17 Jan 2009, 2122 hrs IST, TNN
KANPUR: “A servicemen is always a serviceman- today, tomorrow and forever, this spirit was palpable at the Cavalry Ground of Kanpur, where ex-servicemen had assembled and took out a rally. Demanding dignity, love and adequate support from the society, a rally of ex-servicemen, ESM Rally -2009, was organized in city on Saturday.
Under the shamiyaana, ex-servicemen, widows of soldiers and dependents of retired army personnel came from several districts of UP, and told moving tales of troubles and ignominies they face in lives.
The biggest concern of these men was the humiliation they immediately confront after retirement. A soldier said, "We retire at a very young age. And who will like to serve as security-guards and who wants to fill petrol in vehicles after leading such a privileged life. But we are forced to do so to run our lives."
Each one had his tale to tell. A son of an ex-serviceman who served Indian Army during the Second World War said that her two sister aged 35 and 40 remain unmarried due to lack of funds.
A widow's words whose husband died while serving in Arunachal Pradesh made the eyes moist of those present. She said, "The pension I get is too less to fulfil the daily needs of me and my three children. For past three years, in-laws are forcing me to commit suicide and trying to declare me a mentally-disturbed person to get rid of my family."
The other prominent concerns discussed in the meet were problem in railway reservation, lack of medical facilities and rude treatment at the hand of policemen. Handling of 'Jila Sainik Board' who looks after the needs of retired army personnel in each district by civilian officers, who are uninterested about the concerns of service personnel, was discussed.
Replying to the queries and concerns, senior officers said that a helpline has been in operation from 2007 which has been very effective in solving their problems. A reservation counter will soon function in Cantt to avoid troubles at railway counters. Treatment will be provided to servicemen in Cantt hospitals for initial 48 to 72 hours.
Adding weightage to the concerns of army-personnel, Brigadier PC Roy said, "Army personnel retire at much younger age compared to other civilian job-working force. So they have right to ask for facilities. And after giving their best to the nation by serving in remotest of places in world and putting your life at stake, one deserves it."
He also added that it feels bad that DM who is head of ex-servicemen board and other civil officials, who were given invitation to attend the function, did not turn up at function.
Give us our due, say ex-servicemen
Comment: Everywhere the same state of Affairs "woes of ESM remain unaddressed". The Zilla Sainik Board is an extension of Bureaucracy- Red Tape. What can one expect from a corruption riddled MOD Sainik Boards, employing civilians to benefit themselves! The ESM is degraded all the time and projected as a shabbily clad security guard. All ESM welfare organisations must fight against this malaise of falsely projecting a Jawan as a lowly paid security guard. A Jawan is a specialist and his salary must be in consonance/ commensurate with his expertise and not equate him with a sundry sentinel with a peanut pay packet!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
IESM: Fast for Justice Rally Jantar Mantar- thirty second day
Dear Colleagues,
The Jantar Mantar (Relay) Fast continues. I spent the day among ESM of Jhajjar Distict in village Majra (Dubaldhan) approximately 100 km from Delhi. There were about 250 ESM who had assembled, hailing from different villages. It was good plain speaking. I updated all on the developments on OROP. I told them OROP was a long battle and no one should expect quick results. It would also need hard work and sacrifice from us all.
During discussion I also informed them that depending upon response of the present regime, prior to the General Elections we would be sending out an advisory on the voting choice of the ESM. This was enthusiastically received; some even called it a 'fatwa' and insisted that it must be done and promised to abide by it.
Everyone was charged up and decided to come to Delhi for the 08 Feb rally. I advised them to nominate Coordinators at Village, Block, Tehsil and District level and forward the names and contact details to us. I was happy to learn that some villages (like Siwana, thanks to Capt Om Prakash) have already done so. There was a great demand for IESM membership forms. This is being arranged.
The fast at Navi Mumbai went as scheduled. An email from Brig Dharam Prakash is reproduced below: Quote
Dear General,
As planned, Ex servicemen of NAVI MUMBAI were on DHARNA on 15 & 16 Jan 2009 at CBD Belapur railway station in sympathy with our fasting Veterans at Delhi.
Ex servicemen response was very good, we had Veterans coming from far places like Ratnagiri,Nava Shiva Port, and others from anvel, Kharghar, CBD Belapur, Nerul, Vashi, Airoli, Thane. Arrangements had to be doubled midway due to response. Briefing on IESM and OROP was done. Veterans were happy with steps being taken for OROP. Membership forms of IESM were distributed, till today about 25 completed forms with cheque have been received, more are expected in few days time. All completed forms will be couriered in few days. Some forms are likely to be sent directly to Gurgoan.
Above event was very well covered by print and electronic media. On 15 Jan 2009 we had 5 TV channels and 6/7 press reporters who attended press briefing by Brig Dharam Prakash and Lt Col DP Singh. Dharna is being shown on local/Regional channels like DRISHTI, NMTV, A PLUS, KARNALA TV and local cable network. Some news papers (Hindi, Marathi & English) are likely cover it shortly.
As venue was at public place, lot of general public enquired about OROP and were very sympathetic with the cause.Senior citizens association at Belapur was represented by its President and All India Senior Citizens Confederation(AISCON), General Secretary also joined the Veterans in expressing their solidarity with the cause.
