Soon, a 75% hike in monthly pension for ex-MPs

Saubhadra Chatterji, Hindustan Times  New Delhi, July 28, 2014

First Published: 00:15 IST(28/7/2014) | Last Updated: 08:37 IST(28/7/2014)

Former MPs, whose pensions were last revised in 2009, may now see a hefty hike in their retirement benefits. Government sources told HT that the monthly pension for ex-MPs is likely to go up to Rs. 35,000 a month from Rs. 20,000 a month — a 75% hike.

A major breakthrough in pensions for ex-MPs came under the first NDA government, led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee when they introduced pension for all MPs irrespective of their tenure. Earlier, only MPs who had completed a 5-year term were entitled to post-retirement benefits.

The Modi government is also set to increase the rate of additional pension for each completed year in excess of five years. The centre is considering additional pension of Rs. 2,000 per month instead of the current rate of Rs. 1,500. In other words, if a parliamentarian has served for seven years, he or she will get monthly four thousand additional pension on the top of his basic pension of Rs. 35,000.

Sitting MPs, who have received routine hikes to keep up with inflation, currently get a salary of `50,000 per month. The additional perks and allowances include Rs. 45,000 per month as constituency allowance, Rs.2,000 daily if he attends parliament and Rs. 30,000 for secretarial assistance, among other things.

Parliament’s nod is required to enhance the former MPs’ pension. Government sources added that the legal amendments will be brought in the winter session after inter-ministerial consultations.

In sync with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s thrust on welfare of women, the definition of “dependents” for family pension will also include divorced or widowed daughters of former MPs. The government is also mulling the option of providing family pension for a much longer period of time after the MPs demise.

The pension for former MPs was introduced during the tenure of Indira Gandhi — Rs. 3,000 per month — but only for those who completed a term in Parliament.

In 2009, UPA government enhanced it to Rs. 20,000 per month.

(Source- Hindustantimes)

NOSTRADAMUS & INDIA'S 2014 ELECTIONS (NOSTRADAMUS : THE MAN WHO SAW THROUGH TIME)

          Michel de Nostredame, one of the world's most famous Prophets of Prophecies, was born in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in the south of France in December 1503. His family was originally Jewish, but had converted to Catholicism during the previous century. Nothing is known about his childhood, but at the age of fifteen he entered the University of Avignon to study for his baccalaureate. After little more than a year he was forced by the Plague to leave again. In 1529, after some years as an apothecary, he entered the University of Montpellier to study for a doctorate in medicine, and created a “rose pill” that was widely believed to protect against the plague. 

He is most famous for his book Les Propheties, which consists of rhymed quatrains (4-line poems) grouped into sets of 100, called Centuries. Nostradamus is credited with predicting the French Revolution, the atom bomb, the rise of Adolf Hitler and the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. 

          Recently, French scholar Bamprelle de la Rochefoucault uncovered in an old trunk which had been sold for two francs in 1876 to an antics dealer of Bordeaux, a document written in Latin which he has attributed to Nostradamus. Curiously, there are two full pages, which deal at length with India, particularly with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the forthcoming general elections. 

We are giving here the first words in Latin, along with a rough translation in English. 

Politicus Bharatus Janatus Indicus veni grandus est vingtus unus centurus Congressus oublium est =The Bharatiya Janata Party will come to dominate India in the 21st century, as the Congress will slowly sink.

Politicus Bharatus Janatus Indicus veni grandus est para Indus cognisant Indica tum est= The BJP will represent the aspirations of the Hindus, the overwhelming majority of India.

He goes on to explain who are the Hindus : 

Indus terrum nostrum grandus homo manus onum unus familium planetum est. Indicus pax pacis terra est ferrum tempus =They will be the most tolerant people, even in the Age of Iron, because they will still accept that God may manifest Himself at different times under different names, using different scriptures. Hence all persecuted people throughout the ages, will always found refuge in India, where they will practice their religion in peace.

Indus cursum est trahisum nostrum est Politicum Bharatus Indicus trahisum est = But the curse of the Hindus will always be disunity and they will betray each other to the enemy again and again.

Next, another prophecy: 

Politicus Bharatus Janatus Indicus tri pillarus est, Vajpayum, Advanum persistum est et Narendrum Modum Vajpayum emergum est = The BJP will have three pillars: AB Vajpayee, LK Advani and Narendra Modi. Eventually, Vajpayee will no longer have an active life, Advani will persist and Narendra Modi will be emerging.

He goes on: 

Narendrum Modum supremus chefum, ironus manus est et economicum grandum est =Narendra Modi will raise himself as a national figure, not only because he is an iron man, but also because he has made of his state a model of economic efficiency.

