Army Research and Referral Hospital Retrogrades ESM Health Care

Reference: Army Research and Referral Hospital Retrogrades ESM Health Care
Dear Gen (MD ECHS),
pl refer to above mail a copy of which has been endorsed to you. Being intimately involved in ECHS matters I would like to fully endorse the views of Gen Satbir. As I have said repeatedly the instances of mil hosps across the Country treating ESMs as an unwelcome load is more than adequately proven. The reasons are also well known . The armed forces medical fraternity feels that, the General Staff has appropriated to itself a function that legitimately belongs to them. This turf war between the two is unfortunately affecting the veteran population. What both sides to this unfortunate conflict fail to realise is that every serving soldier is 'a soon to be' veteran. What mil hosps fail to realise is that unlike the past where mil hosps were mandated to treat veterans based on availability of facilities and the OC hosps discretion, the situation today is quite different. Veterans today have contributed to the Scheme and can therefore demand medical cover from anyone tasked to provide cover under the scheme, which includes, empanelled hosps AND MIL HOSPS. We already have some ESMs approaching courts and tribunals in this matter. The next most unfortunate step will be ESMs going to Court against the Service hierarchy. THAT WILL BE A VERY TRAGIC DAY but will give our Babu hierarchy another reason to celebrate. Could these views please be passed on to the Chief and AG.
Regards
Brig Sateesh Kuthiala.

Date: Fri, 6 May 2011 09:28:07 -0700
From: mdechs
To: kuthiala
Dear Brig Kuthiala,
Last month of Apr saw ECHS being the focus of deliberations:
#5&6 Apr-at Chandigarh attended by reps of the three services, AG, Army Cdr, MG-IC-Adms of all Army Commands etc.
#Chief of COSC took up pending ECHS issues with Hon'ble RM.
#25 Apr-Improving Medicare in ECHS-attended by Secy ESW, Secy Def FInance & ECHS.
#26 Apr-Meeting with MoD chaired by COAS & Def Secy.
#27 Apr-Managing ECHS- agenda during Army Cdrs' Conf.
#28 Apr-Improving ECHS-review by RRM.
Also on 5 Apr ECHS 24X7 Helpline was launched by Army Cdr Western Comd.
COAS gave absolutely unambiguous directions to entire hierarchy. Armed Forces own ECHS, are the greatest stakeholders and would do all to improve and sustain it. Central Organisation is closely monitoring implementation of the COAS directions.
Offg DG AFMS is aware of the issues raised and has promised full support to ECHS including opening of ECHS wings in MHs where required.
On specifics now, You would recall that AHRR had as per earlier load appreciation only offered to treat ESM for Cardiology, Joint Replacement and Eye. Oncology treatment had not been made available and was ltd to consultation only. Brig AK Dhar and his specialty is overloaded and serving soldiers have to register at the reception and then at malignancy centre and thereafter wait for at least 2 to 3 hours in their turn.
What is not at all correct that for surgery patient has to get drugs and consumables from ECHS. We will resolve the issue immediately. Nothing is required to be carried (just recd a call confirming this from AHRR).
Navy and AF have been insisting on treating ECHS members in their own hospitals. Based on the request from the environment, we had to request them not to so insist as ECHS patients prefer treatment in hospitals nearer home rather than travelling to far away in heartless cities with no support. To enable full capacity utilisation of service hospitals for treating ESM, ECHS has started augmenting them with addl doctors. Gen Mathews (ex Comdt AHRR) has joined at Kochi. Hopefully more would join. Not for the compensation but for service to their brethren.
We are trying to improve things, pushing through odds. Team ECHS is constantly at work. Join in. All are welcome!
Regards
MD ECHS

From: brig sateesh kuthiala
Sent: 07 May 2011 09:49
Dear Brig Kamboj,
please see trailing mail (Gen Satbirs letter, my follow up and MDs response). Whereas there are problems and improvement is an ongoing process; what is heartening is the fact that we have an extremely caring and supportive Central Org ECHS. Whereas I can see that all questions with regards to Gen Satbirs letter have not been addressed specially with regards to why Army Hosps who have accepted to cater to ESMs cannot provide TOTAL treatment from consultation to post discharge care as required, I am of the opinion that we continue to give feed back and given the present totally positive response, matters will continue to improve. I am also aware that there are a number of veterans who feel that there are faults in the present org structure and micro management will not take us too far; we also need to look at the matter from the Service HQs point of view. Our top Services hierarchy is as committed to this cause as anyone can be. Those of us who have served at the Army HQ level and dealt with the MOD know only too well how Babudom and Netagiri function. These two roadblocks are a 'GIVEN' in any effort that we may make towards improvement in OROP-Pensions-Medicare and every other matter. So we will just have to 'Bash on Regardless'
May i request you to pass this on as a package to the environment.
Brig Sateesh Kuthiala (Retd)

IESM Rally at Jantar Mantar on 06 Mar 2011

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
The ESM SITREP of 03 Mar 11 is appended below.
Once again I wish to remind ALL VETERANS in NCR, please participate in the Indian Military Veterans’ rally at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, from 10.00 AM to 3.00PM on 06 Mar 11.

