ESM SITREP 24 JULY EVENING
Dear Colleagues,
1. In the continuing efforts by IESM in pursuing ESM welfare measures, I had a one-to-one meeting with the Defence Minister on 18 June 2011. Inter alia he mentioned:
a) The govt is moving towards OROP step by step. There was no firm commitment when/ if full OROP will come through.
b) The bureaucracy was opposed to grant of OROP to Defence personnel. The Finance Ministry also puts spokes with regard to sparing money for OROP.
c) On the subject of non grant of enhancement of pension to the widows, he sounded sympathetic and wanted a Note from me that I submitted.
2. Based on his directions, I received a call for a meeting with Secretary ESW and I met her on 15 July 2011, again a one-to-one meeting. Unlike the Minister, her attitude was more hardened and bureaucratic. The gist of what transpired was:
a) With reference to OROP she asserted that the JCO and OR pensioners were happy with the enhancement. On being questioned on the source of her information she disclosed that some ESM organizations and individuals keep interacting with her and have told her so. I challenged her to produce even one individual among the over two million pensioners who opposes OROP.
b) She maintained that there was only a minor difference in the pension of pre and post 1.1.2006 pensioners. I maintained that for a Sepoy of Gp ‘Y’ with 17 years service the difference in basic pension was 42% and gave her a copy of the table showing figures for various ranks.
c) She elaborated the difficulty in implementing OROP since ‘many pensioners have moved residence’, ‘records prior to 1989 are not computerized’ and ‘there are too many categories and groups’ etc. I pointed out that same difficulties would have been faced when they equated the pre and post 10.10.1997 pensions - highlighting that in fact relatively more records of that period were manual – and adding that on similar lines why cannot the pre and post 1.1.2006 pensions be equated. I further offered to help with whatever technology assistance was needed but she declined the offer.
d) On the legal problem in OROP, she read out from a DOPT circular that had quoted some SC judgment to the effect that the govt had a right to fix any cut-off date for fixing salaries and pensions and that it did not violate the spirit of Article 14 of the Constitution. I pointed out the negative side of it in that the govt wants to fix a cut-off date detrimental to ESM interests and then takes shelter behind the law. Conversely, if govt wants to fix a pro-OROP cut-off date, the law will not interfere with it.
e) On the issue of revised PPOs, she mentioned that the CGDA and PCDA Allahabad had raised their hands in undertaking the massive work. I mentioned that the Army have told us they would help and we have been assured that the first PPOs will start rolling out in three months. She was skeptical and remarked ‘we will see’.
f) On the non-enhancement of widows’ pension along with others she mentioned that the pension is related to last pay drawn and hence cannot apply to widows. I pointed that even in case of surviving pensioners the enhanced pension is not based on their actual last salary but a notional one and the widows could be similarly treated. She did not give any counter argument.
g) On ECHS I had sought clarification on the following three points: i. Empanelment of TPAs. She disclosed that a Cabinet Note had already been prepared and that this was about to come through.
ii. Empanelment of Pharmacies. She disclosed that the DGAFMS and the Service HQ were opposing it.
iii. Making up of Staff Shortages. She mentioned that this was an ongoing process and deficiencies are being made up.
3. In the end I told the Secy EWS that all eyes were on the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee and during our presentations they gave all indications that they would recommend grant of OROP. I further added that in case the govt did not accept the recommendations of the Petitions Committee, the struggle by the ESM will further intensify.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Comments
Press On Regardless IESM. We have tolerated enough nonsense from the so called Ex-Servicemen Welfare Section (ESW) of the Government of India. Not a single serving or retired Defence Person is part of this organisation. They do not know the ABC of the Defence Services. They are totally clueless about the problems of Defence pensioners.They are the maximum trouble creators for the Defence Services Ex-Servicemen of India, Defence Services widows and families.– We will tolerate NO MORE nonsense from ESW. I know many members of the Parliament are monitoring our sentiments. May I request you to kindly send a copy of this email to Secy ESW. Also many of you, receiving our views, have close relatives in IAS; please forward a copy of this to them also, provided of course if you have some loyalty to us. Many of you have been promising to send articles on the attitude of IAS towards Defence Services; probably you could not gather enough courage to do so – or can we say that you lack loyalty to Defence Service in spite of having spent best part of your life with Defence Services.
