War Wounded Foundation Meet at OTA Chennai

Ex-Army Chief appeals for people’s contributions to War Wounded Foundation
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT CHENNAI, October 21, 2012
Former Chief of the Army Staff Gen (Retd.) S. Padmanabhan on Saturday appealed to the people to generously contribute to the War Wounded Foundation.
Speaking at a war disabled personnel meet in the Officers Training Academy here, he said the objective of the War Wounded Foundation was long-term rehabilitation of its members.
“Apart from corporate houses, individuals should also come forward to contribute to this noble cause. The foundation aims at rehabilitating the war-wounded personnel by enhancing their skills in different areas,” he said.
War Wounded Foundation president Lt. Gen (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi said the foundation was registered as a charitable NGO in 2002. There were about 10,000 war disabled personnel in the country and their financial condition was not satisfactory.
“The disability pension is not sufficient to live the life they want to … we want to enhance their skills in terms of spoken English, communication and computer applications so that they can become self-reliant and productive citizens.
Since there is no support from government agencies, funds remained a constraint for the foundation’s plans,” he said.
Mr. Oberoi said donations to the foundation were exempted from income tax. All disabled personnel of the armed forces would automatically become members of the foundation.
“This meet in Chennai marks the beginning of our activities in the southern States where there are about 500 war disabled personnel,” he added.
“Foundation aims at rehabilitating the war-wounded personnel by enhancing skills”
Ex-Army Chief appeals for people’s contributions to War Wounded Foundation

1965 War Wounded: A Day to Remember

1965: A love and war story which overcame handicaps
Arun Janardhanan, TNN | Oct 21, 2012, 03.03AM IST
CHENNAI: On a pleasant Saturday morning, Kamalam (70) held what remains of her husband K E Sherif's hand to guide him around the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. The couple joked and smiled, not showing a trace of the devastation the India-Pakistan war has had on their lives since 1965.

Sherif, then a 28-year-old jawan in love with Kamalam, lost both his arms below the elbow and both his eyes in a landmine blast while his battalion was crawling towards enemy posts near Sialkot. Incapacitated, Sherif decided not to marry, but Kamalam insisted that she would have a life only with him. On Saturday, Sherif, a father of three, was among the Army veterans brought together by the War Wounded Foundation in the city on Saturday.
"His was a miraculous escape, and I was fortunate to get him back alive," said Kamalam, "We were in love for two years. And then the war happened. Every one was against our marriage since I was a Hindu Malayalee girl and he a Tamil Muslim. But I would not leave his bedside as he was undergoing treatment." The two first met when Sherif, a friend of Kamalam's soldier brother, visited their house in Bangalore.
Despite Sherif's injury Kamalam insisted that they tie the knot.
Soon after the couple first met at the house of Kamalam's brother in Bangalore their romance bloomed. But, Sherif was called to the battlefield not too long after this. Though the 1965 war did not resolve the Kashmir conflict, Sherif proudly recalled his sacrifice for the country and appealed to the youth to join the Army.
He recalled that October night that plunged him into eternal darkness. "It was October 19. Six of us were crawling towards an enemy target in Sialkot, about 25km from Labore. Around 9pm, an air strike triggered a series of land mines near us. We were all believed to be dead. But all of us escaped, only I was severely injured," said Sherif, who lives in Coimbatore.
He was shifted to an army hospital in Jammu where doctors removed the mutilated parts of his forearms to save the rest of his body. Nothing could be done to save his eyes. As he underwent multiple surgeries for a year, Sherif knew life would never be the same again. He told Kamalam that their marriage was now not possible, but she would have none of it. Coming to know that Sherif was% recuperating in Coimbatore, she went there and convinced him to get married. They tied the knot in 1967.
Their 38-year-old son works for a soldiers' welfare board in Salem, while their two daughters are homemakers. The War Wounded Foundation brought together several such living martyrs of Independent India.Colonel (retd) T N Raman, convenor of the Tamil Nadu chapter of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement said soldiers from all major combats including the Indo-Pakistan war of 1947, 1965 and the Indo-China war of 1962 gathered for the collective.
1965: A love and war story which overcame handicaps

