Prime Minister’. It also carries Swamy’s famous article ‘Know the truth about Sonia Gandhi’ where he talks on what he calls as her lies, including about her education, about the KGB payments to her family, the Schweizer Illustrierte expose of the $2.5 billion secret bank funds inherited by her, and more.
Whose website then is this? The climax begins to unfold now. This is the website of ‘India Against Corruption’ (IAC). The site authors say in the column ‘About Us’: “India Against Corruption movement is an expression of collective anger of people of India against corruption. We have all come together to force/request/persuade/pressurise the government to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill. We feel that if this Bill were enacted it would create an effective deterrence against corruption.” Who’s who of IAC is in the ‘About us’. Who heads the IAC? Hold your breath. It is Anna Hazare who, like most in the country, Sonia Gandhi too respects! Who are the others? This is what the site says: “The following eminent personalities started this movement: Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev, Sri Sri Ravishankar, Mahamood Madani, Swami Agnivesh, Kiran Bedi, Syed Rizvi, Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, Mallika Sarabhai, Justice D S Tewatia, Pradeep Gupta, Arvind Kejriwal, Kamal Kant Jaswal, Sunita Godhra, B R Lalla, Davinder Sharma, Subhash Chandra Aggarwal, Vishwas Utagi, Archbishop Vincent M Concessao”.
Just Click here; the colour photos of the crusaders led by Anna Hazare spearheading the movement against corruption will appear. They are the hope for a corruption-free India today.
Click here and the scams detailed earlier, in which Sonia Gandhi and her family and personal and political friends figure prominently, will appear.
QED: Those who are campaigning against corruption call Sonia Gandhi corrupt; but Anna Hazare invites her to fight corruption! Two critical questions arise. One, what will be the response of Sonia Gandhi and the Congress to the IAC headed by Anna Hazare naming Sonia Gandhi and her family as scamsters? Two, what will be the response of Team Hazare to Anna’s repeated invite to Sonia Gandhi, whom their site lists among the scamsters, to fight corruption “together”?
(The writer is a well-known commentator on political and economic issues.)
What will be Sonia’s response now?
Indeed it is an exciting, explosive, website. It lists the scams of India since Independence — Bofors, 2G, CWG included — with colour photographs of alleged scamsters. It exposes the “hidden truth” about the “Congress party” and “the dynasty”. Most important for Indian discourse, it is unquestionably ‘secular’! Next, it is not even remotely BJP’s work, nor Lohiites’, or Subramanian Swamy’s, or the work of anyone who the media can dismiss as reckless, or of someone inimical to Sonia Gandhi or the UPA. On the contrary it belongs to those who Sonia Gandhi herself seems to respect a lot. Whose site is this then? Wait till the climax. Here is a telling catalogue of its explosive contents.
Its star content is a video slide presentation titled ‘India: a republic of scams’. It starts off with a Brahma Challaney quote that the scams are “not just corruption, but plunder of India”. The fourth slide titled ‘2G-spectrum allocation fraud Rs 1.76 lakh crores’ shows a photo gallery of nine alleged scamsters. Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh figure as the third and fourth in the row after A Raja and M Karunanidhi. The next slide contains a famous cartoon of Ravi Shankar in India Today (January 2, 2011) showing the 2G loot with the number ‘176’ followed by an unending zeros — zooming like 0000000000 — with Sonia and Singh jointly proclaiming “Zero Tolerance” to corruption. This slide ends saying, “According to Swamy, Sonia has taken a big share of the loot deposited under her sisters’ names (Anushka and Nadia)”.
The next slide fixes the CWG scam at Rs 60,000 crore, shows Sonia and Singh along with Suresh Kalmadi and Sheila Dikshit in the gallery of CWG scamsters. A later slide is on Hasan Ali, of hawala fame, with his photograph figuring alongside Sonia Gandhi’s. It shows the scam value as Rs 1,00,000-cr. It talks of the CID interrogation of Hasan Ali revealing involvement of the then Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh and Ahmed Patel, Sonia Gandhi’s political adviser. A further slide talks of Rajiv Gandhi’s $2 billion in Swiss banks as it appeared in Schweizer Illustrierte, a popular Swiss magazine, in 1991 which, it says, was never challenged. Another is about the Bofors scam with photos of Quattrocchi, Sonia and Rajiv Gandhi as scamsters saying that ‘the major cut was believed to be taken by Rajiv and his party with Quattrocchi (Q) close Italian friend of Sonia Gandhi brokering the deal’. It also says that, in 2005, the Solicitor General of India had helped to defreeze the frozen account of Q; and that, in 2007, Argentina had detained Q, but the UPA government submitted forged papers which helped him to escape detention; further that recently the CBI withdrew the red corner notice on Q.
A subsequent slide says that ‘a tight control of the media is exercised so as not to expose specifically the Gandhi family’. It adds, ‘people are fooled with hundreds of Indian institutions named after Gandhi family in spite of overwhelming proof and allegations (Bofors, Quattrocchi, KGB payments, 2G) of looting the country’. It also says, ‘Rahul Gandhi was arrested by FBI in US for money laundering’. Another slide shows the billion-dollar home of Mukesh Ambani, contrasting it with the slum in Dharavi in Mumbai and says ‘Ambani gave a jet plane as a birthday gift to his wife, which, Swamy says, is used by Sonia Gandhi as private jet for secret Italy trips.’
The site also contains the video speeches of Swamy on ‘Sonia family’s smuggling’; and on ‘the truth about Sonia Gandhi declining the position of Prime Minister’. It also carries Swamy’s famous article ‘Know the truth about Sonia Gandhi’ where he talks on what he calls as her lies, including about her education, about the KGB payments to her family, the Schweizer Illustrierte expose of the $2.5 billion secret bank funds inherited by her, and more.
Whose website then is this? The climax begins to unfold now. This is the website of ‘India Against Corruption’ (IAC). The site authors say in the column ‘About Us’: “India Against Corruption movement is an expression of collective anger of people of India against corruption. We have all come together to force/request/persuade/pressurise the government to enact the Jan Lokpal Bill. We feel that if this Bill were enacted it would create an effective deterrence against corruption.” Who’s who of IAC is in the ‘About us’. Who heads the IAC? Hold your breath. It is Anna Hazare who, like most in the country, Sonia Gandhi too respects! Who are the others? This is what the site says: “The following eminent personalities started this movement: Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev, Sri Sri Ravishankar, Mahamood Madani, Swami Agnivesh, Kiran Bedi, Syed Rizvi, Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, Mallika Sarabhai, Justice D S Tewatia, Pradeep Gupta, Arvind Kejriwal, Kamal Kant Jaswal, Sunita Godhra, B R Lalla, Davinder Sharma, Subhash Chandra Aggarwal, Vishwas Utagi, Archbishop Vincent M Concessao”.
Just Click here; the colour photos of the crusaders led by Anna Hazare spearheading the movement against corruption will appear. They are the hope for a corruption-free India today.
Click here and the scams detailed earlier, in which Sonia Gandhi and her family and personal and political friends figure prominently, will appear.
QED: Those who are campaigning against corruption call Sonia Gandhi corrupt; but Anna Hazare invites her to fight corruption! Two critical questions arise. One, what will be the response of Sonia Gandhi and the Congress to the IAC headed by Anna Hazare naming Sonia Gandhi and her family as scamsters? Two, what will be the response of Team Hazare to Anna’s repeated invite to Sonia Gandhi, whom their site lists among the scamsters, to fight corruption “together”?
(The writer is a well-known commentator on political and economic issues.)
What will be Sonia’s response now?
