THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES ARE POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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A) HOME AND ABROAD - BY LT GEN HARWANT SINGH (RETD)
At Manmad, we changed train for Ahmednagar. As I got down at the station I was accosted by the railway staff for carrying three items in my baggage. It consisted of a suitcase, bedding and a small radio (transistors had not come into vogue). I was told that penalty will have to be paid. There was no rule where only two items were allowed. Still I opened my bedding, put the radio in it and rolled the bedding and then had only two items. But the railway staff was adamant. Another member of the staff, from my part of the country, taking me into confidence, suggested that I pay the chap Rs 50 and get him off my back. The railway staff was working as a syndicate. With frayed temper I threatened the stationmaster that I would report the matter to the Railway Board. That got them off my back.
We landed at Harwhich, on the English coast, from where we were to take the train for London. Delayed at the immigration check point, we reached the ticket counter when the clerk was in the process of closing down. He told us that tickets will be issued in the train. But no one came to issue us the tickets. As I got down from the compartment at London station, there was a ticket collector standing nearby to whom I explained that we were told that tickets would be issued in the train, but no one did so. He said, it is not your fault. Someone should have issued the tickets in the train. Well, your journey is over so you carry on.
We were joined in Scotland by our nephew, a government officer, who had taken return train ticket for Glasgow via Manchester, where he had some official work. Return tickets on British Rail are much cheaper. On return journey to London he wanted to travel with us. We had tickets for the direct route while our nephew had one for the longer route. He was worried that his travelling on a different route will come under objection. So we marched off to Glasgow to change his ticket. While looking for help, we were spotted by a railway official. He said: “Gentlemen you are looking a bit harassed. How can I help you?” Our nephew, cast as he was in the Indian bureaucratic mould, explained his predicament. His travelling, on the direct route, with his current ticket will be objected. The official told him that he had paid more money for his ticket, being of a longer route and his now travelling by a shorter route, which costs less, can be objected only by a bloody fool!
We bought tickets at Harrisburg for New York, two days in advance of our journey. Later we learned that as senior citizens, we could get a hefty rebate. So before boarding the train we went to the ticket counter and explained the situation to the clerk. He informed us that we should have told him that we were senior citizens. Then he looked at our grey hair and said that he was sorry: he should have realised this on his own. He took our tickets and issued new ones and refunded the excess amount.
Why in India is it so different? (SOURCE - THE TRIBUNE)
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THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS BE SEEN ON AN EARLIER POST IN THIS BLOG
1. BALA said.... VETERAN JASPAL has enumerated all those violations , viz court orders/judgements, constitutional provisions, public statements by President/Def Min ,assurences/promises......etc.
THE govt is thus guilty of crimes. They are liable for prosecution and execution of the award by the peoples court....the country/Nation. If they do not correct /imPlement .....forthwith they should resign or get dissmissed by the people of the NATION.
2. BALBIR NAIN said....Can anybody tell upto now what Govt has given to PBORs then Why this so much Hue and cry. Till now nothing has came out. Its good that The Govt is coming out one by one with the orders relating to Officers. Any body who can tell when the Orders in respect of below ranks will be out. Thanks
3. S.KANNAN said .... Dear Gavini, I appreciate your efforts of bringing up this article at the right time. Thank you very much. The author cries louder regarding the classification and categorization of people in similar circumstances by the Govt.
One example I want to quote here. After the working hours how a Station is manned we all know. The (Guard Commander),Orderly Sgt and Orderly Officer (usually ORs) do everything during that period and even for their meals they have to go alternatively adjusting each other.The Duty Officer(Commissi- oned Rank) never bother to surprise visits in the Station and they never bother to call G/Cdr/O/Sgt or O/O to know what is happening around. Earlier days some officers used to come to take over the armory ( practically to receive the key) , but now a days that is also not there.They sleep in their Stn Married Quarters comfortably and come and sign the registers next day morning. For this also a Sgt from Stn Warrant Office goes to his office to get his sign, and at that time they show annoyance and ask, "What the hell is this, man? Early in the morning you people come and disturb?"
The O/Officer has to go to all the important sections like Cypher, Signals ,Exchange,Fire, Messes and sign and take over and certify that everything is okay and relieve O/Sgt for his meals. Then the O/Sgt has to go for his meals (may be at a distance of 10 kms, by own means as no Service Vehicle is provided, although many vehicles idle in MT Section) and come back and start going for guard checking. In big stations like AF Tambaram, he has to move in a vehicle like shakthiman, having tea pot at the backside. O/Officer has visit all Posts of Guards of Patrol Duty and Certify alert entries and sign in the Check Register and offer him tea( fortunately a mess boy used to come for this purpose)and listen his complaints, He has to find a solution for the problems recurring for a month in night and he has to cover almost 30 to 40 posts in the same manner and by that time he comes back to his office it will be 3 or 4 a.m
O/ Sgt then he has to go for his check as per the given timings and both should fill up their proforma stating that everything was normal during his duty, though hundred and one problems are there.Then in morning they have to wait till the arrival of asst adjt or adjt and brief him , by that time it will be 8.00am and these two poor men should finish their morning fresh ups and to be back by 9.30 am and feel fresh to take over their office work?