Chennai leads in Fakes

CHENNAI, January 31, 2012
Gang arrested with stash of fake certificates, seals
Washermenpet police on Sunday busted a four-member gang that made fake government certificates, ration cards and school mark sheets. Over 800 certificates, government seals and screen printing boards were seized.
According to Washermenpet police sources, those arrested were Jayaraman (64) and Perumal (74), both from Royapuram and Duraipal (50) from Ponneri and Moorthy (48) from Tiruvottiyur. Duraipal and Moorthy who have screen printing expertise used to forge all kinds of government certificates, including Community, Birth and Income Tax certificates, and also Standard 10th and 12th mark sheets.
Jayaraman and Perumal used to hang around government offices and target people who came to obtain government certificates, sources added. “The two men would offer to get the certificates for the victims in a few days after collecting the details. Duraipal and Moorthy would then print the necessary certificate at a screen printing press in Tiruvottiyur or their homes and hand it over to Jayaraman and Perumal. They would in turn sell the fake certificates as real for a price ranging from Rs.500 to Rs.1,000 each,” said T. Veera Kumar, Inspector of Police, Washermenpet.
Following information provided by Arun Kumar (28) of New Washermenpet, regarding two men offering to get a birth certificate outside the Corporation Zonal office in Basin Bridge, a Washermenpet police team arrested Jayaraman and Perumal.
Duraipal and Moorthy were also arrested and more than 800 fake government certificates, 28 seals with government stamps of various departments and schools and 19 screen printing boards used to make the certificates were seized, police added.
The men were remanded to custody and sent to Puzhal prison on Monday. Police are identifying those persons who purchased the fake documents from the gang
Gang Arrested with stash of fakes and seals

Officers Training Academy Inaugurated at Gaya

Second Military Officers Training Academy Inaugurated
PTI | Gaya | Jul 18, 2011
The country's second academy for training military officers for short-service commission was inaugurated today in Bihar's Gaya district as part of efforts to meet the shortage of over 12,000 officers.

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Army Training Command, Lt Gen K Surendra Nath, hoisted the flag to inaugurate the academy, the second after the one at Chennai, in the presence of senior military officers and other dignitaries.

The academy would mould young dynamic minds into capable future military leaders and fulfill a long felt need of the Indian Army to train and induct more officers into its ranks, Nath said in his address.

It will start with training 135 officers and would reach its capacity of over 700 Short Service Commission (SSC) officers in the next two years, they said.

The army is facing a shortage of 12,349 officers against its sanctioned strength of around 46,500. It is also looking to increase the number of officers to meet the new security requirements.

The trainees will be provided basic military training attuned with the advancements in the latest technology to enable them to serve as professionally skilled leaders of a modern army, a press release said.

A team of well qualified instructors and staff specially chosen from the Indian Army will train the first batch of gentlemen cadets.

To achieve and maintain paramount standards of physical and the mental health of the trainees, various training and sports facilities have been made available in the Academy.
Second Military Officers Training Academy Inaugurated
The Hindu: Gaya OTA to open today

The Academy situated at the picturesque Paharpur Military Station, Gaya amidst lush green surroundings is spread over an area of 863 acres. It is approximately 8 kms from Bodhgaya, a major international tourist attraction. Well connected by road and rail, the Academy is only 100 kms from the state capital, Patna.

The Academy has been raised under Lt Gen Vijai Sharma from the Corps of Engineers. Lt Gen Sharma has served army for about 36 years in a variety of appointments. Prior to taking over as the first Commandant of OTA, Gaya, the General officer was serving at Army Headquarters, Delhi.

To achieve and maintain paramount standards of physical and the mental health of the trainees, various training and sports facilities have been made available in the Academy. The area is equipped with numerous training facilities for weapon training, drill, physical training, swimming, equitation and equestrian sports and adventure/hobby clubs for the all-round development of the Gentlemen Cadets. Training in soft skills like verbal and non-verbal communication, public speaking, interpersonal relationship, leadership, emotional intelligence, team building etc are an integrated part of the curriculum at the Academy. OTA, Gaya is the third Military Academy of its kind in addition to the existing ones at Dehradun and Chennai.
OTA Gaya

Ex Service Personnel Welfare News

Ex-servicemen urged to register their new addresses by May 31, 2011
Bhopal: May 28, 2011 (Ataullah Faizan): The Directorate for Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare has urged the ex-servicemen of Bhopal, Raisen, Sehore and Vidisha districts, war widows and dependents of ex-servicemen registered with the District Ex-servicemen’s Welfare Office, Banganga Crossing, Bhopal, to get their correct address registered by May 31, 2011. According to Joint Director Col. V.K. Chaube (Retired), the directorate is unable to make contact and correspondence with a majority of ex-servicemen, widows and dependents on the addresses registered with the District Ex-servicemen’s Welfare Office, Bhopal. Due to this, difficulties are being faced in giving timely information to them about the welfare schemes meant for them and functions held on national festivals and other occasions.
In this context, the directorate has urged ex-servicemen of Bhopal, Raisen, Sehore and Vidisha districts, war widows and dependents of ex-servicemen to get their new addresses, phone number and mobile numbers registered with District Ex-servicemen’s Welfare Office, Bhopal, by May 31, 2011.
Ex-servicemen urged to register their new addresses by May 31, 2011
Comment: Why this urgency and a cut off date? The process should be continous. Updating veteran information is the main task of Zilla, Kendriya and Rajya Sainik Boards.