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Army chief's age: Ministry asks for documents
Rahul Singh, Hindustan Times New Delhi, April 21, 2011
The defence ministry on Wednesday called for all documents related to army chief Gen VK Singh's date of birth (DoB) to settle the controversy over the two conflicting dates recorded in Singh's dossiers. "The records have been sought for scrutiny," said a source. The issue began in May 2006 when t he military secretary's branch detected two different DoBs for Singh in its official records.
The army chief had been maintaining his DoB as May 10, 1951 in his confidential reports and service record - contrary to the DoB shown in other official documents.
HT had on Wednesday reported how Singh made an unconditional commitment in 2008, accepting May 10, 1950 as his birth date. The matter was referred to the law ministry for its opinion.
The legal opinion accepted Singh's birth date as May 10, 1951 on the basis of his high school certificate.
If the defence ministry accepts the law ministry's opinion, Singh will retire in March 2013 instead of May 2012, giving him 10 more months as army chief.
Army chief's age: Defence ministry asks for documents
Comment
Now that the Law Ministry has accepted 1951 as the year of birth of the Chief, one is keen to know how the data in the MS records came to be different. There is an insinuation in the report that it happened during Gen Awadesh Prakash's time. Whether it be true or not it is a matter that should be investigated.
P M Ravindran
The defence ministry on Wednesday called for all documents related to army chief Gen VK Singh's date of birth (DoB) to settle the controversy over the two conflicting dates recorded in Singh's dossiers. "The records have been sought for scrutiny," said a source. The issue began in May 2006 when t he military secretary's branch detected two different DoBs for Singh in its official records.
The army chief had been maintaining his DoB as May 10, 1951 in his confidential reports and service record - contrary to the DoB shown in other official documents.
HT had on Wednesday reported how Singh made an unconditional commitment in 2008, accepting May 10, 1950 as his birth date. The matter was referred to the law ministry for its opinion.
The legal opinion accepted Singh's birth date as May 10, 1951 on the basis of his high school certificate.
If the defence ministry accepts the law ministry's opinion, Singh will retire in March 2013 instead of May 2012, giving him 10 more months as army chief.
Army chief's age: Defence ministry asks for documents
Comment
Now that the Law Ministry has accepted 1951 as the year of birth of the Chief, one is keen to know how the data in the MS records came to be different. There is an insinuation in the report that it happened during Gen Awadesh Prakash's time. Whether it be true or not it is a matter that should be investigated.
P M Ravindran
History Will Show Jantar Mantar Was the Moment that Triggered Change!
Anna Hazare’s recent visit to Jantar Mantar has set the cat amongst the pigeons in Delhi and other state Capitals. Politicians and bureaucrats are increasingly looking worried and puzzled at this sudden interest of Indians about this issue of Corruption. I can almost imagine them thinking – what’s the need for all this discussion of corruption? Isn’t it enough that we are delivering growth of 9% etc.?
Anna Hazare has woken up India. Over 4 Million calls were made by Indians to the telephone number set up for the purpose by the movement of India against Corruption. Most importantly, it has proved that young Indians can wake up and get involved in serious causes that affect the country.
Like Tahrir Square in Egypt which was the epicentre of the movement for change that has swept Egypt and subsequently moved to other parts of the Middle East, history will show that Jantar Mantar was the moment in our history that triggered change in our country that has been buffeted and embarrassed by scams and corruptions in public life and Government.
The message that came out of this was that India, and indeed Indians, have had enough of corruption. The assumption that we are thick-skinned and mutely accepting of increasingly blatant and brazen forms of exploitation by the political-bureacrat-business nexus has been turned on its head and that is sending shivers through many. In some cities, the mood was positively ugly.
The trigger for this was the Lokpal Bill. The Lokpal Bill that was being proposed by the Government is in every way a representation of what is wrong with our system. It is classic obfuscation and bureaucratism at its most excellent. And hence the protest by Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi etc. There is an increasing trend for those in power to assume that Citizens have very little intelligence and to insult that intelligence is a safe bet. Kapil Sibal did that some months ago by saying there was no loss in the 2G scam and CAG was wrong, and now this Lokpal Bill. Fortunately for India and Indians, there are people like Anna Hazare who have called the government’s bluff on this and mobilized millions to prove that the intelligence of Indians cannot be taken for granted.
Predictably of course, some of the intellectual elite in Delhi have come out and morphed this debate about Government corruption into one of constitutional appropriateness, and if that isn’t sophisticated enough, another argument about the dangers to democracy of mobs.
Anna Hazare and the Indians behind this must not pay heed to this. Yes, there is a risk that politics by mobs isn’t a sustainable model for democracy. But that is becoming a risk only because the democracy and Government we have today is dysfunctional. The cause of action here is the failure of Government, and a failure it has been for sure. When credibility of Government and its leaders go, then every action of it is seen through the prism of suspicion and doubt. The onus of establishing trust and credibility is on the Government and political leadership, and not the citizens. And this will not happen by parading smug ministers in front of TVs trying to outwit people; rather, it will come from real, deliberate actions that give the people the confidence that Government is transforming into an institution to honestly serve people, and be about National service and not about self-service and vested interests. Action and words will be required to address this trust deficit in the people about all Politicians and Government in general.
As I said last week, our capital Delhi was once a fountainhead of idealism, national service and commitment to the Idea of India. The crowds at Jantar Mantar and around the country were clamouring for a return to that. Stay the course and they will get that change they want.
(This article appeared in Sunday Standard, dated April 17th, 2011)
History Will Show Jantar Mantar Was the Moment that Triggered Change!
Rajeev Chandershekhar's Blog
Anna Hazare has woken up India. Over 4 Million calls were made by Indians to the telephone number set up for the purpose by the movement of India against Corruption. Most importantly, it has proved that young Indians can wake up and get involved in serious causes that affect the country.
Like Tahrir Square in Egypt which was the epicentre of the movement for change that has swept Egypt and subsequently moved to other parts of the Middle East, history will show that Jantar Mantar was the moment in our history that triggered change in our country that has been buffeted and embarrassed by scams and corruptions in public life and Government.
The message that came out of this was that India, and indeed Indians, have had enough of corruption. The assumption that we are thick-skinned and mutely accepting of increasingly blatant and brazen forms of exploitation by the political-bureacrat-business nexus has been turned on its head and that is sending shivers through many. In some cities, the mood was positively ugly.
The trigger for this was the Lokpal Bill. The Lokpal Bill that was being proposed by the Government is in every way a representation of what is wrong with our system. It is classic obfuscation and bureaucratism at its most excellent. And hence the protest by Anna Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi etc. There is an increasing trend for those in power to assume that Citizens have very little intelligence and to insult that intelligence is a safe bet. Kapil Sibal did that some months ago by saying there was no loss in the 2G scam and CAG was wrong, and now this Lokpal Bill. Fortunately for India and Indians, there are people like Anna Hazare who have called the government’s bluff on this and mobilized millions to prove that the intelligence of Indians cannot be taken for granted.
Predictably of course, some of the intellectual elite in Delhi have come out and morphed this debate about Government corruption into one of constitutional appropriateness, and if that isn’t sophisticated enough, another argument about the dangers to democracy of mobs.
Anna Hazare and the Indians behind this must not pay heed to this. Yes, there is a risk that politics by mobs isn’t a sustainable model for democracy. But that is becoming a risk only because the democracy and Government we have today is dysfunctional. The cause of action here is the failure of Government, and a failure it has been for sure. When credibility of Government and its leaders go, then every action of it is seen through the prism of suspicion and doubt. The onus of establishing trust and credibility is on the Government and political leadership, and not the citizens. And this will not happen by parading smug ministers in front of TVs trying to outwit people; rather, it will come from real, deliberate actions that give the people the confidence that Government is transforming into an institution to honestly serve people, and be about National service and not about self-service and vested interests. Action and words will be required to address this trust deficit in the people about all Politicians and Government in general.
