Monday, January 30, 2017

GOOD TIMES AHEAD? - NEW INITIATIVES FOR ORs/JCOs

Enhancement of Casual Leave Exception from 21 Days to 30 Days. Fd Area Allowance are not deducted upto 21 days of CL. The limit has been enhanced to 30 days. 

This is applicable for JCOs/OR only and not for officers.

Interest rate on AGIF House Building Advance (HBA). 

Decreased from 9 % to 7.5% per annum for JCOs/OR. 

Also rate of interest has been decreased for JCOs/OR availing second limit HBA from 10% to 9%.

Cdr Ravindra Waman Pathak I.N. (Retd)
Member ​Veterans ​Pension Group

(SOURCE- FB A/C ACHYTAN RAGHAVAN)

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Friday, January 27, 2017

SONAMARG AVLANCHE 15 BRAVE HEARTS MARTYRED - RIP

The 15 Armymen who tragically perished in the Jan 25 avalanches in Gurez & Sonamarg, J&K.




(SOURCE- TWITTER A/C OF )

OROP : VETERANS CALL OFF FAST UNTO DEATH STIR

Posted: 26 Jan 2017 04:22 AM PST
 Return to frontpage

Three members of the ex-servicemen fraternity on 'Fast Unto Death' (FUD) at Jantar Mantar for 'full' One Rank One Pension (OROP) have called it off following appeals from fellow veterans. However, they said that their protest would continue.

Three veterans, Mrs Sudesh Goyat, Hav Major Singh and Hav Mohinder Singh with the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) have been on fast unto death since January 15. On Sunday, Mrs. Goyat was admitted to Army's Research & Referral (RR) hospital after her health deteriorated.

Veterans said that as her condition worsened, doctors advised that she must have oral diet. In view of that, the veterans collectively appealed to her to end the fast which she accepted on Wednesday afternoon.

Maj Gen Satbir Singh, Chairman of IESM said that they would continue their agitation till the government implemented ‘full’ OROP. He said that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had refused their requests for a meeting which he said was “total insensitivity and apathy on the part of the Government.”


A group of veterans had rejected the version implemented by the government stating that it deviated from the accepted definition of OROP which means equalisation of pension every year as against the approved five years.


Defence sources said that Mr. Parrikar was busy in the election campaign in Goa as well as the events related to the Republic Day.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

In a first of its kind 11 General officers & ladies undertake hunger strike today.

They are: - 

1. Maj Gen  BS Dhillon
2. Lt Gen SS Grewal
3. PI soorma
4. Maj Gen RN Wadhva
5. Lt Gen JBS Yadav
6. Maj Gen VK Tiwari
7. Maj Gen Bhutani
8. Lt Gen Hari Unial
9. Lt Gen AK Saini
10. Maj Gen Surjit Singh
11. Maj Gen Satbir Singh

Join our VETERANS in their struggle for our future. .

I am looking for positive response from everyone who is affected by any Fauji in life to show their support,  solidarity to veterans. 

Remember it is our responsibility to support the VETERANS because they are struggling for our future.  

Our veterans want our support ... don't let them down. 

Let us do it

Jai Hind
26/01/2017, 1:40 pm - NDA S S Cheema: IMG-20170126

(Source- Via Gp E-mail)

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

PENSION ADALAT FOR ARMED FORCES PENSIONERS(SBH A/C) : 30.1.2017 AT DTE OF SAINIK WELFARE, HYDERABD

Dear All

We are now conducting a Pension Adalat for Army/Navy/AF pensioners drawing pension from SBH (State Bank of Hyderabad) only

All Army/Navy/Air Force Pensioners may resolve their pending grievances regarding pension with SBH on that day

We are also inviting officers of EME and AOC Records for the Adalat.  Grievances related to those records offices may also be resolved simultaneously on that day.