Plan to recruit ex-servicemen as postmen Special Correspondent
VILLUPURAM: The post offices at Kallakurichi and Thirukkoilur have proposed to recruit ex-servicemen as postmen. The interested ex-servicemen, up to 65 years of age, could apply to the Inspector Posts, either at Kallakurichi east sub-division or the Thirukkoilur sub-division. Further details could be obtained from the Assistant Director of Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association, according to a statement from the Villupuram Collectorate. click here

Ex-servicemen rally evokes massive response in Kupwara
Sringar Wednesday, May 11 2011 IST
An ex-servicemen rally evoked a massive response in the frontier district of Kupwara, once a hub of militants in north Kashmir, a Defence Ministry spokesman today. The rally was organised by 18 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) battalion under the aegis of Sector 8 at Krusan, Lolab yesterday. The rally was a part of welfare activity undertaken by Army for the ex-servicemen and veer naries of Kashmir. The rally evoked tremendous response from the retired soldiers of Lolab, who were apprised of the latest welfare schemes that have been launched by the Army for them.
The rally was inaugurated by Officiating Commander, 8 Sector RR who congratulated the ex-servicemen of Lolab for turning up in large numbers and making the event a huge success. He also appreciated and highlighted the role of ex-servicemen in development of Lolab Valley and expressed hope that the younger generation would be inspired by their patriotism and loyalty to the nation and follow in their footsteps.
Representative of Zila Sainik Board, Srinagar and Officer-in -Commander ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme also addressed the rally. They interacted with ex-servicemen and educated them about the various schemes being run for the benefit of ex-servicemen.
Ex-servicemen rally evokes massive response in Kupwara
ESM Guide Book
This latest edition of ‘Guide Book’ is published with a view to keep
the ESM well informed. This book will provide necessary information on the facilities available for them and also guide them on the procedures to be adopted to avail those facilities including details of agencies involved in the chain of assistance. Click here

Can Bombay Sappers help be sought?

Foreign know-how for drainage, toilet, potholes
SOMETIME ago, I don’t remember exactly when – a group of municipal councilors went to London to study the drainage system. They stayed in London for quite a while, looking down the London drains, holding consultations and discussions. What exactly they did during the free time they had – that must have been quite a lot – is not known. On their return, they spoke about London drains. It is not known what suggestions they made and whether any of their suggestions was accepted and implemented. The citizens of Mumbai did not notice much change.
In fact, the drains continue to stink and it looked like the councilors had a good holiday in London. There are so many sizzling things that keep happening in London. ‘strip tease’ for instance.
A couple of years ago, the railways are said to have consulted a UK company to build a toilet at Churchgate. Why a foreign consultation was necessary to build a toilet is not known, but the railways are said to have gone ahead and got the know-how. It must have cost a pretty penny, but having a good, modern toilet was considered absolutely necessary.
India boasts of a great civilization, top scientists were born in the country.
But they could not build a toilet at Churchgate. They had to go for consultation.
There is not much change. The toilet stinks like before. A river of urine keeps flowing on the floor. And there is no smell of any disinfectant.
And now one more ‘foreign happening’ is about to take place.
The Mumbai municipality is reported to be making Herculean efforts to cover potholes which unavoidably occur during the monsoon. All the desperate exercises in this regard for the last ten years have failed. A few showers are enough to create potholes all over the city and suburbs. Whatever they put on the road is evidently some bad stuff. What sort of a surface is it if it cannot withstand a few showers?
The truth is some of the corrupt BMC staff and road contractors want potholes to occur. Hundreds of potholes help them make extra money. It is just unfortunate that we cannot have a road surface that can withstand rain.
And now, this season we are getting German know-how and German products to make roads. There is going to be an experiment: road with German product will be constructed and it will be watched as the rain falls on it. It is quite sad that we have to depend on foreign know-how for tackling drainage, toilets and potholes….
Round up by AR Kanangi:Foreign know-how for drainage, toilet, potholes
Comment: Similar schemes envisaged for Singara Chennai 10 years ago (after visits to Singapore and USA)- All schemes down the drain once monsoon rains lash Chennai City!
Sad commentary on city sewage and storm drains- really they are perennial pipelines for making money by Political Criminals. The citizens safety comes last every time after each election.
Can BEG help Mumbai?
The Bombay Engineering Group, or the Bombay Sappers as they are informally known, are a regiment of the Indian Army Corps of Engineers. The Bombay Sappers draw their origin from the erstwhile Bombay Presidency army of the British Raj. This regiment has its centre in Khadki, Pune in Maharashtra state. The Bombay Sappers have gone to on to win many accolades in battle throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, both before and after Independence, including the British Victoria Cross and the French Legion of Honour before independence, as well as the Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra as part of Independent India. The Group has also made its mark in peacetime activities such as sport, adventure, aid to civil authority and prestigious construction projects. The troops of the Bombay Sappers are renowned for their endurance, courage and valour on the battlefield.