As I said last week, our capital Delhi was once a fountainhead of idealism, national service and commitment to the Idea of India. The crowds at Jantar Mantar and around the country were clamouring for a return to that. Stay the course and they will get that change they want.
(This article appeared in Sunday Standard, dated April 17th, 2011)
History Will Show Jantar Mantar Was the Moment that Triggered Change!
Rajeev Chandershekhar's Blog
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Lt Governor Iqbal Singh and Hasan Ali Linked
The Hindu 20 Apr 2011 Rajesh B. Nair
Trust linked to Iqbal Singh gets nod for medical college
PUDUCHERRY: The territorial administration has given “in- principle” approval for establishing a private medical college at Nedungadu in Karaikal to a trust linked to Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh.
The approval was given to South Education Trust, comprising six members, all residents of Punjab, early this year. According to a senior Minister, even at the conceptual stage of the project, objections were raised to the proposal and the Cabinet had not granted approval.
On February 25 this year, the Under Secretary (Health) issued an Essentiality Certificate (EC), which is normally given after a hospital is established for seeking permission from the Medical Council of India for getting a “Letter of Intent” to start the college. In this case, around 30 acres was identified, but construction had not begun. The EC, a copy of which is available with The Hindu, said, “It is certified that the applicant has undertaken to construct a 300-bed hospital in one year. It is desirable to establish a medical college in public interest.” Usually, an EC is issued only after an inspection of a running hospital that could sustain the clinical activities of the medical college.
The South Education Trust was registered on March 25, 2010 with Tejinder Pal Singh as president-cum-managing trustee and Amarjet Singh as secretary. A perusal of the deed copy of the Trust found that Tejinder Singh is the son of Karam Singh, resident of 92-B, B. R. S Nagar Ludhiana, and Amarjet Singh is the son of S. Iqbal Singh resident of 695-L, Mall Road Model Town Jalandhar. The CPI(M), the CPI and the AIADMK have sought a detailed inquiry by the Centre.
Trust linked to Iqbal Singh gets nod for medical college
Lt Governor Iqbal Singh obtains fake passport for Hasan Ali
Lt Governor Iqbal Singh of Puducherry said he recommend Pune-based Hasan Ali's for a passport in a letter written to Home Ministry.
Earlier on Saturday, the Principal Secretary in the Uttar Pradesh government, VS Pandey, was removed from his post following reports of his alleged links with Hasan Ali.
Summons have already been issued to Iqbal, while the same will be issued next week following the questioning of Bihar politician Amalendu Pandey by the Enforcement Directorate in Mumbai.
Stud farm owner Ali was arrested on March 7 for allegedly laundering billions of dollars in Swiss bank accounts since 2007
Comment: Black money is being used to buy agricultural village lands from the poor on the pretext of building Medical colleges. This method is convenient to convert black and laundered money to white. Truly a Fake democracy in action. Hasan Ali and Iqbal Singh are birds of the same feather. We need the Jan Lokpal Bill passed before it is too late!
Trust linked to Iqbal Singh gets nod for medical college
PUDUCHERRY: The territorial administration has given “in- principle” approval for establishing a private medical college at Nedungadu in Karaikal to a trust linked to Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh.
The approval was given to South Education Trust, comprising six members, all residents of Punjab, early this year. According to a senior Minister, even at the conceptual stage of the project, objections were raised to the proposal and the Cabinet had not granted approval.
On February 25 this year, the Under Secretary (Health) issued an Essentiality Certificate (EC), which is normally given after a hospital is established for seeking permission from the Medical Council of India for getting a “Letter of Intent” to start the college. In this case, around 30 acres was identified, but construction had not begun. The EC, a copy of which is available with The Hindu, said, “It is certified that the applicant has undertaken to construct a 300-bed hospital in one year. It is desirable to establish a medical college in public interest.” Usually, an EC is issued only after an inspection of a running hospital that could sustain the clinical activities of the medical college.
The South Education Trust was registered on March 25, 2010 with Tejinder Pal Singh as president-cum-managing trustee and Amarjet Singh as secretary. A perusal of the deed copy of the Trust found that Tejinder Singh is the son of Karam Singh, resident of 92-B, B. R. S Nagar Ludhiana, and Amarjet Singh is the son of S. Iqbal Singh resident of 695-L, Mall Road Model Town Jalandhar. The CPI(M), the CPI and the AIADMK have sought a detailed inquiry by the Centre.
Trust linked to Iqbal Singh gets nod for medical college
Lt Governor Iqbal Singh obtains fake passport for Hasan Ali
Lt Governor Iqbal Singh of Puducherry said he recommend Pune-based Hasan Ali's for a passport in a letter written to Home Ministry.
Earlier on Saturday, the Principal Secretary in the Uttar Pradesh government, VS Pandey, was removed from his post following reports of his alleged links with Hasan Ali.
Summons have already been issued to Iqbal, while the same will be issued next week following the questioning of Bihar politician Amalendu Pandey by the Enforcement Directorate in Mumbai.
Stud farm owner Ali was arrested on March 7 for allegedly laundering billions of dollars in Swiss bank accounts since 2007
Comment: Black money is being used to buy agricultural village lands from the poor on the pretext of building Medical colleges. This method is convenient to convert black and laundered money to white. Truly a Fake democracy in action. Hasan Ali and Iqbal Singh are birds of the same feather. We need the Jan Lokpal Bill passed before it is too late!
Monetary allowance for gallantry awardees enhanced
Monetary allowance for gallantry awardees enhanced 19 April 2011 | 1:41 PM
The Ministry of Defence has enhanced the rates of monthly allowance for gallantry awardees.
The new rates shall be applicable with effect from 30 March 2011. Following are the enhanced monthly amounts
PVC Rs 10,000
AC Rs 6,000
MVC Rs 5,000
KC Rs 4,500
VrC Rs 3,500
SC Rs 3,000
SM / NM / VM (G) Rs 1,000
The MoD has already forwarded the letter to Services HQrs.
Monetary allowance for gallantry awardees enhanced
Previous Gallantry Allowances
Particular of Gallantry Award rate of monetary allowance
(Rupees per month)
Param Vir Chakra 3000
Ashok Chakra 2800/-
Maha Vir Chakra 2400/-
Kirti Chakra 2100/-
Vir Chakra 1700/-
Saurya Chakra 1500/-
Sena/Nao Sena/Vayu Sena Medal awardees Rs 500/-
Comment: The enhancement for PVC is 333% and others less than 250%. Salaries and Pensions have increased over 300% by the Sixth Central Pay Commission. Why this measly enhancements for the Gallant Jawans?
The Ministry of Defence has enhanced the rates of monthly allowance for gallantry awardees.
The new rates shall be applicable with effect from 30 March 2011. Following are the enhanced monthly amounts
PVC Rs 10,000
AC Rs 6,000
MVC Rs 5,000
KC Rs 4,500
VrC Rs 3,500
SC Rs 3,000
SM / NM / VM (G) Rs 1,000
The MoD has already forwarded the letter to Services HQrs.