Thank you. –
Chander Kamboj
In the Service of Veterans
Related Reading: DGR Perpetuates Corruption
Showing posts with label Bureacracy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bureacracy. Show all posts
Monday, July 25, 2011
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Civil- Military Relationship: Does governance impact this ethical compact?
Are military professionals unaware of their own civic and strategic illiteracy?
One of the most significant issues facing any democracy today, is the current state of civil- military relations. Why should the relationship between the military and society be of such concern to us? There are two principal reasons.
First, the military relationship to civilian authorities and to society more generally lies at the very heart of what democracy is all about. Democracy, Harry Truman suggested, is "based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with reason and justice." By the same token, what defines the state, Max Weber observed, is government's monopoly of the legitimate possession and use of force. The military is the principal embodiment of state-centered and -controlled violence. Thus, in a form of government where the people are supposed to rule, civilian supremacy over the military is essential; it is an ethical imperative. Where this relationship fails or falters, the very end of government--"the common benefit, protection, and security of the people," rights of citizens violated, massive and wide scale corruption and injustice--the Government stands in jeopardy. Further, Terrorism, Naxalism, Maoism and right wing fundamentalists are pointers and indicators of the degree of of failing/ falling governance.
Second, the three parties to the civil- military relationship--the military, its civilian masters, and the people themselves--are bound to one another by social contract. "The first principle of a civilized state," said Walter Lippmann, "is that power is legitimate only when it is under contract." A social contract is a mutually binding, though a tacit, set of expectations, obligations, and rights. Because it depends on the ability--and, more importantly, the willingness--of the parties involved to live up to their end of the unwritten bargain, it is, in every sense, an ethical compact- a bond.
What do civilian authorities and the people more generally expect of the military as part of this compact?
Operational Competence.
What Military Expects from the Civilian authorities?
Genuine welfare measures for the Jawans and Ex- Servicemen.
One of the most significant issues facing any democracy today, is the current state of civil- military relations. Why should the relationship between the military and society be of such concern to us? There are two principal reasons.
First, the military relationship to civilian authorities and to society more generally lies at the very heart of what democracy is all about. Democracy, Harry Truman suggested, is "based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with reason and justice." By the same token, what defines the state, Max Weber observed, is government's monopoly of the legitimate possession and use of force. The military is the principal embodiment of state-centered and -controlled violence. Thus, in a form of government where the people are supposed to rule, civilian supremacy over the military is essential; it is an ethical imperative. Where this relationship fails or falters, the very end of government--"the common benefit, protection, and security of the people," rights of citizens violated, massive and wide scale corruption and injustice--the Government stands in jeopardy. Further, Terrorism, Naxalism, Maoism and right wing fundamentalists are pointers and indicators of the degree of of failing/ falling governance.
Second, the three parties to the civil- military relationship--the military, its civilian masters, and the people themselves--are bound to one another by social contract. "The first principle of a civilized state," said Walter Lippmann, "is that power is legitimate only when it is under contract." A social contract is a mutually binding, though a tacit, set of expectations, obligations, and rights. Because it depends on the ability--and, more importantly, the willingness--of the parties involved to live up to their end of the unwritten bargain, it is, in every sense, an ethical compact- a bond.
What do civilian authorities and the people more generally expect of the military as part of this compact?
Operational Competence.
What Military Expects from the Civilian authorities?
Genuine welfare measures for the Jawans and Ex- Servicemen.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Pay Structure for the Armed Forces
Neither in the Constitution of India, nor in any other statute have I seen any linkage between ‘The table of precedence’ and the Structure of salaries. And, yet the pay commissions which are dominated by the civil servants are fixated by these relativities. However, if such a law, guideline or ruling does exist, then it has already been violated, because the pay (including the rank pay) of the Brigadiers has been higher than that of the Joint Secretaries ever since 1986. It may be noted that Rank Pay was defined as Basic Pay, for all purposes.