Army hit by clubs

India Today report by Sandeep Unnithan
Two army commanders allegedly colluded with a private developer to hand him seven acres of prime defence land worth Rs 25.50 crore in Pune. A confidential Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) report, a copy of which is with india today, notes that Lt General (retd) B.S. Thakker and Lt General Nobel Thamburaj regularised unauthorised constructions on military land.
The report also holds a director in the Directorate General of Defence Estates guilty of passing decisions that helped the developer continue commercial exploitation of defence land. Lt General Thamburaj succeeded Lt General Thakker as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Southern Army Command, in 2006.
Residency Club, formerly a residential bungalow, built on defence land.
The Army recently court-martialled Lt General P.K. Rath for issuing a no-objection certificate to a private developer at the Sukna military station in West Bengal. There was, however, no transfer of defence land in Sukna. In the Pune cantonment, this alleged nexus between the Defence Estates department and the Army virtually gifted away prime defence land to Ramkumar Agarwal, a private developer and chairman of Citizen Sports and Recreation Club Pvt Ltd. Leased as a private residence, the plot has been turned into a commercial venture, the Residency Club, violating cantonment rules.
The CAG report suggests, the 'old grant bungalow', or a private residence built on defence land, was built in 1940. In 1986, Zarir Cooper, the Holder of Occupancy Rights (HOR), informed the army about a proposal to transfer the land to Agarwal. This was not granted. In August 1987, the HOR once again applied for permission to start a club in the premises, which was once again rejected by the DEO. Defence land rules expressly stipulate that the bungalow can be used only for residential purposes.
The Government can resume ownership of the land after paying the occupant the cost of the building. In 1999, however, the Director General, Defence Estates overruled the deo's objection and okayed the transfer of the property to the private party. The main condition for the transfer was that the Government would hold the title to the land and that the bungalow would be used for residential purposes only. The developer challenged the Government's title over the land in the civil court and began redeveloping the bungalow as a recreation club. The court confirmed the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) title on the land but restrained the Government from interfering with its use as a club. The case remained pending in court.
Armed with the court order, the developer converted the bungalow into the Residency Club and made extensive alterations on the land. As none of these constructions were approved by the Cantonment Board, Pune, notices were issued on Agarwal by the board between 1992 and 2006. The builder appealed against the notices.
In January 2005, he agreed to pay the MoD an annual lease rent. The Defence Estates Department assessed the rent at Rs 79 lakh per year. "Interestingly, no progress was made in this regard by the MoD," the report notes. This inaction cost the Government over Rs 10 crore-Rs 7.91 crore in a one-time premium and Rs 3.8 crore in annual rent since 2005.
The case then went to the appellate authority, Ved Prakash, then director of Defence Estates. Prakash set aside all the notices and stopped the removal of unauthorised constructions. In 2006, then goc-in-c Lt General Thakker regularised the unauthorised constructions on the deposit of a meagre Rs 8.33 lakh. He did this a few days before he retired. In 2006, the Pune Cantonment Board filed a suit in the Bombay High Court against Prakash's decision stopping unauthorised constructions.
In December the same year, a new Cantonment Act passed by Parliament came into force. The Act transferred appellate powers from the Defence Estates Officer to the goc-in-c. In 2007, a notice for unauthorised construction was served on the club. The developer filed an appeal before the goc-in-c Southern Command. This appeal was allowed by Lt General Thamburaj on December 30, 2008, a day prior to relinquishing charge. This decision taken despite the matter being subjudice, virtually regularised the club's illegal constructions.