Monetary allowance for gallantry awardees enhanced
Previous Gallantry Allowances
Particular of Gallantry Award rate of monetary allowance
(Rupees per month)
Param Vir Chakra 3000
Ashok Chakra 2800/-
Maha Vir Chakra 2400/-
Kirti Chakra 2100/-
Vir Chakra 1700/-
Saurya Chakra 1500/-
Sena/Nao Sena/Vayu Sena Medal awardees Rs 500/-
Comment: The enhancement for PVC is 333% and others less than 250%. Salaries and Pensions have increased over 300% by the Sixth Central Pay Commission. Why this measly enhancements for the Gallant Jawans?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
President Confers Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards
The Chief of Army Staff, Gen. V.K. Singh with the gallantry award winners and NOKs of Posthumous awardees during a reception hosted in their honour, in ABHM on April 18, 2011. CNR :37572 Photo ID :34583The President and Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil conferred three Kirti Chakras and 18 Shaurya Chakras to Armed Forces Personnel for displaying conspicuous gallantry, indomitable courage and extreme devotion to duty at a solemn ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here today.
The President also conferred thirteen Param Vishisht Seva Medals, two Uttam Yudh Seva Medals and twenty seven Ati Vishisht Seva Medals to senior officers of the Armed Forces for distinguished service of an exceptional order. The following is the list of awardees in order of Presentation:
PARAM VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL
1. VICE ADMIRAL DEVENDRA KUMAR JOSHI, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (01507-Z)
2. AIR MARSHAL PARAMJIT SINGH BHANGU, AVSM, VM (12932) FLYING (PILOT) (RETIRED)
3. IC-25156 LIEUTENANT GENERAL JASWINDER PAL SINGH, AVSM, ARMOURED CORPS
4. IC-25442 LIEUTENANT GENERAL SWATANTARTA NAND HANDA, AVSM, VSM, INFANTRY
5. IC-25189 LIEUTENANT GENERAL GAUTAM BANERJEE, AVSM, YSM, CORPS OF ENGINEERS
6. IC 25646 LIEUTENANT GENERAL VIRENDER SINGH TONK, AVSM, INFANTRY
7. MR-03434 LIEUTENANT GENERAL HIRA LAL KAKRIA, AVSM, BAR TO VSM, ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
8. MR-03831 LIEUTENANT GENERAL DEVENDER PAUL VATS, SM, VSM, ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
9. DR-10270 LIEUTENANT GENERAL SURRINDER BHUSHAN SEHAJPAL, AVSM, VSM, ARMY DENTAL CORPS(RETIRED)
10. IC-24718 LIEUTENANT GENERAL PREM KRISHAN GOEL, AVSM, VSM, REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY(RETIRED)
11. IC-32782 LIEUTENANT GENERAL BALLACHANDA KUTTAPPA CHENGAPA, AVSM, INFANTRY (RETIRED)
12. IC-24652 LIEUTENANT GENERAL RAJ KUMAR KARWAL, AVSM, BAR TO SM, VSM, INFANTRY / HEADQUARTER DIRECTORATE GENERAL NATIONAL CADET CORPS (RETIRED)
13. AIR MARSHAL NIRDOSH VATSYAYAN TYAGI, AVSM, VM, VSM (12765) FLYING (PILOT) (RETIRED)
KIRTI CHAKRA
1. IC-67257 MAJOR RAHUL GURUNG, CORPS OF ENGINEERS / 12 ASSAM RIFLES
2. SS-42132 CAPTAIN DEEPAK SHARMA, CORPS OF SIGNALS / 42 RASHTRIYA RIFLES(POSTHUMOUS)
3. IC-70971 LIEUTENANT (NOW CAPTAIN) VIKRANT AJIT DESHMUKH, 8TH BATTALION THE MADRAS REGIMENT
UTTAM YUDDH SEVA MEDAL
1. IC-27645 LIEUTENANT GENERAL RAMESHWAR ROY, AVSM, YSM, INFANTRY
2. IC-27972 LIEUTENANT GENERAL GYAN BHUSHAN, AVSM, VSM, INFANTRY
ATI VISHISHT SEVA MEDAL
1. IC-25833 LIEUTENANT GENERAL GOVINDA MOHAN NAIR, SM, VSM, INFANTRY
2. IC-27701 LIEUTENANT GENERAL DALBIR SINGH SIDHU, VSM, ARMOURED CORPS
3. IC-27967 LIEUTENANT GENERAL SURINDER PAL SINGH, VSM, REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY
4. IC-30010 LIEUTENANT GENERAL DIGVIJAY SINGH THAKUR, INFANTRY
5. MR-03435 LIEUTENANT GENERAL BHAGIRATH SINGH RATHORE, VSM, ARMY MEDICAL CORPS (RETIRED)
6. AIR MARSHAL JAGDISH CHANDRA, VSM (14613) AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING (ELECTRONICS)
7. AIR MARSHAL DALJIT SINGH, VM (14553) FLYING (PILOT)
8. IC-30710 MAJOR GENERAL ANIL KUMAR MISRA, REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY
9. IC-31052 MAJOR GENERAL SHAKTI GURUNG, VSM, INFANTRY
10. IC-36294 MAJOR GENERAL NAVTEJ SINGH BAWA, REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY
11. IC-30723 MAJOR GENERAL ASHOK SINGH, SM, VSM, INFANTRY
12. IC-31351 MAJOR GENERAL RAJ NANDAN SINGH, SM, VSM, INFANTRY
13. IC-31705 MAJOR GENERAL SANDEEP SINGH, SM, VSM, INFANTRY
14. IC-31739 MAJOR GENERAL CHANGALI ANANDA KRISHNAN, INFANTRY
15. IC-34019 MAJOR GENERAL DEEPENDRA SINGH HOODA, BAR TO VSM, INFANTRY
16. DR-10309 MAJOR GENERAL SUSHANTA KARKUN, ARMY DENTAL CORPS
17. IC-33235 MAJOR GENERAL DEEPINDER SINGH, SM, VSM, ARMOURED CORPS (RETIRED)
18. REAR ADMIRAL MICHAEL TITUS MORAES, (01888-R)
19. REAR ADMIRAL PARASURAM NAIDU MURUGESAN, VSM, (01958-Z)
20. REAR ADMIRAL VIJAYA KUMAR NAMBALLA, NM, (40689-Z)
21. REAR ADMIRAL RAVINDER KHANNA, VSM, (50514-B) (RETIRED)
22. AIR VICE MARSHAL (NOW AIR MARSHAL) RAVI KANT SHARMA, VM (14088) FLYING (PILOT)
23. AIR VICE MARSHAL NAVIN RATTAN, VSM (14242) MEDICAL
24. AIR VICE MARSHAL SUBHASH CHANDER LUTHRA, VSM (15105) AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING (ELECTRONICS) (RETIRED)
25. MR-03856 BRIGADIER VELU NAIR, BAR TO VSM, ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
26. AIR COMMODORE (NOW AIR VICE MARSHAL) SHYAM BIHARI PRASAD SINHA, VM (16053) FLYING (PILOT)
27. AIR COMMODORE HARJIT SINGH ARORA, (16557) FLYING (PILOT)
SHAURYA CHAKRA
1. 15619321 GUARDSMAN KRISHAN KUMAR, BRIGADE OF THE GUARDS / 21 RASHTRIYA RIFLES(POSTHUMOUS)
2. IC-68043 CAPTAIN AMIT KUMAR SINGH, SENA MEDAL, 2ND BATTALION THE BIHAR REGIMENT
3. JC-2300474 NAIB SUBEDAR RANG BAHADUR YADAV, 23 ASSAM RIFLES
4. 4366857 LANCE NAIK NENGMAITHEM RAJESH SINGH, 21ST BATTALION THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT (SPECIAL FORCES)
5. 13621161 LANCE HAVILDAR RAJAN, 1ST BATTALION THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT (SPECIAL FORCES)
6. 13627069 PARATROOPER MAKUNG SARANG HUCHONG, 21ST BATTALION THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT (SPECIAL FORCES)
7. G/3101841 RIFLEMAN MILAP SINGH, 31 ASSAM RIFLES
8. 2607215 SEPOY CHANNALLI BASAVARAJ, 19TH BATTALION THE MADRAS REGIMENT
9. 4001514 SEPOY RAVI KANT, DOGRA REGIMENT / 11 RASHTRIYA RIFLES(POSTHUMOUS)
10. IC-61307 MAJOR DEEPAK YADAV, ARMY EDUCATION CORPS / EMBASSY OF INDIA, KABUL (POSTHUMOUS)
11. IC-61324 MAJOR NITESH ROY, ARMY EDUCATION CORPS / EMBASSY OF INDIA, KABUL (POSTHUMOUS)
12. 13762552 LANCE NAIK PRAVEEN THAKUR, 12TH BATTALION THE JAMMU AND KASHMIR RIFLES
