Clearing Garbage is not the Job of Army

SOURCE;
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comment/clearing-garbage-is-not-the-job-of-army/477842.html




Should the Army be used to clean trash left behind by tourists and others? It depends on whom you ask. According to the government, this is a key part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan which includes all citizens and therefore includes the Army as well. On the other side, senior veterans of the Army feel this is part of an effort to downgrade the importance of the armed forces and make them do something that they neither trained for nor signed up to do. Either way, an order has come. Some of the places where this is happening are Kedarnath, Rudraprayag, Joshimath, Harsil and Gaurikund in Uttarakhand.




Is it fair to ask the Army to clean up garbage left behind by tourists in high-altitude areas?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBfu3xSx8V8

                    Clearing  Garbage

              is not the Job of Army

          Lt-Gen Harwant Singh (Retd)







A soldier walks into the very jaws of death when needed. But, clearing garbage hits the sense of dignity that is bestowed upon him by his profession.

A sanitation drive in progress after the Amarnath yatra in Baltal. File photo
THE recent order by the PMO delivered through the Defence Ministry to the Army to remove garbage etc left by climbers on Mount Everest and pilgrims going to various shrines in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, has caused much dismay and disquiet both amongst the veterans and the serving men. 

Troops always pitch in

1 The Indian Army has always responded with alacrity to any call from the civil administration for help during floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters.

2 Similar has been the response when called upon to restore order: when matters get out of hand of the police and other central police organisations. In remote areas, many a time the army has come to the help of the local population even when there has been no such request from the civil administration. The well-being of the people of the country has always been foremost with the Indian army. 

3 Soldiering is a profession apart. When called upon, soldiers walk into the very jaws of death without a demur. It is so because of self-respect and pride in the profession of arms, regimental spirit and, above all, love for the country and its people. In all this, lingers a sense of dignity embedded in the profession. 

Lankan army said no to cleaning

In no democracy of the world has there been a case where soldiers have been asked to undertake the cleaning of garbage generated by the public.  The Sri Lankan army refused to carry out such a task. Soldiers keep cantonments, military stations and their posts neat and clean and these stand out as example of orderliness and cleanliness in the midst of abundant filth seen in the surrounding towns etc.  

The new breed of soldiers is different from those of yore. Most of them have no family tradition of soldiering and are there merely for the sake of employment. Therefore, there have been cases in the recent past where soldiers deployed as 'sahayaks' (orderlies to officers) have termed tasks such as washing their officer's car or picking up his child from school or buying vegetables from the market for his officer, as menial. Such complaints made the Army Chief contemplate employing civilians in place of 'sahayaks.'

‘Lawful command’ issue

Assume that a group of soldiers is ordered to clean up garbage and muck at a particular place, be it Badrinath or Base Camp of Mount Everest and the troops simply do not react to this order. Such a situation arose when Central India Horse (CIH) was ordered to mount the train for eventual move to North Africa, during World War I and one squadron (Sikh Squadron) did not do so, even when the order was repeated. Then as per the military law, it was a mutiny. Court martials followed, with half a dozen awarded the death sentence and some varying terms of imprisonment. 

The case of the failure to react to order to clear garbage will be no different. Except at such a court martial, the issue of 'lawful command', which is the principle content of an order in the military, will surface. Defence will contend whether such an order is a lawful command. How such a situation will impact discipline in the military as a whole is not difficult to visualise. 

It would be unwise to continuously push the military against the wall. It maintains its own areas in a spick and span state one need leave it at that. 

Ginger up civil administration

There is a need to ginger up the civil administration, which has the necessary wherewithal to take on all such tasks entirely on its own, without calling in the military. Even in such and other tasks, the tendency to call the military at the drop of a hat shows the civil administration in poor light. If at present there are nearly 130 districts in the country where the government's writ does not fully run, the element of poor civil administration is a substantial contributory factor.  

Those who take it upon themselves to pass such uncalled for instructions to the military have little knowledge of soldiering. They are unaware of the fact of how pride in oneself, discipline and officer-man relationship leads them to attempt the impossible, as they did in Kargil. No one need push the military to a position where troops resent or disapprove of tasks being assigned to them. The Swachh Bharat movement is a people's movement and those on pilgrimage should be motivated to clean up such places as part of their pilgrimage. Elsewhere, the district administration should actively involve itself and get people as a whole to participate in this movement.  Holding a broom as a photo-op is not enough. 