Date:  30.01.2017

Time: 10.30 to 1600 hrs

Venue: Sainik Aramghar Complex, Lane Next to Ratnadeep Super Market, Near Yashoda Hospital, Somajiguda, Raj Bhavan Road, Hyderabad

Contact: Nb Sub Ramanujaiah:  7032111498

               Nb Sub Ranga Swamy: 9866730470

All those interested may ring up on the above numbers and register

Thanks and Regards,

Col.P.Ramesh Kumar (Retd)
Director, Sainik Welfare
Telangana

(Source- Via Gp e-mail)

Monday, January 23, 2017

PIC OF MAJ NAVDEEP SINGH (RETD) ON DEFENCE TABLEAU : RECOGNISING HIS CONTRIBUTION TO ESM COMMUNITY

Narendra Kumar- Nice to see ur pic on Def tableau last section of veterans who have contributed immensely to the org.

my picture? That's news to me sir. Which tableau? where?

Collage of veterans in the end.


(Twitter a/c)


Army and the Social Media: Emerging Challenges : Maj Gen Mrinal Suman

Venting of grievances by the soldiers on the social media is a new phenomenon. The recent torrent of videos has caught the services unaware. It is a challenge whose severity is bound to increase with the development and proliferation of technology. It is time serious attention is paid to address the issue as it has the potential to promote indiscipline, spread disaffection, weaken officer-man cohesion and undermine morale. While discussing the issue, three critical imperatives need to be kept in mind.
First, the quality of the contemporary soldierly stock is quite different. Earlier, rural youth with little education and limited demands joined the Indian army. They were hardy and accepted the privations of the environment without questioning them. The army of today is more ubiquitous. It draws manpower from all segments of the society. The current generation of soldiers is better educated. Having being exposed to the electronic media, their awareness level is of a much higher order.

Consequently, there has been a phenomenal rise in the expectations and aspirations of the soldiers. They have become very conscious of their position, and are sensitive to any threat, real or perceived, to their self-worth. Like the rest of the society, their value system is also undergoing major changes. They question various policies and practices, and are quick to spot iniquities and imperfections of the system.

Secondly, nature and character of the media have undergone major changes in the last few years. There has been a massive proliferation of electronic media beaming 24/7 news. As most Indian media agencies do not possess adequate resources for gathering true ground reports, most tend to presuppose details and base their reports on hearsay or conjectures. In the absence of genuine news material, they tend to concoct news to be the first to break a story.
Worse, Indian print and electronic media thrives on sensationalism. For example, repeated running of the soldiers’ videos on news channels was hardly warranted. An unhappy soldier’s shot of an over-cooked chapatti was not an issue of national concern, as was made out by the competing media. Notwithstanding the above, the media cannot be wished away. The army will have to learn to cope with its waywardness. 
Thirdly, technology is a double-edged weapon. It can be a friend or a foe. In the hands of inimical elements, social media can be a lethal tool. It has unprecedented reach and can be cleverly manipulated to tweak the truth to present a distorted version of the facts. Our troops are tech-savvy and are cognizant of the power of the social media. When under stress, they may be tempted to resort to venting their disenchantment through it.
Whereas the soldiers can be deterred through the threats of disciplinary proceedings, the same cannot be said of their families, friends and sympathizers. With smartphones, it is easy to upload photographs/videos. The electronic media is always on the lookout for such anomalous news to enhance TRPs. It is a challenge that defies a straightforward solution.
The Way Forward
In a 1.3 million strong force, it is well nigh impossible to keep everyone happy. There will always be some with grievances, both perceived and real.
Three steps can be taken to contain the problem. One, efforts should be made to ensure that the time-tested norms of man-management are given additional importance to improve general satisfaction level and minimize complaints. Two, well-established mechanism of redressal of grievances should be strengthened and made more credible. Three, the environment should be made aware of the true state of affairs in the army to contain the negative fallout.
Appreciating Soldiers’ Sensitivities
Changed environment demands a change in leadership techniques. Leaders have to learn to handle the soldiers with more compassion. Compassion does not mean dilution of discipline. On the contrary, a compassionate leader acquires moral authority and psychological ascendency over his command. Troops respect him and trust him. Willing obedience and discipline are the natural corollary.
Soldiers are facing much higher levels of stress these days. Regular contact with the families through modern telecom keeps soldiers embroiled in day to day problems faced by their families – children falling sick or not studying or ill-health of parents or troubles caused by unruly neighbours. Soldiers feel helpless and become fretful. Earlier joint family system took care of many such exigencies. 
Further, with an increase in the education level of soldiers’ wives, many are highly qualified and gainfully employed. They prefer to stay at one place for the sake of their career and children’s education. Resultantly, soldiers are deprived of family support in times of emotional disturbances. At times, stress tends to become distress.
In addition, modern soldier is highly conscious of his self-esteem. Most soldiers abhor sahayak (buddy) duties and consider them to be degrading. To start with, no soldier should be detailed on these duties in the stations where families are allowed to stay. Similarly, soldiers resent being detailed to cut grass or sweep roads or maintain golf courses.  All tasks related to the maintenance of cantonment facilities must be outsourced to civilian agencies.