Then comes another forecast.

Duo millenum novo treizus, Jesus Christum postum, Advanum racontum narrates est. Narendrum Modum grandus princeps est et Modum dux ducis rector est, sixtum legatus est = If  Mr Advani were to announce in 2013 that Narendra Modi will be the BJP's, Prime Ministerial candidate, the BJP will win the elections.

Nostradamus is not done:

Congressus, corruptianum est,duo millennium terzus tombum est =The Congress Government will be riddled with so many corruption scandals, that it may fall before 2014.

Politicus Bharatus Janatus Indicus prnonuncio Ramum templum et Christanium consto est et gurum defendo est, kashmirum macto est =The BJP will also make it known that it will build the Ram Mandir, protect temples, stop conversions and keep Kashmir for India.

Michel has also some forecast about foreign policy:

Chinum pugna est, Tibetum sanctum est, proctectiorum, amen ; pakistanus attakum est et ereptor latrunculus iugolo, caido = The BJP will reaffirm its commitment to eastern states (he probably meant (Arunachal Pradesh), stand-up to China's bullying, and support Tibet to counteract Beijing which is propping-up Maoist Nepal. It will swiftly punish Pakistan next time it attacks India by proxy.

However, added Senor Nostradamus:

Politicus Bharatus Janatus Indicus comes, comitus amicus desertus est congressus victis.= The allies of the BJP will be deserting the boat as they think (the Congress) will win. But if the BJP stands true to the aspirations of its Hindu voters, it can come on its own at the Center.

Independantum Blancum copium est; necessarus changum indianus cumum facus est = As India has heavily borrowed from the White Man (British?) at Independence, it will become necessary to Indianise the nation so that it may manifest again its true unique soul.

What is it?

Lex legis mutation, presidentum auctorita dato est, confuto desisto lex legis = Introduce a common civil code, repeal false laws (article 370?), reform the Judiciary, change to a Parliamentary system, which will give true powers to the President who can nominate a Prime Minister from the majority.

Nostradamus goes on to explain why these changes are important:

Congressus niveus domina regnus, Indicus forcus inmicus est. Maurus, Christianus presentum est = Under the reign of the White lady (Sonia Gandhi?) forces inimical to India have crept in. Madrasas have sprung up everywhere and so have churches that are converting by the thousands, Hindus gurus are jailed and mocked at. 

Finally, Nostradamus has these concluding words: 

Lentamentus, Indica Indus solvo eripio licens et quidnam et politus falsus, Dharmus popularus est. Srious Ravous Shankarous pranayamous, et novus spiritualitus ex religus planetum estblishum est = What was non-acceptable today will become politically correct tomorrow and Hindus will rule themselves again and re-establish Dharma in India.

Scienta, garnutas, conscienta va do incedo totus el mundus rulus est, paxus, harmonius est.= And the knowledge which was preserved in India for millenniums will spread in the world and bring peace, happiness and Harmony to All

(Source : BC Vasundara blog , PUBLISHED LONG BEFORE THE 2014 ELECTIONS)

A SECOND DAWN - 26 MAY 2014 - (HOPING FOR THE BEST) (By Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha)

Tuesday, July 29, 2014 

I belong to a vanishing generation which witnessed the dawn of 15 August 1947 from close quarters.  I had a grandstand view of events in Delhi, from a key junior appointment in Military Operations Directorate at South Block, dealing with internal security.  I had to shoulder great responsibility much beyond my ability, knowledge and experience.  The sudden departure of senior and experienced British officers had led to this situation for Indian officers of my generation in the Army.  Before Independence, the Indian Army had over 80 per cent British officers with no Indian in the rank of a General officer, half a dozen Brigadiers and a few Colonels and Lt Cols