Brigadier Dharam Prakash (Retd) Unquote
Well done Mumbai.
See all of you in Delhi on 08 Feb, 1100 hours at Jantar Mantar.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
View Photo Slideshow: IESM, Jantar Mantar
The Jantar Mantar (Relay) Fast continues. I spent the day among ESM of Jhajjar Distict in village Majra (Dubaldhan) approximately 100 km from Delhi. There were about 250 ESM who had assembled, hailing from different villages. It was good plain speaking. I updated all on the developments on OROP. I told them OROP was a long battle and no one should expect quick results. It would also need hard work and sacrifice from us all.
During discussion I also informed them that depending upon response of the present regime, prior to the General Elections we would be sending out an advisory on the voting choice of the ESM. This was enthusiastically received; some even called it a 'fatwa' and insisted that it must be done and promised to abide by it.
Everyone was charged up and decided to come to Delhi for the 08 Feb rally. I advised them to nominate Coordinators at Village, Block, Tehsil and District level and forward the names and contact details to us. I was happy to learn that some villages (like Siwana, thanks to Capt Om Prakash) have already done so. There was a great demand for IESM membership forms. This is being arranged.
The fast at Navi Mumbai went as scheduled. An email from Brig Dharam Prakash is reproduced below: Quote
Dear General,
As planned, Ex servicemen of NAVI MUMBAI were on DHARNA on 15 & 16 Jan 2009 at CBD Belapur railway station in sympathy with our fasting Veterans at Delhi.
Ex servicemen response was very good, we had Veterans coming from far places like Ratnagiri,Nava Shiva Port, and others from anvel, Kharghar, CBD Belapur, Nerul, Vashi, Airoli, Thane. Arrangements had to be doubled midway due to response. Briefing on IESM and OROP was done. Veterans were happy with steps being taken for OROP. Membership forms of IESM were distributed, till today about 25 completed forms with cheque have been received, more are expected in few days time. All completed forms will be couriered in few days. Some forms are likely to be sent directly to Gurgoan.
Above event was very well covered by print and electronic media. On 15 Jan 2009 we had 5 TV channels and 6/7 press reporters who attended press briefing by Brig Dharam Prakash and Lt Col DP Singh. Dharna is being shown on local/Regional channels like DRISHTI, NMTV, A PLUS, KARNALA TV and local cable network. Some news papers (Hindi, Marathi & English) are likely cover it shortly.
As venue was at public place, lot of general public enquired about OROP and were very sympathetic with the cause.Senior citizens association at Belapur was represented by its President and All India Senior Citizens Confederation(AISCON), General Secretary also joined the Veterans in expressing their solidarity with the cause.
Brigadier Dharam Prakash (Retd) Unquote
Well done Mumbai.
See all of you in Delhi on 08 Feb, 1100 hours at Jantar Mantar.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
View Photo Slideshow: IESM, Jantar Mantar
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Army to set up another Officers Training Academy to address man-power shortage
New Delhi, Jan 14 2009
Facing a shortage of about 11,300 officers, the Indian Army is planning to start a second Officers Training Academy (OTA) on the lines of its Chennai-based institution, to increase the intake, Army chief General Deepak Kapoor said here today. He said the army was "more than willing" to depute its officers and other ranks to the elite National Security Guard (NSG) force, which is setting up its hubs in four main cities in the aftermath of Mumbai attacks.
"We are looking at starting a second OTA and the aim would be to train those officers who are keen on Short Service Commission (SSC) and bring them into the mainstream," Kapoor said at his annual Army Day eve press conference here.
"Thereby (we are looking at) enhancing the total intake and bringing down the deficiency level, which currently stand at around 11,300-odd," he said.
The Chennai-based OTA at present trains about 500 officers annually under the SSC recruitment scheme of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The aim, Kapoor said, was to reduce the deficiency so that the army could carry out its assigned tasks better and also meet requirements of other institutions like the NSG, Assam Rifles, National Cadets Corps (NCC) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
Army to set up another Officers Training Academy to address man-power shortage
Facing a shortage of about 11,300 officers, the Indian Army is planning to start a second Officers Training Academy (OTA) on the lines of its Chennai-based institution, to increase the intake, Army chief General Deepak Kapoor said here today. He said the army was "more than willing" to depute its officers and other ranks to the elite National Security Guard (NSG) force, which is setting up its hubs in four main cities in the aftermath of Mumbai attacks.
"We are looking at starting a second OTA and the aim would be to train those officers who are keen on Short Service Commission (SSC) and bring them into the mainstream," Kapoor said at his annual Army Day eve press conference here.
"Thereby (we are looking at) enhancing the total intake and bringing down the deficiency level, which currently stand at around 11,300-odd," he said.
The Chennai-based OTA at present trains about 500 officers annually under the SSC recruitment scheme of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The aim, Kapoor said, was to reduce the deficiency so that the army could carry out its assigned tasks better and also meet requirements of other institutions like the NSG, Assam Rifles, National Cadets Corps (NCC) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO).
Army to set up another Officers Training Academy to address man-power shortage
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