You tell me where we are similar circumstanced? Where we are equal? See the condition of a Cpl standing in a forest area or runway and his plea of getting a drinking water or leaving the post? The commissioned officer enjoying all the facilities of officers mess?
O/Sgt waiting till the o/officer comes and he has to go for check after 2 or 3 a.m that too in his own vehicle( only one vehicle will be provided for check)? O/Officer manning his office filling up his formalities till 8.00am?
LET HIM NOT SIMPLY CRY BY WRITING SO MUCH QUOTING ARTICLE 14?
DOES THIS OFFICER EVER TALKED ABOUT IT DURING HIS SERVICE?
WRITING SO MUCH WILL NOT MAKE EVERYTHING TRUE?
BUT TRUTH IS FAR BEHIND AND THE DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCED BY jcoS AND BELOW ARE NOT TOLERABLE?
WOLF SHOULD NOT CRY BY SEEING SHEEP GETTING WET IN THE RAIN?
YOU ARE THE SO CALLED SOBS GETTING YOUR JOB DONE WITH MWO/WOS.PLEASE DONT CRY AS IF YOU ARE REALLY CRYING?
COMING TO OFFICERS RATION BESIDES RICE AND DALL CHEESE , FRUITS, BREAD , GAS , HONEY , VEGETABLES AND EVERYTHING IS PROVIDED AS IT IS AT THEIR DOOR STEPS? THEY CAN NOT CARRY IT BECAUSE IT IS THEIR EGO?
AND HOW YOU ARE COMPARING YOURSELVES WITH ASST SECRETARIES? IN WHAT SENSE? PLEASE DON'T RIDICULE THE SYSTEM?
DON'T TELL IN FUTURE YOU ARE SAFEGUARDING THE BENEFITS OF JCOS AND BELOW ? REALLY IT IS A MOCKERY?
HOW AN OFFICER GETTING RS. 28,000/-PENSION IS DEMANDING OROP?
HOW IT IS JUSTIFIED?
GOD BLESS YOU ALL
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WO BALATHILAKAN'S LETTER TO ALL HIGHEST DIGNITORIES IN GOVT OF INDIA.
1) NAIR.SUKU said............ THE MIRAGE OF OROP
I happened to notice the content of communications on OROP by W.O.(retd) Balathilakan to various dignitaries of Govt. of India, who, if they apply their mind, can solve the long pending issue of OROP to defense pensioners. Among the dignitaries I also find names of Shri. Rahul Gandhi and and One Mr. Harbans Singh. I do not know if they hold any constitutional position enabling them to exercise any executive powers. As far as I know one is an MP and other a bureaucrat. May be that the MP can raise the issue in the parliament. Well and good. Let that be so.
Coming to the contents of the representations made by WO. B.T, I think he has covered the issue quite comprehensively.I have no difference with him except for the tone of the language used. The language sounds to me as serenade by a Serf to the Chieftain. Instead of assertion it appears as a tender touch by a soft feather. Please remember, you are not going with a begging bowl wailing for charity or alms; but demanding what is rightfully yours by virtue of the statement made on the floor of Indian Parliament by the Finance Minister of India and the provision of Rs.2600 crores towards this in the Union Budget. It is all the more authoritative and imperative to be implemented seen in the light of Proclamation by the Prime Minister from the Rampant of the Red Fort on Republic Day and in the Address of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces- The President of India- in her address on 4th June 2009.. Despite these assurance from the highest authorities in India why these are not implemented ? Is this decision being sabotaged by handful of bureaucrats? Is the Indian bureaucracy so omnipotent to over rule even the budgetary provision announced on the floor of the Parliament- the sanctum sanctorum of Indian Democracy ? If that be so, India, then, is not a democracy but a buemocracy. And I also doubt whether the political statements have any significance other than its rhetoric value ? There could only be TWO reasons for not implementing OROP for Defense Pensioners
1. The callously contemptuous inaction and willful intension to subvert the welfare measure announced by the Govt. emanating from jealous bureaucratic machinery with vested interest.
2. The age old gimmick by politicians making hollow promises only to placate protesters.
Be it either, beware, the posterity shall not forgive you for this betrayal of the most honorable , dedicated, faithful servants to the Nation who were prepared to sacrifice their life , so that ordinary Indians including the bureaucrats live in peace. Who ever is responsible for this debauch of not implementing OROP for Veterans have brought shame to the nation. Another address to the nation is due shortly followed by yet another pompous proclamation from Red Fort and a budget speech in the parliament; the wheel will turn full circle; alas the status quo ante will remain unaltered.
W.O Balathilakan, the time has now come for strong actions. Returning of Gallantry Medals and similar gesture have lost their significance. If the decision on OROP is not taken immediately, boycott the Republic Day Parade, use your rapport(if the intro at the beginning is true) with MPs and others to raise the issue in the on- going session of the parliament and exert pressure at the right place in the right ministries, hold public demonstrations, go on hunger strikes etc so that the dream that has been enchantingly haunting the veterans like Mirage before the stranded traveler in the desert can become a reality and give some solace to those who are fortunate to survive this procastination, at least at the last stages of their life. It is not Jai Javan any more but bye- Javan.
If you like you can contact me by e-mail suku378@yahoo.com Regards.
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