Gen J J bats for ESM Corporation at the fag end of his governorship

Governor bats for setting up of ESM Corporation in State
ITANAGAR, Sep 22, 2012: While terming ex-servicemen as disciplined and professional lots, State Governor Gen (Retd) J J Singh opined that the State govt needs to utilize this pool of talented human resources.
Addressing a meeting of State Managing Committee at Raj Bhavan here today to review the initiatives taken up for the welfare of ex-servicemen in the State, he called upon the members to start small, grow more.
Appreciating the idea of setting up of an ex-servicemen corporation, a self sustaining organization to fulfill the need and aspiration of the ex-servicemen and their dependents, and also unemployed youths in ‘certain situation’, Gen Singh said that it will help in channelizing employment opportunities of the retired personnel and give them a rightful place in the society.
With right persons and proper advice, such organization will definitely help the ex-servicemen to avail GoI welfare schemes and programmes, he added.
On tourism potentials of the state, the Governor said that the ex-servicemen have huge scope for jobs as guides, instructors and in security establishments besides opportunities in hydropower and road projects which are coming up in the State. He expressed hope that the organization (ESM) will help in tapping employment opportunities for their former associates in a better way.
Finance and Home Commissioner Ramesh Negi, Secretary to Governor and Secretary Planning, Ankur Garg, Special Secretary (Finance), Swati Sharma, Special Secretary (Home) Shalini Goel, Capital Complex DC Sanjay Goel, Director Disaster Management, Y W Ringu among others were present.
Wing Commander Gyati Kago and Hony Captain Lobsang Monpa, President ESM Association also participated in the deliberation.
Earlier, Brigadier (Retd) Ramesh Bhatia, in a power-point presentation, gave a brief on the proposal for formation a State Govt Ex-Servicemen Corporation in the line of Uttarakhand Purv Sainik Kalyan Nigam Ltd.
Giving a brief background, Brigadier Bhatia said that a very large number of ex-servicemen who are highly disciplined and well-trained proceed to retirement, every year in order to maintain a youthful profile of the Armed Forces.
Earlier these persons were exploited to work at low wages by unscrupulous placement agencies. To check this trend the Government of India established an Inter Service organization as the Director General of Resettlement (DGR), functioning directly under the Department of ESM Welfare, Ministry of Defence. The DGR had requested all State govts to form their respective State Govt Corporations. But till 2003, seven states only – Punjab, HP, UP, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have formed their corporations.
Brigadier Bhatia, who has been with UPNL since its inception, said that in year 2000, when Uttarakhand became a separate State, it decided to establish its own ESM Corporation but it took the State Government nearly four years to commence its operation.
Sharing his experience, Brigadier Bhatia informed that UPNL commercially operates as a placement company on behalf of the State govt and bids for security and allied services in CPSU’s, State PSU’s and in private sector as well. The jobs are provided on contractual basis only to the ESM & other youths of Uttarakhand. Since the jobs in Uttarakhand are limited, UPNL seeks contractual jobs outside the state as well. Volunteer potential job seekers who wish to proceed outside the State on hire wages are encouraged.
He emphasized that focus is on providing employment and welfare measures rather than profit making. (PRO)
Governor bats for setting up of ESM Corporation in State
Comment: Retired JJ General present Governor of AP who has done nothing for the Welfare for ESM is comparable to Retired President Pratiba Patil, is now batting for the ESM. Both deserve to be consigned to history. All the so called ESM Corporations are scam ridden entities which must be shut down.
Tailpiece: Will Tejinder spill the beans?
Gen JJ, Gen Deepak Kapoor and Lt Gen Tejinder Singh linked...

Tejinder joined the army in 1970, a year after VK Singh. Before becoming DG, DIA, he was area commander of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa. He was allotted a flat in the infamous Adarsh Society in Mumbai, where army officers and politicians stole land meant to house Kargil war widows.

Tejinder is believed to have been close to General JJ Singh and General Deepak Kapoor, the two immediate past army chiefs. JJ Singh made him commander in Mumbai and Kapoor, who had a cold war with VK Singh, brought him in as head of the DIA. Tejinder retired in June 2010. He was in the running for the post of chief of the powerful National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) but failed to get it due to the Adarsh aftermath.
Click here for One-Man Army?
Tracking Tatra: Click here for more on Tejinder

Over 10,000 Soldiers Bid Adieu to Indian Army

Over 10,000 Soldiers Bid Adieu to Indian Army
By SiliconIndia | Tuesday, 04 September 2012, 18:00 IST
Bangalore: As disgraceful and discouraging as it can be, over 10,000 soldiers opted out of the Indian Army. The obvious reason predicted is the illusionary relation shared by the Indian Army soldiers and their officers. The issue was very much brought to notice at the Parliament when defence minister, AK Antony said that 10,315 jawans opted for pre mature retirement in 2011 which is far more compared to 7,249 and 7,499 in 2010 and 2009 respectively. The probable cause behind retiring early at 35 as given by Antony is that the educated soldiers look for a better option other than working with the force.
Three incidents of scuffle and stand-offs at different places in these two years created the discord between the officers and the jawans in the hierarchical system. The incidents took place at 226 Field Regiment at Nyoma in Ladakh, 45th Cavalry at Gurdaspur in Punjab and 16th Cavalry regiment at Samba in Jammu & Kashmir. In the latest incident, the Samba sector was led to unrest as a jawan commited suicide. Antony said in a written reply at Lok Sabha, " A Court of Inquiry (COI) has been convened by the Army to investigate the matter," as quoted by the Dainikbhaskar.
According to the statistical reports, total suicides among soldiers were 96 in 2003 which rose to 100 next year. In 2005 a total of 77commited suicide which reached 129 in 2006. The figure was 118 in 2007, 123 in 2008 which fell to 96 in 2009 but once more rose to 115 in 2010.
Antony said that the Government has taken certain steps to enhance the morale of the jawans. The ministry is planning to replace the ‘sahayak’ system with the civillians for the convinience of the senior officers. Even the inclusion of liberalised leave policy, provision of recreational facilities and the participation of psychological counsellors will create a soothing environment to work.
Over 10,000 Soldiers Bid Adieu to Indian Army
Sample this Comment: Straight from a Jawan's Heart
The defence, morale is at all time low, the lungi clad Antony has very poor 'leadership' & vison. The Arms & Equipments, facilities & pay scales are low, jawans still have no family accommodation, they have poor CSD facility - and to add soldier's welfare is just nil, officers have all facilities including free ration, education, free fuel, servants, guards etc etc. So its natural for the repercussions of revolt. Most jawans have now taken up security & admin related odd jobs & are satisfied - gone are the days where JF Rebiero, Vaidyas were held in high esteem. WE saw Presidents like Pratibha aunty doing nothing except giving away trophies & visiting foreign countries blowing Tax payers money.(sic) Posted by:Nair - 05 Sep, 2012

