EX SAINIKS WELFARE

Revision of Pre-2006 Punjab State Pension - GO Issued on 22.2.2010

2010-03-04T21:30:00.002+05:30

The following is posted for the benefit of information of all veteran brothers:-
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Mr.Nagarajan Sundararajan, an active GConnect Discussion Board member posting in the name of ’sundarar’ feels that this Order (NO.3/39/09-3FPPC/201 DATED 22.02.2010 ISSUED BY GOVT OF PANJAB FOR REVISION OF PENSION IN RESPECT OF PRE-1.1.2006 PENSIONERS) though relates to Pensioners of Government of Punjab, might draw the attention of Central Government in certain aspects.
(source-GConnect)
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Even if the similar orders are extended to the Armed Forces Pensioners, the element of (50%)MSP is to be added, thereby fixing the Minimum Pension at Rs.4500/-(civ.pen 3500+1000msp), for Y group AC/LAC and Rs.5200/-(3500+1000+700) for X Group AC/LAC. In addition, Classification Allowance at the lowest rates(100% FULL NEW RATES i.e. Rs.100/_) and the Good Conduct Badge Pay (I,II,III rates=Rs.240/-)shall also to be included. Therefore, the minimum pension of a 15 year service AC/LAC shall have to be fixed at about this rate i.e. Rs.4500/-+100+240=Rs.4840/- for Y group AC/LAC and Rs.5540/-(Rs.5200+100+240) w.e.f. 1.1.2006.
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(PBORs-REVISED PAY SCALES PBOR : IAF
Rank Recommended Pay Band Grade Pay MSP Gp X Pay

MWO 9300-34800 4800 2000 1400
WO 9300-34800 4600 2000 1400
JWO 9300-34800 4200 2000 1400
SGT 5200-20200 2800 2000 1400
CPL 5200-20200 2400 2000 1400
AC/LAC 5200-20200 2000 2000 1400 )
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THE WAIT FOR THE ACTUAL PENSION TABLES IS UNENDING..........

THE OPPOSITION LEADER BLAMED THE GOVT OF GONE BACK ON PROMISE OF OROP.....

BUT THE PM STATED IN THE LS THAT THE PROMISE REDEEMED ON OROP AND IT IS FULLY IMPLEMENTED .................

AND WE AWAIT THE GOVT PENSION ORDERS FOR ARMED FORCES PENSIONERS(PRE-2006)................

HOPING TO END THE WAIT SOON.........
==============================

LK Advani said - Govt went back on pension promise : PM insisted that the promise had been completely redeemed

2010-03-04T08:20:00.003+05:30

New Delhi: BJP leader L K Advanis remark in Parliament on Wednesday that the government was close to a clandestine deal with Pakistan over Kashmir under US pressure provoked a usually calm Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and led to a brief spat between the two. The Lok Sabha also witnessed Congress president Sonia Gandhi encouraging Sriprakash Jaiswal to challenge Advanis claim that the government was contemplating a secret deal.But she was less than enthusiastic over a National Conference MPs loud support for Jammu and Kashmirs pre-1953 status.

The PM took on Advani over the latters claims that the one-rank,one-pension promise had not been fully implemented. It does not behove anyone to create a rift between the government and the Services, the PM said. Singh insisted that the promise had been completely redeemed.

Opening the discussion for BJP on the motion of thanks to the Presidents address, Advani accused the government of going back on its promise to implement the one-rank,one-pension policy for the armed forces. On Advanis point that former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf had claimed that he was close to an understanding on Jammu and Kashmir with India in 2007,Singh was sharp.You are using the forum of Parliament to sow the seeds of... he said,leaving the retort incomplete. Singh was perhaps provoked by the BJP leaders pointed charges raising doubts about the governments stand on the Kashmir issue.

(source-toi)

A time limit cause is holding up a national honour for an IAF fighter pilot who made the supreme sacrifice.

2010-03-02T07:32:00.002+05:30

Honour eludes a war hero -Flying Officer K.P. Muralidharan

Kochi: Morbid red-tapism is hindering a well-deserved honour from coming to a valiant young air warrior who is believed to have made the supreme sacrifice in the Indo-Pak war in 1971. Almost three decades after Flying Officer K.P. Muralidharan was first declared ‘missing in action’ (MIA) and then ‘presumed killed [for official purposes]’ in a rather unsuccessful air raid over Peshawar in Pakistan on the second day of the war, a national honour for gallantry still eludes the Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot who was with the magnificent No.20 Squadron ‘Lightnings’.

Apparently, what is holding up his case is a time-limit clause recently introduced by the government in conferring such medals. “I am given to understand that acting on my petition to Defence Minister A.K. Antony last year, the Air Force Hq. pitched for the award of the Mahavir Chakra to Muralidharan after it was convinced that the officer had gone down fighting like a hero. But a two-year bracket recently set by the government has now brought the case in limbo,” says K. Rajendran Nair, a relative of Muralidharan.
Last week, the former Supreme Court Judge V.R. Krishna Iyer despatched a powerfully-worded letter to Mr. Antony advocating Muralidharan’s case. Terming the alleged denial of the Mahavir Chakra a “betrayal of the nation’s duty to honour an act of self sacrifice,” he wrote: “Those who plead the bar of limitation to withhold this legitimate honour have done an act of disgrace by the neglect…I entreat you on behalf of the nation to hasten and reverse the neglect so far made.”

INTERCEPTED - Muralidharan, 26, who was born to Padamanabhan Thirumulpad of Nilambur Kovilakam and Malathi, was hardly two years in service when he took off from Pathankot on a Hunter aircraft on that fateful day, December 4, 1971, for a strafing run on the Peshawar airfield. Squadron Leader K.N. Bajpai, flying another Hunter, was also part of the mission. As it turned out, they were intercepted by Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) F-86 Sabres, as it was IAF’s second attack on Peshawar that day. Flying to Peshawar meant stretching the Hunter to its limit which forbade any probable combat as it would cause fuel shortage. While Bajpai managed to return, Muralidharan went missing in the ensuing dogfight with one of the Sabres. Overtime, it was deemed that he was among the 54 Prisoners of War (PoW) Pakistan was believed to have interned in its jails post the war.

That was the case until a few years ago when a retired PAF officer, Wing Commander Salim Mirza Baig, who was in the thick of action in 1971, revealed in a personal war account that the Hunter flown by Muralidharan was among the two Indian fighter aircraft brought down by him in separate air battles in the war. (The second was a Gnat flown by Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, who took on six marauding Sabres over Srinagar before being gunned down by Baig). Sekhon was posthumously decorated with the Param Vir Chakra, the IAF’s sole PVC till date. In his tale of the battle over Peshawar, Baig admires the Hunter (flown by Muralidharan) that he took on, calling it a ‘tough nut to crack’ and conclusively says that the pilot was killed in air combat. "Even as time limit is said to be standing in way of a belated honour to the war hero, there’s precedence to the contrary,” says Mr. Nair.

“Squadron Leader A.B. Devayya was posthumously awarded the Mahavir Chakra 23 years after the 1965 war based on a PAF officer’s account of his bravery. After the Kargil war, Pakistan conferred its highest military award the ‘Nishan-e-Haider’ posthumously on Captain Karnal Sher Khan based on an Indian officer’s war account. What, then, impedes Muralidharan’s case?” he asks.

As Mr. Iyer highlights in his letter to Mr. Antony: “… bureaucracy sometimes delays and in an ungrateful manner defeats what is due.”

(source-HINDU)

COLOURFUL HOLI GREETINGS

2010-02-28T09:09:00.002+05:30

Holi ki shubh kamna aur Happy Holi

A touch of green i send to u. A drop of blue to cool the hue. A tinge of red for warmth and
zest for a colorful HOLI! Happy and colorful Holi

Bright colors, water balloons, lavish gujiyas and melodious songs are the ingredients
of perfect Holi. Wish you a very happy and wonderful Holi.

Dipped in hues of love and trust has come the festival of Holi. Happy Holi!!

You can choose to be happy or sad and whichever you choose that is what you get.
No one is really responsible to make someone else happy, no matter what most
people have been taught and accept as true.

Auspicious red. Sun kissed gold. Soothing silver. Pretty purple. Blissful blue. Forever green.
I wish u and all family members The most colorful Holi.

Celebrating the colors of our beautiful relationship, I wish you and your family all the bright
hues of life. Have a colourful holi !

One day to go…Holi aane mein…happy bath anniversary and HAPPY HOLI to U…

Just like a red rose that fills the world with beauty & fragrance…You have made my life
so beautiful by being in it. On Holi, the festival of colors and joy I wanna say thank you for all the
love and smiles you’ve brought to my life. Happy Holi

Best wishes to you for a Holi filled with sweet moments and memories to cherish for long.
Happy Holi!

Red 4 Prosperity. Green 4 Happiness, Blue 4 Longitivity, Orange 4 Progress, Pink 4 Friendship.
May U be Blessed with all shades of Holi.

A true and caring relation doesn’t have to speak loud, a soft sms is just enough to express
the heartiest feelings. Enjoy the Indian festival of Holi with lot of fun.

If wishes come in rainbow colors then I would send the brightest one to say Happy Holi.