After the Great Calcutta Killings of August 1946, communal violence with increasing intensity spread all over North India.   This reached a crescendo after 3 June 1947, when Partition was announced. Mass migration of minorities from both Pakistan and India commenced. Millions got killed and millions uprooted.  The civil administration in Delhi and Punjab had collapsed.  The Army became the mainstay of the Government to restore order.  The departing Viceroy Lord Wavell in his farewell address on 21 March 1947 had said, “I believe the stability of the Indian Army may perhaps be the deciding factor in the future of India.” Lakhs of Muslim refugees had concentrated in Delhi.  They were living in make shift refugee camps in the then open space between Red Fort and Yamuna as also between Purana Qilla and the river.  These camps had to be protected from marauding mobs.  These hapless refugees used to be put in jam packed special trains with some sitting on the roof of  compartments.  The Army had to provide escorts for the refugee trains going to Pakistan.  All normal passenger and goods movement in Punjab were suspended to provide rolling stock for refugee movement.  Providing protection of miles long foot columns of refugees trudging to Pakistan was almost an impossible task.  Chaos and violence reigned all over.  In Delhi Army officers had to be in uniform armed with pistols all the time.  We got food packed in Girls Colleges by girl volunteer students for minority refugee foot columns in Pakistan.  These were picked up by the Army and dropped over these moving columns in Pakistan.  Our Military Evacuation Organisation at Lahore arranged for evacuation of non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan by road and in Air Force planes returning after food drops.  The Army established a staging tented camp for 5 lakh non Muslim refugees from Pakistan at Kurukshetra.  The civil administration dispersed them to areas in Punjab and outside.  They were allotted places vacated by Muslim refugees who had left for Pakistan.  All these were gigantic tasks and we had to work round the clock.  It was indeed an irony that British officers could travel all over Delhi and Punjab unarmed as there was no threat of their being attacked, while Indian officers, both Muslims and non-Muslims, had to remain armed with their pistols all the time.  We had a division worth of troops deployed in and around Delhi.

 

I may mention an incident of those times to show how disturbed the situation was in Delhi.  One afternoon, I was in the Operations Room when Mr Dundas, the Defence Secretary came in looking agitated.  A senior ICS officer, he had opted to go as Defence Secretary in Pakistan.  He said that a mob of shouting Hindus and Sikhs with mashals in their hands was assembling near the hutments with the intention of burning the documents, office equipment, furniture etc packed and stacked to be sent to Pakistan.  General Lentaign, our Director asked me to pick up  two or three armed Defence Security soldiers at the gate below and disperse the mob.  He also said that he  would instruct Delhi  to send a mobile armed patrol to the spot.  I rushed to the hutments as instructed.  Dundas accompanied me.  On reaching the spot I got my men to fire warning shots in the air and the mob dispersed.  Soon a mobile patrol also arrived and we positioned an armed picket there.  Much later, those hutments were demolished.  The Sena Bhavan has come up at that site.

 

                              On midnight 14/15 August I heard Jawaharlal Nehru’s soul stirring Tryst with Destiny speech in the Parliament on the radio.  India had at last become free.  I was overwhelmed with emotion.   The much cherished Dawn had arrived.

  

In the morning I saw the Union Jack was no longer flying over North Block, South Block and the Parliament House.  I was thrilled to see our National Flag proudly fluttering in their place.   A ceremonial parade was to be held near India Gate.  We  cordoned the whole area and tight security arrangements were made.  Large crowds assembled on both sides of Kingsway (now Raj Path).  Mountbatten and Nehru dove in State in the Viceroy’s open horse carriage escorted by the Viceroy’s Bodyguard.  The jubilant crowd was shouting Pandit Nehru Ki Jai, Pandit Mountbatten Ki Jai.  Mountbatten and Nehru mounted the saluting dais.  The over enthusiastic crowd broke the cordon and began milling all round the troops formed up for the parade and near the saluting dais.    The Parade could not be held.  The Band played the National Anthem and gun salute firing in the distance could be heard.  Mountbatten and Nehru jointly unfurled the national flag.  Mountbatten is reported to have remarked that this was the best military parade he had seen!

 

By middle October 1947 the situation was limping back to near normal when a storm broke out in Kashmir.  Pakistan Army invaded Kashmir with Maj Gen Akbar Khan commanding the invading forces.  They comprised a mix of Pakistan Army personnel in civilian clothes and tribal raiders. In three days the Pakistan Forces were in Baramulla after overrunning the heroic resistance put up by Maharaja’s small army.  The Maharaja and the civil administration abandoned Srinagar and fled to Jammu.  Srinagar was without any defence. The Maharaja acceded to India on 26 October.  We received orders late that afternoon to rescue Srinagar.  On 27 October only six Dakotas were available.  From next day some forty private airlines Dakotas with European pilots were be mobilised for us..  I recall landing at Srinagar grass airfield with only 300 troops on 27 October 1947, when the enemy at Baramulla was 10,000 strong.  They were indulging in rapine and plunder of the most brutal manner.  This gave us time to feverishly build up of our military strength in Srinagar.  The forty Dakotas were now each doing two sorties a day from Safdarganj airport to Srinagar.  I saw a rare wave of patriotism and determination in all ranks of the Army to give of our best, no matter the odds and difficulties.   We were for the first time fighting a war for Independent India under Indian military leadership in the field.  We ultimately decisively defeated the enemy in the battle of Shelatang on the outskirts of Srinagar on 7 November 1947 and cleared Srinagar Valley despite all odds.