Functional equations in the Ministry of Defense are created for administrative convenience. The civil servants seem to have made a fetish of them. They go well out of their way to ensure that an officer of an appropriate rank attends a meeting, even if he is not the best informed person on the given subject. Compensation packages, the world over are devised on the basis of three guiding principles: attraction, retention and motivation. Our remuneration to the officer class is inadequate on all the three counts.
A clear distinction must be made between ‘basic pay’ and ‘allowances’. We have had a lot of trouble with “Rank pays”. Now I see similar problem brewing over the Military Service Pay (MSP) If it is basic pay, it must count for all purposes. If not, then it must be treated like all other risk or qualification related elements such as Flying Allowance, the NPA and the Technical Allowances.
Within the “Group A”, the length of service has to be rewarded. There is no way by which a Col or Brig with 25 or 30 years under his belt can be given lower pay than a JS with 14 years service. It is ethically incorrect, and morally wrong.
In sum, the ‘table of precedence’ ‘the functional equations’ and the ‘pay scales’ are mutually exclusive and must be treated as such.
Any Answer?
At a social event, a Colonel, who was commanding the unit asked me, “Sir, if I have not done my job properly, hit me on my head. Why are you punishing my children, by reducing my salary? And, Sir has the administration of the country so much that the nation has chosen to give a bonanza to the civil servants?”
Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)
Functional equations in the Ministry of Defense are created for administrative convenience. The civil servants seem to have made a fetish of them. They go well out of their way to ensure that an officer of an appropriate rank attends a meeting, even if he is not the best informed person on the given subject. Compensation packages, the world over are devised on the basis of three guiding principles: attraction, retention and motivation. Our remuneration to the officer class is inadequate on all the three counts.
A clear distinction must be made between ‘basic pay’ and ‘allowances’. We have had a lot of trouble with “Rank pays”. Now I see similar problem brewing over the Military Service Pay (MSP) If it is basic pay, it must count for all purposes. If not, then it must be treated like all other risk or qualification related elements such as Flying Allowance, the NPA and the Technical Allowances.
Within the “Group A”, the length of service has to be rewarded. There is no way by which a Col or Brig with 25 or 30 years under his belt can be given lower pay than a JS with 14 years service. It is ethically incorrect, and morally wrong.
In sum, the ‘table of precedence’ ‘the functional equations’ and the ‘pay scales’ are mutually exclusive and must be treated as such.
Any Answer?
At a social event, a Colonel, who was commanding the unit asked me, “Sir, if I have not done my job properly, hit me on my head. Why are you punishing my children, by reducing my salary? And, Sir has the administration of the country so much that the nation has chosen to give a bonanza to the civil servants?”
Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
General Battles for Ration Card in Tamilnadu
Chennai, March 13, 2008
Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman, a former Vice Chief of Army Staff, who retired from service in 2006 and returned to the city to settle down here, has been struggling for the last 14 months to get his ration card for his family. He has held several key posts in the Army including GOC in C Western Command.
The General has been denied a ration card as he refused to grease the palms of officials. Despite making several complaints to civil supplies department, the officials there have not taken any steps to provide the ration cards," alleged a senior Army Officer. With the efforts of representatives of the retired Army Officer, who had visited the civil supplies department many times coming to a naught, Gen Pattabhiraman approached Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary LK Tripathy for his intervention.
"At a recently held Rally at Pallavaram for Ex- Servicemen, the matter was taken with the Chief Secretary and he had assured us that the Lt Gen would receive his Ration Card by Monday," the officials said. They also pointed out that many ESM faced similar problems after retirement as they could never settle down in a place while in service.
"We have asked the State Government Officials to give a special consideration for all ESM and issue them essential Ration Cards and documents. If this is how an Army General is treated, one can imagine the problems encountered by simple Jawans whose level of approach is the the lowest rung of the ladder. Jawans finally end up paying the bribes." the Army Officials added.