In other words, measures must be initiated to ensure that a soldier’s sensitivities are not unduly offended. No soldier should ever be asked to perform jobs which he considers to be ‘unsoldierlike’ and humiliating. Stress and humiliation make a lethal combination, generating ‘pressure cooker effect’ that results in irrational behavior.

Strengthening Existing Mechanism for the Redressal of Grievances

Indian army has a sound mechanism in place for the redressal of soldiers’ grievances. For personal issues, every soldier has a right to seek audience with his seniors through ‘Arzi Report’. In case his company commander is unable to solve the problem, the matter is referred to the unit commander. Level of ‘Arzi Report’ keeps getting raised, till the aggrieved soldier gets full redressal.
Senior inspecting officers invariably inspect ‘Arzi Report Registers’ of units and sub-units to gauge the overall quality of man-management. Records indicate the nature of common grievances and the degree of attention being paid to redress them.
If the Arzi Report route fails to satisfy a soldier fully, he can submit written appeal to the Chief (non-statutory complaints). All intermediate headquarters are required to study them and take necessary curative action, if within their powers. In case they are unable to resolve the matter, the case is put up to the higher authorities, till it reaches the Army Headquarters. Final decision is given by the Chief. If still unsatisfied, an aggrieved soldier can approach the Central Government through a statutory complaint.
In some units, due to the shortage of officers, a certain degree of complacency has crept in the ‘Arzi Report’ process. Written complaints rarely elicit response in the specified time-frame. Bureaucratic approach of the staff officers at the higher headquarters denies timely justice to the aggrieved. Immediate action needs to be taken to put the whole system back on track.   
Enhancing Media Awareness
For the media, attractiveness of news is directly proportional to its shock effect. As denigration sells, negative projection of all entities hogs limelight for days. The army is no exception.
As the media lacks resources and intimate knowledge of the services, it follows the easiest path of resorting to collecting bits of information to create news. Invariably such one-sided reporting turns out to be factually incorrect and damaging to the army.
On the other hand, the media justifiably faults the army for being unduly secretive and not sharing news with it. There is a need for mutual sensitization. Appreciating media’s compulsions/limitations, efforts should be made to educate it as regards army’s ethos, culture and functioning. Information should be shared with media in an honest and forthright manner, accepting weaknesses upfront to retain credibility. A well-informed media will not fall prey to some rogue videos that malign the army.
Finally
Unfortunately, the army has failed to respond to the videos in a mature manner. Instead of reposing faith in the time-tested mechanism for the redressal of grievances, the Army Chief has ordered placement of complaint boxes at all formation headquarters. It was an immature and panic reaction. Asking soldiers to forward complaints directly to him is a highly terrifying and perilous proposition. It undermines the complete chain of command, the keystone of army’s disciplinary bedrock. It is a proposition where the cure is worse than the disease.
Indian soldiers are a highly disciplined lot. They do not resort to indiscipline unless driven to it. As army’s environment is highly disciplined, hierarchal and restrictive, pent-up frustration may find expression through the social media. However, a vigilant and sympathetic leader can provide a ‘safety-valve’ to the stressed soldier through empathy and counsel. With commander’s support, he will feel reassured and relieved of all anxieties. Most complaints will cease to exist.