The report severely indicts the army and Directorate General of Defence Estates (DGDE) for failing to protect Government property. Despite being aware of the builder's intent in utilising the bungalow as a club, the DGDE sanctioned the property transfer. Defence Estates authorities failed to pursue the court case: no hearing was held since 1997. This soft-pedalling only loosened the Government's hold on the land. Despite a decade, the local military authorities failed to finalise the board proceedings that were convened in 1999.
Defence ministry officials say the Pune case is symptomatic of the malaise afflicting cantonments in Lucknow, Delhi and Meerut. "Most of the corruption in these cantonment areas revolves around Old Grant Bungalows," says one official. "Even when leases expire, no effort is made to resume leases on these bungalows," he adds. In several cases, either the land is illegally sold or the usage is changed from residential to commercial with nobody to check.
A CAG report says that three crucial decisions that virtually legitimised the Residency Club's occupation of defence land were issued just a few days before the incumbents either retired or moved out of office.
Bungalow owners allege discrimination by the 'pick and choose' policy of lease renewal adopted by the local army commander, cantonment ceo and Defence Estate officer. "Frequent land scams take place because of the flawed land records kept by a single authority, the Defence Estates Department," says Raghavinder Dass, president of the All-India Cantonment Bungalow Owners' Association.
This new scam to tumble out of the ministry's closet once again highlights the dangers to prime defence land. Last year, the Defence Estates was severely criticised by a Controller of Defence Accounts (CDA) report. The report said that the DGDE, custodian of 17,000 acres of defence land worth Rs 20 lakh crore, had failed in all its primary tasks of audit, accounting, acquisition of land and financial management.
The department has been unable to punish its black sheep. One of its officers, A.S. Rajgopal, was promoted twice despite being chargesheeted a few years ago. He retired as principal director of Defence Estates last year. The cda recommended closing down the DGDE. The Government is yet to take any action.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony recently told Parliament that 11,000 acres of defence land were being illegally occupied all over the country. Antony said that he had asked for computerisation of the DGDE's records. "This is preposterous. Computerisation is being held out as a panacea for corruption," says a senior Ministry of Defence official.
Computerisation of the DGDE's land records has been on for the past five years but the organisation is nowhere near realising a central database. The DGDE has been unable to respond to even basic RTI queries on the size of defence land holdings. With no reform or accountability in sight, defence land scams will continue to stain officers of the armed forces.
Army hit by club scam: click here to read the full story
Related Story in Chennai
Prestigious Chennai Clubs Cheat the Nation: Gymkhana and Cosmopolitan
Indian Military Using Land for Golf Clubs
97 private golf courses on more than 3,250 hectares of defense ministry-owned land- Outsourced to Army Zone Golf- Golf Carts passed off as wheelchairs or noiseless reconnaissance vehicles
AT EASE WITH GREASE
General Deepak Kapoor may seem like a terrible aberration. But BRIJESH PANDEY finds the rot runs deeper in the army. Kapoor has become an object of hatred for armymen and women, serving and retired, with good reason: it is said that he didn’t just pocket a few kickbacks, he allegedly invited the entire evil axis of corruption — politician-contractor-police-bureaucrat — into the office of the army chief. He did this by letting it be known within political circles that he is pliable and ready to use his office to share the spoils. Some officers blame his predecessor General NC Vij for starting the slide. One apsired and another manned the National Disaster Management Agency. What an irony!
AT EASE WITH GREASE-
General Deepak Kapoor a Geek or a Crook- Wikileaks
General Deepak Kapoor- incompetent combat leader and rather a geek. His war doctrine- eliminating China and Pakistan in a simultaneous war front was termed as “much far from reality”- General Kapoor was dubbed as a General who was least bothered about security challenges to the country but was more concerned about milking the system for making personal assets and strengthening his own cult in the army