DESW issues Pension Regulations

So there you have it, the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (sic) (DESW), on 06 Jan 2012, has issued Pension Regulations for the Army (2008), purportedly approved by the ‘Raksha Mantri’.
These Regulations supposedly supercede the Pension Regulations of 1961. Though the Regulations have been issued on 06 Jan 2012 and only apply to those who were released after 2008, these have not incorporated the drastic pensionary changes made by the 6th CPC which according to the DESW would be included in the form of ‘insertions’ to be decided by the office of the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions). These Regulations of 2008 have been jointly drafted by the office of the CGDA and PCDA(P). It seems illogical that these Regulations of ‘2008’ have been issued in 2012 and that too without incorporating changes introduced by the 6th CPC w.e.f 01-01-2006. What was the tearing hurry? Preliminarily speaking, even otherwise, rather than entrusting such an important policy-work to policy makers and experts at the govt level, the DESW has gone by the drafting submitted by defence accountants. But strictly speaking, are these Regulations even valid or legal?
These are not 'Regulations' but the imposition of the will of a couple of accountants whose limited understanding, drafting and thought-process has been thrust upon pensioners forcibly.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh
Read more
Comment: Is DESW an legal entity to regulate pensions or are they a bunch of number crunchers?

ESM Welfare news

Assistance given to ex-servicemen and widows of World War II
Aakar Sukumar exhibition held
Bhopal:Friday, December 9, 2011: Updated 16:36IST
At the monthly Sainik Sammelan here, the District Ex-Servicemen's Welfare Office provided economic assistance worth Rs. 48 thousand to 24 ex-servicemen and widows of World War II. Cheques worth Rs. 2 thousand each were given away to ex-servicemen and widows of World War II by Joint Director Ex-Servicemen's Welfare Colonel V.K. Chaube (retired) and District Ex-Servicemen's Welfare Officer Colonel D.C. Goyal (retired).
The convention was informed that a recruitment rally of Air Force is going to be held on December 12, 2011 at district headquarters Kawardha in Chhattisgarh.
Aakar Sukumar Exhibition held
An exhibition of ceremic sculputres entitled 'Aakar Sukumar' is organised every year by Smt. Nirmala Devi, mother of Shaheed Captain Devashish Sharma in his memory at the convention venue on the premises of Sainik Vishram Grih, Banganga Bhopal. The exhibition organised today by her was inspected by ex-servicemen, war widows and their relatives. The income generated from the sale of these artifacts is donated by Smt. Sharma to Armed Forces Flag Day Fund. R.S. Parashar/Sunita Dube
Assistance for WWII Veterans

November 27, 2011 14:36 IST | Updated: November 27, 2011 14:36 IST KRISHNAGIRI, November 27, 2011
Eye camp for ex-servicemen Staff Reporter
Over three hundred ex-servicemen and their family members participated in the free eye camp held in Krishnagiri on Sunday.
The camp was jointly organised by the District Ex-servicemen Welfare Board and the Dr. Agarwal Eye Hospital at the Office of the District Ex-servicemen Welfare Board at Old Bengaluru Road in Krishnagiri town near the five road junction.
The ex-servicemen and their family members were screened for cataract, growing of flesh in the eye and other eye related ailments. A team of Ophthalmologists headed by Mr. Sathish from Dr. Agarwal Eye Hospital, Krishnagiri screened the ex-servicemen and their family members.
Major (Retired) M. Muthuram, Assistant Director, District Ex-servicemen Welfare Board inaugurated the eye-camp.
Free eye camp
Comment: Why Free Eye Camp when we have ECHS- ESM reduced to beggars

Jammu, December 10 (Scoop News) – Zila Sainik Welfare Officer, Rajouri, Maj. R.S. Thakur (Retd) alongwith staff under the aegis of Brig. R.S. Langeh, AVSM Director RSB organized various ex-servicemen rallies in far-flung areas of district Rajouri. Simultaneously the rallies were conducted a on 10 November at Nowshera, 15 November at Sunderbani, 17 November at Kalakote and on 23 November, 2011 at Budhal to educate and motivate ex-servicemen and their wards to complete their documents for availing the benefits of various schemes launched by state and centre government and to made the payments to beneficiaries.
The central government has laid down the policy for grant of school going children (max two) out of Raksha Mantris Discretion Fund (RMDF). All ex-servicemen, widows are advised to complete the documents to avail the facility of this scheme. Financial assistance towards education (Rs. 1000 per month for boys and girls) till standard XII for two children only will be granted.
Army Group Insurance Directorate, New Delhi has advised all the retired ex-servicemen who have retired on or after 1st April, 2003 with pension to refund the contribution Medical Benefits Scheme specific date has not been specified but deposit as early as possible.
ESM Jammu Rally

MoD calls in white collar sleuths in veterans’ jobs fraud
In a first, the Ministry of Defense has called in the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to investigate a case of a conspiracy to improperly procure contracts from the office of the Directorate General of Resettlement.
The ministry describes the Directorate General Resettlement as an Attached office of Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, which is responsible for training and rehabilitation of retiring defense personnel and Ex-servicemen through various self-employment schemes, which also include contracts to security Agencies run by veterans for security services to government-owned companies.
Assistance given to ex-servicemen and widows of World War II

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

'Serious fraud probe' into ex-servicemen job scam

'Serious fraud probe' into ex-servicemen job scam
New Delhi (IANS): 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.
'Serious fraud probe' into ex-servicemen job scam

Army welfare Housing Organisation: Chennai Project

ByDeepti | Published August 16, 2011

AWHO- Chennai
Comment: Can Jawans who form 95% of Veterans afford such houses built as a welfare measure. It suits and benefits money spinners, real estate developers and agents. Do not rush for lucrative/dream offers. Remember greed traps you...