Pradeep Damodaran
Reproduced from Deccan Chronicle 14 March 2008
News Clip forwarded by Maj PM Ravindran (Retd)
Comments: The General was keen to obtain the Family Ration Card only for purposes of Identity Proof and not for obtaining Rations. The drivers license, Retired Army Officers Identity Card, Credit and ATM cards, ESM Soldiers Identity Card issued by Sainik Zilla Boards are all invalid as Identity Proof. The Citizens Voter Identity Card and PAN card are also not generally (not) accepted as identity proof as it can be tampered with. The other only valid Identity Proof is Indian Passport. Can the ESM expect a National Identity Proof acceptable All India to be issued by the MoD in the near future, like Passports issued by MEA?
Lt Gen S Pattabhiraman, a former Vice Chief of Army Staff, who retired from service in 2006 and returned to the city to settle down here, has been struggling for the last 14 months to get his ration card for his family. He has held several key posts in the Army including GOC in C Western Command.
The General has been denied a ration card as he refused to grease the palms of officials. Despite making several complaints to civil supplies department, the officials there have not taken any steps to provide the ration cards," alleged a senior Army Officer. With the efforts of representatives of the retired Army Officer, who had visited the civil supplies department many times coming to a naught, Gen Pattabhiraman approached Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary LK Tripathy for his intervention.
"At a recently held Rally at Pallavaram for Ex- Servicemen, the matter was taken with the Chief Secretary and he had assured us that the Lt Gen would receive his Ration Card by Monday," the officials said. They also pointed out that many ESM faced similar problems after retirement as they could never settle down in a place while in service.
"We have asked the State Government Officials to give a special consideration for all ESM and issue them essential Ration Cards and documents. If this is how an Army General is treated, one can imagine the problems encountered by simple Jawans whose level of approach is the the lowest rung of the ladder. Jawans finally end up paying the bribes." the Army Officials added.
Pradeep Damodaran
Reproduced from Deccan Chronicle 14 March 2008
News Clip forwarded by Maj PM Ravindran (Retd)
Comments: The General was keen to obtain the Family Ration Card only for purposes of Identity Proof and not for obtaining Rations. The drivers license, Retired Army Officers Identity Card, Credit and ATM cards, ESM Soldiers Identity Card issued by Sainik Zilla Boards are all invalid as Identity Proof. The Citizens Voter Identity Card and PAN card are also not generally (not) accepted as identity proof as it can be tampered with. The other only valid Identity Proof is Indian Passport. Can the ESM expect a National Identity Proof acceptable All India to be issued by the MoD in the near future, like Passports issued by MEA?
Monday, May 5, 2008
Commanding Heights: Indian Economy
Unlike Mahatma Gandhi, who supported an agrarian economy, after India's independence in 1947, its first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, promoted industrialization. However, he supported government- controlled development, and the bureaucracy that developed stifled innovation. The authors of Commanding Heights sarcastically claim that the British Raj was replaced by a "Permit Raj". Bribery and delays became commonplace in the Indian economy, while at the same time, many prominent economists studied the country and attempted to "fine tune" its central planning.
By the 1990s, the Indian government, mainly due to the influence of finance minister(now Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh, began to relax these stringent regulations, and the Indian economy bloomed under the effects of exports and outsourcing. Political parties since this period have continued to promote these changes; even after the election of a traditionally Marxist government, the free marketer Singh was appointed prime minister.
Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy
Video: Permit Raj
Comments: Can Dr Manmohan Singh rope in the bureaucracy to fight corruption and eliminate the "Permit Raj" attitude and complete his envisioned task?
By the 1990s, the Indian government, mainly due to the influence of finance minister(now Prime Minister) Manmohan Singh, began to relax these stringent regulations, and the Indian economy bloomed under the effects of exports and outsourcing. Political parties since this period have continued to promote these changes; even after the election of a traditionally Marxist government, the free marketer Singh was appointed prime minister.
