DGR graduating to transparent corruption

'Serious fraud probe' into ex-servicemen job scam
New Delhi: The Defence Ministry on Sunday handed over the probe into a job racket for ex-servicemen to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in the Corporate Affairs Ministry.
Several senior officers of the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) have been found guilty in an internal inquiry.
The case involves a private company, Ex-Servicemen Airlink Transport Service Pvt Ltd (EATS), and the fraud took place under a scheme for ex-servicemen.
Under the scheme, security agencies run by retired defence personnel were given contracts to provide service to central public sector undertakings.
The Defence Ministry found substance in allegations of subletting of security agencies for obtaining multiple benefits by a few officers of the ex-servicemen welfare department.
"The Defence Ministry has decided to request the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to hand over to the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) the case relating to private company EATS for further investigation," a Defence Ministry spokesperson said.
"Action is also being initiated against the officers mentioned in the inquiry report who flouted the extant norms and guidelines of various schemes, and thus were involved in administrative improprieties," the spokesman said in a statement.
The move comes as the Defence Ministry initiated a series of measures after an inquiry found substance in allegations regarding subletting of security agencies and obtaining multiple benefits by a few ex-servicemen officers.
This was part of a drive to ensure transparency in the functioning of DGR office.
DGR is an attached office of department of ex-servicemen welfare, which is responsible for training and rehabilitation of retiring defence personnel and ex-servicemen through various self employment schemes.
One of these schemes relate to providing security services to central public sector undertakings through security agencies run by ex-servicemen.
"The essence of inquiry and its analysis is that in the last couple of years, efforts have been made to introduce as much transparency in the manner of the functioning of the DGR office.
"These efforts have been stepped up both by the department and the director general since the notification of DGR as an attached office of the department of ex-servicemen welfare in January 2009," he said. IANS
Comment
Col Amarjit Singh - New Delhi
I have not seen a more unhelpful, ruderless and a more incompetent organisation that demoralizes its officers with vague rules and regulations and has a big zero in its track records as far as marketing excellent officers for occupations they richly deserve, Sorry state of affairs.
DGR under investigation for serious fraud

Resettlement Defence Scam

TIMES NOW's Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami discusses the issue of the defence scam with Mahroof Raza, Strategic Affairs Analyst.
First, it was the Sukhna Land scam. Now, TIMES NOW has accessed an inquiry committee report which indicts several ex-servicemen of being deeply involved in corruption in resettlement schemes for retiring defence officers. The inquiry report alleges that many ex-servicemen misused schemes by subletting contracts to private firms and also violated norms by colluding with resettlement officers to get multiple benefits.
The most disturbing part of the report, however, is the allegation that security of national assets could have been compromised by handing it over to anti-national personnel by ex-servicemen for monetary gains.
The defence ministry is looking into the matter with great seriousness and in all likelihood, there could be a CBI inquiry initiated into the case.
Reports question the moral and ethical practices of our defence establishment.
Defence scam exposed
Related Reading
DGR perpetuates corruption

Defence ministry completes probe into alleged scam in DGR
Press Trust Of India New Delhi, September 01, 2011
Defence ministry has completed an inquiry into an alleged scam in the Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) to provide post retirement career opportunities to retired officers and jawans of the three services. The inquiry committee has completed its report on alleged malpractices and submitted it on Thursday. It will now be put up before secretary, Ex-Servicemen Welfare (ESW) for further actions, defence ministry officials said on Thursday.

DGR, an inter-service organisation which operates directly under the defence ministry, provides various resettlement and rehabilitation opportunities to ex-servicemen under various schemes of the central and state governments.

It provides job opportunities to ex-servicemen in government, semi-government and private sectors and also provides the facility for training to promote self employment avenues among officers and men.

Recently allegations of a scam in the DGR had surfaced after certain RTIs were filed enquiring about the functioning of the directorate following which an inquiry was ordered by the ministry.

The RTIs were filed inquiring into the functioning of the organisation and schemes introduced by it for training and resettlement of officers in government and semi-government sectors.