We want it to be a VISHAL RALLY – and it cannot be VISHAL unless YOU ALL participate.

Do not look for excuses to miss it – be a proud Indian Military Veteran and participate.

In the past also from Lt Generals and equivalents downwards to a soldier, rating, airman and widows all have attended.
You are also one of the categories mentioned above – why should you not attend??? Shrug that shyness and dress up for the Rally.

Best way to travel in Delhi would be by Metro.
Either get down at Patel Chowk Metro Station, from where the site is 300 metres or get down at Rajeev Chowk (Connaught Place) Metro Station from where the site is 1 km.

Preferable Dress. Please feel free to wear dress of your liking, but if convenient please wear your Regimental Mufti with side cap or wear any Service insignia which will distinguish you as a Military Veteran.

It is important to impress upon the media and the public that we are Indian Military Veterans “Fighting For Justice to Defence Services” and not some ordinary people.

Site Administration. True to traditions of the Defence Services - adequate administrative arrangements for seating, water, tea, very simple lunch and toilets are being made at the site. We will make you as comfortable as we can.

PLEASE – help in keeping the place neat and tidy and ensure the tea cups etc are not littered around – be a volunteer to help us in this task.
Vande Matram
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

Dear Colleagues,
As is known by now, instructions have been issued to the Army Commands to discontinue use of the acronym PBOR for our JCOs and Other Ranks as the term had derogatory connotation. We are grateful to the Service Chiefs for setting right an aberration.
As a follow-up of our rally in Damdama Jheel (Sohna District, Haryana) on 27 February 2011, 43 Veteran JCOs and Other Ranks have become members of the IESM. We extend a hearty welcome to these new members into the IESM family. The area has a high density of ESM and efforts are continuing to motivate others to join.
Looking forward to see maximum colleagues at the Jantar Mantar rally on 06 March 2011
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

IESM Rally at Damdama Jheel, Haryana

Dear Colleagues,
An IESM rally was held today at Damdama Jheel in Sohna District of Haryana. It was attended by 300 ESM and Service families. CK Sharma, Satbir, Aditya Jaini, Vinod Gandhi and self had joined the event. Considering the area has a high density of ESM the attendance could be higher – there were many other political rallies being held today and this being the peak marriage season were the main diversions – but the moderateness in numbers was more than made up by the infectious enthusiasm. There was palpable eagerness and resolve to carry on with the struggle till we get justice. There was also a long queue of IESM membership seekers.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

HARYANA FAVOURS ONE RANK ONE PENSION SCHEME FOR EX-SERVICEMEN
Bhiwani (Haryana), Feb 5, 2011 (IANS) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda Saturday said that his government was in favour of one rank, one pension scheme for the ex-army personnel. 'I had also advocated this issue in parliament when I was an MP. The union government has taken a number of steps in this direction,' said Hooda, while talking to reporters at an Army Mela here. The two-day 'Army Mela', which is being organised by the Indian Army, was inaugurated at Bhim Stadium here Saturday.

Speaking on the issue, Army chief Gen VK.Singh, who was also present, said: 'The centre is considering the issue. The one rank, one pension norm has been achieved for JCOs and soldiers, up to 90% ranks, while the issue regarding officers is under consideration.'

Comparing the strength of Indian defence forces with China, Singh said that Indian soldiers are matchless. 'Defence forces are not evaluated on the basis of numbers only, other factors like morale, physical efficiency, courage and enthusiasm are also important,' he noted. (SOURCE-SIFY NEWS)

Two Years ago an ESM Commission promised
Govt. to set up ex-servicemen commission soon
Friday, August 29, 2008 8:05:45 PM by ANI
Rewari (Haryana), August 29 (ANI): Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony on Friday said that the government would soon set up an Ex-Servicemen Commission to address the grievances of armed forces veterans and plan welfare schemes for them.

After opening a new department in the Defence Ministry for ex-servicemen, the government is going to set up an Ex-Servicemen Commission soon to recommend various welfare schemes for them and their families, Antony said, during the inauguration function of a Sainik School at Thappa Gothra Khori village near Rewari in Haryana.