May God gift you all the colors of life, colors of joy, colors of happiness, colors of friendship,
colors of love and all other colors you want to paint in your life. Happy Holi.

HOLI KE KHUBSURAT RANGO KI TARAH AAPKO OR AAPKE PURE PARIVAR KO HAMARI TARAF SE BAHUT BAHUT RANGO BHARI UMANGO BHARI SHUBHKAMNAYE

Dil mai utha tufan bheja hai, aapse na mil pane ka malal bheja hai waqt mile to
thoda sa yaad karna aapke dost ne holi ka ram ram bheja hai

Bin Sawan Barsat nahi hoti, Suraj Dooebe bina raat nahi hoti, Apni tau aadat hai aisi ki,
Aapko wish kiye bina festival ki shurat nahi hoti.

Agar Aurat Hai, Ladki hai, Janana Hai, Patakha Hai, Maal Hai, Item Hai,
Cheej Hai tau - "TILKAK HOLI" Khelo aur mard hai to, ASLI HOLI khelo.

Aaiso basant nahin bar bar phagan ke din char holi khel ke mana re seel santokh ke
kesar gholi prem preet pichkaar re urat gulal lal bhiyo ambar barsat rang apaar re.
------------------------------
From Gopal Singh Negi & Family, Chittorgarh (Raj)
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ABORPTION OF ESM IN RAILWAYS - RAILWAY MINISTER IN HER BUDGET SPEECH :24 FEB 10

2010-02-27T14:16:00.002+05:30

THE RELEVANT PARAS IN RAIL BUDGET SPEECH (24.2.10) ON ESM/AF PERSONNEL IS POSTED BELOW FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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RAILWAY BUDGET 2010-11

"As a mark of respect to the contribution of the Armed forces personnel in defending the borders of our country the Indian Railways will run special trains titled as ‘Janmabhoomi’ between Ahmadabad and Udhampur every week linking Jodhpur, Phalodi, Lalgarh, Biradhwal, Pilibanga, Mahajan, Suratgarh, Hanumangarh, Bhatinda, Faridkot, Firozpur, Jalandher, Chakki bank, Samba, Bari Brahman, Jammu-Tawi and Udhampur. "

The Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee today announced that her Ministry will follow a twin strategy of adopting the highest level of technology and pressing into force well-trained manpower, as emphasized in Vision 2020 for safety and security. Presenting the Railway Budget for 2010-11 in Parliament, the Minister said that safety and security never sleeps and zero tolerance for accidents is our vision and mission. She said 17,000 trains run everyday carrying 18 million passengers over 64,015 route- kms. In such a vast operation and due to technical problems, sabotage, fog, rail roko, natural disaster and human failure, there are some unfortunate incidents of accidents. The Minister said Railways has to go in for new, cutting-edge equipment to prevent accidents. Anti-collision device (ACD) and Train Protection Warning System (TPWS) are two such devices. She said ACD has already been installed on Northern Frontier Railway and is now proposed to be extended to three more Zonal Railways. The Minister said that four projects of TPWS covering 828 route-kms for improving safety and preventing collision accidents will be implemented during the year. Railways are also developing crashworthy coaches and locomotives and will provide automatic fire and smoke detection system in 20 pairs of long-distance trains as pilot project. The Minister said that accidents at unmanned level crossings are a source of deep concern to all. Even now, there are about 17,000 unmanned level crossings. She said that manning of around 3,000 level crossings was approved in 2009-10 and a further 1,000 level crossings will be taken up next year. A special drive in this regard is being launched so that in the coming five years, all the unmanned LCs are manned, she added. Kumari Mamata Banerjee said Railways would construct more under-passes, limited height sub-ways besides Rail Over Bridges (ROBs) and Rail Under Bridges (RUBs). She said Railways will explore the possibility of using jute geo-textiles wherever the soil formation of railway track is unstable and weak.

The Minister said that law and order being a state subject, security cannot be ensured without the whole-hearted cooperation of the State Governments. She said, in fact, Railways bear 50 per cent of the cost of State Government Railway Police. (GRP). She appealed to the people not to target the Railways during any local issue and frequent rail rooks agitation. The Minister said her Ministry has to strengthen the Railway Protection Force(RPF) as an organization and to modernize RPF, full support is being given. Railways will bring a comprehensive bill for providing security to passengers. She said as security is an important area, Railways has decided to involve ex-servicemen to strengthen Railway Protection Force. Referring to security of women passengers, she said it will be improved by raising 12 companies of women RPF personnel to be named ‘Mahila Vahini’. Railway Protection Special Force(RPSF) will also be strengthened and priority will be given to women especially those belonging to minorities, SC/ST, OBC and economically backward classes. This was announced by the Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee in the Lok Sabha today while presenting the Railway Budget for the year 2010-11.
(SOURCE-PIB)
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THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL FROM MAJ (DR)TC RAO(retd) IS POSTED ALONGWITH COMMENTS OF AIR CMDE RAGHUBIR SINGH (RETD):-
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Dear Veterans,

1. 24 Feb 2010, was the golden day for Ex-servicemen, as one of our outstanding demands was accepted by Hon’ble Railway Minister and was announced in her Railway budget speech that Ex-servicemen will be absorbed in Railway protection force. I have written a letter of thanks to her which is enclosed. I had put up this request one and a half year back to the UPA Govt.

2. Our many more demands/plans for rehabilitation of Ex-servicemen are in pipe line. I am pursuing it with Defence Minister, Labour Minister, Aviation Minister, Home Minister, Sports & Youth Minister, Chief Minister of Delhi and Chairman of MCD & NDMC for the following to absorb Ex-servicemen.

a. Disaster Management Group.
b. To Preserve Ecology.
c. In Common Wealth Games.
d. Security cover to Govt or Public sector undertakings
e. Managing of Parking lots of NDMC, MCD DDA, Delhi Metro, Indian Railways & and at Airports.
f. Parks Security and upkeep in Delhi.
g. To Maintain green strips at Delhi.
h. Education Institute to induct Teacher & Admin staff in Schools & Collages.
i. Security cover, Housekeeping & Maintain of following at Delhi.
i. Youth Centres.
ii. Swimming Pools
iii. Barat Ghars
iv. Senior Citizen Houses
v. Working Women Hostels
vi. Libraries
j. Sports and Gymnasium complex to be looked after by Ex-servicemen.
k. Parallel absorption in Govt. Jobs

3. a. Up keep, Security & Housekeeping of Railway Platform.
b. Mechanical cleaning of Railway Coaches.
c. House Keeping, Security & Up keep locomotive shed of the Railways.

4. I am hopeful that with your good wishes and your moral support to me, I will be able to achieve. I am very hopeful and positive.

5. Wishing you Happy Holi. “Jai Hind”

Maj (Dr) T C Rao
Chairman
DPCC
-----------------------
Dear Major TC Rao,

I am appreciative of the way you have been putting in efforts to ameliorate the peculiar problems of the ESM community.I feel best way to utilise this vast pool of highly disciplined & motivated manpower pool would be to take advantage of their service background. With our neighbourhood becoming mukier and sinister with terror as potect weapon-ESM in younger age group can handle private security very well. But not @ Rs 3000-4000 pm with contractors taking lion's share. Perhaps it could be Coop Society under the aegis of ESM welfare org.Secondly ESM would do well in Police too through lateral entry. Public Distribution system can operate best under ESM's.

At higher level-the ESM can be involved in speedy dispensation of justice to clear the backlog in just three years.Retd general rank officers can do much better as heads of various commissions than producing dud reports even after decades. Now that exit at 20 years is comfortable- why not tap officers cadres for IAS/IPS. Mamta Banerji has been quite sympathetic to the ESM's. Wish she would have introduced free passes for them. Even now it is not too late? .

Air Cmde Raghubir Singh(Retd)
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THE LEGALITY OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION/ONE POST ONE PENSION - AND URGENT NEED

2010-02-26T17:29:00.001+05:30

The following write-up of Onkar Singh Riar, a Defence Services Civilian Pensioner living in Jalandhar is an excellent piece of information on the issue of OROP/OPOP and its probable solution, is posted for the benefit of information of all Veteran Brothers:-
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IVth Pay Commission’s View on Pension Structure

It was for the first time, that the pension structure for pensioners, both past and future, had been entrusted for examination to the Fourth Central Pay Commission. The IV CPC have examined the case of past pensioners and observed that law of the land had been declared in Nakara’s case that pensioners formed one class by themselves and this class was not divisible for purpose of entitlement and payment of pension to those who retire ‘before’ and those who retire ‘after’ a certain date arbitrarily fixed for the purpose.They further stated that this being the law, it is a factor to reckon that any changed formula for computation of pension will work back all pensioners who retired earlier also.

Measures taken by Vth Pay Commission

As a follow up of the basic objective of parity Vth Central Pay Commission recommended the pension of all the pre-1986 retirees to be updated by notional fixation of their pay as on 1-1-1986 by adopting the same formula as for the serving employees. Pay Commission termed it as ‘Complete Parity’. There-after all the pensioners who were brought on the Fourth CPC pay scales by notional fixation of their pay and those who retired after 1-1-1986 were treated alike in consolidation of their pensions on 1-1-1996 by allowing the same fitment weightage as for the serving employees. Pay Commission termed it as ‘Modified Parity’.