Major's Pension Anomaly- Will it ever be addressed?

Dear All,
Please find the attached letter addressed to President- click here
Rgds
Sqn Ldr YS NIJJAR (Retd)

Tribunal OKs Petition Ensuring Raised Pension for Majors
Removing anomalies of the Sixth Pay Commission, the Armed Forces Tribunal has allowed a petition which will benefit all the army Majors and officers in the same rank in the three services who had retired before 2006 and entitle them to enhanced monetary benefits.

"We direct that the pension of pre (2006) retirees should be decided on the basis of minimum of the pay in the pay band that is Rs 23,810 with all other benefits and shall be given to them," the Tribunal Bench headed by Justice A K Mathur said in its verdict.

The Tribunal has asked the Defence Ministry to complete the whole exercise within next three months.

Pointing to an earlier pay commission policy that said that the pension of all pensioners shall not be less than 50 per cent, the Bench said, "then naturally 50 per cent of this will have to be treated as a basic pension and rest of it will be added to it as grade pay and other benefits which are given to the persons of that rank".

Over 150 Major and officers of equivalent rank had filed the petition in the Tribunal to do away with the anomalies, which had resulted in the pre-2006 retirees getting lesser pension than post-2006 retired honorary captains, their Counsel Commodore Sukhjinder Singh told PTI here.

"But even after this, there will be difference between pension of pre and post 2006 retired majors and equivalents. Pension of officers retiring after 2006 would be calculated by taking 50 per cent of the highest pay scale into account whereas ours will be the same proportion of the lowest pay-scale," he added.

After this verdict, more than 5000 similarly placed retired officers will get the additional monetary benefit, which will be to the tune of Rs 5000.

The gap in pensions had increased after the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, which came into effect from January 1, 2006.

After the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, pension of majors was fixed at Rs 14,100 per month.

The petitioners had contended that the existing basic pay, inclusive of grade pay and military service pay, worked out to be Rs 36,410, hence their pension at the stipulated 50 per cent of basic worked out to be Rs 18,205 per month, to which they were entitled.

The pension of lieutenant colonel is fixed at Rs 25,700 whereas that of majors who retired before 2006 is Rs 14,100, creating a huge difference of Rs 11,600, the petitioners claimed. Prior to the Sixth Pay Commission, the difference was just Rs 950.
Tribunal OKs Petition Ensuring Raised Pension for Majors
PTI | New Delhi | Sep 22, 2010
Majors Pension Anomaly under RM's Radar!- RM's Reply
IESL confirms- Widows and Major's Pension Anomalies remain grounded

IESL confirms Majors and Widows Pension Grounded by MoD

Sent: 10 August 2011 15:52
To: President IESL
Subject: Pension and other related matters
Dear all,
Please see the attachment above.
Regards!
Col Sukhbir Singh
Secretary General IESL

Tailpiece
This is how politicians treat the martyrs. MERA DESH MAHAN? It is shameful. God saves this country.
Sqn Ldr Ian Steele Loughran,
Indian Air Force Association UK
Alcohol or Army?
Do you remember Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the Malayali army commando officer who sacrificed his life to save Mumbai from the terrorist attacks ? His bravery will remain unsurpassed. The Kerala Govt., headed by Shri VS Achuthanandan awarded Rs 3 lakhs to the family of Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan. The same govt headed by the same Chief Minister, donated Rs 5 lakhs to the victims of the recent Malappuram Liquor tragedy. Now you decide- what should a youngster do? To join Army & die for the Nation?... or die by consuming illicit liquor?

MoD Style- Blame Game to Cheat Veterans

Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Blame Game : MoD style !
“We believe to err is human. To blame it on someone else is politics" : Hubert H Humphrey
The MoD is unfairly and unnecessarily blaming the Services for non-implementation of Court orders.
People who are familiar with the field of litigation in the defence services would be aware of the fact that most of the cases decided in favour of pensioners, especially disabled personnel, are not implemented in a timely manner and majority of decisions of Courts and Tribunals are implemented only after contempt petitions are filed by affected parties. Even the judgements that are implemented are done so in a reluctant manner with the feeling in the South Block being that the policies framed by the MoD are sacrosanct and that every decision against the thought-process of the MoD should be challenged in a higher Court of Law. Fair enough, since the Constitutional framework provides a right to appeal to every party to a case. But this assumes dangerous proportions when even verdict after verdict on a particular issue, including by the highest Court of the land, the MoD continues to file appeals in similar matters thereby burdening the pockets of veterans and dockets of Courts. This is done with one singular motive – that out of the many appeals filed, even if one succeeds, the MoD would be able to scuttle the move for a change in policy for the better. And this is done being fully aware that veterans cannot afford legal help, especially at Supreme Court level, and hence it is not surprising that in most of the cases where decisions were ultimately rendered in favour of the MoD the affected parties were either unrepresented or were appearing in person, the reason being common – inability to afford counsel fee.