TIBET : IT IS TIME TO NEEDLE CHINA

SOURCE:
http://www.eurasiareview.com/05102017-the-dalai-lama-has-no-time-to-lose-oped/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+eurasiareview%2FVsnE+%28Eurasia+Review%29


                     IT IS TIME TO NEEDLE CHINA

       The Dalai Lama Has No Time 
                           To
                          Lose

The recent Doklam episode — where China tried to show its muscle power in the border with Bhutan, and India resisted it and finally China gave up its war cry — clearly indicates that China is now vulnerable.

State Of Chinese Economy

In the past, China has built capacity at a feverish pitch registering steady growth in production and GDP, which exceeded 7.5% at one stage.

China’s economy has grown by leaps and bounds in the last two decades and the present capacity build up in industries and infrastructure in China is much more than what China needs. In the case of some products and chemicals, the capacity build up in China is not only more than what China needs but also more than what the world needs.

However, China’s debt has now surpassed 304% of its GDP and debt fueled consumer demand accounting for 71% of China’s economic growth. With an inability to market the products produced in China in domestic and world markets due to the overcapacity build up, China’s GDP slowed down to 6.7% in 2016 from 6.9% in 2015 and is likely to drop down to around 6.2% in 2017.

China’s Dependence On World Market

In the above scenario, China is now dependent on the world market to sustain its growth and protect its economy from passing into a crisis stage due to the massive under-utilization of capacity built up in China at a heavy cost. China cannot afford to go for any conflict with any country or antagonize the world opinion, that would affect the prospects for marketing its products and services across the world.

Such conditions now faced by China explain as to why it backed out from a risking military conflict with India over the Doklam issue. This also explains as to why China is not ready to provide open support to North Korea in its present conflict with South Korea, Japan and USA.

It is well known that China is the only major trade partner for North Korea and most of North Korea’s supply needs are met by China, though it is not known as to what is the level of trade deficit between China and North Korea. Obviously, North Korea enjoys a sort of protectorate status in its relations with China and is an important ally for China in its plan for long term global domination. Even as President Trump threatened to wipe out North Korea (which appears to be a rhetoric) , China has been careful and has exercised great caution not to antagonize the USA by taking any stand in support of North Korea.

Further, in recent times, China has been inevitably integrating itself with the world market and global economy by investing in several countries in the world by way of overseas acquisition of projects and technical research collaboration. Therefore, China cannot have its own way in any issue unmindful of others and it has no alternative other than seeking and ensuring cooperation with all regions.

Time Now To Advance Tibet’s Cause

In other words, China is now vulnerable to international pressure and cannot anymore ignore world opinion. It has to shed its image as a bully and this is what the Chinese government is now trying to do with great effort.

In this scenario, it is necessary that the world should be reminded about the Chinese occupation of Tibet and how China forcibly entered Tibet, mercilessly put down the freedom fighters in Tibet and drove them out of the country. The world should be strongly told that China’s now occupying Tibet is immoral and unethical and China is an aggressor as far as Tibet is concerned.

The United Kingdom recognized Tibet as an integral part of China and India too has done this. This is unacceptable. This does not provide legitimacy for China’s occupation of Tibet. After all, who are the United Kingdom and India to recognize Tibet as part of China and what authority do they have to do so? It is the opinion of the Tibetans that should matter in asserting Tibet’s independence and the rights of Tibetans have to be recognized.

No Time To Lose

His Holiness The Dalai Lama commands great respect among a cross-section of people everywhere and it is largely recognized that he represents the voice of peace, wisdom and civilization. The Dalai Lama, despite his age, is active and should become more “aggressive” and open in voicing the need for winning freedom back for Tibet.

Considering the Dalai Lama’s advanced age and the present climate where China is vulnerable to international pressure and China desperately needs the goodwill across countries to sell its products to support its economy, there is unlikely to be a more conducive time to take the fight for the liberation of Tibet to a greater and ultimate height.

As a towering leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama needs to use his moral strength and gather the world opinion in favor of the Tibetan cause, so that China will be left with no alternative other than taking note of it and bowing to world opinion and come to negotiating table with Tibetan leaders.