13. 14704137 SEPOY VIJAY SINGH BOHARA, NAGA REGIMENT / 60 RASHTRIYA RIFLES
14. IC-70065 CAPTAIN MANENDRA PRATAP SINGH, ARMY SERVICE CORPS / 8TH BATTALION THE MAHAR REGIMENT
15. IC-67498 MAJOR MANISH BARAL, MAHAR REGIMENT / 30 RASHTRIYA RIFLES
16. 4579271 SEPOY SANGAT SINGH, MAHAR REGIMENT / 30 RASHTRIYA RIFLES (POSTHUMOUS)
17. 2497584 PARATROOPER KAPIL DEV, 1ST BATTALION THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT (SPECIAL FORCES)
18. IC-72002 LIEUTENANT VIKRAM BAHADUR SINGH, ARMY SERVICE CORPS / 3RD BATTALION THE MADRAS REGIMENT
Vice-President Mohd Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister Shri AK Antony, Minister of State for Defence Dr. MM Pallam Raju, Leader of the opposition Smt Sushma Swaraj, Chairperson, National Advisory Council Smt Sonia Gandhi, Chief of the Army Staff General VK Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma and several other senior civil and military officials were present on the occasion. PIB DM/HH/PK/Raman
President Confers Gallantry and Distinguished Service Awards
IV Pay Commission Rank Pay Anomaly Case- Update
References
Rank Pay- Military Officers Reduced in Rank?
GOI Prays to Supreme Court
IV Pay Commission Rank Pay Anomaly Case
In the case of Maj AK Dhanapalan Vs Union of India in OP 2448/96, The Hon’ble High Court of Kerela allowed the plea of the officer and held that the deduction of the rank pay was not correct and directed to re fix the basic pay of the officer from 1.1.1986. Appeal filed by the Union of India before the larger bench of the High Court & SLP in the Hon’ble Supreme Court against the judgment was dismissed. Although Govt sanction to pay arrears to Maj AK Dhanapalan were issued, the benefit was not extended to similarly placed officers of the three Services. Similar cases were filed by a large number of officers in various courts throughout the country. The Supreme Court of India directed that such of the cases be transferred to the apex court. Retired Defence Officers Association (RDOA) has been able to transfer one of the ‘lead cases’ from Kerela to the Supreme Court.
As on 15 APR 2011
The case had come up for hearing on 13 Apr 2011 in court no 13. UOI requested for more time and has yet not filed the affidivit as asked for by the court. The next date of hearing is scheduled for 25 Apr 2011.
As on 09 Mar 2011
The case was heard today in the court of Justice Aftab Alam & Justice RM Lodha. UOI sought further four weeks time to file affadivit as asked by the apex court which was granted. The next date of hearing has been fixed for 13 Apr 2011.
As on 24 Feb 2011
The case was heard today in the court of Justice Shri Aftab Alam & Justice Shri RM Lodha. There were partial arguments on the pay fixation as per recommendations of the IV Pay Commission.The court has asked UOI to file an affadivit on the pay fixation of civilian officers drawing the same basic pay as army officers as on 01/01/86 as recommended by the IV Pay Commission. The next date of hearing has been fixed as 08 Mar 2011.
As on 05 Jan 2011
The case was heard on 03 Jan 2011 in the court of Justice RM Lodha & Justice Aftab Alam. The court ordered that the case be put up on 24 Feb 2011 for final disposal.
As on 06 DEC 2010
The case had come up for hearing today-06 Dec 10. The next date of hearing has been fixed for 03 Jan 2011.
IV Pay Commission Rank Pay Anomaly Case
In the case of Maj AK Dhanapalan Vs Union of India in OP 2448/96, The Hon’ble High Court of Kerela allowed the plea of the officer and held that the deduction of the rank pay was not correct and directed to re fix the basic pay of the officer from 1.1.1986. Appeal filed by the Union of India before the larger bench of the High Court & SLP in the Hon’ble Supreme Court against the judgment was dismissed. Although Govt sanction to pay arrears to Maj AK Dhanapalan were issued, the benefit was not extended to similarly placed officers of the three Services. Similar cases were filed by a large number of officers in various courts throughout the country. The Supreme Court of India directed that such of the cases be transferred to the apex court. Retired Defence Officers Association (RDOA) has been able to transfer one of the ‘lead cases’ from Kerela to the Supreme Court.
As on 15 APR 2011
The case had come up for hearing on 13 Apr 2011 in court no 13. UOI requested for more time and has yet not filed the affidivit as asked for by the court. The next date of hearing is scheduled for 25 Apr 2011.
As on 09 Mar 2011
The case was heard today in the court of Justice Aftab Alam & Justice RM Lodha. UOI sought further four weeks time to file affadivit as asked by the apex court which was granted. The next date of hearing has been fixed for 13 Apr 2011.
As on 24 Feb 2011
The case was heard today in the court of Justice Shri Aftab Alam & Justice Shri RM Lodha. There were partial arguments on the pay fixation as per recommendations of the IV Pay Commission.The court has asked UOI to file an affadivit on the pay fixation of civilian officers drawing the same basic pay as army officers as on 01/01/86 as recommended by the IV Pay Commission. The next date of hearing has been fixed as 08 Mar 2011.
As on 05 Jan 2011
The case was heard on 03 Jan 2011 in the court of Justice RM Lodha & Justice Aftab Alam. The court ordered that the case be put up on 24 Feb 2011 for final disposal.
As on 06 DEC 2010
The case had come up for hearing today-06 Dec 10. The next date of hearing has been fixed for 03 Jan 2011.
Monday, April 18, 2011
ESL Uttrakhund- Yeoman Service for Family Pensioners
Date: Mon, 11 Apr 2011 08:53:46 +0530
Hi Rawat, tremendous work. Makes one feel really proud. God bless you and your team. Regards,
Brig SC Kuthiala
From: rsrawat
To: kuthiala
Subject: REPORT BY A DEVOTED VETERAN WORKING IN REMOTE AREAS FOR INDIAN MILITARY VETERANS - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 163/2011 - 10 APR 2011 (LIST-3)
Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:17:30 +0530
Thank you Sir.
This is my second foray as part of "Farthest First". The earlier one was to Pipalkjoti in end Dec. We have helped 45 plus 16 ESM in these remote areas till now.
The banks have great faith in me. Every case sent by me is is settled promptly even by the CPPC Cell Dehradun. Even PNB Zonal office attaches great significance to my recommendations.
