Friday, November 27, 2015

7CPC :: DEPRESSION OF TOP END OF PAY IN THE PAY MATRIX FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL PROPOSED BY 7CPC





UNITED FRONT OF EX SERVICEMEN (ESM)


                                                                                                                                                27 Nov 2015 

DEPRESSION OF TOP END OF PAY IN THE PAY MATRIX FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL PROPOSED BY THE SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION

Dear Veterans,

          Letter to Hon’ble Raksha Mantri and three Chiefs regarding “Depression of top end of pay in the pay matrix for Defence Personnel proposed by the Seventh Pay Commission is enclosed herewith for your information and widest circulation please.

With regards,

Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd)
Advisor United Front of Ex Servicemen & Chairman IESM
Mobile: 9312404269, +0124 4110570Email: satbirsm@gmail.com

........................................................................



UNITED FRONT OF EX SERVICEMEN (ESM)
URGENT ATTENTION OF RM

                                                                                                                                                                           27 Nov 2015 
Shri Manohar Parrikar                                                                                                        
Hon’ble Raksha Mantri                                                                                                                  
104, South Block, New Delhi

DEPRESSION OF TOP END OF PAY IN THE PAY MATRIX FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL PROPOSED BY THE SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION

Hon’ble Raksha Mantri,

1.       Running pay band was awarded first time to the defence officers by the Fourth Pay Commission. This was done to give some relief on account of lesser/slower promotions in defence service as compared to the civil service.

2.       The Fifth Pay Commission withdrew the provision of running pay bands and reverted to the old system of separate post/rank based pay scales.   

3.       The Sixth Pay Commission again introduced the running pay bands for not only the defence personnel but also the civilian personnel, though these were specifically meant for the former due to their lesser/slower promotions.  For the military personnel they gave in addition, the Military Service Pay (MSP) to give a differential edge thus doing justice to an extent. DA was given on the MSP. MSP was also counted for the HRA, transfer grant etc.

4. Surprisingly, the Seventh Pay Commission has withdrawn the running pay bands and reverted to the old system of post/rank based pay scales in the form of pay matrix.

5. The Seventh Pay Commission has depressed the top end of the pay band/scale for the defence personnel as is evident from the pay matrices (enclosed as annexure II & III to this letter). This will result in lower pay and pension for the defence personnel especially those with longer service/going on superannuation, in comparison with that of the civilian counterparts. Depressing the top end of the pay will result in lower pensions.

6. The Seventh Pay Commission has effectively reduced not only the basic pay at the top end but also the total pay (basic pay + MSP) of defence personnel in comparison with the civilian counterparts thereby not only negating the advantage of the MSP awarded by the 6th Pay Commission but also lowering the overall pay, as can be seen in the illustrations below:-


 Inline image 1




Inline image 2

7.       Almost all Civilian officers of Group A service are now retiring in the payscale of Addtl Secy/Lt Gen (HAG). In comparison, less than one percent defence officers reach this rank. Nearly 80% of them retire in the rank of Colonel at the age of 54.  Similar facts hold good for the JCOs/NCOs/ORs Thus withdrawing the running pay band and depressing the top end of the pay is a serious loss to the defence personnel as can be seen in the table (annexure I).
8.       7th Pay Commission has also recommended that the MSP will not be counted for HRA, transfer grant etc. as is the practice now. This is again a derogatory step.

9.       The pension of the veterans will be based on the pay matrix recommended by the Pay Commission. It is therefore very much essential that the shortcomings in the pay matrix be removed. It is requested that the anomalies mentioned in the foregoing may be addressed to prevent injustice to the guardians of the nation both serving as well as retired.

10.     However, more than 40 anomalies of 6th CPC had not been resolved.  The 7th CPC has further degraded/downgraded Military.    In this connection letter written to three Chiefs dated 21 Nov 2015 and other connected documents are enclosed herewith.

11.     For immediate positive consideration please.
With regards,

                             Yours Sincerely,

Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd)
Advisor United Front of Ex Servicemen & Chairman IESM
Mobile: 9312404269, +0124 4110570Email: satbirsm@gmail.com


Copy to :-

General Dalbir Singh
PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC
Chief of the Army Staff                                         -
Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Army)
South Block, New Delhi-110011

 You are requested to jointly and strongly take up the issue
with the Govt. Please refer our letter dated 21 Nov 2015.

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha
PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC                                           -
Chief of the Air Staff &
Chairman Chiefs of Staffs Committee (CoSC)
Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Air Force)
Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi 110011


Our request as above.


Admiral R K Dhowan, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADCChief of the Naval Staff
Integrated HQs of Ministry of Defence (Navy)        -
South Block, New Delhi -110011


Annexure I

Inline image 3





Annexure II


Inline image 4



Annexure III


Inline image 5



















Posted by at No comments:
Labels:

OROP KRANTI : Former Navy Chief Writes to President on OROP, and Sharp Erosion in Civil- Military Relations

SOURCE :
http://www.thecitizen.in/NewsDetail.aspx?Id=5963&Former%2FNavy%2FChief%2FWrites%2Fto%2FPresident%2Fon%2FOROP%2C%2Fand%2FSharp%2FErosion%2Fin%2FCivil-Military%2FRelations


Former Navy Chief Writes to 



President on OROP, and 



Sharp Erosion in Civil-



Military Relations








The Indian Army



Admiral L Ramdas(retd) 
PVSM, AVSM,VrC,VSM Magsaysay Award for Peace Maharashtra Gaurav Puruskar Father Graham Staines Award 

Lara-Ramu Farm, Bhaimala Gaon PO Kamarle, Alibag City, 
Raigad District - 402201 Maharashtra 
Nov 18, 2015 

Honourable President of India, Honourable Prime Minister, and Heads of political parties, 

I write this letter to highlight a matter of critical importance to the future of India - namely the morale, service conditions and fighting fitness of our armed forces, which in turn directly concerns our national security. In view of the increase in a series of terror attacks around the world, India needs to be alert. I am addressing my concerns to heads of political parties, in addition to the Honourable Prime Minister and the Honourable President of India who holds the all important Constitutional responsibility as Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. 