The Dalai Lama has no time to lose.

WATER : In the Land of Seven Rivers, Our Rivers Are in Danger

SOURCE:
http://isha.sadhguru.org/rally-for-rivers/land-seven-rivers-rivers-danger/





                            WATER



                           [ https://youtu.be/k9dkhESbi5A ]

 
                              PROJECT SARASWATI




       [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRhJpFPTsz4 ]

                   

     In the Land of Seven Rivers, Our      Rivers Are in Danger




Though India has a long tradition of worshipping its rivers, these rivers are now under threat. Sadhguru explains that unless we act now, we will lose our precious water & the ability to generate food for our nation. If we allow this “land of seven rivers” to dry into a desert, it will cause a serious disaster.

                               Sadhguru:

 In the making of this civilization, ancient Bharat has always been referred to as the land of seven rivers. Rivers have been so significant for us to a point where people worship rivers. Worship we do, but we have not taken care of them.

The rivers have been flowing for millions of years in this land. But now we have come to a point where the rivers are under serious threat. We have been too focused on how to utilize the river, how to build dams, how to build canals, how to grow more food out of rivers – all this we have done. We have an incredible record that we have managed to produce food for a billion people. This is not a mean achievement. But in the process of this, we are ensuring that future generations will have nothing to eat or drink.

Today, our rivers are depleting at such a rate that they will become seasonal in 20 years’ time. Rivers which have flowed as perennial sources of water for millions of years are going to become seasonal in two generations. The Kaveri already does not reach the ocean for almost three months in a year, and two states are at war for this depleting river. The Krishna does not reach the ocean for almost four to five months and, like this, it is happening everywhere. All other uncertainties we can handle, but if we run out of water and the ability to generate food for our population, then we will have a serious disaster on our hands.

We are losing nearly 5.3 billion tons of topsoil per year. This is nearly a millimeter of topsoil per year. If we go at the same pace without replenishing it, in about thirty-five to forty years, all the topsoil in the country which can grow crops will be completely gone. So our ability to grow food is receding dramatically. Already about twenty-five percent of the topsoil has been lost in the last thirty to thirty-five years. If this continues, we are working towards turning this land into a desert.

Right from ancient times, the wisdom has been such that if we grew crops, we just took the crop – the rest of the plant and the animal waste always went back into the soil. But today, we are taking everything out and not putting anything back. We think things will happen just by throwing fertilizer. It doesn’t work like that. The quality and nourishment value of our food is coming down dramatically. And our ability to grow food itself could go away soon because we are turning this into a desert.

It may be very hard for you to imagine how this lush land will become desert. The Kalahari Desert in Africa, which is one of the harshest deserts in the world today, was a very lush land with rivers flowing at one time. Today, it is a very, very harsh desert. This can happen, and it has happened in the past for variety of reasons. While those were natural reasons, today, this is essentially caused by us.

[ Why to go all that  far to Kalahari Desert in Africa, look at River Ghaggar  aka   RIVER SARASWATI   in Haryana Rajasthan & via Anupgarh into Cholistan (Pakistan) finally ending into Rann of Kutch, on its drying up has produced one of the harshest Desert in the Indian sub continent. I know what I am stating because in my career I have walked in the bed of this dry river bed, technically Ghaggar is revivable but petty politics is rushing it to its final demise.  VASUNDHRA ]

This cannot be fixed just by individual enthusiasm. This is not going to happen if a few of us go and plant a few trees on the river bank and think we have done it. This is just personal satisfaction, not a solution. What is needed is enforceable government policy. In order to feed rivers, the soil around them needs to be moist. Most of our rivers are forest-fed. When the land was covered by rainforest, precipitation gathered in the soil and fed the streams and rivers which were then in full flow. People think because of water there are trees; no, because of trees there is water. If there is no forest, there will be no river after some time. But a large part of India now is farmed land, which we cannot convert to forest. The solution is that, for a minimum of one kilometer on either side of the river and half kilometer for tributaries, wherever it is government land, we plant forest trees. Wherever it is private land, we shift from soil-depleting crops to tree-based horticulture.