Commanding Heights: The Battle for the World Economy
Video: Permit Raj
Comments: Can Dr Manmohan Singh rope in the bureaucracy to fight corruption and eliminate the "Permit Raj" attitude and complete his envisioned task?
Bureaucracy revamp a challenge for Prime Minister
It is difficult to agree that the Indian bureaucracy has become a great stumbling block and is quite incompatible with the democratic set- up. Thanks to periodic general elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for more than five decades, the bureaucracy in India has subtly attuned itself to the aspirations, wishes and sentiments of the elected representatives of the people from their pre- independence role of serving the colonial masters.
A few upright and neutral bureaucrats, true to their oaths, are sidelined as they do not submit meekly to their political bosses. Even senior bureaucrats like chief secretaries and directors- general of police cannot resist the temptation of post- retirement rehabilitation and so oblige their political masters.
In an atmosphere charged with rampant corruption, infecting both politicians and bureaucrats, the efforts of the political bosses succeed, as, unfortunately, they have got the measure of the bureaucracy and found it wanting. In such a scenario, despite his best wishes for revamping the bureaucracy, the Prime Minister can hardly do anything.
Arun Kumar Bhaduri,
Kolkata, 27 April 2008.
Excerpts from Bureaucracy revamp a tall order for PM
Comments: The bureaucratic set up has systematically degraded the Honour and Stature of the Armed Forces for the last 60 years in connivance with the the elected Politicians. Neither of them have any clue as to the tribulations of Armed Forces personnel whose civil liberties have been denied/ curbed in consonance with the Army Act. The ESM suffer more indignities due to the corrupt bureaucracy.
A few upright and neutral bureaucrats, true to their oaths, are sidelined as they do not submit meekly to their political bosses. Even senior bureaucrats like chief secretaries and directors- general of police cannot resist the temptation of post- retirement rehabilitation and so oblige their political masters.
In an atmosphere charged with rampant corruption, infecting both politicians and bureaucrats, the efforts of the political bosses succeed, as, unfortunately, they have got the measure of the bureaucracy and found it wanting. In such a scenario, despite his best wishes for revamping the bureaucracy, the Prime Minister can hardly do anything.
Arun Kumar Bhaduri,
Kolkata, 27 April 2008.
Excerpts from Bureaucracy revamp a tall order for PM
Comments: The bureaucratic set up has systematically degraded the Honour and Stature of the Armed Forces for the last 60 years in connivance with the the elected Politicians. Neither of them have any clue as to the tribulations of Armed Forces personnel whose civil liberties have been denied/ curbed in consonance with the Army Act. The ESM suffer more indignities due to the corrupt bureaucracy.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Lessons from the Indian Army
Economic Times, published this lovely article about the Indian Army and there are a lot of lessons that corporate executives can pick-up from their best management practices. Therefore, employing an Ex Servicemen one has tapped a trained resource pool, that can make an impact in the corporate world.
Winner Every Time
The army believes in the doctrine of the “Warrior and a Winner”. In the battlefield, the “Winner Takes it All” and there’s no space for the second-best. Leaders instill the courage to swim against the tide and take risks. Leaders need to possess ingenuity and creativity to improve operating processes and procedures.
Flexibility
The army believes that no plan survives the first engagement, howsoever brilliant it is. Changes have to be incorporated after the enemy faces the first offensive and counters it. It’s important to be dynamic and flexible in decision-making.
Pay Packet
The army believes that money can’t bind an individual to an organization. The ethos, work culture and scope to achieve satisfaction are more important.
Command
The army follows the “directive style of command” where junior leaders don’t have to look over their shoulders at every stage of the battle. Flexibility and individual empowerment are important and bureaucracy does not work in the battlefield.
Motivation
The army doesn’t quantify productivity on monetary considerations. Esprit de corps, camaraderie, regimental pride, are some of the key motivators.