Vth Central Pay Commission then enunciated a principle for the future revision of pensions to the effect that complete parity should normally be conceded up to the date of last pay revision and modified parity (with pension equated at least to the minimum of the revised pay scale) be accepted at the time of each pay revision. The Vth CPC hoped that the enunciation of principle would imply that the time of next pay revision say, in the year 2006, complete parity should be given to past pensioners as between pre-1996 and post-1996 and modified parity be given to pre-2006 and post-2006 pensioners.

Pension Structure after 6CPC

Sixth Central Pay Commission stated that in order to maintain existing modified parity between present and future retirees, it will be necessary to allow the same fitment benefit as is being recommended for the existing Government employees. In contradiction to their own statement; in violation of the law laid down by the Apex Court and ignoring the principles enunciated by the Vth CPC the Sixth CPC allowed different fitment formula for the past and future pensioners.

Sixth Central Pay Commission thus disturbed the concept of parity between past and future pensioners. It defied completely the law laid down by the Apex Court regarding complete parity among pensioners. It also ignored the principles enunciated by 5th CPC for future revisions of pensions maintaining complete parity. It distributed roses of different colours viz: red, pink, white and yellow to different segments of the Pensioners which resulted in the creation of classes within the class. In this classification the past pensioners were given a fitment formula which can be called a Black Rose (Kala Gulab).

What Law of the land says

Concept of parity among the pensioners is based on the various Judgments of the Honourable Supreme Court. In the India Ex-Services League and Ors 1991(2) SCC 104 Justice Verma interpreted the scope of Judgment in the D.S. Nakara case as detailed below:

“It was clearly stated that if pensioners form a class,their computation cannot be by different formula affording unequal treatment solely on the ground that some retired earlier and some retired later. This is to us the decision in the Nakra case and no more.”

In the case of V Kasturi vs. MD, SBI, Bombay & Anr 1998 (2) supp. SCR 269 (Judgement dated 9-10-1998) following Judgement was pronounced regarding past pensioners:

“If the person retiring is eligible for pension at the time of his retirement and if he survives till the time by subsequent amendment of the relevant pension scheme, he would become eligible to get enhanced pension or would become eligible to get more pension as per the new formula of computation of pension subsequently brought into force. He would be entitled to get the benefit of the amended pension provision from the date of such order as he would be a member of the very same class of pensioners when the additional benefit is being conferred on all of them. In such a situation the additional benefit available to the same class of pensioners cannot be denied to him on the ground that he had retired prior to the date on which the aforesaid additional benefit was conferred on all the members of the same class of pensioners who had survived by the time the scheme granting additional benefit to these pensioners came into force. The line of decisions tracing their roots to the ratio of Nakara’s case (supra) would cover this category of cases.”

Pensioner’s Case in the background of Merger of Posts by 6CPC

Sixth Pay Commission recommended different rates of fitment benefits in case of pay and pensions. In case of pensions 40% increase on basic pension being actually drawn has been allowed and in case of pay, benefit of grade pay has been allowed to the employees as 40% of the maximum of the old higher pay scale bracketed in the same pay band even though neither the rate of pay nor the scale was being drawn by the employees. Now 50% of grade pay will constitute as pension of future pensioners; which is higher than 40% in all cases of pensioners. Pay scales of Rs 5000-8000, Rs 5500-9000, Rs 6500-6900 and Rs 6500-10500, have been placed in the Pay Band -2 (9300-34800) with Grade Pay of Rs 4200/-. Grade pay of Rs 4200/- is the 40% of Rs 10500/- maximum of the pay scale of Rs 6500-10500/- This is neither, complete parity, nor modified parity, nor disparity but conscious discrimination.

Sixth pay Commission merged the existing pay scales and posts and then prescribed a pay band and grade pay for each scale/band. This has also caused injustice to certain pensioners who retired from these scales.

As an example the scales of pay of Rs 5000-8000, Rs 5500-9000 and Rs 6500-10500 have been merged. Excluding some post Pay Commission recommended merging posts in these scales also. Pay Commission recommended that in case it is not feasible to merge posts in these scales on functional basis, the posts in the scale of Rs 5000-8000 and Rs 5500-9000 should be merged, with the post in the scale of Rs 6500-10500 being upgraded to the next higher grade in the pay ban d PB-2 i.e. to the grade of pay of Rs 4600/-corresponding to pre-revised pay scale of Rs 7450-11500, the post being upgraded from the scale of Rs 6500-10500 should be merged with the post in the scale of Rs 7450-11500.

In Department of Military Engineer Services under Ministry of Defence Vth Central Pay Commission had restructured the Administrative Cadre. The post of Administrative Officer Gde II (AO II) (Rs 2000-3200) was restructured as AO II (Rs 2000-3500) and then was prescribed the Vth pay Commission scale of Rs 6500-10500.The post of Administrative Officer Gde I (AO-1) (Rs 2375-3500) was restructured as AO-1(Rs 2500-4000) in line with general pattern. And now Ministry of Defence has not merged the post of AO-II with the posts in the Scales of Rs 5000-8000 and Rs 5500-9000. Thus this post is upgraded to the scale of Rs 7450-11500. But the post of AO-1 is in the scale of Rs 2500-4000 and thus it has to be merged with the Post of AO-1 in the scale of Rs 7500-12000. But the benefit of this upgradation has not been passed on to the past pensioners. Pensioners in these scales and posts loose their identities in the jungle of pay scales pay bands and posts.

Radical Changes that affects Pre-2006 Pensioners

Sixth Pay Commission introduced radical changes. Traditional pay scale culture has been replaced by Pay Bands, Grade Pay requiring new version of the posts and new recruitment rules. In such a situation it was essential to notionally fix the pay of pre-2006 retirees in Pay Bands with grade pay. This would have been inconsonance with the law laid down by the Apex Court and the principle enunciated by Vth CPC. This towering anomaly needs to be solved.

Pre-1996 pensioners were due for complete parity. This has not been done. With the radical changes made in the pay structure now it is appropriate that all pre-2006 pensioners are given complete parity by fixing their pay in the new scales/bands notionally and then revising their pensions duly adding the grade pay.

And finally the Solution

One RankOne Pension and One PostOne Pension is the rightful solution for ever. For its implementation pensioner’s identity with the posts shall have to be preserved. Till this is finalized, pre-2006 pensioners should be given complete parity by notionally fixing their pay in the New Pay Bands with grade pay and then fixing their pensions as in the case post-2006 pensioners. It shall also preserve identities of their posts, scales, pay bands and grade pay.
=========================

(source-GCONNECT)

SUPREME COURT DISAPPROVES ARROGANCE, VANITY OF SUPERIOR OFFICERS

2010-02-26T08:29:00.001+05:30

THE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
=============================
2/22/2010

The Supreme Court has strongly disapproved the arrogance and vanity of superior officers while dealing with their subordinates.

A bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and A K Patnaik while allowing the appeal of CRPF Head Constable Angad Das noted, ‘People in power and authority should not easily lose equanimity, compose and appreciation for the problems of the lesser mortals.’ ‘They are always expected to remember that power and authority must be judiciously exercised according to the laws and human compassion. Arrogance and vanity have no place in discharge of their official functions and duties,’ the bench further said.

The constable was posted in Jammu and Kashmir and was compulsorily retired on the ground that his date of birth was false. Following which, Das wrote a letter to DIG and made a humble request for his reinstatement.

The DIG responded to his request by enhancing his punishment from compulsory retirement to removal from service.

The apex court while imposing a cost of Rs 50,000 on the Union Government directed that Das shall be paid all pensionary benefits which have become due with nine per cent interest and expressed the hope that senior officers in future would not be totally oblivious of the problems of the humble and modest employees and pass similar orders.

The apex court restored the punishment of compulsory retirement.

(SOURCE : LAWYERSCLUBINDIA NEWS)

THE OUTCOME OF DELEGATION MET WITH RM ON 23.2.2010 - ESM WELFARE POINTS

2010-02-25T19:47:00.001+05:30

The following e-mail sent from Brig CM Harnal(Retd) and reply received from Maj(Dr) TC Rao, is posted below for the benefit of information of all Veeteran Brothers:-
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25.2.10(1 hour ago)
Dear Maj Rao,

Thanks for the updates.

However I would like to enquire about the status of the most imp issue- OROP, which affects you and all of us, incl those in uniform once they relenquinsh the same. When is it likely to see the light of the day, if at all. May I know what efforts are being put in at your end.

Thanks and regards.

Brig C M Harnal(retd)
==================================
25.2.10.
Dear Sir,

Please find enclosed herewith, Regards,

Maj (Dr) T C Rao (Retd)
----------------------------
Dear Veteran,

1. Under signed led a delegation of Ex-servicemen to meet Dr MM Pallam Raju, Hon’ble Minister of State of Defence, on 23 Feb 2010, at his office in Ministry of Defence. The aim of the meeting was to apprise him about the difficulties faced by the residents of Delhi Cantt and also to dicusses various wefare points concerning Ex-servicemen.