The system of redressal of grievances must be made more responsive and compassionate. Troops must be convinced that their genuine concerns would be attended to in a just, fair and time-bound manner. Necessary measures should be instituted to improve satisfaction level of the environment.

In the media-led world of today, perception is reality and perception is based on the image projected by the media. Therefore, the media can neither be ignored nor dismissed as irrelevant. Hence, it is necessary to keep the media apprised of all the developments, lest it is forced to release an asymmetrical story due to army’s failure to respond in time. It is equally important to accept organizational weaknesses honestly and use them as portals for corrective reforms.
===============================================SOME COMMENTS 
VERY WISELY WRITTEN ADVISE TO ALL CONCERNED. 

COAS MUST GIVE A SERIOUS THOUGHT TO WITHDRAW THE IDEA OF JAWANS DIRECTLY APPROACHING HIM. 

THIS WILL DESTROY THE LINE OF COMMAND AND CONTROL AND CREATE INDISCIPLINE IN RANKS.

Wg. Cdr. Vishnu Singh; Veteran
=================================================


This is the crux of Command & ldrship. We all witnessed it during our Service. The advantage to Org now would be that herapheri, chamchagiri tribe amongst offrs/ JCOs would be more worried for exposure. As regards redressal system, beyond unit is concerned, the less said is better as Gen too has remarked that fauji babugiri takes over. All these destroyers of system for personal fiefdom would be a worried lot. Let's hope that actual Ldrs would ascend the ladder now. If ever fructifies, technology would be winner.

However, a vigilant and sympathetic leader can provide a ‘safety-valve’ to the stressed soldier through empathy and counsel. 
Col YC Mehra (Retd)
===============================================
(SOURCE : AS FWD BY BB GHAI VET VIA GP E-MAIL)



The importance of Leave in the Forces - Commodore M Bhada (Retd)

The recent shooting spree by a Jawan from the para military force for not being granted leave needs introspection.
Leave to an individual from the Armed Forces, including the Para Military Forces, posted in the border areas or the outlying areas, as also on board Naval vessels, is as important, if not more, than the quality of food given to them.  The later is also in the news, thanks to the Media going all overboard on this count.
Leave in the Armed Forces is not for rest-and-recuperation only, there many more important and essential reasons for asking for leave. It could be for a sister’s wedding for whose marriage one has been saving over a period of time and being the eldest in the family, one’s presence becomes essential. It could be for a child’s board exams when the mother is unable to cope with the child’s studies. Or to help the family during the harvesting season when labour is not easily available. Or for repairs to the house which has been damaged owing to a natural calamity. There are countless reasons for an individual to ask for leave, denial of which can upset anybody, some more than the others.
Whilst in command of a Naval Warship, I had occasion to witness such a scenario when a sailor was marched up to my desk as a “defaulter”.
His crime – he left ship without leave just a day prior to the ship’s sailing. The sailor had gone on a short leave two months earlier but had once again requested for a few days off just prior to the ship’s sailing for a major exercise. As he was the only qualified radar operator on board, his presence during the exercise was essential, hence his leave was denied by the departmental officer.
The Sailor’s explanation - He had been preparing for his BA exams for over a year, to improve his re-employability prospects after leaving the service.  He had earlier requested for leave to appear in the BA Part I & Part II papers in his home town, however owing to some unavoidable circumstances the Part II paper was postponed indefintely and he reported back on board the ship without appearing for the same. A few days later he received intimation of the new date for the BA, Part II exam which unfortunately coincided with the ship’s operational programme.  If he missed this opportunity he would lose a full year.
Unfortunately, the priorities of the leave granting officer and that of the sailor were at variance. For both it was a hobson’s choice.
After hearing the case I, unhesitatingly wrote In the Register, 
“Case dismissed. The sailor’s absence to be regularized”. 
Soon thereafter I issued Standing Instructions to the effect that Departmental Officers may approve the leave of all sailors in their departments but refusal of the same will be the Captain’s prerogative.
A request for leave should not be
taken lightly.