The powers to implement Court orders have been delegated to the Services HQ. It was earlier felt that due to lack of proper understanding, the Services HQ were blindly following the dictates of the MoD, especially in pensionary matters, and recommending appeals even in settled issues and further making no moves to reduce litigation or to bring about changes in policies that had persistently faced flak from the Courts. But this changed in the recent few years when the AG’s branch and the Personnel Services Directorate truly started taking proper interest in these matters with actual application of mind resulting in some proactive policy decisions and also putting it on record that certain imbalanced policies of the MoD which were resulting in a major flux of litigation, required a re-look. It was also now clear that even in certain issues where the Services HQ were of the view that appeals were not required to be filed, the MoD still insisted on challenging the verdicts but publicly projecting that it were the Services which were going about filing appeals against their own pensioners and not the MoD since the powers to implement decisions were vested with the Services HQ. In fact, it was more than once communicated by the MoD on hard paper that they were not the ones filing appeals, but the Services HQ. This statement was, and remains, a sham. It appears that despite best efforts by all stake-holders, the perception in the corridors of the MoD, especially, the Pension Wing, is, that veterans are greedy and do not deserve more than what they are already getting. The efforts of the Services HQ to bring about a change in policy meet the waste-bin in ways more than one.

And now comes another hard to believe master-stroke. Now the MoD has blamed the Services for delay in implementation of orders by Benches of the AFT. It has also been stated before the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Defence that about 303 decisions are yet to be implemented due to the delay caused by the hierarchical structure of the services. The excuse is hogwash and so is the number since there must be well over 2000 decisions as on date which have not been implemented. 303 is a very mild figure and at best depicts an antiquated bolt action gun.

Hence in the ultimate analysis, when the public questions the MoD over appeals being filed against veterans and the disabled, it (the MoD) very conveniently blames the Services leaving the Services HQ at the mercy of public flak and ridicule, and when a Parliamentary committee questions the non-implementation of Court orders, again the Services are blamed for the delay when the actual culprit is the sadist attitude of those manning certain lower level appointments in the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare in the MoD.

The policy making mechanism at the Pension wing is leading to frustration and a sense of great disservice. In-principle decisions taken at the highest level are scuttled by lower staff by misleading file notings. Policy decisions take years to materialise, for example, certain anomalies of the 5th CPC are being resolved 15 years after the date of implementation of the 5th CPC. Rather than taking decisions at the govt level, files are sent to the offices of CGDA and PCDA(P) for drafting govt letters and seeking their opinions, whereas accountants have actually nothing to do with the process of decision making, their duty is to disburse payments based on govt policy and not make the policy itself. Rather than rectifying anomalous policies, appeals to the SC are made as a matter of routine, to take an example, the SC has in atleast 10 cases settled the issue of grant of service element to pre-1973 retirees irrespective of length of service even if the disability falls below 20%, but the MoD continues to file appeals in similar cases and at this particular moment, more than 50 appeals are pending on the subject filed by the MoD against disabled veterans, most of them over the age of 70 notwithstanding 10 verdicts in favour of veterans. In cases of disability pension, till the 5th CPC, the amount for disability element for say 20% disability was Rs 310/- per month and even in such cases appeals were filed as a matter of routine when disability pension was allowed by Courts wherein lacs of rupees were paid to the battery of counsel representing the MoD, the great MoD which has scant respect for the National Litigation Policy formulated by the Union of India, that great MoD which treats its disabled as its adversaries, that MoD which feels that pensioners are a greedy lot, that MoD which would wrongly blame the Army, Navy and the Air Force fully knowing the sleight of hand at play, that MoD whose staffers believe that they are better jurists than the Courts rendering verdicts in favour of pensioners and the proof of this attitude lies in the fact that the MoD has filed a review petition in every single case decided by the Supreme Court in favour of pensioners in the recent times.
Solution

Solution No 1

The top brass at the MoD including the RM, the RRM and the Secretary of the Department of ESW, starts taking proper interest in the affairs of veterans by way of initiating democratic decisions by involving all stake holders – the ESW staff, the Services, representatives of recognised veteran bodies with experts in the field. Look at the current lot dealing with the issues involving millions of veterans – An otherwise well meaning Secretary from the IAS who is retiring soon, a Joint Secretary from the Assam-Meghalaya cadre of the IAS who is currently on training and whose tenure under the Central Staffing Scheme ends this year, a Director (Pensions) who is from the Indian Forest Service and knows nothing about pensions and who would soon revert to his parent cadre, two Under Secretaries from the Central Secretariat Service (CSS) who again have no expertise in pensionary matters and who probably rule the roost of the pension branch, knowing that the department is entirely dependent on them, in all probability assuming more air of authority than what their so-called proficiency really warrants.

Solution No 2

Disband the Army. Period.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh

Sainik Welfare- Is there a time frame for automation?

Sainik Welfare- e-Governance initiatives Thursday, 16 September 2010 12:17
The Department interacts with the 14 district offices (Zila Sainik Welfare Offices) and the Directorate office concentrating on Pension emoluments, Banking transactions, World war veteran's pension scheme, application processing for widows grievances, awards, service details of ex-service men & Service persons, flag distribution processing in connection with Armed forces Flag day etc.

Activities ahead
In line with the directions from the Secretary- Kendriya Sainik Board, Department of Sainik Welfare, GOI, all the States should be equipped with Internet facilities for easier and faster communications amongst the Rajya Sainik Board and the Zila sainik boards. The department have to equip its office and 14 Zila Sainik Boards with internet facilities and subsequently with main server to revitalize the Sainik Board organizations.

Comment: Retired Defence Personnel are the most neglected by the MOD and the "Center- State" Sponsored Sainik Boards. The offices function from dingy outlets with cobwebbed roofs and array of dusty files. No information is ever retrievable from the file handling babus. They are generally manned by corrupt personnel selected by the state Governments to siphon off funds. Can automation HELP? We hope so! The indentity card for Soldiers issued by the Zila Board is itself a testimony to its set standard, mission and proficiency.