2. Ex-servicemen welfare points discussed as under:-

a. I reminded the Hon’ble Minister that gazette notification for “One Rank One Pension” in respect PBOR is not yet out. It was mentioned by minister that all normal formalities for gazette notification are complete and it will be announced soon for implementation.

b. I had also assured the delegation that War Memorial for Delhi state will be constructed to honour those who scarified for the nation from Delhi.

c. He had also agreed to construct a rest house with 100 rooms and dormitory for the ex-servicemen visiting Delhi in connection with medical treatment and various other works.

3. The under mentioned also requested to ear mark a land in Delhi Cantt to house following under one roof.

a. DGR office.
b. Conventional Hall/Auditorium
c. Rest House for both officers & PBOR
d. ECHS facilities.
e. CSD Canteen
f. Recreation facilities

4. Opening of 100 bed Cantt board Hospital in Delhi Cantt.

5. Beautification & difficulties faced by Delhi Cantt residents were also discussed.

6. We are hopeful and positive about the outcome of our meeting.

7. I am always at your services.

“Jai Hind”

Maj (Dr) T C Rao
Chairman, ESM Cell
DPCC
==========================

Facilities and concessions as offered by Govt of NCT Delhi : ESM

2010-02-24T19:12:00.000+05:30

The following e-mail is posted below for the benefit of information to all veteran brothers:-
==============================
Dear Veterans, Facilities and concessions as offered by Govt of NCT Delhi are enumerated below for your information. "Jai Hind"--Regards, ----Maj (Dr) T C Rao (Retd)
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Facilities An Concessions

1. Priority (1) Employment for disabled ex-servicemen vide Govt. of NCT of Delhi letter No. F. 16/146/98/S-III/457 dt 24/2/99.

2. Carry over of reserved vacancy for one year vide Govt. of NCT of Delhi letter No. F 16/146/98/ S-III458 dt 24/2/99.

3. Reservation of 10% and 20% in Group C and D posts respective in Delhi Police vide letter No. 3431/E.II (PHQ) dt 13/3/97.

4. 5% Seats in Delhi institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology

5. Reservation of 10% and 20% in Group C and D posts in Govt Jobs and 14.5% and 24% in PSUs vide Govt. of Delhi Lr No F.16 (146)/ 98-S. III/9148 dt 18/12/98.

6. Reservation of 10 seats in college of Arts 20-22, Tiak Marg, New Delhi-110001.

7. Reservation of 3% seats in two years diploma courses in elementary Teachers Education in 9 institutions through state council of education research & Training. Varun marg Defence Colony, New Delhi- 110024.

8. Reservation of 5% seats in each polytechnic, college of pharmacy, pushp Vihar and food craft institute for wards of ex-servicemen.

9. rent control act has been amended to facilitate resumption of houses/flats by servicemen personnel on their tetirement.

10. Grant of stipend of Rs. 250/- PM to ex-servicemen trainees in managerial, Vocational and Agricultural training.

11. 1% interest concession to ex-servicemen on loan taken from deli finance corporation.

12. Priority allotment of flats to gallantry (Chakra Series) award winners.

13. Reservation for ex-servicemen/widows/dependents:-

a. DDA Shops- 2%

b. Fair Price Shops – 10%

c. Priority for allotment of DTC Bus routes

d. Allotment of milk booths & fruit /vegetable shops through Dir Gen Resettlement.

14. DDA Shops allotment under the category of ex-servicemen will be able to arrange finance to the tune of two thirds of the property price from delhi finance corporation.

15. Exemption of payment of fees for the recruitment of Group c posts by the Govt. of NCT of Delhi vide letter No. 27 (1) /2000/P & P/3028 dt 24/8/2000.

16. 100% property tax exemption to war widows/ex-servicemen who are Gallantry Award Winners for self occupied , not rented out property and 30 % rebate in property tax for ex-servicemen provided the house is in their name, is self-occupied and not rented out, which is applicable to only unit of property.

Welfare Schemes Instituted by the Government of Delhi

Destitute Grant to world war-II Veterans/Widows Rs. 1800/- PM

Ex-Gratia to serving soldiers/disabled soldiers & widows of soldiers killed in counter insurgency operations. The scheme has been modified as per the recommendations of the ministry of Defecne, which came into face w. e.f 26/6/2006.

Died in War/Operations - 2,00,000/-

To parents if martyr is married and they are alive -3,00,000/-

To Widow if parents of martyr is alive - 5,00,000

To widow if martyr’s parents are not alive - 5,00,000

To parents if martyr is unmarried - 5,00,000

To Nominee if unmarried & parents not alive - 5,00,000

Housing

Officers- 35% subsidy or assistance if no house - 5,00,000

JCOs/Ors- 50% subsidy or assistance if no house -5,00,000

Children’s Education -War Widows & Disabled

Free Tuition fee, Books & Transportation
OR Financial assistance per year: -

Upto 10+2- 8,000/-,Graduation-10,000/-,PG including B.Tech/BDS/Medicine/MCS/MCA-20,000/-
(2% reservation to wards) - Job Priority- As per DOPT, GOI Rules

Disabled in war/Oprs

60% and above disability - 5,00, 000/-

Upto 59% disability- 3,00,000/-

Prisoner of War- 25,000 + 1000 Per dependent

Missing in War/Ops- 25,000 + 2000 Per dependent

3. Cash Grant, Cash in lieu of land and annuity to Gallantry Award Winners.

Award One time Grant (w.e.f. 01/01/2008)Revised Annuity to existing awardees

Pram Vir Chakra (PVC) - Rs.25,00,000/- Nil
Ashok Chakra (AC) - Rs.25,00,000/- Nil
Maha Vir Chakra (MVC)-Rs.15,00,000/-, Rs.1,20,000/-
Kirti Chakra (KC) - Rs.15,00,000/- Rs.96,000/-
Vir Chakra (VrC) - Rs.10,00,000/- Rs.60,000/-
Shaurya Chakra (SC)-Rs.10,00,000/- Rs.48,000/-
Sena/Nao Sena/Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry)-Rs.5,00,000/- Rs.24,000/-
Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal(SYSM)-Rs.1,27,000/- Nil
Uttam Yudh Seva Medal- Rs.75,000/-, Rs.2,500/-
Yudh Seva Medal (YSM)-Rs.34,000/-, Rs 2,500/-
Mentio in Despatch (MID)- Rs.12,000/-, Rs.500/-

All earlier awardees who have not claimed any monetary grant from the Government of Delhi, rates prevalent at the award will be paid as and when claim is preferred.

Cash Grant to distinguished Services Medal winners who have received the award on or after 01- 01- 2008 onwards.

Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM) - Rs.1,15,000/-
Ati Vishisht Seva Medal ( AVSM) - Rs.57,000/-
Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) - Rs.23,000/-
Sena/Nao Sena/Vayu Sena Medal - Rs.45,000/-
===================================

ADDRESS BY THE HON'BLE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL, TO PARLIAMENT, New Delhi, 22nd February 2010

2010-02-23T07:47:00.001+05:30

The relevant paras relating to the issues concerning Armed Forces is appended below for the benefit of information of all veteran brothers:-
==================================
"..........

14. The Nation is proud of our armed forces. They have distinguished themselves in preserving the country's unity and territorial integrity and in defending our borders. Government is fully committed to the modernization of the armed forces. We will accord the highest priority to modernisation programmes to equip our armed forces with the required weaponry, equipment and platforms. The successful launch of the Agni-III missile is a shining example of the capabilities of our scientists and engineers who deserve full praise. Efforts to enhance our technological self-reliance received a new impetus with the commencement of the handing over of the main battle tank, Arjun, to the Indian Army.

15. My government is committed to the welfare of servicemen and ex-servicemen. An Armed Forces Tribunal has been established for adjudication of complaints and disputes regarding service matters and other appeals. The recommendations regarding substantial improvements in the pensionary benefits of personnel below officers rank and commissioned officers have been accepted.

............"
===========================
(Source-President of India website)

RAJYA SABHA QUESTIONS - WRITTEN REPLY OF DEFENCE MINISTER ON OROP FORMULA

2010-02-21T07:18:00.001+05:30

Thursday, December 10, 2009

A committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary to look into the issue of One Rank One Pension and other related matters. After considering all aspects of the issue, the Committee did not find it administratively feasible to recommend One Rank One Pension, as such. However, keeping in mind the spirit of the demand several other recommendations to substantially improve pensionary benefits of personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) and Commissioned Officers have been made, which have been accepted by the Government:-

i) Inclusion of Classification Allowance for PBOR from Jan 01, 2006.

ii) Removal of linkage of full pension with 33 years from Jan 01, 2006.

iii) Revision of Lt Gen pension after carving out a separate pay scale for them.

iv) Bringing parity between pension of pre and post October 10, 1997 PBOR pensions.

v) Further improving PBOR pensions based on award of GOM, 2006.

vi) Broad banding of percentage of disability/war injury pension for pre Jan 01, 2006 disability/war injury pensioners.

vii) Removal of cap on war injury element of pension in the case of disabled pensioners belonging to Category ‘E’.