(SOURCE- VIA GP E-MAIL)

THIS IS NO POLITICAL STATEMENT BUT FACTS, VETERANS ARE REQUESTED TO DRAW THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS

Let us  disseminate info to all the ESM as well as civilians we know, to counter the propaganda of the govt that the "Govt has given OROP", which is misleading and a half-truth. It is not a question of a few paisas , but our contempt  by the Govt TO DEGRADE THE ARMED FORCES TO THE HILT.
OROP as announced by the govt has seven major shortcomings: the details are as follows:-
1. One Rank, One Pension (OROP) was already in force for the Armed Forces (AF) till it was quietly removed by the 3rd Pay Commission (PC) in 1973.
2. The 3rd PC  increased the pensions of civilian employees from 33% to 50%, and instead decreased the AF pension from 70% to 50%.Clubbing civilians with the military was unwise.
3. Non-Functional Financial Upgradation (NFFU or NFU) was surreptitiously introduced by the 6th PC in 2006 for 58 Civil Services, classifying them arbitrarily as “Organised Group ‘A’ Services”, but keeping the AF out of its ambit. NFU implies that if any officer of a service at any place serves in a post higher than others of his service, the others will get the same pay as the higher one after two years, irrespective of serving in any lower rank. This is OROP through the back door, since 80% IAS officials retire as Additional Secretaries vis-à-vis only 0.7% AF officers retiring as equivalents, i.e. Lt Gens. So the IAS gets the pension of Addl Secys.
 4. The financial burden of NFU for civil services is Rs. 17,000 crore, i.e. twice that of OROP at Rs. 8,293.6 crore. This does not apparently classify as “a burden on the poor”, which OROP is classified as.
5. Wild forecasts have been made of immense calculations required to be done every year to keep OROP as OROP. Such “immense calculations” are already being done annually for the NFU of civil servants! The imaginary problem is forecast only for the AF! If not done yearly but five-yearly, THEN four years juniors will get more pension than seniors, till equalised after five years.
6. All civilians retire at 60 yrs of age. 80% of AF personnel retire at 34-37 yrs of age, to keep the AF young. The early retirement deprives AF personnel from the benefits of one or two PCs, three or four promotions, and corresponding pensions of those ranks.
7. Having no marketable job skills, the employability of a Jawan, Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) or Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) after retirement is virtually Nil: mostly as low-paid security staff; officers mostly as property brokers. Only a miniscule percentage manage to get good jobs.
================================
OPINION OF MR SOLI SORABJEE ON ABOVE BRIEF

I have gone through the executive summary made by you.The statemenam willing to make is afollows:-

The essential features of OROP have been accepted in principle by thgovernmentAny purportechangenow, if they would deny seniors of their hard earned benefits woulbe unfair and also demoralizingThe same would also affect the prestige of the institution of thArmy which is held in deereverence by alsections oousociety.

Warregards,

Yours sincerely
J.0?~- ~~
SolSorabjee
=============================================

LT COL SUSHIL VOHRA (RETD)

(Source- Via group e-mail from BB GHAI VET) 



-- 

MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES THE EX-SERVICEMEN (ORs/JCOs) TO BOTHER THAN THE OROP : SGT JAYWANT WALAWALKAR,AIR VETERAN

Dear all Vet Bros

With reference to the below comment of one of our vet brother, Renganathan sri, on "THE UN-NOTICED GOVT'S BIG BANG SCAM WEF 1.1.2006 -...",post, "I request Mr. Gavini VN,TO FILTER OUT THE matters related to JCO&OR and the post, only the pertaining issues to them. NFU is not a matter concerned to us. But as a Chief Editor it is your prerogative and I do not interfere in your discretion. It is only a request" 