He also said that the government had earmarked around Rs 6,000 crore additionally for serving defence personnel and ex-servicemen after removing the anomalies in the recommendations of the sixth pay commission, which was being implemented from 1st September 2008.

Antony urged other States of the country to learn from Haryana, he further added that he is very impressed with Haryana government efforts in taking care of its ex-servicemen and providing them welfare schemes.

The Sainik Schools are today one of the major vehicles to carry forward the movement of mass discipline in our society, he said. (ANI)

How Rank Pay was denied to the Military?

Lt Gen SK Sinha, who had served in Army Headquarters in every rank, authored the Fourth Pay Commission and knew every bureaucratic trick of the trade, was superseded as COAS as the Government thought he would be a difficult customer. Gen Sinha resigned. The Government notification for part of the Fifth Pay Commission award was signed by Defence Secretary Ajit Kumar even as COAS Gen Ved Malik had put his objections in writing. The same drama was witnessed last year when the three Service Chiefs collectively refused to accept the piecemeal award of the Sixth Pay Commission, insisting the anomalies be addressed first. One newspaper editor called it “unprecedented military dissent” but conveniently omitted the word ‘legitimate’.
Give military autonomy by Ashok K Mehta

CDS: Is India going to follow Pakistan footsteps?

Pakistan bids for CDS. Interesting If Pakistan gets a CDS, our politicians might follow a few years later!

Read how Pakistan is thinking of changing the Command and Control gear of its Military as suggested by General Retd Mirza Aslam Beg | Published: May 28, 2010.

Three steps are needed to set the fundamental direction right:

Step One: Defuse the ongoing controversy between the judiciary and the government. Independence of judiciary is sacrosanct, as much as is the sovereignty of the parliament. There are enlightened people on both sides of the fence and they will find the answer. Justice Jawad Khawaja’s recent comment is very reassuring indeed: “We don’t claim any right beyond the will of the people.” A better understanding is developing between the two prime institutions.

Step Two: Give a meaning to the decision of the three services chiefs of 17th August 1988, by establishing the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) as recommended by General Muhammad Sharif Committee in 1975. Mr Bhutto ignored this recommendation and suffered. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mr Nawaz Sharif both ignored my pleadings, to create the post of CDS. Nawaz Sharif ultimately had to bear the brunt. Why one may suffer any more?

Step Three: Having created the post of Chief of Defence Staff, it would be proper to appoint General Kayani as the first CDS, for a three years’ tenure. His credentials are well established. And a new Chief of Army Staff may be appointed in his place.
With these steps taken, better harmony would prevail between civil-military relations and understanding would develop to safeguard the independence of judiciary and the sovereignty of the parliament. And from military point of view also, the appointment of CDS is as important, if we care to learn from history. The ’65 and ’71 wars were started without due coordination with the other two services and we suffered. The Kargil operation was a bad example. Now is the time to take this well-considered decision, as the bedrock of harmonious civil-military relations.
The writer is a former COAS, Pakistan
Read more: Civil-Military Relations in Pakistan: Article by General Mirza Aslam Beg

Indian response- Integrated Defence Staff
A decision regarding the recommendation of the Group of Ministers for creation of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) has not been taken by the Government as yet pending consultation with political parties. However, with a view to ensure higher degree of jointness amongst the Services and attempt inter-service and intra-service prioritization, the Government has set up the Integrated Defence Staff, headed by the Chief of Integrated Staff to Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC), to support the Chiefs of Staff Committee and its Chairman in the optimal performance of their roles and functions. The CISC supervises the Integrated Defence Staff, chairs all multi-Service bodies and the Defence Crisis Management Group (DCMG) and is also responsible for the coordination of long-range plans, five year plans and annual budgetary proposals of the three Services in consultation and co-ordination with the Integrated Services Headquarters.
Integrated Defence Staff: India

The Young Everester Meets the Army Chief

The Chief of Army Staff, General V.K. Singh felicitated Arjun Vajpai, a young boy who scaled Mt Everest recently, in New Delhi on June 03, 2010.
PIB Photo no.CNR - 31907
Friday, June 04, 2010 15:29 IST
Army Chief General VK Singh felicitated yesterday the Arjun Vajpai, a young boy from Noida who scaled Mt Everest recently.