The recommendations at (i) and (ii) stand implemented by issue of Government letter dated October 30, 2009. Average hike in pension of Ex-servicemen of the three forces of Indian Defence will be known only after all the recommendations of the Committee have been implemented.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in written reply to Shri Prakash Javadekar and Shri Parimal Nathwani in Rajya Sabha today.
------------------------------------------------------------
(SOURCE- CG EMPLOYEES NEWS)
=======================================
- PCDA ISSUED CIRCULAR 428 D/D IN R/O ITEM (iii)

- MOD ORDER D/D 19.1.2010 ISSUED IN R/0 ITEM NO. (vi) AND (vii) ABOVE.

- ORDERS ON ITEMS (iv) AND (v) ARE NOT YET ISSUED.
------------------------------------------------------------
THE 19.1.2010 ORDER IS POSTED BELOW FOR INFORMATION AND NECESSARY ACTION BY ALL AFFECTED VET. BROTHERS, AS PER THE APPENDIX.:-
-------------------------------------------------------------
No.10 (01)/D (Pen/Pol)/2009/Vol.II

Government of India, Ministry of Defence
Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
New Delhi

Dated 19th Jan, 2010.

To, The Chief of the Army Staff
The Chief of the Naval Staff
The Chief of the Air Staff

Subject: Revision of Disability/War Injury Element of pension in respect of Armed Forces Officers and PBOR pensioners based on the recommendations of Cabinet Secretary Committee Report.

Sir,

The undersigned is directed to state that in order to consider various issues on pension of Armed Forces Pensioners, Government had set up a Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary. The recommendations of the said Cabinet Secretary’s Committee on disability/war injury pension have been considered by the Government and the President is pleased to decide that with effect from 1.7.2009, the concept of broad banding of percentage of disability/war injury, as provided in Para 7.2 of this Ministry’s letter No 1(2)/97/D(Pen-C) dated 31.01.2001, shall be extended to Armed Forces Officers and PBOR who were invalided out of service prior to 1.1.1996 and are in receipt of disability/war injury pension as on 1.7.2009. Wherever, the disability being accepted as less than 20% at initial stage or subsequent stage on reassessment of disability, the same will continue to be disallowed and such cases will not be re-opened.

2. Further, the President is also pleased to decide that the cap on war injury pension with reference to emoluments last drawn in the case of disabled pensioners belonging to category ‘E’ of Para 4.1 of this Ministry’s above mentioned letter dated 31.1.2001, shall stand removed with effect from 1.7.2009 for Armed Forces Officers and PBOR pensioners. The provision contained in Para 8 of this Ministry’s letter No PC 1(2)97/D(Pen-C) Dated 16.5.2001, Para 10.1(b). of this Ministry letter No. 1(2)/97/D(Pen-C) dated 31.1.2001 and para 6.4 & 7.4 of this Ministry’s letter No. 16(6)/2008(2)/D(Pen/Pol) dated 5.5.2009, shall stand modified to that extent.

3. The disability/war injury element of pension in all such cases shall be recomputed accordingly under these orders by the Pension Sanctioning Authorities (PSAs) concerned for regulating payment under this Ministry’s letter No. 16(6)/2008(1)/ D(Pen/Policy) dated 4.5.2009 and letter No. 16(6)/2008(2)/D(Pen/Policy) dated 5.5.2009. For this purpose, each affected Armed Forces pensioner who is in receipt of disability/war injury element of pension as on 1.7.2009 will submit an application in the format enclosed as Annexure to this letter to PSAs concerned for revision of disability/war injury element of pension in terms of Para 1 and 2 above, as the case may be. Further implementation instructions to all concerned will be issued by PCDA(Pensions) Allahabad immediately on receipt of these orders.

4. Revision of war injury element of pension in respect of those who have been retired/discharged/ invalidated out of service on or after 1.7.2009 under category ‘E’ and in whose case war injury pension has already been notified in terms of this Ministry’s above mentioned letter dated 5.5.2009, will be carried out suo-moto by PSAs concerned by issue of corrigendum PPOs without any application from the concerned pensioners.

5. This issues with the concurrence of Finance Division of this Ministry vide their U.O.No. 51/Fin/Pen dated 08.01.2010.

Hindi version will follow.

Yours faithfully,
Sd xxx
(Harbans Singh)
Director (Pension Policy)
Encl: a/a

Copy to : - As per standard distribution list.
----------
Annexure
(Referred to Para 3 of MOD letter No 10(1)/2009/D(Pen/Policy) dated 19.1.2010)

FORM OF APPLICATION

(To be submitted IN TRIPLICATE by Armed Forces disability pensioners invalided out prior to 1.1.1996 and war injury pesnioners invalided out prior to 1.7.2009 and those released after 1.1.2008 but before 1.7.2009 and drawing disability/war injury element of pension as on 1.7.2009)

To (Pension Disbursing Authority)

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

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

Sub: Recomputation of disability/war injury element of pension drawing pension as on 1.7.2009

Sir,

With a view to recompute my disability/war injury element of pension in terms of Ministry of Defence letter No 10(1)/2009/D(Pen/Policy) dated ........ 2009, the requisite particulars are given below : -

1. Name of the pensioner

2. Rank/group and Regt No/IC No

3. Date of Enrolment/Commission

4. Date of invalidment

5. Type of pension admissible

6. PPO No/Corr.PPO No under which
disability/war injury element of pension
on invalidment was notified.

7. Percentage of disability for which
disability/war injury element is being
drawn as on 1.7.2009

8. Amount of existing disability/war
injury element being drawn as on 1.7.2009

9. Amount of existing service element of
disability/war injury element being drawn
as on 1.7.2009

10. Pension Disbursing Agency (Paying
bank branch with SB/Current A/c No/
Treasury/DPDO/PAO

11. Name of applicant if the application is
being made on behalf of pensioner for
Life-Time Arrears (LTA)

12. Address of the family pensioner/applicant

Date:

(Signature of Pensioner/Applicant)

------------------------------------------------------
PART II

(To be completed by the PDA of the pensioner)

The particulars mentioned above are verified with reference to pension account held and forwarded to the Record Office .............................................. (full address) in the case of PBOR and PSAs concerned ............................................... (full adress) in the case of commissioned officers.

No ......

Date .....

(SIGNATURE)

Rubber stamp of Pension Disbursing Authority

PART III

(To be completed by the Record office of the pensioner)

Verified and forwarded to the PSAs concerned .................................................

(full address)

No ......

Date .....

(SIGNATURE)

Rubber stamp of Pension Disbursing Authority

Address of Pension Sanctioning Authorities:
Army, Navy & Air Force Officers

1. The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions)
Draupdighat, Allahabad – 211014.

For such Naval and Airforce officers who retired from service on or after 1.11.1985

2. The Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Navy)
2, Cooper Road, Mumbai – 400039.

3. Jt Controller of Defence Accounts (AF)
Subroto Park, Delhi Cantt – 110010.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Defence imports affects National Security, Foreign Policy: Pallam Raju

2010-02-20T07:30:00.001+05:30

16/2/2010-17:34 IST

Following is the text of the inaugural address delivered by the Minister of State for Defence Dr. MM Pallam Raju to the Seminar on ‘The Indian Army : Next Generation Systems, An Evolution’, organised by the PHD Chamber at DefExpo – 2010, here today:-

It is my proud privilege to speak to an august gathering, which has deep understanding and keen insight into Military matters. The history of warfare is as old as the history of the mankind. Man does not have to be prepared for war only for the sake of subjugating the other to his will but he had to be remain prepared to defend his own well being and safety. The requirements of the Nation are no different albeit more complex.

India has no record or intention to unnecessarily project Military Might beyond our frontiers, yet we can ill afford to remain unprepared from external challenges emanating or likely to emanate from far and near to our defined frontiers. The external challenges are going to be complex and multifarious in times to come, given the global geopolitical situation and specially the one in our near neighbourhood. As you are aware that India as a Nation State is progressing and progressing fast economically and in many other sectors, which is going to result in multi-spectral and multi-dimensional challenges from within and outside, for which our Armed forces have to remain ever ready for all eventualities.

History is a testimony that no nation has been able to prevail in a conflict with lower threshold of technology in defence sector. Countries or the Armies with lower technologies would have won a battle here and there, but you will find hardly any example, wherein a higher technology Military power has been overwhelmed by lower technology power in the long run. Though total self reliance in any sector, let alone the Defence Sector may be outside the realm of possibility for any nation and especially for the emerging nations, yet the importance of technological sovereignty and self reliance has no substitute. Self reliance in Defence requirements is one of the important aims of the Ministry of Defence. Heavy preponderance on imports put tremendous strain and uncertainty in defence capabilities, which we can ill afford, apart from high cost of maintenance and equipment exploitation. Further it has got implication on our foreign policy. Moreover dependence on imports of Arms directly affects ‘National Security Capability’. Therefore, it is imperative for overall economic and social development; the Defence Industrial Base (DIB) is developed, expanded and strengthened if I may use the word, on ‘War Footing’.

The benefits of having indigenous and strong DIB are obvious and well known, but achieving the same is a big challenge though well within the realm of possibilities, provided there is an all round synergy of action amongst all stakeholders, unity of thought, will and purpose of the cause. I am sanguine that we all are capable of achieving the same, whatever the challenges may be and much more. Indian Industry has the potential to play key role in this regards.