I wish to post below more relevant view point of another veteran brother Jayvant Walawalkar, , how it is can be applied to ORs/JCOs: ================================================

1. NFU (non-functional upgradation) for the JCOs/NCOs/ORs. Most of the soldiers retire as Naiks after 17 years of service in spite of the MACP (modified assured career progression) scheme. They get only one/two promotions/ financial upgradations. Commissioned officers are assured the rank of Col i.e. minimum 4 promotions. Thanks to the NFU, every commissioned officer will get the pay of Maj Gen after 19 -20 years of service i.e. 6 financial upgradations. On the similar lines, every soldier must get promotion/financial upgradation upto Nb Sub at least in the form of NFU. All civilians get at least 3 promotions/financial upgradations under the MACP scheme. Why is this benefit denied to the soldiers? 

2. 70% LPD (last pay drawn) as pension for soldiers as was there upto 1973. 

3. Guaranteed employment till 60 for all soldiers. Presently soldiers are retired compulsorily when they reach the age group of 35-40. Thus soldiers are kicked out when they are in their prime of youth and have families to support. Their lives become insecure since there is no guarantee of further employment. Most of them land up doing class-4 jobs like security guards, peons etc. What a great respect given to our soldiers? This is grave injustice done to the soldiers. Even a civilian peon retires at 60. 

4. MSP (Military Service Pay) of soldier should be the same as for anyone else and should not be lesser than that of a military nurse. Presently a nurse who is a non-combatant gets the MSP of Rs 10800 per month. However a combatant JCO/NCO/OR gets only Rs 5200. What a great logic! 

5. Disability pension, Siachen allowance should be the same for all ranks. 

6. Formation of Ex-servicemen Commission/Ministry at National and State Levels, headed by an Ex-serviceman of any rank.

The above issues are much bigger than the OROP; high time the ESM pay attention to them; people are fast losing interest in the OROP as Govt. has already given OROP, though in a diluted form.
=================================================
My humble request to vet bro Renganathansri  is come out with some plausible suggestions for improvements on the posts published rather than simply been (always and everytime) critical on them that they do not pertain to ORs/JCOs. It is hoped he understands this and stops indulging in flaying ARTICLES IN THIS blog, whether they benefit the ORs/JCOs or not.  I do not agree with him that EX-SERVICEMEN DO MEAN ONLY ORs/JCOs.

SGT GV NARAYANA, AIR VETERAN
BLOGGER, 
9490045365, 8885012679
(ADVOCATE,&SECY GEN, TELANGANA RAASHTRA MAAJI SAINIKULA SAMAKHYA, HYDERABAD)
=======================================================================
 


THE UN-NOTICED GOVT'S BIG BANG SCAM WEF 1.1.2006 -THE NFFU GRANTED TO CIVIL BABUS AND DENIED TO MILITARY?? - MONEY MATTERS IN THE MILITARY - By Deepak Sinha