I have so far drawn approx Rs 1.5 cr from the banks in favour of ESM _ AT NO COST TO THEM & always at my cost as I do all errands for them in my car - even visit to the hills. Got my dad Rs 9.27 lakhs as arrears! Helped several Maj Gens get their arrears where they were awarded 10% penal interest. Most of the were unaware of the order & totally unaware of MS Excel & formulas.
I have helped several at Gurgaon too - latest case is of a Lt Col 's widow Mrs Reoti Charasia who I have been informed has been paid Rs 4 lakhs.
I can thank honest upright elders like you under whom I served.
I appreciate your letter on OROP.
Warm rgds
Raju Rawat
Brig RS Rawat, ESL Uttrakhund
-----------
From: rajender rawat
Sent: 14 April 2011 22:09
To: cs.kamboj
Subject: FW: Draft of Letter to CDA for incl name and DOB spouse
Importance: High
Dear Sir,
It was perhaps almost 2 years ago when I chanced upon the need to have the DOB of my wife endorsed in IHQ as also in a Corr PPO to be issued by the PCDA (Pension) so that when the time inevitably will come my wife will not have to knock the doors of Soldier Board & other ESM offices for assistance. Many very senior offrs took offence to this initiative stating that AG's Br already has this data. So, many, still to this date have taken no action.
The point I wish to highlight is that we at UESL have lost count of how many cases we have taken up with the IHQ, who, have been prompt enough to fwd the necessary letter to PCDA ( Pension) for issue of the Corr PPO. However to date, except for two cases, no one has been issued the Corr PPO.
The initial hurdle with the PCDA (Pension) was that a LPC cum Data Sheet had NOT been submitted. This was a new requirement as perhaps the good official at Allahabad did not want to browse through a maze of documents that we had to meticulously prepare & submit. Fair enough! The Data Sheet was prepared & forwarded. Still there has been no Corr PPO OR an ack. Perhaps the office is overloaded.
After all what is the great fuss that we are making over this subject - one may ask? This is why:-
(a) Smt Durga Maya Rai was paid approx Rs 2 lakhs as Addl Pension.
(b) Smt Rekha Rawat's LTA were paid to her son Col SPS Rawat.
(c) Widow of late Lt Col Kundan Singh Rawat was paid over Rs 1 lakh as Additional Pension.
(d) After over 6 months Smt Gayatri Gusain has still not been paid her Addl Pension. The GOI letter states that the bank will pay Addl Pension on submission of proof for a period of 6 months. This has NOT been done by Allahabad Bank till this aspect was brought to their notce. A total of over 10 trips have been made by me to this bank to resolve her FP & Addl Pension. Still no Addl Pension has been paid. A letter was written to PCDA (Pension) who promptly wrote back to IHQ to mail the LPC cum Data Sheet. Now at this end we are preparing the same for submission. Why are we doing this? Is this our job? If we don't who else will? AND if we do not then someone else will avail the LTA. How tragic - a widow will not be able to use the money meant for her during her life time.
The examples show how widows have got thier dues after our active intervention. Who is supposed to do all this?
Now I wish to come to the final point. PLEASE SEE WHAT THE INDIAN NAVY IS DOING & LEARN A LESSON. The NAVAL FOUNDATION has taken the initiative to post the attached application to all offrs who retired before 2006. Their procedure is simple with no hassles. PLEASE peruse this & compare it with the docus needed by PCDA (Pension). The former is simpler. Why are we being asked to present sheets of paper? Let me state here that IF the very first docu eg the easily obtained PAN Card has a fudged date no one will find out - neither the bank, Notary, Service HQ or PCDA Pension - all of who countersign it as correct! So, what kind of authentication & value addition is being accrued by preparing this document? Let us make it simple like the Navy has done.
KINDLY READ THE MAIL FWD & SEE HOW SIMPLE THE NAVY HAS MADE THIS PROCESS
Rgds
Brig RS Rawat
Vice President UESL
From: capthsrawat
To: rsrawat
Subject: FW: Draft of Letter to CDA for incl name and DOB spouse
Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:30:16 +0530
Harinder Singh Rawat
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2010 09:45:19 +0530
Subject: Draft of Letter to CDA for incl name and DOB spouse
From: vvadhera
Dear Member,
Some of our veterans have on verification of their PPO have observed that name and DOB of their spouse is missing from the PPO. You may like to verify your own PPO and if so , pse. do forward a letter, as attached, to the CDA(P) earliest. Please note that the DOB or year of birth of the spouse is necessary for getting the family pension by your best half Wife when you decide to leave for the heavenly abode.
Secy, NFMC
Application for inclusion wife's DOB to PPO
REGD POST ACK.DUE
File NO Date
From:
TO:
The Principal Controller Of Defence Accounts (Navy).
Varuna, No. 1, Cooperage Road,
Mumbai 400001
Dear Sir,
RE: INCLUSION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH OF SPOUSE IN THE PENSION PAYMENT ORDER.
Reference my PPO Nos:
(a)
(b)
(c)
and Govt of India, MOD, Dept of Ex-servicemen welfare letter No 17(4)2008(1)/D (Pen/Policy), Annexure – II (revised),Table-1 dated 20 Jan 2009.
1. Keeping the requirement of the Pension Disbursing Authority, regarding the authentication of the Name and Date of Birth of the widows by the Pension Sanctioning Authority (PSA) before payment of their entitled family pension/Additional pension; I request your office to issue me with a new PPO to include my spouse’s name and DOB.
2. My particulars are as under:-
(a) Personal No
(b) Rank
(c) Name
(d) Date of Birth
(e) Date of Commission
(f) Date of Retirement
(g) Present Basic Pension drawn
(h) Name of Spouse
(i) Date of Birth
3. I am forwarding the under mentioned documents duly attested pertaining to my wife Mrs……….. for your information.
a. Photocopy of her Passport/ PAN card/ SSLC Cert/ Voters Card/ Driving License/ ID card from PO/ Ration Card giving proof of DOB and Place of Residence.
b. Our Joint Photo (3copies).
4. May I request you to kindly issue a new PPO including the details of the Name & DOB of my spouse (Mrs... (DOB...) to my PDA whose details are given below with a copy to me.
5. Permanent Address:
6. Bank Address of the Bank branch from where pension is drawn(Pension SB a/c No....)
7. The new PPO will help my spouse to get her entitled family pension without any difficulties, if and when the need arises.
Thanking You,
Yours Truly
(XXXXXXX)
--
Cdr.Vijay Vadhera,N.M (Retd.)
Master Pilot , Mumbai Port Trust
Hi Rawat, tremendous work. Makes one feel really proud. God bless you and your team. Regards,
Brig SC Kuthiala
From: rsrawat
To: kuthiala
Subject: REPORT BY A DEVOTED VETERAN WORKING IN REMOTE AREAS FOR INDIAN MILITARY VETERANS - "REPORT MY SIGNAL" - EMAIL 163/2011 - 10 APR 2011 (LIST-3)
Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:17:30 +0530
Thank you Sir.
This is my second foray as part of "Farthest First". The earlier one was to Pipalkjoti in end Dec. We have helped 45 plus 16 ESM in these remote areas till now.
The banks have great faith in me. Every case sent by me is is settled promptly even by the CPPC Cell Dehradun. Even PNB Zonal office attaches great significance to my recommendations.