There are certain factors which restricts, the speedy build up of DIB at the desired pace like limited size of market for defence products, long gestation period for maturing of technology, lack of cutting edge technology with the Industry, multiplicity and complexities of the defence technology coupled with vastness of the spectrum spread of defence equipment and Defence Industrial Base itself. We have to keep in mind and the requirement of keeping the Defence Forces operational ready for any eventuality without waiting for the full indigenisation and integration to take place within the country. Add to the list, various international regimes and regulations denying the cutting edge technologies to the developing nation, the situation becomes quite complex. I assure you, that the Government is committed and alive to the challenges and difficulties faced by the Industry and taking proactive steps to mitigate these difficulties to the extent possible and it is a continuous endeavour.

The Acquisition process has continuously been revamped. Defence Procurement procedure was evolved over a period of time. Based on the experience gained over a period of time in the Defence Procurement, DPP-2006 was issued in July 2006. The revised version was issued in September 2008 and amended in November to accommodate the challenges required to streamline the system and take care of the aspirations of all stakeholders. You will be glad to know that New Categorization of ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ has been introduced from the month of December 2009 onwards. Private industry is being invited for SCAPCC meetings to provide their views.

During this phase, the New Acquisition structures have been created at successive levels of Government like DAC, Defence Procurement Board, Defence Production Board and Defence R&D Board. Recently, a high level committee under Defence Secretary has been set up, for implementation of Rama Rao Committee recommendations, to restructure DRDO. MoD is taking all positive steps to ensure that the Acquisition processes are streamlined and speeded up to meet the requirement of Armed Forces in the desirable time frame, with highest degree of probity and public transparency. At the same time in order to build up sound DIB with the participation of private industry, the provisions of offsets were introduced in 2006 and these have apparently been helpful in more than one way. As on date, 10 offset contracts have been signed worth Rs. 8200 crores wherein 31 private Indian firms have been benefited apart from the OFB/DPSUs. There are 41 offset contact worth more than Rs. 49000 crores in the pipeline at various stages of negotiations which are going to materialise in the next couple of years. This will provide further impetus to the Indian industry. I would like to mention here that Government of India is committed and alive to aspirations of private industry and their problems and you will be glad to know that more than Rs. 4200 crores of contracts out of total offset contracts of worth Rs. 8200 crores signed so far have gone to private Defence Industry.

There are number of high tech systems which the Indian Land Forces require to fight the future battles. There is a requirement to upgrade the Infantry soldiers into a systems i.e. F-INSAS (Future Infantry Soldiers as system) which will include latest Assaults rifles, Head up display helmets, bullet proof jackets, Boot Anti Mine etc for which the procurement process has already commenced. In the field of Artillery the future calibres of gun will be 155 mm / 52” calibre. The plans are already underway to procure the Towed Ultra Light Howitzer Self Propelled Track & Wheeled and Mounted Gun System. The Rocket System SMERCH and PINAKA has already been introduced into the service.

Arjun and T-90 tanks have been inducted into the service and production within the country as already commenced. The upgradation or older version tanks (T-72) is already underway with the collaboration of Private Industry. ALH (Dhruv) has been introduced in service with latest weapon mounted platform. Similarly procurement of Cheetal helicopters is already underway. Replacement of L-70 guns and ZU 23 guns by new generation Air Defence weapon systems and induction of AKASH Missile Systems has commenced. The upgradation of Base workshops and the CODs is progressing at good pace.

These acquisition processes mentioned above and many more in the pipe line will provide ample opportunity to private defence industry of the country to play a significant role in near future. Government would like the industries to grab the opportunity to make full use of it.

Under this backdrop I urge all of you to synergize your efforts in a concerted manner so that Nation gets what it wants i.e. security at the lowest cost in a transparent manner. Armed Forces gets the best Arms and equipment to discharge their tremendous responsibility without looking behind their shoulders and Industry including the private industry along with the Government delivers these at the lowest cost in most efficient manner. I wish the Industry, all the institutions and associations all the very best. I am sure that we shall continue to do our best and beyond. We shall not let down our man in uniform at any cost, for that the price is too high and none of us will wish that to happen. Once again, I will say Good Luck, good way forward. PK/RAJ

(Source - PIB Release)

APPLY THE 90/10 PRINCIPLE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE

2010-02-19T06:12:00.001+05:30

THE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION TO ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
============================================

Have you read this before? Discover the 90/10 Principle. It will change your life (at least the way you react to situations). What is this principle? 10% of life is made up of what happens to you. 90% of life is decided by how you react. What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%. The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%. How?

By your reaction. You cannot control a red light., but you can control your reaction. Don’t let people fool you; YOU can control how you react. Let’s use an example.

You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You haveno control over what just what happened. What happens when the next will be determined by how you react. You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus.

Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.Why?
Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is D.

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day. Here is what could have and should have happened. Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, “It’s ok honey, you just need,to be more careful next time”. Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves.You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having. Notice the difference? Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different. Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle.

If someone says something negative about you, don’t be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don’t have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive? Remember the 90/10 principle, nd do not worry about it.

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse. Now you know the 90-10 principle. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it.

The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle. The result? Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. There never seem to be a success in life. Bad days follow bad days. Terrible things seem to be constantly happening. There is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships. Worry consumes time. Anger breaks friendships and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest. Friends are lost. Life is a bore and often seems cruel. Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged

You can be different! Understand and apply the 90/10 principle. It will change your life.

(SOURCE - GCONNECT)

THE SPEAKING TREE - Clear All The Clutter And Enjoy Space

2010-02-18T05:41:00.000+05:30

A fisherman casts his net and catches all kinds of fish. There is one kind of fish though that always eludes him. A few fish struggle and manage to swim away. Others strive to get out but remain imprisoned . The majority in the net relaxes. They are not even aware that they are in a life-threatening situation. They do not feel the danger. A few moments later they are dead.

There are four types of people . Most belong to the fourth category . Caught in the net of maya, delusion, they are oblivious of dangers. They, the bogies, are content in the bondage of worldly life. There are some who have awakened to a higher dimension and are aware of lifes pitfalls .

They make sincere attempts to free themselves. They are the yogis. A few, the sanyasis are able to free themselves. Rare is the person who, even while living in the world, remains out of it ever free, the nitya mukta, the jnani.

The Gitas fifth chapter describes three types of spiritual aspirants who remain liberated even while transacting with the world and enjoying its offerings. A yogi is a spiritual novice who is not yet free of desires. He has to tread the path of action.

A sanyasi has divested himself of most desires and is ready for contemplation and meditation . He is unaffected by pairs of opposites. Liberation is within his reach. However, one has to plough through karma yoga, the path of action, to be fit for meditation .

Krishna underscores the importance of action before plunging into meditation. A jnani has purified his soul, overcome his mind and subdued the senses. He sees himself in all. He remains unscathed even while acting.

How do the yogi, sanyasi and jnani act in the world A jnani is a dynamic actor but maintains his objectivity right through. He thinks "I do nothing at all" while actions are going on.

A sanyasi dedicates all actions to Brahmn. As the lotus leaf is untouched by water despite being in constant touch with it, a sanyasi is detached from the world despite living in it, transacting with it and giving of himself to it. He is anchored in the thought of atman while fulfilling worldly obligations. A yogi is focused on self-purification while acting with detachment. Renunciation is not life denying, it is life enabling . It is the turning away from a trivial now for a more significant future. A sportsperson , for instance, who turns his back on the trophy gets the trophy and enjoys the celebration.

Renunciation is not giving up action. It is acting in a spirit of renunciation . Renunciation is preventing the clutter of inconsequential things from interfering with the more important aspects of life. It is intelligent waste disposal . You dont have to give up things that are dear to you. It is evolving to appreciate far more fulfilling avenues of enjoyment. Then your own erstwhile preoccupations seem petty.

Renunciation is not keeping away and living a life of seclusion . It is learning to live a life of inclusion by weeding out that which comes in the way of a fulfilled life.

Ultimately, renunciation opens the doors to realisation. Life then becomes one in which you are not hampered by the limitations of body, mind and intellect . You sail aloft, unaffected by the finitude of the world and enjoy the realm beyond.
-----------------------------------------
(source- toi)

HEY - RAM/YAA - ALLAH/OH - MY GOD!#? BEING INDIAN......MY HEART WRITHES/BLEEDS IN PAIN......

2010-02-13T11:18:00.000+05:30

THE FOLLOWING (DULY EDITED) E-MAIL FORWARDED FROM ONE OF OUR SENIOR VETERAN GOPAL SINGH NEGI IS POSTED BELOW FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS. DEEPLY GRIEVED, .......I AM CHOKED AND FAIL TO WRITE ANYTHING MORE....
============================================
Really shame .........Shame Shame Shame ! If These Are Breaking News....

.The following also become the masala breaking news of Indian news channels:

* If Tendulkar cuts the cake which is made to look like national flag, he is condemned.

* If Mandira Bedi wears a saree with the flags of all the countries being portrayed on that, is made to apologise.

* If one cop in Kolkata and one in Bangalore is dismissed from his services for throwing the Indian national flag on ground, by mistake.

Then why double standards:

* During the ongoing Amarnath Sangarsh, Jammuites holding the Indian National Flag and chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' are fired and the Peaceful protesters are killed.