 Wednesday, 18 January 2017 




The only viable option for ModiGovt is to go back to status quo ante existed before 3rd CPC started tinkering with civil-mil parity. Govt must take initiatives to move ahead in this direction. 
When is a scam not a scam? The short answer obviously would be, when it is approved by the Government in power. But then, the question arises: Is that necessarily true?
Take the case of the Non Functional Financial Upgrade or NFFU. Introduced by the Sixth Central Pay Commission (CPC), it allows for the grant of a higher pay scale on non-functional basis to the All India and Organised Group ‘A’ Services till Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) and Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) level after a gap of two years compared to an IAS officer of the same batch, who is posted at the Centre at the SAG or HAG level.
This promotion was independent of organisational requirements, availability of vacancies and level of responsibility or span of control of a post.
In simple terms, it implied that when an IAS officer from a particular batch (a batch includes everyone who joins service the same year) was promoted to a certain rank, all batch-mates from Group A Central Services automatically started drawing the same pay scale two years after that individuals promotion. Thus, even as those officials continue to discharge their earlier functions, they are upgraded to the higher pay grade of their IAS batch-mate. Effectively, this has meant that every central services officer makes it to top pay grades, albeit with a two-year time lag behind the IAS.
It goes without saying that such a system is contrary to all principles of management and completely without precedent anywhere in the world, in either the Government or the corporate sector.
By all yardsticks, it is a scam of immense proportions on the tax-paying public that funds this excess and useless expenditure. But for the fact that in this case, then PM Manmohan Singh allowed it to be implemented. It only showed up the degree of dependency and vulnerability of his scam-ridden Government to bureaucratic shenanigans and quid pro quo.
Commentator Minhaz Merchant called it “the empire of babus”! There is a caveat and it must be mentioned that members of the seventh CPC objected and wanted it terminated, but Justice Mathur, the Chairman, in his wisdom, insisted on its continuance because “it has existed for the last 10 years”.
This issue has once again come to haunt us as a Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has ruled in favour of the hundred and sixty odd serving officers who approached for the same to also be applicable to the military.  
The Seventh CPC had not recommended it for the military and the mandarins in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) have been vehemently objecting to it being given to the military ever since they first demanded it in 2010.
The attitude of the Seventh CPC and the MoD towards the military in this regard smacks of parochialism and bias, because the ostensible reason for introducing NFFU, in the first place, was to ensure that stagnation did not adversely impact personnel.  It, therefore, made little sense not to give it to those most impacted by lack of promotion avenues, given the military’s pyramidal structure.
In addition, the AFT has also directed that the Armed Forces be treated as an organised Group ‘A’ Service. Obviously, the Government is unlikely to implement these directions anytime soon.
Given its earlier behaviour of indulging in chicanery and gross misrepresentation in the Supreme Court to delay and derail the case of the ‘Dynamic Assured Career Progression’ Scheme pertaining to Military doctors, despite the AFT ruling in their favour some years ago. Even a novice in management will agree that no hierarchical organisation can ever work in a manner in which all personnel equal receive equal compensation regardless of differing responsibilities or positions that they may hold.
If it did how would it ensure that personnel remained motivated or strive to perform so that merit could be rewarded?  At the end of the day, all promotions are intimately connected to pay and perks, and if all individuals are to finally receive equal pay then why would individuals strive to take on additional responsibilities and the hard work it entails?
Moreover, there is something morally and ethically reprehensible for people to receive compensation for a job that they are not doing. It was for this very reason that the Chiefs of Staff Committee had opposed the idea of NFFU in 2008 when it was first proposed.
Thus, by no stretch of imagination, is the introduction of NFFU going to help the military in any way. However, in Government pay scales are the determining factor of inter-services parity, and therefore, its implementation for the military cannot be avoided for now.
This is because by its very introduction the civil services have already wreaked havoc to the earlier parity that existed between civilian and military personnel. It has also adversely impacted the very functioning of those organisations such as the Ministry of Defence, the Military Engineering Services and the Border Roads Organisations and the Defence Research and Development Organisation.
It has also disrupted smooth functioning of the military with other organisations within the security establishment of the country.  The only viable option to stop this headlong rush to the bottom by the civil services and the other Central Government services, including the military, is for the Narendra Modi Government to do away with NFFU totally and revert to status quo ante as it existed before the Third Pay Commission started tinkering with the issue of civil-military parity.
The question that arises is: Does Prime Minister Modi, or for that matter any other politician, have the nerve to take such a step as that would immediately raise the hackles of all those affected?  This is especially since they are so completely dependent on their cooperation and goodwill for their functioning.
That apart, there can be little doubt that a scam always remains a scam, when advantage of unsuspecting tax-payers is taken, regardless of whether it has political patronage and Government sanction.
(The writer is a military veteran and consultant with the Observer Research Foundation)
(SOURCE : http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnists/oped/money-matters-in-the-military.html )