 

I have mentioned all these details to highlight the conditions of unprecedented violence and chaos we faced in the wake of the great Dawn of our Independence and after.  Winston Churchill had said, “India is merely a geographical expression.  It is no more a single country than the Equator.”  Prophets of Gloom maintained that India being a multi lingual, multi ethnic and multi religious behemoth will not be able to hold together.  They were proved wrong.   India not only held together but turned out to be the only successful democracy in the Third World on the three continents of Asia, Africa and Latin America.  John Fester Galbraith the US Ambassador to India referred to Indian democracy as a 'functioning anarchy'. 

The two decades of the Nehru era followed by a few months of Lal Bahadur Shastri at the helm, were a glorious era for India despite the unfortunate Himalayan debacle of 1962 in the closing years of Nehru’s life, being a big setback.  Our national honour was soon vindicated in 1965 and in 1967 Artillery duel started by China in Sikkim, the latter had a bitter experience.  Despite military and economic weakness during the Nehru era, India emerged  a major international power on the basis of her moral strength .  Our political leaders at the Centre and in States were very capable men of impeccable integrity, who had made great personal sacrifice during the freedom struggle. . 

Indira Gandhi became a great war leader.  Defying the US and China, the two powerful patrons of Pakistan, she inflicted a crushing defeat on Pakistan in the Bangladesh War of 1971.  This was India’s finest hour.  India had not won such a glorious and decisive victory in the past millennium and more.  

However, she was responsible for decline in moral values in public life and undermining democracy.  She once remarked that her father was a saint who had strayed into politics, implying that values did not matter with her. 

She also once remarked that corruption was an international phenomenon.  This virtually gave license to this evil in public life.  The maladies of rampant corruption and dynastic rule reached mind boggling dimensions during UPA- 2 regime. 


Churchill’s remarks about India like Equator not being a country was proved wrong after Independence, but now his very derogatory remarks about Indian political leaders with very few exceptions, started having a ring of truth.  He had said, 

“Power will go into the hands of rascals, rogues, freebooters; all Indian leaders will be of low caliber and men of straw.  They will have sweet tongue and silly hearts.  They will fight among themselves for power and India will be lost to political squabbles.”   


By 2014 the common man in India was totally disillusioned, disgusted with rampant corruption at all levels and in every sphere eating into the vitals of the Nation.  He was groaning under rising prices for long.  We had a failing economy with little hope of things improving.  On top of all this, the country had been reduced to being a feudal democracy with dynastic rule.  Arrogance of power and poor leadership of the rulers and their lackeys had promoted what Mahatma Gandhi once called, slave mentality in the administration. 

 There was also a paralysis of governance.  


Narendra Modi with a reputation of impeccable integrity and dedication having a record of providing good  governance in his State swept the polls with his mass appeal through his unmatchable oratory that swayed the masses.  A tsunami struck the Grand Old Party which wasreduced to a pitiable 44 members in the Lok Sabha. The aura of the Dynasty was in shatters.  Giving a call for “Congress Mukt Bharat”

Narendra Modi has come to power with a thumping majority.  The dimensions of his huge victory were perhaps not anticipated by him, his party, his opponents or any political analyst. 

  

I have lived to see a Second Dawn. 


The dawn of 15 August 47 was drenched in communal violence and chaos all round.  I was then a small cog in the wheel of the establishment.  On 26 May 2014, as a bystander I avidly saw the new Dawn on the TV.   The unique swearing in ceremony of Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers was an unprecedented world event.  Heads of State of adjacent countries attended the function including the Prime Minister of Pakistan with whom we have been on cold war punctuated by three hot wars and continuing low intensity conflict.  Over 4000 eminent personalities of the country in different walks of life were at the function.   15 August 1947 heralded the dawn of freedom from foreign rule after several centuries.   26 May 2014 has generated much hope and enthusiasm for the future, emerging from a long era of despair and darkness.   

Modi’s path breaking foreign policy initiatives towards neighbouring countries are welcome development and so has his reaching out to countries in the East, up to Japan and South Korea. This should break China’s String of Pearl Strategy.  He interacted with much aplomb at the Heads of State meeting at BRICS  in Brazil at which it was decided to set up BRICS Development Bank.   Foreign powers including the US have been too keen to invite Modi.  Things have come a long way from the time the US had denied visa to him. After addressing the UN General Assembly in September, he will be visiting Washington on the invitation of President Obama.  All this augurs well for the future.

In the past few weeks welcome initiatives have been taken to meet India’s gigantic problems for her billion population.  Funds have been allotted for 24x7 electricity in every house Swatch Bharat programme, Namami Ganga clean Ganga project, infrastructure development and so on.  Measures have been taken to provide decisive and effective governance.  The Chalta Hai approach among the bureaucracy at the Centre has been changed to a disciplined and dedicated approach, abandoning lethargy.   The old environment and style of working appears to have changed overnight. 