It also asked for details of self employment opportunities promoted by the organisation and its beneficiaries.
Defence ministry completes probe into alleged scam in DGR

National Security
Officers have further deposed that since "the DGR sponsored security agencies are providing security services to vital installations of the Government of India, the possibilities of terrorist organizations/ anti-social elements funding and orchestrating a wider security threat cannot be ruled out and therefore want the convening authority to thoroughly enquire into the matter." Will the Secretary, Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare, act... Read more click here...

Comment: Why should Colonels and Brigadiers be given employment after retirement when they are earning full pension of over Rs 40,000 per month? Very lopsided and skewed resettlement schemes. Only employment should be given to Jawans and Short Service Officers who retire earlier than 18 years of service.

Bangalore: Free sites and passes for State’s ex-servicemen

Army Welfare Committee asked to identify the eligible- Bangalore, December 7, DHNS:

Salute to Bravehearts: Students of Army School sing patriotic songs at the Armed Forces Flag Day programme in Bangalore on Tuesday. Home Minister R Ashoka, Governor H R Bhardwaj and Air Chief Marshal (Rtd) F H Major are seen.

The State government would allot free sites to retired Army personnel from Karnataka, who wish to settle down in the City.
Minister for Home and Transport R Ashoka said here on Tuesday that the Army Welfare Committee had been asked to furnish a list of the eligible. The condition is that the applicants must have provided a residential address (of any place in Karnataka) while joining the Armed Forces.
Furthermore, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation would issue free passes to the families of soldiers who have participated in war or anti-terror operations.

For 15 families
The passes, valid for 10 years, have already been issued to 15 families so far. The facility will be extended to the buses of the State Transport Corporation in future, the minister said. He was speaking at a function to mark Armed Forces Flag Day at Raj Bhavan. “It’s a way of saying thank you to military personnel who put their lives at stake to protect us,” Ashoka said. He urged the youth to join Armed Forces in the service of the nation.

Donation to Welfare Fund
It was declared that the Transport Department would donate Rs one lakh to the Army Welfare Fund. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation handed over the money collected from the sale of Armed Forces Flag Day stickers, on the occasion.

Governor Bhardwaj, who spoke on the occasion, underscored the need to provide financial security to war widows. “I know personally how difficult it is to serve in Armed Forces under tough conditions. We cannot pay them back for their services, but certainly can take steps to improve their lives,” he said.

‘No shielding’
Meanwhile, speaking to presspersons, Ashoka refuted the allegation that the Monday’s notification delineating the probe into land scam cases was aimed at ‘shielding’ tainted former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu. “There is no such intention. The Constitution empowers a State government to order judicial inquiry into any matter. The Lokayukta has been investigating a lot of other cases and let him continue with it,” he said. He also denied the charge that there were attempts to withdraw the FIR filed against Katta on December 2. Ashoka said it was a wrong notion that only the present Government has ordered a judicial probe bypassing the Lokayukta. “Previous governments have ordered far more number of judicial inquiries,” he said.

When visibly unconvinced journalists persisted with more questions, Ashoka said he would comment at ‘an appropriate time’ as the matter was sub judice.

Citizens fears
By: Vision
On: 08 Dec 2010 05:44 pm
It is only the matter of time. Bogus Ex-service Man claim these benifits. Look at Adarsh & Sukhna. After 10 years scheme will be scapped. A scam will be unearthed.

By: LimcaRecords
On: 08 Dec 2010 07:32 am
One more excuse to loot State land amongst relatives and friends. Politicians, you are untouched, unquestioned. So please dont state reasons to look after our Motherland. JUST DO IT. We need to beat the 1.6 Lakh Crore Scam with something bigger. How about selling India to UK or Osama ?
Free sites, BMTC passes for State’s ex-servicemen

Public Relation exercise to downsize neglect of ESM

MoD Signs MoU With DD Produce Programmes on Ex-Servicemen
Monday, July 05, 2010
The Ministry of Defence signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) here today with Doordarshan to produce programmes of various genres on different facets of Ex-Servicemen’s (ESM) lives. The programmes will also include the role played by the ESM in nation building and the efforts being made by the Government for their welfare and resettlement over the years.