Britain converts Military covenant into Law

Dear Brig Kamboj:
As I had anticipated, not it's official. The British PM has made a statement seeking to convert a military covenant into law, so affected members of the armed forces can take legal action, if government fails to abide by the law, that is, look after them and their families adequately. If you have time, please visit the following link.
click here
I would have gladly written a critique, but have inadequate knowledge of the functioning of the AFT. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Bhimaya
Maj Gen K Bhimaya, 10th JSW Course

STATUTORY MILITARY COVENANT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM..
Dear Brig Kamboj,
The news of the United Kingdom officially recognising her duties and obligations towards the Armed Forces personnel has implications for all of us, not only the servicemen and the ex-servicemen in the United Kingdom.
Following on from the statement, “If you fight for your country, your country will look after you,” new homes will be built for ex servicemen, there will be free use of gym and leisure centres and priority in getting medical treatment. Please see the full news published in the "Sunday Telegraph", London, today. (Sunday, May 15, 2011): click here
Regards
RS Rajput
Veteran (UK)

Defence Correspondent 15 May 2011 The Sunday Telegraph by SEAN RAYMENT
BRITISH troops and their families will receive priority access to school places, NHS treatment and housing under new Military Covenant laws.
Details of the package to help services personnel will be unveiled to Parliament tomorrow in a statement by Dr Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, after government lawyers and officials spent the weekend finalising them.
It is understood the measures will include an offer of free cycles of IVF treatment to military families where a soldier has suffered injuries which make it difficult to conceive – a common occurrence in Afghanistan, where many have been hurt by improvised explosive devices.
Troops serving overseas will no longer be required to pay full council tax, while a new chief coroner will be put in charge of conducting the inquests of war dead.
Service personnel posted to different parts of Britain will be promoted to the top of health service waiting lists if they fall ill. It is also understood that Ministry of Defence working committees are looking at ways of striking a deal with banks to offer troops low interest “military mortgages”.
The Military Covenant has, until now, been an unwritten agreement under which the state pledges a duty of care toward military personnel who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country. It has never been enshrined in law and there has been increasing concern that Britain’s soldiers aren’t getting the health care, housing or pay they deserve.
Following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has been argued by both David Cameron and Dr Fox that the Covenant was broken by the then Labour government when it failed properly to equip troops for combat. Earlier this month, Mr Cameron was accused of backtracking on plans to “write the Covenant into law” when the third reading of the Armed Forces Bill was delayed.
The shelving of the Bill was understood to have been ordered afterTreasury lawyers warned that enshrining the Covenant in law could cost millions and would be beset by legal problems.
Under the latest proposals, while the Covenant measures will be written into law based on broad principles rather than specific statements of entitlement, there will be room for service personnel and veterans to ensure they have not been disadvantaged through military service.
Andrew Robathan, the defence minister overseeing the Armed Forces Bill, said the Coalition would “ensure the best possible treatment for all our service personnel, serving and retired”. He added: “We are putting the Military Covenant on a statutory basis for the first time.”
Last night Jim Murphy, the shadow defence secretary, said: “The Prime Minister appears to have finally done the right thing. I hope this marks the beginnings of a real reassessment of how the Government is treating our Armed Forces.
“We will now wait to hear the detail and will want to ensure that the principles of the Covenant are being properly set out in law,” he added. See page 23

Two Pronged Resettlement Strategy for the Ex Servicemen

Transcripts of the Interview
Col P N Khera, Editor-in-Chief Asia Defence News: Resettlementof ex-Servicemen who retire at a very young age, is a major HRD problem being faced by the Indian Army. What steps are being taken for empowerment of ex- Servicemen in educational and vocational fields to lead a respectable life after retirement?
Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal, Adjutant General: The Service personnel, especially JCOs /OR retire between 35 to 45 years of age depending on the rank at which they retire. At this stage, a soldier is confronted with numerous domestic liabilities and commitments. The pension of the solders is not enough to meet his basic requirements and hence, he has to take up a second career to sustain himself and his family. With the land holdings reducing steadily, agriculture which was hithertofore an option with most veterans, is not viable any more. The retired soldier is thus forced to seek an avenue in the civil stream, commensurate with his status and needs. Although, the Army has vast reserves of trained, physically fit and disciplined manpower, they lack the skills which the environment seeks. Close to 50,000 trained soldiers retire every year, majority of whom can be gainfully employed in the industry, if they are provided some vocational skills. The vocational training and widelyacceptable certification will make these disciplined soldiers eligible to seek second employment, which they need to meet their domestic commitments after retirement from Service. We have embarked on a two- pronged strategy, which involves, firstly; to recognize the institutionalised training that a soldier undergoes in his Service by awarding a university degree and secondly; to provide Vocational Training though a network of Vocational Training Centres which are being set up in collaboration with various industries. An Army Welfare Placement Organisation has been established that not only provides second career option to retiring and retired Army personnel but to Veer Naris and disabled soldiers also. It has pan-India presence through its network of 13 placement nodes and 48 placement cells.
MAJOR EMPOWERMENT PROJECTS
PNK: What are the major projects taken up for empowerment of Army personnel to ensure them a secure life after farewell to arms?
AG: Empowerment initiative of our soldiers called Samarth, is a major step undertaken by the Indian Army. Under this project we have three broad categories of programmes.
Gyandeep: Gyandeep is an initiative to empower our soldiers by according recognition to the ‘in service’ training done by soldiers and make them eligible for award of Certificate/Diploma/Associate Degree through Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Subsequently, Associate Degree holders can get degrees like BA, B.Com, B.Sc and BTS from IGNOU by clearing elective subjects as per IGNOU curriculum in the third year of the degree course. On the similar lines, an officer can get regular MBA degree. So far 2,30,000 soldiers have registered for Associate Degree with IGNOU.
Kshamta: Kshamta aims at enhancing the capabilities of our JCOs/OR by imparting them two set of skills viz IT or Digital Literacy andSpoken English and Soft Skills. In this regard an MoU has been signed between Army and Microsoft Corporation (India) Private Limited. First round of Kshamta for training of Master Trainers has been completed successfully at all our Regiment Training Centres and we have so far trained around 3000 Master Trainers, who will further train the soldiers in their respective units/centres.
Kaushal: The unique concept of setting up Vocational Training Centres (VTC) at selected Regiment Training Centres/Defence establishments in collaboration with various Public/PrivateSector industries with an aim to impart vocational skills to the soldiers before their retirement and to empower and enhance their scope of securing an assured career post retirement. So far we have set up VTC for IT and Mobility Equipment repair for the disabled.
Higher Studies Programme: This programme involves selected Army officers undergoing full Post Graduate and Research Programme in various fields like Basic Sciences, Engineering, Social Studies, Strategic Affairs, South Asian Studies and MBA. The aim is to allow selected officers to attend courses in universities and institutions with a collaborative agreement and facilitate their placement /employment. We have signed MoU with IGNOU for MBA, with Pondicherry University for varied subjects and with BITS, Pilani for Technology related subjects. All thismhas happened in the last one year and the efforts of the Vice Chancellors concerned is laudable. Prof Rajasekharan Pillai of IGNOU is actively helping us identify other areas of cooperation.