I retired from the Indian Navy as Chief of Naval Staff in September 1993 after nearly 45 years in uniform. My experience in the service and in the theatre of battle, have directly influenced my decision to work in peace and public service related activities post retirement. In the year 2004 , I was honoured by the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace in the region. My actions have always been dictated by my conscience, and for what I believe to be in the long term interests of our country and our people. It is in this spirit that I am addressing the senior leadership of the country today. 

The immediate catalyst for this note is the vexed question of OROP – and the recent events surrounding the relay hunger fast at Jantar Mantar. I am well aware that there are varying views with regard to the definition and implications of OROP – both within Government and indeed among the community of veterans. The bottom line is that positions have become hardened and intractable, and have continued to simmer over a period of forty years. This is despite a directive from the honourable Supreme Court, two successive Parliaments and the Koshiyari Committee which clearly defined OROP and why it should be brought into force without delay. 

While it is true that the current focus of discontent is the partial or non implementation of the OROP , I believe that this is an opportunity to bring to your attention some other issues affecting Civil Military relations within which one needs to understand the current impasse on OROP. 

Briefly stated we need to examine the following concerns: 

1. The steady and noticeable erosion of the Military vis a vis the civilian bureaucracy since Independence. Whether it is a perception or reality can only be determined when this is examined in some depth. 

2.The need to establish cordial and harmonious working procedures to ensure co-operation and mutual consultation with regard to Civil Military relations in the country.

3.Building a consensus on the role and status of the Armed Forces of a Nation as distinct from that of the Police, and various other security forces under the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

4.The critical need to ensure just, fair and adequate terms and conditions of service for the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. 

5.Political leadership to agree to a common strategy and position on the fundamental premise that civil control over military should not be equated or seen as civil service or bureaucratic control over the armed forces. 

6.All the above points are inter-related and therefore need to be examined, viewed holistically and a way ahead crafted within a specific timeline - say by 1 April 2016. 

The perception that it is officialdom which has intervened to destroy or vitiate the original spirit and intentions of OROP is now widely accepted. The fact that former service veterans have resorted to extreme measures such as we have seen over the past 150 plus days, is a powerful indicator of their frustration with the seeming unwillingness of the Government to discuss the issue across the table. This unfortunate standoff would never have happened had successive governments taken care of the armed forces and their needs by being accessible for regular and direct interaction and dialogue, and not only through the members of the civil service. 

There has been no dearth of excellent and thoughtful articles and editorials both by veterans and civilian commentators, drawing attention to the serious risks of ignoring or worse, ridiculing, the issues being raised in a peaceful manner by the veterans. Seldom have we seen in our recent history the spectacle of so many former service chiefs from all three services writing letters to the President and the Prime Minister urging them to take action on this important matter . 

The Hindu newspaper in an opinion piece dated November 16, 2015 has talked about the need to “take charge of OROP” – and I quote: 

“The military has a core function in a democracy, and ensuring its apolitical nature is critical to the future of a maturing nation. Indeed, strained ties with the larger military community could have unintended fallouts in the long term. The widespread protests could contribute to disaffection against the government, going far beyond the cantonments.” 

“The OROP agitation is not a mere episode involving some disgruntled retirees; it has already found significant resonance among the serving ranks as well. That is worrisome. The protests may be dispersed, but the fact is that its effects are felt across the country” 

Let us not forget that today’s serving jawan and officer is tomorrow’s veteran. 

There have also been systematic efforts by vested interests to constantly sow seeds of suspicion regarding the intentions and loyalty of the armed forces in the minds of the political leadership going back to the early days of post Independence India. 

Regardless of the military takeovers in our neighbouring countries, it is to the credit of the Indian Armed Forces there has been no ambiguity regarding the supremacy of political power over the military. This has been one of the strengths of Indian democracy. 

India aspires to be at the high table in the comity of nations. India is also among the small number of nuclear weapon states. It is therefore important that the Armed Forces are motivated and empowered to discharge their duties without fear or favour. By the same token it is the responsibility of the government of the day to ensure the dignity, honour and economic well being of the Armed Forces. 

The current impasse over OROP, needs to be resolved as quickly as possible so that stability and morale of the Armed Forces can be restored . Any attempt by any political party to treat this as trivia and to claim that the Armed forces are playing politics is not only mischievous but dangerous. The recommendations of countless commissions of enquiry need to be implemented along with OROP. 

I am confident that the President , the Prime Minister and all heads of political parties will deliberate and handle this critical concern in the spirit of non-partisanship. Please let me repeat, that settling OROP to the full satisfaction of the services is not merely a question of pay and pension alone, but of the honour, dignity and status of the men and women in uniform . This will be in the long term interests of the nation. 

With highest regards 

L Ramdas 
Former Chief of Naval Staff [1990-1993]









































Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)