Modi’s inclusive development agenda as against the divisive secularism of the previous regime provides a breath of fresh air.  So far, all the initiatives taken by him   hold great hope for the coming of Achche Din.  As an old army veteran it gives me great satisfaction to see efforts to remove the UPA Government’s neglect of national security and of the military.   Allocation of funds to procure modern weapons, doubling military strength on the Northern border, infrastructure development in that area, settling people in vacant land space near the border, increasing FDI to 49 per cent in defence production,  promoting indigenous defence industry with private sector participation and so on.  Private sector has been asked to produce light transport aircraft replacing AVROs, 32 light utility helicopters and small combat naval vessels.  No doubt we need to develop cordial relations and mutually beneficial economic ties with our neighbours but this should be from a position of military strength. 

The long pestering personnel problem of one rank one pension has been suitably addressed.  ( ???? )

One thousand crores has been allocated for this in the current budget.   The bureaucracy has been directed to ensure military participation in decision making.  Service Chiefs have will now have periodic direct access to the Prime Minister as in Western democracies.  It is significant that after a long time the practice of the Prime Minister giving a farewell dinner to a retiring Army Chief has been revived.  This raises hope of the long awaited appointment of CDS like in all democracies, will become a reality in the near future.   Yet another consideration shown for the military is to allot 100 crores  for a National War Memorial round the India Gate complex New Delhi.  For political and bureaucratic resons this project initiated over six decades ago had been hanging fire.  Funds for these projects have been allotted.  Work on them are likely to start soon. 

We have a large aspirational young generation among our people who are in a hurry to receive the benefits of better life.  The promises held out must be fulfilled soon.  The burning issue of rising prices which affects all must be tackled at top priority and. so should improving the quality of life for the people and reducing/removing unemployment.   Narendra Modi does not have the magic wand of Ali Baba to overnight bring down food prices and provide other promised facilities.  Yet every effort should be made to show tangible improvements within a short time frame.  Electoral promises have to be delivered.   

 Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. 

We as a nation perhaps have  a weakness for  sycophancy because of having been ruled by foreigners for a millennium in medieval and early modern period.  Mahatma Gandhi had called this slave mentality.  Girilal Jain the Editor of Times of India had rightly said that Sycophants have destroyed Empires and Emperors.  The UPA Government became a victim of sycophancy of its courtiers.  Modi Government must guard against this pitfall.

I conclude with full confidence that various measures being taken by the new Government holds much promise of its delivering on its election promises.  Hopefully,  the second dawn that I have the good fortune to see, would usher a glorious future providing India a rightful place in the comity of Nations and she becoming a leading world power.

(Courtesy/source-BC Vasundhara blog)

(Source- Jottings blog)

Minutes of NCC of Pensioners Associations

(Source-Central Govt Employees Confederation web)

Centre committed to implement 'one rank, one pension' scheme: V K Singh

Monday, 28 July 2014 - 7:34am IST | Place: Mumbai | Agency: PTI

The BJP-led government at the Centre is committed to implement the 'one rank, one pension' scheme for ex-servicemen, Minister of State for External Affairs General V K Singh said on Sunday.

"The BJP-led government at the Centre has allotted Rs 1,000 crore for the implementation of one rank one pension scheme, which is insufficient. I have requested the Finance Minister to allocate more funds for it. The government remains committed to implement the scheme at the earliest," Singh told reporters here.

Singh, who is also the Minister of State for North East Region, said the Finance Minister has assured him that there would be no dearth of capital for the scheme.

The former Army Chief was in Mumbai to attend a programme to mark the '15th Kargil Vijay Diwas' at the state BJP office here."We had announced the one rank-one pension scheme in our manifesto and the central government will ensure its implementation at the earliest," he added.

Talking about the upcoming assembly polls in Maharashtra, he said, the state BJP leaders should ensure that the party-led alliance comes to power in the state. "The assembly elections in Maharashtra are just a few months away. The state BJP leaders should ensure that the BJP-led (Mahayuti) alliance wins the upcoming elections.

This will ensure a better co-ordination between the central and the state governments, and further benefit the state from the schemes of the central government," he said.

(Source- DNA News)

SACRIFICE OF A SOLDIER - WASTED

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Today 26 July 2014 is the 15 anniversary of Kargil Vijay Divas. Whole nation is in a jubilant mood and celebrating the victory of Indian Armed Forces over occupational forces of Pakistan in Kargil and Drass sector. Euphoria in the country is unending, print media and media channels are vying with each other in singing bravery stories of Indian soldiers and Indian Armed Forces. Indian Armed Forces won 4 Param veer chakras 9 Mahaveer chakras and 55 Veer charkra for exceptional bravery in the face of enemy. A total of 527 soldiers gave extreme sacrifice of their life and 1363 soldiers were wounded/maimed and lost limbs to save integrity of nation. 