Col P N Khera, Editor-in-Chief Asia Defence News interviews Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal, Adjutant General

Apathy towards the war-disabled must end

Disabled soldiers at the Paraplegic Rehabilitaion Centre in Mohali. Several issues need to be redressed to ensure that disabled soldiers get due benefits that compensate them for the substantially reduced capacity for employment.

The number of war-disabled soldiers is increasing on account of casualties being incurred in prolonged counter-insurgency operations. But they are gradually fading away from the radar screen of the government and the Service headquarters. The plight of disabled soldiers needs to be appreciated and action should be taken to ameliorate their multifarious problems

There is certainly a need for regular dialogue between the ESW department, army headquarters and the NGO's. Getting them on board will result in a two-way passage of information between the authorities and the war-disabled. Both NGO's exist on donations that are meagre, but their request for funds has been summarily dismissed by the ESW department!

Over the last few decades, the war-disabled as a group have been gradually fading away from the radar screens of service headquarters as well as the government, despite the fact that their number is increasing practically on a daily basis on account of casualties incurred in counter-insurgency operations. The plight of war-disabled soldiers, especially in rural areas needs to be appreciated and actions need to be taken to ameliorate their multifarious problems. This situation of apathy to the war-disabled must be corrected lest it leads to grave adverse repercussions in the long term.
The writer is a former Vice Chief of Army and President of the War Wounded Foundation.
Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi (Retd)
Apathy towards the war-disabled must end

War-disabled
The above article “Apathy towards the war-disabled must end” (Feb 18) by Lt-Gen Vijay Oberoi (retd) was a touching description of the plight of the war-disabled. The writer has rightly pleaded for the benefits/maintaining records of the disabled and need for a positive attitude towards them. Even the NGO’s can play a better role with the help of the media. India must treat the war-disabled with respect.
A.S. ANAND, Ludhiana

ESW is a Cosmetic Bureaucratic Appendage
Over six years ago, a Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (ESW) was created to give focused attention to welfare programmes for ex-servicemen and their dependants. In reality it was a cosmetic exercise as three existing entities of the Ministry of Defence merely started reporting to another set of bureaucrats. Even after six years, except for garnering additional vacancies for their cadre, the department is yet to come out with a single programme for the welfare of veterans. They also commenced looking after the pensions of veterans and the mess they have made post--Sixth Pay Commission is too well known.

Here is a department tailor-made to make much of the soldiers' sacrifices by conceiving a comprehensive and long-term plan to commemorate their valiant deeds, not only on Vijay Diwas, but also on other such occasions. The need is for vision, empathy and dedication, which requires staffing this department by military personnel. They know what soldiers want and how best to meet their needs. The incongruity of welfare of soldiers by the bureaucracy needs immediate burial. Let us do so without delay and start honouring our soldiers.
Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi (Retd)
The writer is a former Vice Chief of the Indian Army
When will we honour our soldiers?

The Games Babus are playing with Indian Military Veterans

Refs:

War Widow getting Rs70 a month as pension

The Armed Forces Tribunal throws up its hands

Supreme Court moots and Solicitor General mutes Redressal Commission for the Armed Forces

This was expected. The formation of the Tribunal was just a momentary thrill for us `Faujis`. I had written in one of my earlier comments post the OROP issue by Barkha Dutt on NDTV, that the `Babus` must be laughing at the AFT `rulings`.
That is exactly what they are doing & 'enjoying the last laugh too' at our expense. Did we really think that things would change - laughable! The 'Babus' will not let go their turf so easily. The `netas` for them are 'dispensable & disposable'. They don`t bother about JPCs/Commissions of Inquiry/Supreme Court rulings/etc, will they bother about AFT Recommendations?
Even the proposed AFGRC will meet the same fate. The only solution is what is happening in Tunisia/ Yemen/ Egypt. A small beginning was made on 30 Jan `11 at Ram Lila Grounds as part of a `Fight Against Corruption`. We must all join this movement as the IESM has done & strengthen it.
Brig SS Jaswal, Veteran Madras Sapper,
IESM, Panchkula.

The soldiers, including veterans, can trust these people in government only at their own peril. Moily keeps on harping about reducing court cases by reducing govt litigation and then goes on with appeal after appeal in the case of remuneration of service people including veterans. Even the rank pay due to armed forces officers since 1986 has not been paid till date. These days government has not only become synonymous with corruption but also with treason! It appears that soldiers are sacrificing their lives to sustain thugs, scoundrels and traitors in offices of authority in this country.
Maj PM Ravindran (Retd)

I could not file my response, but am copying it from the site. May I request you to please post it on NDTV if you have the facility? You may do this on your behalf/ mine, as deemed fit. Thanks. Click link

