CSD: Need to check default and degradation of services

Extension of free gift schemes to CSD consumers and a need to check default.
Many a times, service- members and veterans end up buying consumer goods from the open market because of the reason that certain offers and free gift schemes are not made available to CSD customers. Some of our people also believe that such schemes are not ‘legally’ not meant to be extended to CSD consumers.

This is however an unfair trade practice by suppliers and dealers. If a gift scheme is offered by a supplier in the open market to all consumers and is not only a local arrangement by a particular dealer, it is bound to be extended to the CSD too. Entitled personnel should make it a point to survey the market first and demand gift schemes from the concerned dealers if the same are being extended to customers other than CSD consumers. In case of default, the same may be immediately reported to the following address :

Customer Service Cell
c/o DGM (MS)
Canteen Stores Department
‘Adelphi’, 119, M K Road
Mumbai – 400 020

Posted by Maj Navdeep Singh

Comment: The consumer/ household goods sold in CSD are obsolete models and many are of poor quality (example cell phone chargers which are a decade old and not compatible with latest cell phone models are being flooded in CSD canteens). Therefore, it is advisable not to buy electrical and household gadgets from CSD as they are likely to be out- dated models. Chroma a Tata Venture a consumer friendly outlet has the best quality and latest household products at very reasonable rates.
Please Check out this webpage: Tata Chroma Retail

CSD Canteens are money spinners
Many formations and units have crores and lakhs of Rupees in Banks spinning even more interest. What is the earthly use of earning so much profits if it cannot be utilized prudently for implementing measures to improve quality of life of serving soldiers and veterans or creating permanent assets to enhance the image of the Armed Forces? The canteen staff are paid peanuts and in few cases the civilian staff are paid by dishing out liquor to compensate low wages! Is this the image the Military should create and spread among civilians?
Truly the Mission Statement of CSD needs to be suitable revised as "Money Spinners" serving no worthwhile cause or purpose (in fact profits generated are grossly misused for other than intended purposes). The CSD ideally should be run on "no profit no loss" basis. This truly will be service oriented.

Physical fitness and Low Medical Category

Ref: click me

Incentives and corrective action are important tools in maintaining physical fitness. Officers and Jawans who are physically fit should be commended for performance. Those who repeatedly fail the stipulated physical standards should be barred from further promotions. A repetitive failure occurs when a record test is taken and failed, the soldier is provided adequate time and assistance to improve his or her performance, and failure occurs again.

Staying physically fit provides Officers and Jawans with benefits in addition to staying in the Armed forces. It will increase each one's quality of life, help one maintain weight and reduce risk of certain health problems.

Although the Physical Proficiency tests is an annual event, physical fitness remains the foundation for individual and unit combat readiness. It begins with our officer, Junior commissioned officer, non-commissioned officer leadership and must be an integral part of every one's life.

There are many senior officers who are physically unfit and manipulate ways to cheat the system (medical and physical). This is likely to reduce the combat readiness and effectiveness of units. Low Medical Category officers must be boarded out graciously instead of promoting them as an incentive. Most of the LMC officers seek a plum peace posting at the expense of officers serving in field areas. A retrograde step indeed!

SCPC: Will increase in the pay of officers encourage youngsters to join armed forces?

Prior to about three decades ago, it was considered most prestigious to get a commission in the Armed forces, even more than joining the IAS or the IPS. That is why the toppers and higher ups in the Sainik Schools and Military Schools, which were then considered as one of the best sets of schools in the country, used to scramble to join the prestigious National Defence Academy. Even most of the senior lot of the IAS and the IPS would have tried to join the NDA, but rejected, and they now thank God that they were rejected! Over the years, due to deterioration in standards of pay and perks in the Defence forces vis-a-vis their counter parts in the Civil services, most toppers at school level are disinclined to join the armed forces. Even the children of the Defence forces are advised by their parents not to join the forces to suffer ungrateful treatment meted out by the Govt, which continues to degrade them by the passing day.
Cdr BB Khilari (Retd)
Will increase in the pay of officers encourage youngsters to join armed forces?

Dear moderator,
I am thankful to General Kadyan for reminding us the good old Chetwode motto. However I consider it unnecessary baggage we are burdened with. Reasons are as follows:
1 -- only fools lay down their lives for the sake of their motherland. But let me hasten to add that sensible and professional soldier makes the enemy die for his motherland and remains alive to fight another battle.
2 --"had we served our interests with half the zeal we served our country we would not have been betrayed by our decision makers"

Gentlemen, volumes can be written on such subjects without shouting hoarse" koi hai, hai koi- listen to veterans.

Having served in army and air force at various levels as also presently in corporate sector for nearly two decades I am of the firm opinion that we should continue our peaceful protest.
Col Indarpal (Signals)

SCPC: Sheer windfall for Bureaucrats without accountability! Will salary hike improve efficiency? See it all in the video clip.