Intake
The army recruits through Screening Boards and Services selection Boards, the best and fittest are enrolled or commissioned. Many officers leave the Army mid-way as promotional chances are tunneled through a pyramid barrier. None the less the best are chosen for the Higher Command. Jawans mostly retire after an average stint of about 20 years.
Decision Making
In the battlefield, speed and boldness is more important than perfection. Indecisiveness can be a fatal flaw. An average decision taken on time can carry the day while a brilliant decision that came late can result in defeat.
Knowledge upgrade
The army believes sending its officers back to school to keep them updated. A high flying officer goes to top notch defence colleges every two to three years.
Know the way
Army leaders follow the dictum, “Know the way, show the way and go the way”
Winner Every Time
The army believes in the doctrine of the “Warrior and a Winner”. In the battlefield, the “Winner Takes it All” and there’s no space for the second-best. Leaders instill the courage to swim against the tide and take risks. Leaders need to possess ingenuity and creativity to improve operating processes and procedures.
Flexibility
The army believes that no plan survives the first engagement, howsoever brilliant it is. Changes have to be incorporated after the enemy faces the first offensive and counters it. It’s important to be dynamic and flexible in decision-making.
Pay Packet
The army believes that money can’t bind an individual to an organization. The ethos, work culture and scope to achieve satisfaction are more important.
Command
The army follows the “directive style of command” where junior leaders don’t have to look over their shoulders at every stage of the battle. Flexibility and individual empowerment are important and bureaucracy does not work in the battlefield.
Motivation
The army doesn’t quantify productivity on monetary considerations. Esprit de corps, camaraderie, regimental pride, are some of the key motivators.
Intake
The army recruits through Screening Boards and Services selection Boards, the best and fittest are enrolled or commissioned. Many officers leave the Army mid-way as promotional chances are tunneled through a pyramid barrier. None the less the best are chosen for the Higher Command. Jawans mostly retire after an average stint of about 20 years.
Decision Making
In the battlefield, speed and boldness is more important than perfection. Indecisiveness can be a fatal flaw. An average decision taken on time can carry the day while a brilliant decision that came late can result in defeat.
Knowledge upgrade
The army believes sending its officers back to school to keep them updated. A high flying officer goes to top notch defence colleges every two to three years.
Know the way
Army leaders follow the dictum, “Know the way, show the way and go the way”
Monday, February 4, 2008
Citizens Rights
Government of India has an online Grievance forum at http://darpg-grievance.nic.in/
The Government wants its citizens to use this tool to highlight the problems they have faced while dealing with Government officials or departments like Passport Office, Electricity board, BSNL/ MTNL, Railways, Rashriya and Zilla Sainik Boards, or any other state or central government departments.
I know many people will say that these things don't work in India, but this actually works as one of our colleagues has discovered. The guy I'm talking about lives in Faridabad. Couple of months back, the Faridabad Municipal Corporation laid new roads in his area and the residents were very happy about it. But 2 weeks later, BSNL dug up the newly laid stretch of roads to install new cables which annoyed all the residents including this guy. But it was only this guy Who used the above listed grievance forum to highlight his concern. And to his surprise, BSNL and Municipal Corporation of faridabad was served a show cause notice and the guy received a copy of the notice in one week. Government has asked the MC and BSNL about the goof up as it's clear that both the government departments were not in sync at all.
So use this grievance forum and educate others who don't know about this facility. This way we can at least raise our concerns instead of just talking about the negative 'System' in India. Invite your friends and veterans to make use of this Grievance Forum to redress their problems online.
We should never be afraid of TEARS. They soften our HEARTS, Wash our EYES & Clear our VISION.
We must become the change we want to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi.
Hubert Chandran
Chennai
The blog Team thanks Hubert Chandran, who is a casual visitor, for the valuable information. Go to website. Grievance Forum
The Government wants its citizens to use this tool to highlight the problems they have faced while dealing with Government officials or departments like Passport Office, Electricity board, BSNL/ MTNL, Railways, Rashriya and Zilla Sainik Boards, or any other state or central government departments.