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If the Government was concerned, they would have done the enhancement of the widow's pension on their own and not after nudging by the Supreme Court... sigh, and then the Govt speaks of 'judicial overreach'. As for 'regard' for the service community, the lesser said the better. Ministry of Defence is ONE ministry where the novice arm chair theoreticians control and pretend to 'look after' the team of seasoned experts. Lacking knowledge and empathy, working with them is like 'sleeping with the enemy'... Its easier to fight Pakis, than our own mandarins. What is for the soldiers good, is not decided by one who IS or HAS BEEN a soldier, but by one who far from having any understanding whatsoever of the ethos of the profession of arms, instead has a hostile sibling rivalry to the Defence services. Pay and Pension issues are decided in isolation, creating more anomalies each time some are sent for removal, forcing the beleaguered defence community to go to court for 'judicial rescue', but instead of accepting the verdict of the court, even after painfully slow battles, the Government chooses to not implement court orders.
Let us not call it Politico failings. The Bureaucratic mischief is largely responsible for misleading the Legislative. Political parties may change but the Bureaucracy has the larger part in this misdemeanour. Like in EVERY other field, here too they have failed India.
Col RP Chaturvedi (Retd)

Ex-Servicemen will be addressed as Armed Forces Veterans

Some important Info for ESM
Dear Brig Kamboj,
Appended below is some important info for ESM as published in AFA (Air Force Association)News, which you may like to put on the "Report My Signal":

1. Provision of ECHS Card (Add On Card) for dependent parents: Air Hq has taken up a case with ECHS Central Organisation and MOD for extending this provision to dependent parents.

2. Purchase of Car by Retired PBOR: There is no requirement of producing/ attaching the copy of driving license by PBOR for purchase of Four Wheelers. Authy: QMG Branch letter No. 96410/Q/DDGCS dated 01 July, 2010.

3. Addressing Ex-Servicemen as Armed Forces Veterans: Based on the recommendations of the Chief of Staff Committee, Raksha Mantri (MOD) has approved the proposal that henceforth "Ex-Servicemen" will be addressed as "Armed Forces Veterans"

4. The vacancy circular for selection of administrative members for AFT (Armed Forces Tribunal) was posted by the MOD on its website www.mod.nic.in under the link 'new additions'. Interested members are advised to look out for future vacancies on the mentioned site.

Regards,
Wg Cdr Shashank Bendre(Retd)

IESM Gen Secretary writes to Shree Rajiv Chandrasekhar, MP

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
An email received from Maj Gen Satbir Singh and its enclosures click here.
The letter of Shree Satpal Maharaj addressed to the RM, was received as a large PDF file, which could not be used for mass circulation. Therefore, I have typed the relevant portions of that letter in MS Word format.
The printed letter heads of both the letters had to be excluded to reduce the size of the email.
I also take this opportunity to add that whenever any one says that “ If we give OROP to the Indian Defence Services, other government services will also demand the same”, please educate them about the following important things which differentiate the Defence Services from others:
I. The Three Defence Services are the only services, which are denied “Fundamental Rights” granted by the Constitution of India to all its citizens. The serving soldiers cannot even form associations to represent their grievances.
II. Defence Services are the only services, where the personnel retire much before reaching the age of 60 years, the prescribed age of retirement for all other Government Services.
III. The Defence Services suffer the maximum casualties when defending the nation externally or internally.
IV. The Defence Services are the last hope of the Indian Nation, when everyone else fails miserably. CWG is the lastest example.

Therefore, the usual excuses given by the bureaucrats that if OROP is granted to Defence Services, other services will demand the same – are deliberate attempts to mislead the political leaders. Other issues which need attention are:
A. Ex-servicemen Welfare Commission. This was strongly recommended by the High Level Committee headed by Shree KP Singhdeo and is essential for the redressal of our problems besides protecting us from the wrath of the hostile bureaucracy. This needs to be put in place at the earliest. The Ex-servicemen Commission should consist of Armed Forces Veterans, including war wounded, and the Defence Widows.
B. Staffing of ESW Department of MoD. At present, the ESW Department of MoD has no representation of the Defence Services. The present staff of ESW Department, who do not know even the fundamentals of the functioning and working conditions of the Armed Forces, how they can understand our problems and look after our welfare. The entire staff of the ESW Department of MoD should be from among the serving and retired Defence personnel.
Another issue, which Col Inderjit Singh, Chairman All India Ex-Services Welfare Association, is pursuing with the Government since long (he is the eldest veteran who started the struggle of OROP) is (these are extracts from one of the letters of Col Inderjit sent to RM) –
Representation at the MOD. Every uniformed service other than the Armed Forces is represented at all levels of decision-making processes, which affect the functioning or welfare of that service. However, for the various committees appointed for Defence, whether it pertains to functioning of Defence Services or the welfare of serving and retired Defence personnel, no representatives of the Defence Services are included. This sidelining of the Armed Forces has created a feeling that they are suspect in the eyes of
their own leadership and, therefore, that of the Nation too. This has resulted in demoralisation and humiliation among the serving and retired Defence Forces personnel. Such demoralisation of the Defence personnel can be disastrous for the Nation itself. We, therefore, appeal to you to kindly set this aberration right, which is existing inspite of sixty-three years since we got Independence.
Friends, it is time that All ESM and ESM Organisations stand shoulder to shoulder and speak in one language. All ESM Organisations are doing very well in their own way to get Justice for Defence Services. We need to continue that multi pronged approach to achieve our aim.
I once again appeal to all ESM and ESM Organisations, not to criticise each other but support each other so that the pressure on the Government multiplies many fold and it is compelled to yield to our justified demands.
IT IS NOW OR NEVER.
LET US ALL STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER
AND DEMAND JUSTICE FOR DEFENCE SERVICES.
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

Disability Pension- Presentation to RRM

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
An email and its attachment just received from , is reproduced below. You may also like to visit the Disabled War Veterans website click here.
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj

From: hnhanda
Sent: 23 October 2010 10:03
Subject: Disability Pension- A Presentation to RRM
I had been invited by Brig Gulia, Chairman IESL, to give a presentation to the RRM and other very senior officers. The Secy (ESW) and Gen Shankar Roy Choudhary were present. Date of presentation 22 Oct 10.
I was overwhelmed at the response received from those attending the gathering on the occasion. In fact the RRM congratulated me and requested a copy of my presentation for him to take with him to study. I gave him along with my presentation click here, a copy of Medical responsibilities of other countries specifying the responsibility of Prosthetics. Along with that, I gave him a copy of the AFT judgment specifying that:

War Disabled should receive Maximum pay of rank as they are deemed to have served 33 years.