I have so far drawn approx Rs 1.5 cr from the banks in favour of ESM _ AT NO COST TO THEM & always at my cost as I do all errands for them in my car - even visit to the hills. Got my dad Rs 9.27 lakhs as arrears! Helped several Maj Gens get their arrears where they were awarded 10% penal interest. Most of the were unaware of the order & totally unaware of MS Excel & formulas.
I have helped several at Gurgaon too - latest case is of a Lt Col 's widow Mrs Reoti Charasia who I have been informed has been paid Rs 4 lakhs.
I can thank honest upright elders like you under whom I served.
I appreciate your letter on OROP.
Warm rgds
Raju Rawat
Brig RS Rawat, ESL Uttrakhund
-----------
From: rajender rawat
Sent: 14 April 2011 22:09
To: cs.kamboj
Subject: FW: Draft of Letter to CDA for incl name and DOB spouse
Importance: High
Dear Sir,
It was perhaps almost 2 years ago when I chanced upon the need to have the DOB of my wife endorsed in IHQ as also in a Corr PPO to be issued by the PCDA (Pension) so that when the time inevitably will come my wife will not have to knock the doors of Soldier Board & other ESM offices for assistance. Many very senior offrs took offence to this initiative stating that AG's Br already has this data. So, many, still to this date have taken no action.
The point I wish to highlight is that we at UESL have lost count of how many cases we have taken up with the IHQ, who, have been prompt enough to fwd the necessary letter to PCDA ( Pension) for issue of the Corr PPO. However to date, except for two cases, no one has been issued the Corr PPO.
The initial hurdle with the PCDA (Pension) was that a LPC cum Data Sheet had NOT been submitted. This was a new requirement as perhaps the good official at Allahabad did not want to browse through a maze of documents that we had to meticulously prepare & submit. Fair enough! The Data Sheet was prepared & forwarded. Still there has been no Corr PPO OR an ack. Perhaps the office is overloaded.
After all what is the great fuss that we are making over this subject - one may ask? This is why:-
(a) Smt Durga Maya Rai was paid approx Rs 2 lakhs as Addl Pension.
(b) Smt Rekha Rawat's LTA were paid to her son Col SPS Rawat.
(c) Widow of late Lt Col Kundan Singh Rawat was paid over Rs 1 lakh as Additional Pension.
(d) After over 6 months Smt Gayatri Gusain has still not been paid her Addl Pension. The GOI letter states that the bank will pay Addl Pension on submission of proof for a period of 6 months. This has NOT been done by Allahabad Bank till this aspect was brought to their notce. A total of over 10 trips have been made by me to this bank to resolve her FP & Addl Pension. Still no Addl Pension has been paid. A letter was written to PCDA (Pension) who promptly wrote back to IHQ to mail the LPC cum Data Sheet. Now at this end we are preparing the same for submission. Why are we doing this? Is this our job? If we don't who else will? AND if we do not then someone else will avail the LTA. How tragic - a widow will not be able to use the money meant for her during her life time.
The examples show how widows have got thier dues after our active intervention. Who is supposed to do all this?
Now I wish to come to the final point. PLEASE SEE WHAT THE INDIAN NAVY IS DOING & LEARN A LESSON. The NAVAL FOUNDATION has taken the initiative to post the attached application to all offrs who retired before 2006. Their procedure is simple with no hassles. PLEASE peruse this & compare it with the docus needed by PCDA (Pension). The former is simpler. Why are we being asked to present sheets of paper? Let me state here that IF the very first docu eg the easily obtained PAN Card has a fudged date no one will find out - neither the bank, Notary, Service HQ or PCDA Pension - all of who countersign it as correct! So, what kind of authentication & value addition is being accrued by preparing this document? Let us make it simple like the Navy has done.
KINDLY READ THE MAIL FWD & SEE HOW SIMPLE THE NAVY HAS MADE THIS PROCESS
Rgds
Brig RS Rawat
Vice President UESL
From: capthsrawat
To: rsrawat
Subject: FW: Draft of Letter to CDA for incl name and DOB spouse
Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:30:16 +0530
Harinder Singh Rawat
Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2010 09:45:19 +0530
Subject: Draft of Letter to CDA for incl name and DOB spouse
From: vvadhera
Dear Member,
Some of our veterans have on verification of their PPO have observed that name and DOB of their spouse is missing from the PPO. You may like to verify your own PPO and if so , pse. do forward a letter, as attached, to the CDA(P) earliest. Please note that the DOB or year of birth of the spouse is necessary for getting the family pension by your best half Wife when you decide to leave for the heavenly abode.
Secy, NFMC
Application for inclusion wife's DOB to PPO
REGD POST ACK.DUE
File NO Date
From:
TO:
The Principal Controller Of Defence Accounts (Navy).
Varuna, No. 1, Cooperage Road,
Mumbai 400001
Dear Sir,
RE: INCLUSION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH OF SPOUSE IN THE PENSION PAYMENT ORDER.
Reference my PPO Nos:
(a)
(b)
(c)
and Govt of India, MOD, Dept of Ex-servicemen welfare letter No 17(4)2008(1)/D (Pen/Policy), Annexure – II (revised),Table-1 dated 20 Jan 2009.
1. Keeping the requirement of the Pension Disbursing Authority, regarding the authentication of the Name and Date of Birth of the widows by the Pension Sanctioning Authority (PSA) before payment of their entitled family pension/Additional pension; I request your office to issue me with a new PPO to include my spouse’s name and DOB.
2. My particulars are as under:-
(a) Personal No
(b) Rank
(c) Name
(d) Date of Birth
(e) Date of Commission
(f) Date of Retirement
(g) Present Basic Pension drawn
(h) Name of Spouse
(i) Date of Birth
3. I am forwarding the under mentioned documents duly attested pertaining to my wife Mrs……….. for your information.
a. Photocopy of her Passport/ PAN card/ SSLC Cert/ Voters Card/ Driving License/ ID card from PO/ Ration Card giving proof of DOB and Place of Residence.
b. Our Joint Photo (3copies).
4. May I request you to kindly issue a new PPO including the details of the Name & DOB of my spouse (Mrs... (DOB...) to my PDA whose details are given below with a copy to me.
5. Permanent Address:
6. Bank Address of the Bank branch from where pension is drawn(Pension SB a/c No....)
7. The new PPO will help my spouse to get her entitled family pension without any difficulties, if and when the need arises.
Thanking You,
Yours Truly
(XXXXXXX)
--
Cdr.Vijay Vadhera,N.M (Retd.)
Master Pilot , Mumbai Port Trust
IESM Rally held at Varanasi
Dear Colleagues,
An ESM rally was held at Varanasi (UP) today. Attended by 304 ESM and families, it was anchored by Veteran CPO Subhash Yadav. It was a very well organized event. Vinod Gandhi, Aditya Jaini and self attended the event. Despite being the cropping season, ESM had come from far off places. The enthusiasm of the ESM community in seeking our just dues continues to gather steam.
This is to remind all that the memoranda on OROP should reach the Petitions Committee before 23 April. This is a good opportunity to convey our views to a powerful body of the Parliament.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
An ESM rally was held at Varanasi (UP) today. Attended by 304 ESM and families, it was anchored by Veteran CPO Subhash Yadav. It was a very well organized event. Vinod Gandhi, Aditya Jaini and self attended the event. Despite being the cropping season, ESM had come from far off places. The enthusiasm of the ESM community in seeking our just dues continues to gather steam.
This is to remind all that the memoranda on OROP should reach the Petitions Committee before 23 April. This is a good opportunity to convey our views to a powerful body of the Parliament.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Maharaja of Jaipur Bhawani Singh is dead
17/04/2011
Jaipur: Brig Sawai Bhawani Singh, the last titular maharaja of Jaipur, passed away at a private hospital in Gurgaon, his family said Sunday. He was 79.