Comment and Observations
These Club scams are perpetuated by Politicians, Bureaucrats in connivance with the MOD and AHQ. The Sukhna Scam fades into insignificance compared to revenue loss of over hundreds of Crores of Rupees to the exchequer for a period of over 2 decades as black money has been used by vested interests to evade legitimate revenue due to the Government! A closer look at the clubs under scrutiny reveals:
The clubs have lease agreements for a period of 30 to 60 years. Defence lands— often huge tracts given to run the clubs to ensure "betterment of Members including the Garrison Officers". One needs to zero in on the terms and conditions of the lease agreements, which are grossly violated. These are restricting public entry and use, discriminatory membership practices, non-payment of dues, non-submission of audited accounts and earning illegal revenue by letting out premises for weddings, parties, guest rooms and Guest fees. The Garrison Officers are relegated as second class members without voting rights. The managements and Governing body owes an explanation to the nation for violating the Rules of the land. Even capital gains taxes are cleverly evaded. Besides, the management and Governing Body are minting money by hiring out premises without paying a dime for tax. It's nothing but a robbery of citizens' resources, If these conserves of the privileged governing body can be brought to the negotiating table to renew their leases at reasonable rates and made to follow terms, the bigger battle of fighting corruption in high places can be won!

Job Placement for Armed Forces Veterans

A Job Fair for the Armed Forces Veterans will be held on 11.12.2010 Saturday at 08.00 AM at Island Grounds, Chennai (Behind Kendriya Vidyalaya).
This fair is being arranged by the HQ, ATK&K Area, Fort St George, Chennai 600009 for the benefit of veterans.
All the Armed Forces Veterans desirous of attending the fair are to contact and register their names by 10.12.2010 with the Officer-in-Charge, Ex-servicemen Helpline Centre, ATK&K Area, Fort St George, Chennai. They have to obtain token for having registered their names. (This is very important)
Note: Plenty of vacancies are available for different types of job. There is ample opportunity for technical personnel belonging to Signals, EME, MEG & NSG.
Out station candidates will be provided accommodation at the ESM Helpline Centre. They are to report one day in advance i.e. on 10.12.2010.
For further information and assistance contact:
Hony Capt M David (Retd)
Officer-in-Charge,
Ex-servicemen Helpline Centre,
Fort St. George, Chennai -09.
Phone: 044-25675337, 044-25675236.
Email: oicesmchennai@yahoo.com
Don’t miss this golden opportunity. All veterans are to report in appropriate dress with all their testimonials.
Job Fair for the Armed Forces Veterans

Corps of Signals: Chennai 20 Feb 2010

Monsoon Rains exposes underbelly of Chennai's poor quality infrastructure

— Photo: A. Muralitharan Difficult trek: Not many people prefer using the subway in the face of water stagnation and safety issues.

CHENNAI: Pedestrians using the subway connecting Trisoolam railway station and the Chennai airport are facing problems because of lack of security and stagnating water. One can see a sheet of water on the ground soon after entering the subway from the station side. A ‘spring’ of water on the sides of the steps overflows on to the ground. Many passengers from the airport carrying heavy luggage, particularly those fitted with wheels, are put to lot of inconvenience.

People working in the airport lament that even after a short spell of rain, water stagnates in the subway. To avoid the water, some people take the risk of crossing the busy national highway to reach the airport or vice-versa with their luggage.

“Engineering marvel”
The subway was constructed at a cost of Rs.5 crore and inaugurated in April last year. National Highways Authorities of India (NHAI) officials had then termed the facility an engineering marvel, as it was constructed without any road cuts.

When contacted, NHAI officials said they had received complaints about water stagnation. Water from the Trisoolam station’s stormwater drains was seeping into the subway. The NHAI was pumping out the water. A meeting with the railway officials would be organised soon to sort out the issue. The officials said the maintenance of the subway had been handed over to a private contractor, who was baling out water during and after rain regularly.

Women harassed
Another major issue haunting the users was the lack of security and safety, particularly during late evening hours. This issue was raised at a recent meeting, in which the Airline Operators Committee (AOC) complained to the Airport Director that women working in airline counters and ground handling agencies at the airport had to encounter anti-social elements. They were being harassed by a group of autorickshaw drivers, who parked their vehicles near the subway. However, the victims had not filed any formal complaints with law-enforcing agencies. The AOC had requested the police to provide security at the subway during late evening hours, they added.
Stagnating water hits subway users

Chennai's Collapsing Infrastructure

Open storm drain converted to open raw sewage drain
Most of the subways and Road under Rail bridges are filled with water and not usable during monsoons. The quality of works is sub- standard and road surfaces do not last even 9 months. Add to this open storm drains turned into open sewage drains directly connected to sewer lines from houses and footpaths taken over by vendors and used as parking areas. There is no citizen safety in the streets of Chennai City for women as well as men.
Chennai Airport has become hotbed for con men, touts, beggars, scoundrels, and goons operating in the guise of travel agents or drivers freely operating in the International Airport car parking area. It seems that the local Police are in league with the hundreds of scoundrels operating 24x7 in the International Airport. The recent custom duty scam is also related to unauthorised touts operating in and around the Airport in connivance with the Authorities.

Vijay Diwas 2009: Chennai and Doon Valley

For the first time since I moved into Madras– what has now become Chennai– over a decade and half ago, I was pleasantly surprised to note that the Veteran Officers in the Station had decided to observe the Vijay Diwas.

Thanks to the efforts of two untiring persevering determined veterans– Col N Viswanathan and Col TN Raman who against all odds decided to take matters into their own hands and decided to organize the function by themselves. And the resultant was a message sent on late evening of the 12th Dec, to say that it would be observed at 1100hours on the 16th Dec at the War Memorial.