Gratuity and other concessions should be made available to Short Service Commissioned officers.

At the end of the presentation, he promised to act on the issues especially on Data of War Disabled on an emergent basis and also take up anomalies on account pay raised by others. On this score, he advised that each item to be acted upon should be on a seperate sheet rather than on the same page. He also promised to put a halt on unnecessary appeals on AFT judgments.

I thank Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, who granted me permission to use his earlier article, which I did to the maximum and Satnam for his advice when formulating my presentation. I thank Brig Gulia and his team for providing me the opportunity to present our case. I had to also speak on behalf of Veterans and War Widows as their representatives had to cancel at the last minute.
(Foot note- In my presentation I brought out the 5th Pay commission acceptance, the widows pension not being increased and the other aspects discussed in Inder’s office albeit in my own way.
Hari Handa)
Best wishes and regards,
Col H N Handa
President, Disabled War veterans(India)
Click Links Below:
Disabled War Veterans
Presentation to RRM by Col HN Handa to RRM on 22 Oct 2010

Our Veterans Short Circuited?

Our Veterans?
Our MPs celebrated the unanimous passage of the bill for three-fold enhancement of their pay and perks with yet another undignified rampage in the well of the House. One was struck by the stark contrast between the facile manner in which our elected representatives approved their own pay rise, and the disdain with which the bureaucracy and politicians have been treating the pleas of ex-Servicemen, the nation’s war-wounded and the widows of soldiers; for their just dues of pension and allowances.

Once he doffs his uniform, an ex-Serviceman (now re-designated Armed Forces Veteran) is technically liberated from the restraints of military discipline, and is free to adopt the demeanor and behaviour of any civilian on the street. But deep inside, the veteran’s soul cringes at the thought of conducting himself in a manner which, in earlier days, he would have associated with civilian agitators and unbecoming of his uniform. But it seems that he has been left with no choice.

He has found that the staff of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, created in 2004, is staffed 100% by civilians, who either do not comprehend or are indifferent to his problems. Therefore his representations to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) gather dust for years, before being dismissed in a perfunctory and bureaucratic manner. One rank one pension (OROP) has been a major demand of the veterans, which has been hanging fire with the government for many years. Assurances have been given by successive governments – only to be reneged upon.

Despite repeated pleas by the Chiefs of Staff, based on bitter experience of the past, the government in 2005 adamantly refused to appoint a Service representative on the 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC). As expected, the Commission’s report contained flaws, anomalies and, as some believe, many provisions deliberately incorporated by the bureaucracy to depress the pay and status of armed forces personnel vis-à-vis their civilian counterparts. At the repeated behest of the Chiefs, the government reluctantly convened a committee to review the anomalous CPC recommendations; again, inexplicably, without any armed forces representation. Predictably, the committee failed to resolve many tangles and left the serving as well as retired personnel dissatisfied. On a number of issues relating to pension and allowances the veterans were left with no choice but to approach courts of law. After years of expensive litigation the courts did give gave redressal, but the MoD fought them tooth and nail through appeals to higher courts. In two instances where the Supreme Court eventually gave decisions in the veteran’s favour, the government of India has stubbornly refused to implement them! Can there be a more blunt expression of contempt for its soldiers, sailors and airmen by the State? Yes there can... read more click link... Our Veterans

By Adm. (Retd) Arun Prakash

ESM Welfare gets a boost: Will it take off?

Minister of State for Defence Mallipudi Mangapati Pallam Raju tells Saubhadro Chatterji.
Interview
The first United Progressive Alliance government created a separate department for the welfare of ex-servicemen.

What are your plans on this front?
Rehabilitation and resettlement of ex-servicemen are priority areas for this government. We have already created a post of director general (resettlement). Every year, 50,000 to 60,000 soldiers retire. Most of these belong to the 'people below officer rank' (PBOR) segment. We believe that these ex-servicemen, who have received army training for so many years, are an asset to the nation. They pick up a number of skills during their stint with the armed forces. Age is also on their side when they leave the forces. They are in their late 30s or early 40s. The government can't do everything on its own. So, we have tied up with the private sector for their training, resettlement and placements.

What sort of a tie-up you are aiming at?
We have already entered into agreements with business bodies like the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Confederation of Indian Industry and Assocham for training and placements. We look forward to more such agreements in the coming days.

Which are the sectors where ex-servicemen are finding maximum employment?
Well, as you know, there is a huge demand for these trained personnel in private security services. Our ex-servicemen are doing a good job there. But we now find that there is demand from various industries for their mechanical skills. In the construction sector, the demand for skilled ex-servicemen is steadily rising. As the retail trade starts to boom, it is becoming a major employer of ex-servicemen. Reliance Retail, for example, has employed a large number of ex-servicemen. We declared 2007 the year of the ex-servicemen to boost our resettlement plans for them. We find the private sector showing increasing interest in employing ex-servicemen. Apart from Reliance Retail, Infosys is another big company that is employing a large number of ex-servicemen.

Jairam Ramesh, the minister in charge of environment, recently told us that he wanted to take the help of ex-servicemen for a large afforestation programme.
Yes, ex-servicemen can also contribute to the environment protection programme. Earlier, there was an eco-battalion in the Territorial Army. We can raise a similar group of ex-servicemen for environment. I think my senior colleague, Defence Minister A K Antony, held a meeting with Jairam Ramesh in this regard. Task forces will be raised for afforestation in places where we are building roads.
Read the full interview:
Rehabilitation and resettlement of ex-servicemen are priority areas for this government