Come 27 July and Indian news papers and media channels will forget the Indian Armed Forces and their sacrifices and switch over to other stories and will again wake up on 24 July 2015 to sing valiant stories of Indian Army. Nobody in India cares to remember the sane advise of learned statesman Chanakya of Mouryan dynasty. Chandragupta Mourya dynasty had won great battles and got very rich. Soon after the King and his court men deeply immersed themselves in great luxuries forgetting their soldiers. Chanakya, the wise adviser of the kingdom, had to reprimand the King Chandra Gupta Mourya and told him

 

 

Oh My King your soldiers guard frontiers of Magadh in hostile conditions while royalty and citizen enjoy and sleep in peace and safety. It will be a very sad day for Magadh “The day the soldier has to demand his dues.”

 

 Unfortunately this advise is very apt in India today. Indian democratic Government has been neglecting the welfare of soldier for the last 67 years after independence. Despite this neglect Indian Armed Forces have delivered and won battles for their Mother Land for the pride of the Nation, Indian Army, their unit and then for their own pride.

 

 The neglect has reached a stage that family of gallantry award winners are living in penury and are not able to feed and educate their children. 

 

A citizen only needs to look around and see guards around your home, shopping centers and get a feeling of a life of a soldier who was back bone of Indian Army till a few years back. In the time of internet and television, condition of these families, living in deplorable conditions can not be hidden from a serving soldier. A serving soldier might ask a question to himself 

 

 “Is ultimate sacrifice worth for the Nation/Government that will not look after my family after my sacrifice”.

 

This split second hesitation can alter the battle situation in favor or against at a very crucial time. Time has come to ponder on this point. Any delay to correct this condition will be at Nations peril

 

 “A country makes a sacred solemn agreement with its soldiers. While soldier is ready to sacrifice his life for protecting the integrity and sovereignty of the nation, the nation will look after his welfare and needs while in service and take care of his family after his ultimate sacrifice."

 

 This solemn agreement is in serious strain in India today.

 

 One needs to think a little rationally as to what is India giving to a soldier who is asked to make ultimate sacrifice of his life for security of nation and safety of countrymen. Few simple questions need to be answered with sincerely by the Government/bureaucracy/citizen of this great country.

 

1    Is it not very difficult to make laws soldier friendly and interpret them with helpful frame of mind? How much dent will it make to Government treasury?

 

 2   Why is it that a decision given by AFT or any court in favor of retired soldier needs to be challenged in higher court by Govt? We have instances where in MOD has challenged decisions of courts for even as little as Rs 700/ to Rs 2000/ per month for wounded soldiers. In a country where lacs of crores of Rupees are lost in scams after scams, where Government Ministers/Officials are caught red handed taking bribes and causing loss to Government treasury. Is it not ironical for the MOD to fight and waste Government time and money for pittance of Rs 2000/ per month against a soldier who has lost his limbs in protecting India?

 Unless of course they get a sadistic pleasure out of it that they have fixed Indian Army. 


            Unfortunately this is their own Army 

                                      and 

                          not Pakistan Army. 


If this is the state of mind of our Government and its bureaucracy then 

 EVEN GOD WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SAVE   INDIA IN FUTURE CONFLICTS

 MOD has filed appeals in 3600 cases in higher courts against the judgment of AFTs in favor of soldiers mostly disabled.


3   Is it too difficult to give whatever is promised to a soldier by the Central Government or State Government? Why is it that a soldier or his family has to run from pillar to post for getting his dues and pay bribes for getting it. Why can not we make bureaucracy responsible for delivering and question them if they fail?   

4  Why is it not possible for Army/Navy and Air Force Hq to crate a Directorate which will be responsible to ensure that all dues to a gallantry award winner or his family are delivered in time at his/her door step without paying any bribe.   

  LET THE NATION WAKEN  ITS  CONSCIENCE AND PONDER.

                               JAIHIND

(Source- BC VASUNDHARA BLOG)

REMEMBER THE MARTYRES

CLICK HERE

BJP Pays for the Great Betrayal - Major General Mrinal Suman

Results of three bye-elections in Uttarakhand are out and BJP has been trounced, with Congress bagging all the three seats. It has taken less than 60 days for Modi euphoria to disappear. A buoyed and rejuvenated Congress must be thanking BJP for its failure to deliver. Inapt handling of the issue of OROP is symptomatic of the poor performance.