The farmer is just working for his livelihood. He does not know anything about the unfolding ecological disaster. However, if you show the farmer the economics of this move, that by planting fruit trees he will earn more than he can by plowing the land, he will naturally take to it. But you have to subsidize the first few years for him till horticulture begins to yield. And once it comes to yield, you must incentivize private sector to set up allied industry to absorb these hundreds of square kilometers of horticultural produce. If you ensure this minimum tree-cover, in fifteen years’ time, our rivers will have at least twenty percent more water flowing.

The solution can only happen with government policy. It will take a nationwide enforceable policy if we want to bring about substantial change. We urgently need to shift from thinking of how to exploit our rivers to how to revitalize them. We have to make everyone in the country aware that there is an express need for action to save our rivers.

As a step towards this, for 30 days from September 3 to October 2, we will be doing a Rally for Rivers, where I will personally drive across 16 states and over 7000 kilometers, with events in 23 major cities to make a strong pitch for saving our rivers. This will culminate in Delhi, where we will be presenting a River Rejuvenation Policy Recommendation to the government. Until now, each state has been acting as if they were a separate existence by themselves. We need all the states to come together and work out a common policy.

The equation is simple. Adjacent to the rivers, there have to be trees. If we create vegetation, it will hold water and rivers will be replenished. If we spread this awareness to everyone in the country, arrive at a common policy, and start the implementation, it will be a huge and successful step for the future of our nation and for the wellbeing of generations to come.

ADM AFS : DOWNGRADATION OF DEFENCE PERSONNEL BY MOD BUREAUCRATS

SOURCE: IESM

26 Sep 2017

To

LETTERS FWD TO HON’BLE RAKSHA MANTRI AND 

THREE CHIEFS

Dear All,

            The following letters forwarded to Hon’ble Raksha Mantri and three Chiefs are enclosed herewith for your information and widest circulation please:-

(a)    Letter dated 26 Sep 2017 regarding Deliberate &

 Unaceptable Downgradation of Defence Personnel by 

MoD Bureaucrats with Malafide Intent.

(b)   Letter dated 26 Sep 2017 regarding Registration of

 Defence Personnel as Voters at the Place of Posting.

With regards, 

      

Yours Sincerely,

Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd)    


                                                                        
Advisor United Front of Ex Servicemen &    

                                                        

Chairman Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM)  


                                                                                        
 Mobile: 9312404269, 01244110570  

                                      
Email:satbirsm@gmail.com   

======================================================================


SOURCE: IESM







                                                                                    26 Sep 2017
To
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman 
Hon’ble Raksha Mantri
 104, South Block, 
New Delhi-110011


DELIBERATE &  UNACEPTABLE  DOWNGRADATION OF DEFENCE PERSONNEL BY MOD BUREAUCRATS WITH MALAFIDE INTENT

Dear Hon’ble Raksha Mantri,


1. Please accept our heartiest congratulations on assuming charge of Ministry of Defence. We are certain that under your able stewardship the Defence Ministry will turn new milestones in meeting India’s Defence challenges. I am writing to you on behalf of Veterans fraternity regarding un-acceptable down gradation of Defence Forces personnel through misrepresentations by certain bureaucrats in MoD with malafide intent, to the extent that RRMhas been made to givefactually incorrect reply in Rajya Sabha, based on inputs fed to him by these conspiring officials. This one issue has hit the morale of Armed Forces personnel harder than anything else, creating a perception that the present Govt is only stirring nationalist emotions, but in reality is acting against the Faujis in its dealings. The details of issues are given below for your consideration.


2. Grant of Non Functional Upgradation (NFU). The NFU was recommended by VI CPC to compensate for stagnation in Group A Services. However, the Armed Forces Officers who face maximum stagnation have been left out. Despite Judgement by Principal Bench Delhi in OA No 802/2015, the Govt has refused to extend NFU to Armed Forces and instead approached SC. Since all Group A Services officers have now migrated to higher VII CPC Pay Levels due to NFU, it has resulted in unacceptable down gradation of Defence officers, resulting in serious functional problems in organisations where Defence Officers serve alongside other Group A officers. While the SC also appears to be rejecting the Govt contention, the MoD is now planning to downgrade the Status of Commissioned Offrs through a Committee and equate them with Gp B cadre to deny the NFU. Hon’ble RM therefore, needs to intervene and give directions for cancellation of Equivalence Committee and implementation of AFT Judgement for upholding the established Status of Armed Forces Officers.