In 1951, Bhawani Singh was commissioned into the Indian Army in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment as a second lieutenant. In 1954, he was selected for the Presidents' Bodyguard. In 1963, he was posted to the 50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade.
From 1964-1967, he was adjutant at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. In 1967, he volunteered for the new special forces unit and was posted to 10 Para Commando as second-in-command. The following year he became the elite unit's commanding Officer.
In 1970, he helped in training the "Mukti Bahini", the rebel army in Bangladesh against then Pakistani rule.
In 1970, after the death of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II, the president of India recognized him as the successor and ruler of Jaipur and a notification was issued for this.
During 1971 India-Pakistan war, he was awarded the second highest wartime gallantry award -- the Mahavir Chakra.
His unit, the 10 Para Commando, also received 10 gallantry awards for their action in the war. He took voluntary retirement in 1974.
When the Indian Army was in action in Sri Lanka in the 1980s, Bhawani Singh went to Sri Lanka at the request of then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi to boost the morale of the soldiers.
For this the president of India bestowed upon him the rank of brigadier for life.
Bhawani Singh was also the first resident high commissioner to Brunei from 1993 to 1997. Source: IANS
Read more: Maharaja of Jaipur Bhawani Singh is dead
The bitter side of spying
NDTV Correspondent, Updated: April 17, 2011 11:10 IST
Gurdaspur (Punjab): The case of Indian spy Gopal Dass, who returned home last week after spending 27 years in prison in Pakistan, has sparked off renewed interest in what actually goes on in this shadowy world.
Once a master spy, Karamat Rahi is now tea stall owner. Six years ago, he returned to his village in Gurdaspur, Punjab, after spending 18 years in Pakistani jails.
After his return, Karamat sought compensation from the Indian intelligence agency he worked for, but was refused. He moved court but his plea was turned down so he now plans to move a higher court.
"We spend difficult times in those jails, we are half dead in those interrogations. Now when we can't do anything we should get something to do business. Also, what do I do without pension? I am 58 and worth nothing," says Karamat.
Fifty kilometre away, in village Daduwal that once had a dozen spies working for Indian agencies, Sunil was lured into spying by a fellow villager. But three years later, he was caught in Pakistan and jailed.
He returned home after seven years. Physically weak and depressed, he is now fully dependant on his wife who works as a domestic help.
"We worked for the country and what we got was tears of blood. We don't get anything," says Sunil.
Grefan tried his hands at spying but soon decided to quit. But his mentors just won't let him. He alleges that Indian agencies implicated him in three false cases.
He now works as a labourer and earns Rs. 3000 a month.
"I refused to work for these agencies since they did not care. When I stopped working, I was implicated in false cases - of bomb blast. But I was proved innocent; they slapped more cases," he says.
Along the border belt in Punjab, almost every third village has a spy who once worked for Indian agency. These spies say they never got a fair deal; they say the way they have been ignored they feel they are the children of lesser God.
The bitter side of spying
Gurdaspur (Punjab): The case of Indian spy Gopal Dass, who returned home last week after spending 27 years in prison in Pakistan, has sparked off renewed interest in what actually goes on in this shadowy world.
Once a master spy, Karamat Rahi is now tea stall owner. Six years ago, he returned to his village in Gurdaspur, Punjab, after spending 18 years in Pakistani jails.
After his return, Karamat sought compensation from the Indian intelligence agency he worked for, but was refused. He moved court but his plea was turned down so he now plans to move a higher court.
"We spend difficult times in those jails, we are half dead in those interrogations. Now when we can't do anything we should get something to do business. Also, what do I do without pension? I am 58 and worth nothing," says Karamat.
Fifty kilometre away, in village Daduwal that once had a dozen spies working for Indian agencies, Sunil was lured into spying by a fellow villager. But three years later, he was caught in Pakistan and jailed.
He returned home after seven years. Physically weak and depressed, he is now fully dependant on his wife who works as a domestic help.
"We worked for the country and what we got was tears of blood. We don't get anything," says Sunil.
Grefan tried his hands at spying but soon decided to quit. But his mentors just won't let him. He alleges that Indian agencies implicated him in three false cases.
He now works as a labourer and earns Rs. 3000 a month.
"I refused to work for these agencies since they did not care. When I stopped working, I was implicated in false cases - of bomb blast. But I was proved innocent; they slapped more cases," he says.
Along the border belt in Punjab, almost every third village has a spy who once worked for Indian agency. These spies say they never got a fair deal; they say the way they have been ignored they feel they are the children of lesser God.
The bitter side of spying
Gandhian Hazare versus Godfather Pawar: Maharastra Mantra
Pawar symbolises Indian Power Politics - The good prevails over the bad
By Abhay Vaidya/DNA-Daily News & Analysis, 17/04/2011
The clash between two sons of Maharashtra — one, an ambitious neta, the other, a social activist — symbolises India’s war against corruption
Anna Hazare's ascent in the socio-political landscape has coincided with the almost proportionate descent of one of India's foremost politicians, Sharad Pawar.
As India battles corruption like never before, it is extraordinarily symbolic that anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare's ascent in the socio-political landscape has coincided with the almost proportionate descent of one of India's foremost politicians, Sharad Pawar.
The all-pervasive cancer of corruption in the body politic is the battleground and the spectators are a billion strong. The moment is historic and both, Anna Hazare and Sharad Pawar, have emerged as the defining symbols of this battle. Once a strong prime ministerial candidate who had challenged 10 Janpath, Pawar has been openly accused by Hazare of encouraging corruption and became the first victim of the Jan Lokpal agitation. It didn't help one bit when days later, the tainted PR handler Nira Radia named Pawar as the godfather of Shahid Balwa's DB Realty empire.
The mass support that Pawar easily drums up, especially from his rural followers, has always been cited as the crown jewel of his five-decade long political career. Even that now virtually pales into insignificance in front of the mass outpouring of support, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to Assam, in favour of Hazare.
Hazare's rise coincides with Pawar's decline
Comment: Hazare's Patriotism Vs Pawar's Political Power! Certainly the good will prevail over the bad!
By Abhay Vaidya/DNA-Daily News & Analysis, 17/04/2011
The clash between two sons of Maharashtra — one, an ambitious neta, the other, a social activist — symbolises India’s war against corruption
Anna Hazare's ascent in the socio-political landscape has coincided with the almost proportionate descent of one of India's foremost politicians, Sharad Pawar.
As India battles corruption like never before, it is extraordinarily symbolic that anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare's ascent in the socio-political landscape has coincided with the almost proportionate descent of one of India's foremost politicians, Sharad Pawar.
The all-pervasive cancer of corruption in the body politic is the battleground and the spectators are a billion strong. The moment is historic and both, Anna Hazare and Sharad Pawar, have emerged as the defining symbols of this battle. Once a strong prime ministerial candidate who had challenged 10 Janpath, Pawar has been openly accused by Hazare of encouraging corruption and became the first victim of the Jan Lokpal agitation. It didn't help one bit when days later, the tainted PR handler Nira Radia named Pawar as the godfather of Shahid Balwa's DB Realty empire.
The mass support that Pawar easily drums up, especially from his rural followers, has always been cited as the crown jewel of his five-decade long political career. Even that now virtually pales into insignificance in front of the mass outpouring of support, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to Assam, in favour of Hazare.
Hazare's rise coincides with Pawar's decline
Comment: Hazare's Patriotism Vs Pawar's Political Power! Certainly the good will prevail over the bad!
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