After the budget speech of 10 July, it became apparent that the NDA government had succumbed to the pressure of the bureaucrats and diluted the concept of OROP. To almost all soldiers, both serving and retired, it was a breach of faith – a promise broken and a Great Betrayal.

Next day, on 11 July, I had written the following comments which have proved highly prophetic:-

“Reaction of ex-servicemen to the budget speech varies from a sense of betrayal to outright disgust with BJP. Sample some of the comments making rounds on the social media – ‘an allocation of Rs 1000 crore is nothing but a cruel joke’, ‘we have been taken for a ride by false promises’, ‘let all ex-servicemen take a vow to teach BJP a lesson by voting against it henceforth’, ‘state assemblies that go to polls shortly should be used to deliver a shock to the ungrateful party’ and ‘even a Kejriwal would have been more indebted for the support we extended’.

As regards BJP, rarely has one seen such a shortsighted leadership – in a short period of six weeks it has frittered away all the goodwill and support that it had garnered by assiduously cultivating the soldiers and ex-soldiers. It forgot that it owed its electoral victory in no small measure to the en-block support extended by 50 lakh strong military community and their family members.

Even the die-hard opponents of BJP had never expected such a short honeymoon. Breach of faith is as ruinous to any relationship as infidelity to a marriage. Thus, a divorce is now inevitable. BJP is certainly going to rue its ill-advised act of taking ex-servicemen for granted and reneging on its promise.”

For soldiers OROP has come to represent honoring of solemn promises. It is no more a question of money. It has become a matter of honour. It hurts to be misled and taken for a ride. Unfortunately, BJP has failed to appreciate the sensitivities of the soldiers. Smug in its unexpected victory, it has become arrogant in handling them. How else can one interpret the advice given by Defence Minister Jetley to ex-servicemen to lower their expectations? Would he have dared to say so before the elections? Modi promised OROP and not sham-OROP.

For soldiers, national interests are supreme. It would have been far better for the government to state – “We accept the established definition of OROP but are tight on finances at present. We will implement it for JCOs and OR immediately with the available resources. Give us some time to implement it for the officers.” Most soldiers would have accepted the suggestion. But then, grace and compassion are not the qualities that one generally associates with the politicians.

Finally

Most observers feel that Modi erred by appointing Jetley as the Defence Minister for two reasons. One, with the load of Finance Ministry, he has little time to devote to the Defence Ministry. He cannot study matters in depth and has to give decisions on the details put up by the bureaucrats. Resultantly, bureaucrats are running the show. Two, Jetley has been a part of the ‘Delhi Durbar’ for far too long. It is unfair to expect him to pull himself out of the bureaucratic quagmire and take bold decisions.

According to the reports, all soldiers and their families voted for Congress in the recent bye-polls in Uttarakhand. BJP and Modi should see the writing on the wall. They must realise that they are shooting in their own foot by losing the backing of the solid support base of soldiers and ex-servicemen. Time is fast running out. Elections to Haryana, and may be Delhi, are due shortly. One will not be surprised if BJP loses in all assembly segments of Ghaziabad which elected General VK Singh with over 5.67 lakh votes. Disillusionment with BJP is spreading rapidly amongst the soldiers and the veterans.

(Source-Sanjha Morcha blog)

PHASED REPLACEMENT OF OLD CANTEEN SMART CARDS

Canteen Smart Cards and Canteen inventory Management System were introduced in URCs in 2004. The Smart Cards were revised with additional security features in October 2010, such as storage of photo in chip and increased chip memory from 16 kb and recently to 64 kb. The Requirement was felt to renew these cards in phases for operational efficiency. The SOP in accordance with DDGCS letter No 96301/Q/DDGCS/Policy dated 15 May 2013, elaborates the procedures for implementing phased replacement of Old Canteen Smart Cards

The Phased replacement of all Smart Cards issued prior to Oct 2010 shall be done as per time frame as under:-

Date Event/Action

01 Aug 13 to 31 Jul 14 Replace of all Smart Cards issued in 2003-2004

01 Aug 14 to 31 Oct 14 Cushion Period 3 months to cater for left over cases of 2003-2004

01 Nov 14 to 31 Dec 15 Replacement of Smart Cards issued in 2005. 

01 Jun 16 to 31 Mar 16 Cushion period 3 months

01 Apr 16 onwards 

Replacement of Smart Cards issued 01 Jan 2006 onwards will be done as per warning displayed during customers visit to URC keeping the 10 years shelf life in view, as also for cards which have got smudged/defaced in an earlier time frame

Applying/Reapplying. 

The Applicant must tick the correct box-Re-Applying in all case of re-applying, be it is part of phased change of old Smart Cards or due to other requirement (Such as Cards damaged, lost, category change) Applicant must tick in “ Fresh” box only when applying for Smart Cards for the first time.