I know many people will say that these things don't work in India, but this actually works as one of our colleagues has discovered. The guy I'm talking about lives in Faridabad. Couple of months back, the Faridabad Municipal Corporation laid new roads in his area and the residents were very happy about it. But 2 weeks later, BSNL dug up the newly laid stretch of roads to install new cables which annoyed all the residents including this guy. But it was only this guy Who used the above listed grievance forum to highlight his concern. And to his surprise, BSNL and Municipal Corporation of faridabad was served a show cause notice and the guy received a copy of the notice in one week. Government has asked the MC and BSNL about the goof up as it's clear that both the government departments were not in sync at all.
So use this grievance forum and educate others who don't know about this facility. This way we can at least raise our concerns instead of just talking about the negative 'System' in India. Invite your friends and veterans to make use of this Grievance Forum to redress their problems online.
We should never be afraid of TEARS. They soften our HEARTS, Wash our EYES & Clear our VISION.
We must become the change we want to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi.
Hubert Chandran
Chennai
The blog Team thanks Hubert Chandran, who is a casual visitor, for the valuable information. Go to website. Grievance Forum
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Sixth Pay Commission Economics
The limits of what Politicians can do, can the IAS deliver?
You have no doubt heard the well known dictum of Karl Clausewitz, the great Prussian strategist, that war is an extension of Politics by other means. As often as not, it is Politics by other means and the looming debate whether the Sixth Pay Commission will derail the economy! The debate seems to be more about Politics and Public Relations rather than economics.
National Economic stimulus, as one perceives is more about tax cuts or increased Government spending designed to accelerate and spur economic growth in agriculture, industry, infrastructure and job creation.
Will the bureaucratic pulls for increased salaries set back our economic growth? The pragmatic approach is to offset inflation and give real wages to all government employees and weigh/ reign in performance based pay. We must have in place a Performance Evaluation for the top echelon of our bureaucracy and pay salaries truly related to performance not on seniority basis. Downsizing and efficiency must be the vanguard principles of prudent economics.
Defence Statistics roughly
defence budget of Rs. 96,000 crores
salaries 25,000 crores
pension 14,000 crores (not included in the defence budget)
cost of a soldier (salary, training costs) Rs 20,000 a month
jawans on combat role 20 percent
two ESM (drawing pension) for every serving soldier
The Sixth Pay Commission can certainly do a lot for the Armed Forces. A decent hike in salary and pension (one rank one pension) with a lot of perks for Field Tenures. For Ex- Servicemen the need of the hour is professionally managed, fully functional pro- active Zilla, Rajya and Kendriya Sainik Boards which are truly dedicated to address the problems of ESM.
You have no doubt heard the well known dictum of Karl Clausewitz, the great Prussian strategist, that war is an extension of Politics by other means. As often as not, it is Politics by other means and the looming debate whether the Sixth Pay Commission will derail the economy! The debate seems to be more about Politics and Public Relations rather than economics.
National Economic stimulus, as one perceives is more about tax cuts or increased Government spending designed to accelerate and spur economic growth in agriculture, industry, infrastructure and job creation.
Will the bureaucratic pulls for increased salaries set back our economic growth? The pragmatic approach is to offset inflation and give real wages to all government employees and weigh/ reign in performance based pay. We must have in place a Performance Evaluation for the top echelon of our bureaucracy and pay salaries truly related to performance not on seniority basis. Downsizing and efficiency must be the vanguard principles of prudent economics.
Defence Statistics roughly
defence budget of Rs. 96,000 crores
salaries 25,000 crores
pension 14,000 crores (not included in the defence budget)
cost of a soldier (salary, training costs) Rs 20,000 a month
jawans on combat role 20 percent
two ESM (drawing pension) for every serving soldier
The Sixth Pay Commission can certainly do a lot for the Armed Forces. A decent hike in salary and pension (one rank one pension) with a lot of perks for Field Tenures. For Ex- Servicemen the need of the hour is professionally managed, fully functional pro- active Zilla, Rajya and Kendriya Sainik Boards which are truly dedicated to address the problems of ESM.
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