The MoU was signed by Smt Neelam Nath, Secretary, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (ESW), Ministry of Defence and Smt Aruna Sharma, Director General, Doordarshan.

Television viewers across the country will now be able to experience the real life stories of the ESM and the contributions made by them in nation-building. The infotainment programmes will also project the resettlement and various welfare measures of the government.

There are nearly 27 lakhs Ex-Servicemen including over five lakh widows. This figure swells by an average of about 50,000 ESM who are released from the Armed Forces every year. The Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR), an Inter-Services Organisation under the Ministry of Defence, runs various resettlement and welfare schemes for the benefit of the vast ESM workforce in the country. Over 50 thousand ESM were gainfully re-employed by the DGR last year alone. PK/RAJ
MoD Signs MoU With DD Produce Programmes on Ex-Servicemen

Maj Gen Pramod Behl Takes over as Director General (Resettlement)

Thursday, June 24, 2010 17:12 IST Press Information Bureau
Major General Pramod Behl has taken over as the Director General Resettlement (DGR). He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla, Pune and was commissioned in the GRENADIERS Regiment of Infantry in 1976.

Major General Behl has held various important Instructional, Staff and Command appointments. He is a Post-Graduate from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. Major Behl, a post graduate in Defence Studies and an M. Phil, has undergone a large number of important courses including senior and higher command courses as well as Conflict Management Course in International Law at National Defence College, Sweden.

The General Officer has commanded a unit on the Line of Control, a Brigade in the North East and another in the UN Mission in Congo (Brig Gen Pramod Behl, Commander North Kivu Brigade). He has held instructional appointments at National Defence Academy, Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School, Defence Services Staff College as well as various staff appointments as Brigade Major of a Brigade, Colonel (War Games) in Army Training Command (ARTRAC), Colonel (Planning) of a Strike Corps.

Before his appointment as Director General Resettlement, Major General Behl held the appointments of Commandant, Assam Riffles Training Centre and later as DDG(MS) of National Cadet Corps.
DM/Samir/RAJ
MAJ GEN Pramod BEHL Takes over as Director General (Resettlement)

IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- hundred and third day

Date: Monday, 30 March, 2009, 1:45 AM
Dear Colleagues,
The Jantar Mantar continues to remain active.
Visits
Maj Gen Jaini, Col Joshipura, Col Tyagi and self visited Mathura and Agra today and interacted with ESM. Mathura visit, anchored by Col Vikram Singh, had 500 ESM and a few families attending. In Agra Hony Capt Keshav Dev played the hub, with some 60 ESM in attendance. At both places there was tremendous enthusiasm and all pedged to attend the 12 April rally and bring along maximum numbers. At both places there were repeated requests for directions on voting choice in the Parliamentary elections.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

दिनांक: सोमवार, 30 मार्च, 2009, 1:45
प्रिय साथियों,
इस जंतर मंतर Jantar Mantar सक्रिय रहने के लिए जारी है.
दौरा
मेजर जनरल Jaini, कर्नल Joshipura, कर्नल त्यागी और आत्म मथुरा और आगरा आज और ESM से बातचीत का दौरा किया. मथुरा यात्रा, कर्नल विक्रम सिंह ने मुरलीधरन (anchored), 500 अनुभवी (ESM) और कुछ परिवारों में उपस्थित थे. आगरा मानद कैप्टन केशव देव में, उपस्थिति में कुछ 60 ESM के साथ हब निभाई. दोनों स्थानों पर वहाँ जबरदस्त उत्साह और सभी pedged ने 12 अप्रैल रैली में भाग लेने के लिए और अधिक से अधिक संख्या में साथ लाने गया था. दोनों स्थानों पर वहाँ के संसदीय चुनावों में चुनाव मतदान पर निर्देश के लिए अनुरोध दोहराया गया.
सादर,
लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल (Emeritus) राज Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
अध्यक्ष भारतीय भूतपूर्व सैनिक आंदोलन (IESM)