 

In case of Re-applying, enter Old Liquor/Grocery Cards ID. This is a mandatory field for all cases of Re-applying. The Printed number on the Old Liquor/Grocery Card must be correctly entered here.

 

Applicant's Mobile No must be entered by the applicant.

 

It is preferable and operationally efficient to apply for all required Smart Cards in one single application. Incase dependent Smart Cards are applied separately at a late stage, the old dependent Smart Cards will be temporarily blocked on activation of new parent grocery Smart Card. On being inserted for billing, old dependent Smart Cards not linked to newly activated parent grocery Smart Cards, CIMS will flash message – 'Your old primary grocery card is not listed'. 

Please get your dependent cards reactivated with the newly personalized grocery card for distribution of entitlement. 

Veteran applicants have the option of applying for Combined Grocery and Liquor Smart Cards, but this smart cards has some major disadvantages, vis-à-vis Separate Grocery namely -Additional amount of Rs 1500/- available in Liquor Smart Cards is not available in combined Grocery & Liquor Smart Cards. -There is no provision for issuing Dependent Smart Cards based on this Smart Card. Applicants have to apply afresh to a separate grocery and dependent Smart Cards if needed.

(Source -

AirforceAssociation India 2:40am Jul 27

Apollo pharmacy to offer 10% discount on medicines to ECHS beneficiaries

23 Jul, 2014 7:46p.m.

Apollo pharmacy has announced discount scheme to all ECHS beneficiaries and their families. 

All ECHS members are eligible for 10% discount on purchase of medicines from any Apollo Pharmacy retail outlet across the country.

Discount will not be applicable in Pharmacy situated inside hospital premises. 

Beneficiaries may purchase if desired please.

(Source- Staff corner blog)

Rank Pay New Letter No. 34(10/2013/D (Pay/Services) (G o I, MOD), D/d 24 Jul 14

Rank Pay New Letter

Govt rejects compulsory military training; says unemployed youth could join militants

Saturday, 26 July 2014

Meanwhile NCC training rises, enrolment to cross 18.5 lakh students

The government walks a tightrope between inculcating military discipline and physical fitness in the country’s youth, whilst also safeguarding against a militarised society from where extremist groups can draw on disgruntled youngsters with military training.

While the defence ministry expands the National Cadet Corps (NCC) from 1,500,000 students countrywide to 1,850,000, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley told parliament on Friday that the government does not favour compulsory military training.

He was responding to Karnataka Member of Parliament (MP), CS Putta Raju. Several MPS have made similar proposals over the last five years. Three private member bills have sought compulsory military training. This includes one from Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, minister of state for railways in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, and now Congress Party president in West Bengal.

Mr Jaitley rejected compulsory military training for four reasons. First, it would violate India’s “democratic ethos”, where people are free to choose their professions. He said, “The Constitution does not provide for compulsory military training”.

Second, this might militarise India’s fragile society. In a startling admission, Mr Jaitley declared: “With our socio-political and economic conditions, (compulsory military training) is highly undesirable, lest some of the unemployed youth trained in military skills join the ranks of the undesirable elements.”

The government’s apprehension about its citizens contrasts with the United States, where the Second Amendment to the Constitution protects the rights of individuals to keep and carry arms. This is justified through citizens’ right to self-defence, the right to resist oppression (including by the state), and the civic duty to come to the defence of the state. Passed in 1791, this one-sentence amendment states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Jaitley’s third objection to compulsory military training is that, the armed forces have “no problem in getting adequate numbers of volunteer recruits.”  Therefore, there was no need to provide military training across the board.

Last, the government’s reply noted that training youth across the country would involve enormous expense and infrastructure creation. “The likely benefits of imparting military training to all the youth will not be commensurate with the expenditure involved in such an effort,” he said.

While compulsory military training carries ominous overtones, the government has steadily expanded the NCC, which includes military and weapons training. Last September, at an apex NCC council meeting, the UPA minister of state for defence, Jitendra Singh, suggested “including aspects of the NCC syllabus into the curriculum of all schools and colleges.”

The demand for NCC training is strong. Last September the defence ministry stated that 4613 schools and 2764 colleges are on the waiting list for NCC training, with some having applied 25 years ago. To meet that demand, the NCC is upgrading 153 “minor units” to battalion strength. This would allow training to be extended to some 3200 institutions on the waiting list, and increasing the NCC’s strength to 18.5 lakhs.

Also being explored is a “self-financing model”, in which out of turn sanction would be provided to private schools willing to pay the full cost of NCC training.

(Source - By Ajai Shukla, Business Standard, 26th July 14)