Arjun who has an army background, is an alumni of Nehru Institute of Mountaineering. On meeting the Army Chief, he expressed a deep desire to join the Indian Army, where fortitude and courage is a norm. His next mission is to join the elite National Defence Academy. Veerendra/Rajendra
The Young Everester Meets the Army Chief

Master of Army wants a PhD in War Craft

Dated: 28 May 2010
LETTER TO EDITOR
MASTER OF ARMY WANTS A PhD IN WAR CRAFT: TOI 27 MAY 2010- click here

My Dear Editor in Chief,
1. We are dismayed to read that Army Chief Gen VK Singh has applied for a PhD in Military Science from Bhopal University. His guide will be Prof. Kailash Tyagi. It is disheartening for the Defence Fraternity to know that our Army Chief needs lessons in Military Science from a Civilian Prof. who has, probably not seen a gun firing! What Gen VK Singh has learnt in 40 years of service about Military Science would enable him to be honoured with PhDs many times over.

2. Any Defence officer who is professionally competent and reaches the rank of One Star General equips himself with sufficient knowledge in Military Science which no civil University either in India or abroad can impart. Our senior officers have excelled in various seminars, courses etc held abroad and have acquitted themselves commendably. It is pertinent to mention that the only think tank of the country ie Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) which is responsible for carrying out research on all matters military both tactical and strategic had its Director an officer of the rank of Air Commodore ie (equivalent to Brig in the Army). The Dy Director of the same institution has also been an officer of the rank of Commandore of the Navy which is also equivalent to a Brig. IDSA has a large number of research scholars who are all PhDs. That a chief of the Army Staff had to approach a University for getting a doctorate in Military Science signifies non- recognition by the Govt of the specialist knowledge in Military Science acquired by senior officers during their service. Therefore, it is imperative not only for the good of the Defence Forces and the nation that all officers who achieve the rank of a Brigadier or its equivalent are automatically awarded a PhD degree in Military Science. Some of the courses like Long Defence Management Course (LMDC), Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Higher Command (HC) are already being awarded MSc in Military Science.

3. A case in point is that the undersigned was a senior fellow in IDSA as a Brigadier and has been examiner of PhD thesis on Military Science of a reputed University of India after retirement as a Major General. Now that the Defence University is coming up in our country, the Govt must grant PhD to all officers who attain the rank of Brigadier.

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
The writer is a Former Senior Fellow and Security Analyst of Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), has been examiner PhD thesis in Defence & Security Studies, Ex Commandant Services Selection Centre & President SSB, besides being Instructor at four premier institutions of the Army. Presently he is Vice Chairman of Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM).

Arms and the missing men

Does the pay commission address the army’s real problem— the huge shortage of officers? Its recommendations alone will certainly not do, writes Lt Gen Vinay Shankar.

Parity
Going by media headlines, the Sixth Pay Commission’s substantive message to the defence forces is that it has attempted to bring about pay parity with the bureaucrats — as if this is all that matters to them. Comparison is certainly an issue but it is not the only issue.

Steady disaffection
The defence services’ repeated pleas for a special pay board for them have never been accepted by the government, nor has the services’ request for at least including defence services officers as members of the Pay Commission Committee. Why do these legitimate requests get repeatedly stonewalled? The only explanation could be that the government is not yet sufficiently convinced about the necessity to treat the military as a special category. The consequence within the military is that of slow and steady disaffection.

Redressal
With each pay commission, some hopes do get rekindled. It has been the same during the period of deliberations of this pay commission. Now that the report is out, what is the denouement? The broad spectrum view is that Justice Srikrishna has been relatively more sensitive and more appreciative than his predecessors. He has tried to redress some of the disparities that the earlier pay commissions had inflicted. There are many issues that will still bother the defence services, but altogether there is recognition that this time there has been relatively greater understanding and commitment to address their concerns.

Real crisis
But the real issue is whether the dispensation that is eventually awarded on the basis of the pay commission’s recommendations has any direct impact on the crisis that the army is facing — the huge shortage of officers. It was on Army Day this year that the army chief drew the nation’s attention to this problem. Many believe that this is something that should have been done at least a decade ago.

Increasing commitments
The army has been unsuccessfully grappling with this problem for close to three decades. It began to hurt from about the mid- eighties— the time it was stretched to the point of snapping. The time when we were on an expeditionary mission in Sri Lanka, concurrently coping with Operation Blue Star and its aftermath, and also dealing with Operation Rhino in Assam. Since then, there has been no let up in the army’s commitments. As a matter of fact, the situation in Kashmir from 1990 onwards has further exacerbated matters.

Basic building block
It is important to know a little about how the army functions to better understand the gravity of the problem. The basic building block of the army is what we call a ‘unit’; also known as battalion or regiment depending on the corps to which the unit belongs. All the ‘action and execution’ in the army is at this level. After this level, the direct command of soldiers ceases.