3. Committee on Equivalence set up by MoD. MoD has set up a three Member Committee headed by Addl Secy (Def Production) for establishing Equivalence between Defence Services Officers and AFHQ Civil Services (CS) Officers. Since AFHQ CS is a Group B secretarial service in Services HQ, similar to Central Secretarial Services (CSS) in other Ministries, this amounts to equating the Commissioned Officers of Armed Forces with a Group B Service, thereby creating very strong resentment amongst the Services officers. There exists no precedence of establishing Equivalence between any of Group A Services and Group B Services. This Committee therefore, needs to be cancelled forthwith.



4. Unaceptable communications Downgrading the Status of Defence Personnel. A number of mischievous communications have been issued in the past by MoD/ its constituents/ other Ministries at the behest of MoD, equating JCOs of Armed Forces with Gp C employees, Capts & Majors with Gp B posts and Lt Cols with Dy Directors (lowest Gp A designation). These have been issued based on various fictitious/unsubstantiated documents. Itcannot get more humiliating and shameful for Defence personnel than such degradation in Status. However, instead of enquiring into such irregular communications, the MoD bureaucracy is now using these very letters for down grading the established Status of Defence personnel. Such actions by MoD bureaucrats are likely to create serious unrest and resentment in Armed Forces. Hon’ble RM is therefore, requested to issue directions for cancellation of all such letters and restoration of established Status of Armed Forces at the earliest.


5. Setting Up High Powered Committee (HPC). The PMO vide its Directive dated 28 Dec 2008 had ordered for setting up of HPC, based on recommendations of GoM, for resolving Status equivalence and command & control issues between Armed Forces, CAPF and civilians including AIS. However, the MoD bureaucrats have not allowed setting up of this HPC till date, despite repeated requests by Services HQ. For permanent resolution of issues involved, it is essential that HPC be set upat the earliest. The PMO/ Cab Secy therefore, need to be approached for implementation of PMO directive for setting up of HPC without any further delay.


6. Rectification ofPay Commission Anomalies affecting Status of Armed Forces. There are number of outstanding Pay commission anomalies which have downgraded the status of Uniformed personnel, but remained unaddressed since long, the most prominent being incorrect fixation of Pay Gdes and Pay Levels. Since the Armed Forces personnel cannot form any Association and do not have the privilege of JCM mechanism, Govt appears to have simply abdicated its responsibility towards them. It is incumbent upon the Govt to form a High Level Committee to look  into all the anomalies of Defence personnel as well. Hon’ble RM is therefore, requested to issue directions for resolving all outstanding anomalies of Defence personnel affecting their status at the earliest.


7. Restructuring of MoD. Presently MoD is almost completely manned by civil bureaucracy with insignificant number of Defence personnel. The decision making in MoD is completely devoid of professional inputs from Defence personnel. Over a period of time, the civil bureaucrats in MoD have started to aggressively compete with the Defence Forces for the status and various privileges, unmindful of the differences in Service conditions, resulting in dishonest advise to senior hierarchy. This has been getting manifested in unilateral decisions based on factually incorrect inputs, which in turn have been generating a feeling of desperation and anger amongst the Defence personnel. The MoD therefore, need to be restructured at the earliest to include more number of Defence personnel in the decision making. I would like to quote an example that a USA which is super power has a tradition of def sec who are ex-Military officers, you are in-fact dealing with def sec USA, a retired Lt Gen Mattis of US Army. No doubt USA is a super power.


8. Veterans would be failing in their duty, if I on their behalf do not mention here that Morale of Indian Army is in their boots and it is likely to go down further with this new equivalence being suggested by MOD. If this unacceptable equivalence is pursued, there is every possibility of strong resentment from serving officers/JCOs and ORs.


9. Hoping for a positive response on all above mentioned issues.


With regards, 


                                                      Yours Sincerely,





Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd) 
Advisor United Front of Ex Servicemen & Chairman Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM)
 Mobile: 9312404269, 01244110570 
Email:satbirsm@gmail.com



Copy to:-

General Bipin Rawat, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM Chief of the Army Staff Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Army) South Block, New Delhi-110011 For information and request to take up with the Govt the above issues.


Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa
PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC
Chief of the Air Staff
Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Air Force)
Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi 110011 Our request as above.


Admiral Sunil Lanba
PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Chief of the Naval Staff &
Chairman Chiefs of Staffs Committee (CoSC)
Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Navy) 
South Block, New Delhi -110011









===============================================



                                                                                    26 Sep 2017
To
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman 
Hon’ble Raksha Mantri
 104, South Block, 
New Delhi-110011


DELIBERATE &  UNACEPTABLE  DOWNGRADATION OF DEFENCE PERSONNEL BY MOD BUREAUCRATS WITH MALAFIDE INTENT

Dear Hon’ble Raksha Mantri,


1. Please accept our heartiest congratulations on assuming charge of Ministry of Defence. We are certain that under your able stewardship the Defence Ministry will turn new milestones in meeting India’s Defence challenges. I am writing to you on behalf of Veterans fraternity regarding un-acceptable down gradation of Defence Forces personnel through misrepresentations by certain bureaucrats in MoD with malafide intent, to the extent that RRMhas been made to givefactually incorrect reply in Rajya Sabha, based on inputs fed to him by these conspiring officials. This one issue has hit the morale of Armed Forces personnel harder than anything else, creating a perception that the present Govt is only stirring nationalist emotions, but in reality is acting against the Faujis in its dealings. The details of issues are given below for your consideration.


2. Grant of Non Functional Upgradation (NFU). The NFU was recommended by VI CPC to compensate for stagnation in Group A Services. However, the Armed Forces Officers who face maximum stagnation have been left out. Despite Judgement by Principal Bench Delhi in OA No 802/2015, the Govt has refused to extend NFU to Armed Forces and instead approached SC. Since all Group A Services officers have now migrated to higher VII CPC Pay Levels due to NFU, it has resulted in unacceptable down gradation of Defence officers, resulting in serious functional problems in organisations where Defence Officers serve alongside other Group A officers. While the SC also appears to be rejecting the Govt contention, the MoD is now planning to downgrade the Status of Commissioned Offrs through a Committee and equate them with Gp B cadre to deny the NFU. Hon’ble RM therefore, needs to intervene and give directions for cancellation of Equivalence Committee and implementation of AFT Judgement for upholding the established Status of Armed Forces Officers.


3. Committee on Equivalence set up by MoD. MoD has set up a three Member Committee headed by Addl Secy (Def Production) for establishing Equivalence between Defence Services Officers and AFHQ Civil Services (CS) Officers. Since AFHQ CS is a Group B secretarial service in Services HQ, similar to Central Secretarial Services (CSS) in other Ministries, this amounts to equating the Commissioned Officers of Armed Forces with a Group B Service, thereby creating very strong resentment amongst the Services officers. There exists no precedence of establishing Equivalence between any of Group A Services and Group B Services. This Committee therefore, needs to be cancelled forthwith.



4. Unaceptable communications Downgrading the Status of Defence Personnel. A number of mischievous communications have been issued in the past by MoD/ its constituents/ other Ministries at the behest of MoD, equating JCOs of Armed Forces with Gp C employees, Capts & Majors with Gp B posts and Lt Cols with Dy Directors (lowest Gp A designation). These have been issued based on various fictitious/unsubstantiated documents. Itcannot get more humiliating and shameful for Defence personnel than such degradation in Status. However, instead of enquiring into such irregular communications, the MoD bureaucracy is now using these very letters for down grading the established Status of Defence personnel. Such actions by MoD bureaucrats are likely to create serious unrest and resentment in Armed Forces. Hon’ble RM is therefore, requested to issue directions for cancellation of all such letters and restoration of established Status of Armed Forces at the earliest.


5. Setting Up High Powered Committee (HPC). The PMO vide its Directive dated 28 Dec 2008 had ordered for setting up of HPC, based on recommendations of GoM, for resolving Status equivalence and command & control issues between Armed Forces, CAPF and civilians including AIS. However, the MoD bureaucrats have not allowed setting up of this HPC till date, despite repeated requests by Services HQ. For permanent resolution of issues involved, it is essential that HPC be set upat the earliest. The PMO/ Cab Secy therefore, need to be approached for implementation of PMO directive for setting up of HPC without any further delay.