* Like in case of Amarnath case, people in Kashmir when want to get some demand fulfilled, protest by burning Indian national Flag, hosting Pakistani Flag and chanting 'Hindustan Murdabad, Pakistan Jindabad'. No one condemns.

* Every year on 14th Aug (Pakistani Independence Day), Pakistani flag is hosted every where in Kashmir, including the govt. buildings and on 15th Aug, same people burn the Indian flag.

Hosting Pakistani Flag and burning Indian Flag
=====================================

Shame.... Media for not making it Breaking News

THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN INDIA!!!..

Regards
GOPAL SINGH NEGI
(FWD E-MAIL)
===========================================

Amendments required in the Draft minutes of the meeting of the National Anomaly Committee

2010-02-12T22:51:00.000+05:30

Dated: 10th Feb. 2010.

Dear Comrades,

The draft minutes of the last meeting of the National Anomaly Committee held on 12.12.2009. were discussed with the Director JCA(Secretary Official Side). It was decided that the amendments required would be communicated to him in writing and thereafter the same could be finalized after further discussion with the Staff Side, a procedure that had been followed till date. Accordingly, the Staff Side had submitted the amendments to the draft minutes. We place hereunder the copy of the letter the Staff Side Secretary had sent to the Official side requesting to incorporate the amendments to the minutes. .

The official side without any further discussion, finalized the minutes incorporating some of the amendments (in Bold print) which have been placed on their website indicated. VIEW THE MINUTES
It has been decided that Staff side would further discuss this matter with Director JCA and press for incorporation of leftout amendments.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally,
K.K.N. Kutty.
Secretary General
Encl:Copy of staff side secretary's letter addressed to the Secretary Official Side, JCM. National Council.
=============================
Amendments required in the Draft minutes of the meeting of the National Anomaly Committee.
Page No.4. Item No.1-4. Line No. (in page No.4):4. Add the following as the penultimate sentence:

The Staff Side reiterated that it was an anomaly precisely for the reason that vide Para 2.2.19, the 6th CPC has stated unambiguously that where pre revised pay scales have been merged it has been done by extending the minimum prescribed for the highest pay scale with which the other pay scales are being merged. However, the pay band has been fixed with reference to the minimum of the lowest pay scales which have been merged.

Page No.4 Item No. 5. Line No. 15. The last sentence in the para (i) of agenda Item No. 5. may be replaced with the following:

The JS(Per) agreed to allow the employees to revise their option and to delegate powers to the administrative ministries to allow such revised options.

Page No. 5. Item No. 5(iv) Line 16. Add the following sentence. The Staff Side further stated that the pay granted to the fresh entrant is the deemed minimum pay of the post and no promotees can be fixed below the minimum pay of the post to which he is promoted on regular basis.

Replace the last sentence in the said para with the following:

The Department of Expenditure agreed to issue enabling orders in the matter.

Page No. 6. Item No. 5(v). Add the following at the end of the paragraph.

The Staff Side further stated that the Revised Pay Rules in relaxation of F.R. are meant only for the purpose of fixing the pay in the revised Pay scales. It has no application thereafter. It is on this specific understanding that the staff side had demanded the one time relaxation as otherwise the one time relaxation would not address similar issues of future recruitees and promotees. The Official Side contended that the Revised Pay Rules would override the provisions of the Fundamental Rules permanently. The Staff Side then contended that an increment has to be granted on completion of one year service. It must not be postponed except on award of a penalty on initiation of disciplinary proceedings. After some further discussion, the official side agreed to reconsider this matter.

Page No. 6 Item No.5(vii).Add the following at the beginning of the paragraph:

The Staff Side stated that as per the existing scheme the temporary status employees have been granted the minimum of the corresponding scale of pay of regular employees (with benefit of annual increments). Therefore it would be necessary that these employees if they are non matriculates are given the requisite training and the benefit of fixation of pay at Rs. 7000/- (with grade pay of Rs. 1800_ with effect from 1.01. 2006. The Secretary, Staff Side pointed out that in respect of those who have retired/died during the period between 1.1.2006 and 1.9. 2008 it would not be possible to impart training to them. He, therefore, suggested, referring to his letter in this regard that they may be given the benefit of Grade Pay of Rs. 1800 with effect from 1.01.2006. Regarding granting of temporary status to casual labourers, JS(Per) informed that the Department of Expenditure had already rendered their advice in the matter to JS(E) DOPT. Further action is to be taken by DOPT. The Chairman said that this issue would be considered sympathetically.

Item No.15,16 & 17- Parity in Pension to all Pensioners. Line No. 17.

Kindly omit 16 and 17 in the heading as these items were not discussed at the meeting.

Add the following in Line No. 23 after the sentence ending with the word 'recommendations.'

The Staff Side further stated that the 6th CPC in para 5.1.47 has stated that in order to maintain the existing modified parity between present and future retirees it will be necessary to allow the same fitment benefit as is being recommended for the existing Government employees.

Page No. 8 Item No.15. Line.3. Add the word "same" in between the words "allowing" and "fitment"

Page No. 8 Item No.15. Line 3. Replace the words: "equal to 40% of their existing pension" with the following:

As is being recommended to the existing Government employees

Page No. 8 Item No.15. Line.9 Replace the following sentence

"Officers of Department of Expenditure stated that this was not the intent of the recommendation of the Pay Commission.

With the following:

After some discussions, the official side agreed to re-examine the issue.

Add the following in page No. 8 at the end.

"At the conclusion of the meeting, the Staff Side took up the matter concerning non representation of Postal Federations in the National Council as some members of a Federation which could not muster even 5% membership had been approaching one court or the other in a bid to delay the verification process and consequent recognition of the Associations and Federations in the Postal Department. As it would be a never ending process, the denial for the unions who had mustered more than 75% of the membership representation in the National Council would be a miscarriage of justice, the Staff Side added.. The Director (SR) of the Postal Department, who had represented the Postal Department in the official side agreed with the contention of the Staff Side and reported to the Chairman, that they had granted adhoc recognition to the Unions who had mustered the requisite membership and the Department Council had also been convened and met on adhoc basic. The question of granting of representation to the representatives of the Staff in the National Council had been referred to the Department of Personnel and their advice in the matter was being solicited. The Chairman assured the Staff Side to look into the matter and take appropriate decision soon.

The denial of revised higher Grade Pay to Master Craftsmen of Workshops in MMS in the Postal Department, while affording the same to those in Railways and Defence was also raised by the Staff Side. The Department of Expenditure pointed out that they had not received any reference from the Postal Department in this matter, whereas the official side representative of the Postal Department stated that they had referred this matter to them earlier. After some discussion, it was agreed that the Department of Expenditure and the Postal Department would sort out this matter expeditiously."

Amendments in the bold print have been incorporated in the finalized Minutes

Posted by Confederation Of Central Government Employees

THE SPEAKING TREE - SPECIAL NIGHT OF DIVINE REST AND WAKEFULNESS - SRI SRI RAVI SHANKAR

2010-02-12T09:35:00.000+05:30

Shiva means your very self, the purest Self, your innermost core. Shiva means good or benevolent. The word ratri in Sanskrit means that which relieves you from three types of agony ethereal, mental and material. At night everything becomes quiet and peaceful. The body gets tired and goes to sleep. Shivaratri literally means that night which infuses the Shiva tatva or the transcendental principle to the three instruments: the body, mind and speech.

Shivaratri is a night of deep rest. It is the night that takes you into its lap, comforts you and gives rest. When the mind rests on the lap of the Divine, thats real rest. Like the mind, memory and intellect , Shiva is also a tatva or principle in us. Shivaratri is when the Shiva tatva and Shakti become one. The jagran in Shivaratri staying awake all night is not just forcing oneself to be awake or sing devotional songs. It is about being consciously aware of the inner rest that sleep brings everyday. When you surpass a certain layer of sleep, samadhi happens. Samadhi is often referred to as Shiva Sayujya, the presence of Shiva, a state of deep rest with alertness, which brings freedom from all identities. Kabir Das calls it koti kalpa vishram a billion years of rest consolidated in a moment. When you come out of it, you experience certain pleasantness and reduced entropy , which brings an unusual freshness to the mind and senses. The linga in Shiva temples symbolises identification or sign through which you identify someone as being male, female or neutral. The Divine is beyond the three genders; hence the Divine is called Ekalinga, or unigender. What is that one gender The Self, the Atma. The Self is beyond body, mind or intellect; it is beyond likes and dislikes. Ekalinga is the Lord of the Self.

On Shivaratri, the Shiva Shakti merges into the whole universe. Shiva has been associated with destruction; but transformation , new beginning for the better, can only happen when something is destroyed. Shiva is the factor of transformation. Sham means peace and good and kara means one who does that. Shankara means one who gives peace and does good.

The whole of Creation is the dance or play of Shiva, the tandav or dance of one consciousness, one seed, which manifested into a million species in the world. The whole world moving in an auspicious rhythm of innocence and intelligence is Shiva. Shiva is the permanent and eternal source of energy the one and only eternal state of Being. There is a story related to Shivaratri, about the union of Shiva and Shakti. The primordial and dynamic energy is wedded to the transcendental. Shiva is the silent witness and Shakti is chitti or chidvilasa, the energy that plays and displays in infinite space. Shiva is the formless Being; Shakti is manifestation in the field. This is the recognition of the dual aspect of matter and energy, prakriti and purusha, the dravya and guna substance and its qualities. Recognising the underlying non-dual nature of Brahmn is Shivaratri.

