ESM: Salient Points from Congress Manifesto- Election 2009

Citizen Security

We will guarantee the maximum possible security to each and every citizen.
Our policy is zero-tolerance towards terrorism from whatever source it originates. We have already initiated the process of equipping our police and other specialist security forces with the latest weapons and technology to meet terrorist threats. This process will be taken forward vigorously. More specialist battalions will be raised and positioned in key locations across the country.
Citizenship is a right and a matter of pride. With the huge IT expertise available in our country, it is possible to provide every Indian with a unique identity card after the publication of the national population register in the year 2011.

Welfare of Defence Forces and Families

We will ensure the highest level of defence preparedness and also take further steps for the welfare of the defence forces and their families. During the BJP-led NDA government, over Rs 24,000 crores of funds meant for defence modernisation were simply not spent. In the last five years, modernisation of our defence forces has resumed substantially. This will continue at a rapid pace. The Indian National Congress also pledges to make India’s defence forces technology-enabled and equipped with modern weapons, aircraft, ships and delivery systems to repel any threat from land, sea or air. Recognizing their special concerns, a new and separate department of ex-servicemen’s welfare was established in 2004 by the Congress-led UPA Government. Ex-servicemen constitute a large cadre of dedicated and trained persons. We will utilize them extensively in crucial nation-building tasks.

Police Reforms

We will accelerate the process of police reforms
The Indian National Congress recognizes the imperative of police reforms. A clear distinction between the political executive and police administration will be made. The police force will be better provisioned especially in the matter of housing and education facilities; the police force will be made more representative of the diversity our population; and police recruitment will be made more effective and training professionalized to confront new and emerging threats. Accountability of the police force will be institutionalized.
Manifesto- 2009

Present Status of Welfare Department under MOD
It is a non functional organisation headed by civilian bureaucrats whose perception of Armed Forces as a second rate service is evident from the website at click here which has not been updated since 2006. The welfare Secretary is posted at fag end of his service to work out his post retirement employment and resettlement. In other words a Welfare Deparment for Bureaucrats! Empty promises galore by every Political Party. Once they obtain the mandate to rule the Soldiers Welfare is forgotten, as is evident for the last 60 years of Independent India! Surely Soldiers are Patriotic to the core!