Commanding officer
A unit is expected to have around 600 to 800 soldiers and 18 to 25 officers and is commanded by a colonel. It is at this level that an officer learns soldiering and the operational employment of his unit in battle. This level is also where the officer’s baptism to leadership is initiated. Similarly, soldiers after completing recruit training come to the units to be welded into a fighting force and imbibe values of loyalty, discipline, comradeship and pride in the profession of arms. But all this can only happen if there is good leadership in the unit. Otherwise who will teach, train and lead by example? Who will the soldiers and young officers aspire to emulate? Sufficiency and quality of officers is thus critical to the health of units, the basic building block of any army.

Weakening of Command
So when units do not have adequate numbers of officers the army’s foundation gets weakened. Let us see how critical the problem is. The quoted figure of shortage is about 11,000 to 12,000, which approximates to a deficiency of about 30 per cent. Since all the shortages are in the ranks of subalterns and captains, at the unit level this gets compounded to more than 50 per cent of the authorisation. Consequently, units today are making do with barely 8-12 officers against the 18-25 that should be there. Take away leave, sickness and other sundry commitments and the effective strength gets further whittled down to 4-6 officers.

Officer quality
It ought to be a matter of wonder then as to how our army, for instance, successfully fought the Kargil war and continues to effectively combat terrorism and militancy in J&K or in Assam and the Northeast. Some plain speaking on this score from within is necessary. We must admit that had the army been ‘better’ officered it could have accomplished much more or achieved what it did at lesser cost; better— both in terms of numbers of junior leaders and the overall quality of leaders.

Inherent strength
What the army managed to achieve has largely been due to its inherent resilience and the deeply ingrained ethos of duty above all else and delivering without bellyaching, values bequeathed to it in its formative years, post independence, by its leadership — a leadership which was not without its faults.

Lack of leadership
Symptoms of the growing ailment have been surfacing with increasing frequency over the last decade or so. Suicides, soldiers running amuck, court cases, moral turpitude, the list is long. There would be many explanations for the rash of disciplinary cases that are taking place but we must all accept that the principle reason is leadership.

Izzat
Debates on pay, perks and izzat and what constitutes good leadership material are interesting academic pursuits, but right now there is a crisis brewing. We need immediate answers and an action plan that can be implemented over the next five years.

Chief's concern
The army chief has publicly drawn attention to perhaps his single most important concern — not the gun, but the man behind the gun. The prime minister and defence minister should take note. This Pay Commission’s recommendations alone will certainly not do.

Lt Gen Vinay Shankar (Retd)
Former DG Arty

Reproduced: Thursday, March 27, 2008, Indian Express

Comments: Para headings included for convenience of Blog readers. A sound analysis which needs immediate attention on all aspects enumerated above to obviate the declining image of the Defence Forces.

Confusion Confounded Dreamer's Club

Date: 07 Jan 2008
Promotions in Army
Arun Sinha's Dream:
In the other central govt job promotion is firm and fair as they have been able to manage their cadre. Why Army is not able to manage its cadre? There is a large percentage of offrs weeded out at Lt Col and thereby their utilisation is not at all there. If you see in other central govt like IPS after 15 yrs everyone is DIG. It gives very poor impression about army.
It is also pertinent to mention that promotion in army is based on ACR which is earned by doing dignified slavery to IO and RO. If somebody talks about rules and regulations and moral value, he is fixed in ACR thereby he loses promotions. Today actually army is flourishing on ceremonial values mixed with corruption called privileges in army parlance. If you oppose it you are fixed.
Its high time army wakes up and do something about its cadres.

Chief's Response:
AWHO is a Society registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860 and provides dwelling units on self financing scheme to serving /retired army personnel and their widows on "No profit No Loss" basis. Most of the work of AWHO is already outsourced to architects and contractors. The number of dwelling units built by AWHO at any time depends on availability of land and demand at a particular station. AWHO indeed is a facilitator, an enabler and user friendly. Check it out for yourself by logging on to www.awhosena.org. As suggested to provide 30,000 dwelling units per year, the cost would be roughly Rs 10,000 crores per year of projects, which is a figure even the big builders/developers/MES cannot handle.

My Dream muddled with Arun Sinha's Dream. Please visit:
Interact with Chief: Dreamers Club
Comments
AWHO is a vast organisation catering for housing to benefit a few. We do not get to know who are allotted houses year wise from its inception till date, from the website. What is the organisation cost? The audited accounts are not easily discernible in the web pages. The Society Act clearly emphasises the organisational costs should not exceed 15%. Are society act norms kept up to its true spirit?