The weathermen had predicted a wet Wednesday, and based on those readings, the local Government had asked all schools to close. Nonetheless, we drove down to the War Memorial with the skies being overcast and thick dark clouds threatening to open up any minute and pour down in all the fury. But the threats did not have any undue effect on all of us, as having been conditioned to commence exercises and operations in such weather, we pressed on regardless. We reached the adjoining MES IB, where arrangements had been made for parking of vehicles. From there we trooped into the precincts of the manicured lawns of the War Memorial. It was heartening to note that in spite of short notice - about 50 personnel from all the three Armed Services had gathered together to pay our humble tributes to all those brave soldiers who had given their all during the 1971 Indo Pak conflict in order that we and the civil society may live a more peaceful and better lives.

The War Memorial was a relic of the Colonial trappings – having been built by the Raj in memory of those of the then Madras Presidency who had fought on behalf of British Empire. Accordingly the letterings on main face were in English, whereas on the other three sides they were in Tamil, Urdu (possibly due to the troops of Arcot who were primarily Muslims) and Telugu. When the British took over Madras, it was ruled by Damarla Venkatapathy Nayak, a Telugu speaking gentleman.

The wording on the Memorial reads as: “To the memory of all those from the Madras Presidency who lost their lives in the service of ‘the Nation’”. To anyone having a closer look it would be obvious that the words ‘the Nation’ had been added later possibly replacing ‘the Empire’. Inscriptions on the four surrounding pillars have now been added. They read as 1947 – 48; 1962 Chinese Aggression; 1965 and 1971 – Indo-Pakistan war.

The function commenced exactly as scheduled at 1100 hours. Lt Gen C Sundara Rao, the Patron of AFVOA was the first to place a wreath on the memorial. He was followed by Maj Gen Chattaraman, the current President of AFVOA, Col TN Raman, Convenor of the IESM, Tamil Nadu, Col A Krishnaswami, VrC, VSM**, RAdm Sivamani and Sqn Ldr J Nagarajan, KC, decorated soldiers of the three services. Thereafter the rest of all the personnel gathered, offered floral tributes to the memory of war heroes.

The function came to a close by sounding of the last post by the soldiers of 5 Jak Rif Regiment.
Brig VA Subramanyam (Retd)

VJAY DIWAS AT DOON VALLEY- DESH KE SHAHID AMAR RAHE


To remember the day of historical and decisive battle fought by Indian soldiers in 1971 for liberation of Bangladesh, homage was paid to MARTYRS at 1545 hrs on 16 Dec 09 at Dakra War Memorial, Dehradun Cantt. Not only all martyrs who sacrificed their life in 1971 war but also all war wounded soldiers of Doonite and their nearest and dearest were remembered on VIJAY DIWAS. Function was organized by Jhanda Committee, Dakra Shahid Chok, Dehradun Cantt which was attended by more 350 Doonites including veterans & their families.

Hon’ble Chairman Vidhan sabha Sh Harbans Kapoor was the chief guest and others who attended the Vijay Diwas were Sh Ganesh Joshi, ESM, MLA, Brig KG Behl, Retd, President Dehradun Ex-Services League, Lt Col BM Thapa, Retd, General Secretary Dehradun Ex-services League and Member IESM, Brig P S Gurung,Retd, Lt Col B S Chhetri, Retd, H/Capt P S Rana, H/Capt KB Thapa and many others.

Chief guest and President DESL disseminated the detail information about the VIJAY DIWAS and honoured all war widows, wounded veterans in war and their relatives by presenting souvenirs. Brig K G Behl during his address stressed on OROP and intimated the veterans and their families about all the efforts being taken at every level including by concerned authorities and IESM for an early favorable decision to over come the arouse irresistibility with the Central Govt for which as on today 20000 medals been deposited with President by the veterans.
Lt Col B M Thapa, Retd
Gen Secy, DESL and Member IESM.

Ex Servicemen assaulted by DMK councillors in Chennai

CHENNAI: Police are searching for a group of men, including a couple of councillors belonging to the DMK, for assaulting four senior citizens in Madambakkam on Thursday. Three former defence officers and wife of one of the officers were injured.

The injured complained that the incident was a result of animosity nurtured by a section of politicians for protests staged by residents against the location of the proposed common sewage treatment plant in Madambakkam for an underground drainage project for Madambakkam, Sembakkam and Chitlapakkam Town Panchayats.

Selaiyur police said they had registered a FIR following a complaint from Admiral (retired) Srinivasan (63), who said a section of residents, including Brigadier (retired) Mohan Thomas (62), Colonel (retired) Sundar (58) and his wife Usha Sundar (52), went to the proposed site on an invitation from TNPCB officials.

R. Kumar, Joint Chief Environmental Engineer, Admiral Srinivasan said, had come to the site on Wednesday following complaints from residents that once completed, the facility would irreversibly damage the fragile environment including water bodies around it. The residents’ charge was that the facility had not got the necessary clearance from TNPCB. Even as the residents were trying to point out their concerns to the TNPCB engineer, councillors and his supporters showered abuses on them.