6. Rectification ofPay Commission Anomalies affecting Status of Armed Forces. There are number of outstanding Pay commission anomalies which have downgraded the status of Uniformed personnel, but remained unaddressed since long, the most prominent being incorrect fixation of Pay Gdes and Pay Levels. Since the Armed Forces personnel cannot form any Association and do not have the privilege of JCM mechanism, Govt appears to have simply abdicated its responsibility towards them. It is incumbent upon the Govt to form a High Level Committee to look  into all the anomalies of Defence personnel as well. Hon’ble RM is therefore, requested to issue directions for resolving all outstanding anomalies of Defence personnel affecting their status at the earliest.


7. Restructuring of MoD. Presently MoD is almost completely manned by civil bureaucracy with insignificant number of Defence personnel. The decision making in MoD is completely devoid of professional inputs from Defence personnel. Over a period of time, the civil bureaucrats in MoD have started to aggressively compete with the Defence Forces for the status and various privileges, unmindful of the differences in Service conditions, resulting in dishonest advise to senior hierarchy. This has been getting manifested in unilateral decisions based on factually incorrect inputs, which in turn have been generating a feeling of desperation and anger amongst the Defence personnel. The MoD therefore, need to be restructured at the earliest to include more number of Defence personnel in the decision making. I would like to quote an example that a USA which is super power has a tradition of def sec who are ex-Military officers, you are in-fact dealing with def sec USA, a retired Lt Gen Mattis of US Army. No doubt USA is a super power.


8. Veterans would be failing in their duty, if I on their behalf do not mention here that Morale of Indian Army is in their boots and it is likely to go down further with this new equivalence being suggested by MOD. If this unacceptable equivalence is pursued, there is every possibility of strong resentment from serving officers/JCOs and ORs.


9. Hoping for a positive response on all above mentioned issues.


With regards, 


                                                      Yours Sincerely,





Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd) 
Advisor United Front of Ex Servicemen & Chairman Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM)
 Mobile: 9312404269, 01244110570 
Email:satbirsm@gmail.com



Copy to:-

General Bipin Rawat, UYSM, AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM Chief of the Army Staff Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Army) South Block, New Delhi-110011 For information and request to take up with the Govt the above issues.


Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa
PVSM AVSM YSM VM ADC
Chief of the Air Staff
Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Air Force)
Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi 110011 Our request as above.


Admiral Sunil Lanba
PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Chief of the Naval Staff &
Chairman Chiefs of Staffs Committee (CoSC)
Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Navy) 
South Block, New Delhi -110011


==============================================


                   Press Information Bureau
         Government of India Ministry of Defence 
                   10-March-2015 15:56 IST


       Voting Rights of Armed Forces Personnel


Issues relating to further facilitation of voting by defence service personnel had been taken up with Election Commission of India. Meanwhile, the Hon’ble Supreme Court passed an interim order on 24.3.2014 in Writ Petition (C) No.1005 of 2013 (Neela Gokhale versus Union of India & Another) with Special Leave Petition (C) No.6554/2014 (Rajeev Chandrasekhar versus Union of India & Others), inter alia, giving directions regarding registration of Service personnel posted in peace stations as general voters; not insisting on Election Commission of India’s order dated 28.12.2008 wherein certain conditions for registration of Service personnel as general voters have been prescribed; furnishing of details of peace stations to Election Commission of India and providing assistance to Election Commission of India for making Postal Ballot effective. 



In compliance of the ibid interim order of Hon’ble Supreme Court, list of peace stations was furnished by the Ministry of Defence to Election Commission of India for registration of Service personnel working in those locations as general voters. Election Commission of India, in compliance of aforesaid interim orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, issued instructions on 26.3.2014 to all Chief Electoral Officers of all States with reference to Service personnel who have been posted at peace stations on 1.1.2014 and continue to be posted there on the date of the commencement of the election process in the concerned Assembly Constituency. Even after completion of General Election to Lok Sabha 2014, the Commission have extended these instructions for further period till any further order is given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Internal instructions were issued by the Ministry of Defence to the Services Headquarters for taking all necessary steps and provide necessary assistance to Election Commission in making Postal Ballot for Service personnel effective. 



This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha today.


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