War Veterans Party: Some Suggestions

ESM Organisation Concept feedback loop
I strongly feel that there is a need to strengthen the base. With this in view I had sent a paper to the Air Force Association about six year's back and a couple of month's back to the IEsL and to the DGR. A copy is enclosed. The ESM retired from service and not from life but have a good physique and ability to work hard. I spoke to a very senior Air officers. They feel that somebody should take the lead. The endeavour will ensure a strong base of ex servicemen which in turn becomes a potent and reckoning force in the political arena. If the suggestions are of some use, you may consider implementation.

Group Captain B U B Murthy (Retd)
War Veteran Party
Link to Concept Paper: Rehabilitation and Resettlement of Ex- Servicemen: A concept Paper

Copy of letter reproduced below:
To: Brig R K S Gulia, President, Indian Ex Servicemen’s League
REHABILITATION AND RESETTLEMENT – ESM A CONCEPT PAPER

With the Sixth Pay Commission submitting its recommendations, the efforts and running around by you, in the various Organizations to get a reasonable Pension to ESM is quite laudable.

With the abundant human resource capital, in the form of disciplined and skilled ESM on hand with us spread over the nook and corner of the country, I am sure that we will be able to establish ourselves as a potent organization, by creating rehabilitation avenues for ESM even to the District level.

I enclose herewith copy of the concept paper forwarded by me to the Air Force Association in Jan/ Feb 2005. The paper is prepared with special reference to ESM of Air Force. The fate of the paper is not known.

The Govt both the Central and State, will be happy to support us since the scheme envisages generation of (create) employment avenues to the local youth as well besides the ESM. Our organization could be participative even in ventures like Universalising of Education, Skill Training to Uneducated youth and other ventures even in the remote areas.

The proposal envisages setting up of comprehensive units of Workshops/ Education/ Technical/ Management/ Other Institutes/ Services at the State HQ/ Regional level extending it later to the District Level with the ESM as nucleus.

Moreover, this venture will also help as a catalyst in motivating and guiding the youth to join the services. If you feel the concept is of any appeal, you may consider the same on the tri- service basis.

Copy to:
Director General of Resettlement

Goodwill of Ex- Servicemen

Your goodwill counts. Do not look for evidence of this. Just believe it. When you make it your mission to do what is in the best interest of others, you have secured your own fate. Your talents are not a secret to be kept. Go public and tell everyone you meet what you love- are passionate about, and good at doing. Retired life does not mean one goes into hiding, but to enjoy everyday the fruits of your hard earned pension.

Where do we go from here?
Once every gun that a soldier cleaned, every drill he performed, every foot he marched, had one final purpose— victory over the enemy. Life was simple and clear cut. Most of the decisions were made for him in advance by his leaders. Having completed the tenure in the Armed Forces, the drive begins to slacken once retired. He is now confronted with the harsh realities of a corrupt bureaucracy, red tapism and he feels totally let down, the Ex- Servicemen needs to make a hundred decisions for himself and to pick up the loose ends of his old life as a civilian. He often feels confused, frustrated, even a little purposeless. In this state of mind he naturally recollects the collective spirit and comradeship of yesteryears in service. ESM are his friends, with whom he went through ups and down in Peace and War. He looks up to them for succour and help.

Veteran Organisations
ESM organizations,therefore, to thrive and succeed, need some directing purpose. Beyond the sentiment of rekindling and relighting old memories. Helping the new ESM in such obvious needs for his post retirement settlement. In general terms, the answer is obvious: to promote group welfare and recognition and the good estate of the nation in years ahead. In specific terms the answer is not so simple. What is best for the ESM as a class? And how can he best serve his country, no longer as soldier but as a empowered citizen?