When the residents tried to take the engineer to water bodies nearby, the councillors and their supporters threatened the residents and suddenly, a group of men picked up coconut fronds and wooden clubs and attacked them. The FIR has been registered against L.S.S.Mohan, councillor of Madambakkam town panchayat, (who is husband of Malliga, chairperson of the local body), councillor M.Samson and Executive Officer D.Gunasekaran, police added.
Fir against DMK councillors in assault case

Comment: All ESM and ESM Organisations should unitedly fight the corrupt Politicians and Councillors who really are goondas terrorising the innocent citizens. All Politicians are having potful of black money and indulge in benami transactions, fraud, cheating, smuggling, illegal buying and selling of real estate for huge profits in connivance of the Politicians and Police. There is immediate need for Police reforms if common citizens need security from Political hoodlums. War on terror must be fought from all angles.

Tsunami Andaman 26 Dec 2004: Missing Child of Sgt Ravishankar-IAF

Apurva on the rightDear Sir,
A copy of an earlier email- Spoke to the Sgt who is still looking for his child. He needs organisational support- can any one help to connect him to the service HQ(IAF-AOP/AOA)?
Brigadier PT Gangadharan (Guards)
Veteran

Hi Friends,
I have a very noble cause behind sending this mail to all of you. Please spare some time to read through it. I met a guy named Mr Ravi Shankar on the train when I was returning from Chennai on 26th of December, 2008. I was having a regular chat with him regarding the Army and its rules and regulations and how the forces are admired in our country. He then told me about a shocking tragedy that his family went through and hence I write this mail to seek your help.

He told me that he was posted in CAR-NICOBAR in the year 2004 as a sergeant in the INDIAN AIR-FORCE. On 26th of December that year his family fell victim to the unfortunate Tsunami that struck out on eastern coast. He along with his wife and two children (photo below) were washed in the deadly waters. Reaching out his wife managed to cling onto a tree but his small son (picture inset on the left) had swallowed too much water and passed away in her arms. Ravi also in desperation to swim lost grip of his daughter's (APURVA) hand. She was washed away and was never to be found again, until one day they came to know of her being sighted at a relief camp. On contacting the authorities they came to know that this little girl was abducted from the relief camp and was missing again. Since then Mr Ravi Shankar has been traveling to Chennai every year with a hope to see his daughter. He has been publishing MISSING columns in major daily's in chennai, and he showed me how heavily these newspapers had charged him for a those ad's. One of the major newspapers charged him a whooping amount of 12000 rupees for a 4 X 4 cm ad (that too on the fourth page). Please don't consider this mail a regular chain mail and do care to forward this to your near and dear ones. He requested me to do something to reach out to people who use e-media (internet etc). I myself have posted her picture on my blog and I request people who own there personal blog pages to post this girl's picture there as it could be of significant help. In case any news of any nature is found regarding her (APURVA) please drop in a mail to: reportmysignalblogspot@gmail.com
Brigadier PTGangadharan (Guards)
Veteran

Tamilnadu ESM Organisation

Chennai Parking Lots are Mafia Dens
Here are some facets of TEXCO which is Tamilnadu Ex- Servicemen Corporation. This is an organisation meant for welfare of ESM but employs ESM/ dependents on paper only and hardly any genuine ESM. The whole organisation is steeped in corruption and fool proof methods/ systems devised for siphoning off revenue accrued from parking lots. It is comparable to any Italian Mafia Organisation of the world but at comparably lower level as there is no violence and shooting involved. Does Army Resettlement Directorate exercise any control or have audit to check on who is benefiting from such a massive organisation with so much revenue? The post of General Manager is either an IAS officer or Retired Armed Forces Officer appointed by Tamilnadu Government.

Relatives are not ESM
I interviewed a dozen of the so called ESM employed in the parking lots of Chennai Corporation, not one of them was an ESM. When questioned how he got employed: answer was "I am ESM relative". How can a relative become a dependent? Another scheme of employing ESM for Aavin milk vending booths has died its natural death because of corruption. The ESM were forced to sell the booths to local thugs on a monthly payment.

Comments
Please read the laudable aims and objectives of TEXCO which is given in link below. There is urgent need for accountability and responsibility. The ground realities are not checked. TEXCO uniform and badge is worn by all the thugs. The ESM name is getting unnecessarily sullied/ tarnished/ smeared/ muddled with Mafia activity of thugs who really man the Chennai Parking Lots. The civilians get to feel that ESM are corrupt as they are cheated at the Metro Parking Areas. TEXCO