It is only wakefulness that brings out this knowledge in our consciousness and Shivaratri is the night to celebrate the wakefulness of one universal consciousness without falling into the unconscious sleep state. Breaking the pattern of unconscious sleep gives you a glimpse that you are not a mechanical apparatus but a legend in Creation. To recognise the Shiva tatva, you have to be awake.
==============================

--------------------------------------------

THE SPEAKING TREE - FERVENT PRAYERS THAT GO UN-ANSWERED

2010-02-11T08:05:00.001+05:30

This is the story of a little girl called Ranu, who grew up studying in a convent, where besides the three Rs, she was taught to pray. Ask and you shall receive, says the Bible and Ranu had been trained well in the art of asking . Not just that, she also learned to do small acts of kindness,to be generous and cultivate virtues. She was taught to remember that her Guardian Angel watched over her constantly. In school, she and her other little friends prayed regularly for a variety of favours. Prayers included appeals for a bright, sunny morning on sports day, for flowers to bloom in the manicured school garden in time for the flower show, for seniors at school to perform well in their Board exams the list was quite long.

Ranu also had her own little list of personal prayers that she was certain needed immediate attention . Please, God, give the measles to Miss P Alvarez, she pleaded, for giving me a zero in my drawing test. But Miss Alvarez looked none the worse than she was; in fact, she seemed to look even better with each passing day. Reluctantly, the disappointed Ranu gave up on this. She didnt give up praying, however. Ive never fainted at morning assembly, she informed Him, though girls around me keep dropping like nine pins. I feel so jealous of them God, especially when theyre fussed over and given a glass of yummy orange juice. Cant You let me have a blackout too, just once But no! He had decided to ignore her plea again. Then her best friend Anju fractured a bone in her foot. Her foot was now in a cast, and Anju was turned into a hero overnight . Her classmates rallied around her to touch the cast and write little messages of encouragement on the plaster of Paris. Anjus fan following grew by the day; they followed her around. Ranus heart was consumed by envy.

Cant You do anything for me I want to feel important, too. Its just not fair. I want a fracture. Perhaps You could break my hand No, on second thought, i need both hands to do my favourite needle work. Okay, my foot, but not the right one, please. Ranu had no such luck. All her pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears why wasnt He listening It seemed as though she simply did not exist (for Him). She tried her best. She slid down the banisters backwards, raced up and down the staircase three steps at a time and even jumped off the swing in the hope that she would at least sprain her ankle.

And what did she get in return An unscathed body and a summons to appear before Mother Superior in her office! Child, we have had enough of your wild ways. You will be gated. No morning walks for you for the next three weeks. For Ranu, who loved nothing more than meandering in the woods that surrounded her school, this was an awful punishment . What would she do? Later, much later, when life had moved on beyond childish dreams and innocent school girlish demands, when Ranu had grown to adulthood having weathered many challenges in life, she learnt the true value of prayers that go unanswered.

And, that when He leaves some prayers unanswered, it is His way of showing that He knows what is best for us. He does answer every single prayer but in His own time and sometimes, when a prayer goes unanswered, that is the answer.
========================

HARD TO SWALLOW: Street performer Chayne Hultgren aka 'The Space Cowboy' , re-enacts his 18-sword swallowing attempt for a Guinness World Record in front of the Sydney Opera House on Monday. The Australian beat his own world record when he simultaneously swallowed 18 swords, each blade measuring 50.8cm by 1.3cm, in the lead-up to this years International Sword Swallowing Day on February 28

PROBLEMS UNLIMITED - ALL IS WELL

2010-02-10T08:01:00.002+05:30

I was informed recently that there is a million dollars award for solving each of the seven unsolved mathematical problems popularly known as millennium problems . While looking at the list, one realised that the problems one comes across daily are no less challenging and deserve a substantial award. For instance, the first obstacle of the day is in the morning, when every second counts. The challenge is to get up when the alarm rings without hitting the snooze button. I keep the alarm clock far away from my bed so that everyone else gets up and they in turn wake me up. I have studied traffic movement and driver psychology to save commuting time and optimally used the laws of least resistance on roads to beat the traffic jams and reach office not just on time but before my boss does. Once my boss is in office, its time to find ways of avoiding him. I have maintained excellent relations with his secretary to handle this.
The next problem is pleasing the boss at home by being a successful husband. This means earning more than what my wife can spend. While this seemed like a perpetual issue, one wriggled out of this by convincing my better half to be a successful wife by spending less than my income. I have realised that wealth is health when it comes to solving health problems, and have taken a good insurance policy paying a high premium. I was fortunate to come across this quote before my marriage, which solved my wealth problems: If you are born poor, it is not your mistake. But if your father-inlaw is poor, it is your mistake. When the days story is about to end, it is time to tell a bedtime story to my three-year-old daughter. I manage to put her to bed by narrating my days adventures, though concocting a new story for her every night is a near impossible task, which makes me doze off as well. I have learnt to embrace problems and say All Izz Well, what with problems providing me an outlet for my creativity.

BY- Prashanth Harish S

===================================
(SOURCE : TOI)

RECOMMENDATIONS OF FOURTH REPORT ON STANDING COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE (14TH L.S.-2004-05) - GOI, MOD

2010-02-09T09:52:00.003+05:30

THE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
=============================================
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FOURTH REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE (2004-05) (14TH L.S.) WAS PRESENTED TO LOK SABHA/LAID IN RAJYA SABHA ON 26.4.2005, ON VARIOUS WELFARE MEASURES OF ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL, (ESM ISSUES, IN PARTICULAR) ARE STILL PENDING CONSIDERATION/IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVT.

PLEASE CLICK HERE, FOR VIEWING FULL TEXT OF THE REPORT.
=============================================

DOPT HAS PUBLISHED THE MINUTES OF MEETING OF NATIONAL ANOMALY COMMITTEE HELD ON 12th DECEMBER, 2009

2010-02-08T21:46:00.003+05:30

The following is posted for the benefit of information of all Veteran brothers:-
========================================
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF NATIONAL ANOMALY COMMITTEE HELD ON 12th DECEMBER, 2009

A meeting of the National Anomaly Committee (NAC) was held on 12th December, 2009 in Conference Room No.119, North Block, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Personnel). The Minutes of the same are published by DOPT, CAN BE VIEWED HERE.

=========================================
(SOURCE: DOPT WEBSITE)

STORIES OF RENOWNED VETERANS WHO IMMENSELY CONTRIBUTED TO GOOD GOVERNANCE

2010-02-08T07:46:00.004+05:30

THE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN
BROTHERS:-
=============================================
Dear All,

1. Few days back Editor Hindustan Timest had asked us for suggestions to improve upon his paper.

2. Some of us gave few suggestions including restoring Defence Talk page which appears once a week. He was also given suggestion to highlight valueable contribution made by many Veterans towards good Governance and Nation building. It was also suggested to accept write up on many Veterans who set examples of extereme honesty while in service persons like Gen IS Gill,Gen SK Sinha,Gen PS Joshi, Gen HS Panag and many more. Such write up will motivate today's youth to emulate their examples.

3. Editor HT has taken our suggestions very positively and has already restored Defence Talk column. Please pick your pens and contribute.

4. I am circulating a small write up on one of our EX - NCO of Indian Army, who contributed to Anti-Corruption Drive, Unearthed Telgi Scam and was instrumental in evolving RTI.

PLEASE READ - PADMA BHUSHAN, VETERAN SHRI ANNA HAZARE

Regards,

Brig Nawab Singh
=============================
From: Rajinder Singh raj2jas@gmail.com

Subject: Some person will be benefitted somewhere..

Hi Friends,

If you know anyone who has met with a fire accident or people who are born with problems/disabilities such as jointed ear, nose and mouth, please note they can avail free plastic surgery at Pasam Hospital, KODAIKANAL from March 23rd to 4th April 2010 by German Doctors.

Everything is free. Contact Nos. 04542 - 240668, 245732
=========================================

ANAMOLY COMMITTEE SET-UP, MEETINGS, RESOLUTIONS (W.R.T.PENSIONS)

2010-02-07T09:37:00.000+05:30

The following information is posted for the benefit of information of all veteran brothers:-
===========================================
The Government has released orders for constituting National Anomaly Committee and Departmental Anomaly Committees for settlement of anomalies arising out of implementation of 6th CPC recommendations.
---------------------------------------------------
No.11/2/2008-JCA
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
JCA Section
***********
OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Dated the 12th January, 2009

Subject:- Setting up of Anomaly Committee to settle the Anomalies arising out of the implentationof the 6th CPC recommendations.

Definition of AnomalyAnomaly will inculde the folllwing cases:

(a) Where the Official Side and the Staff Side are of the opinion that any recommendation is in contravention of the principle or the policy enunciated by the 6th CPC itself without the Commissionassigning any reason: and

(b) Where the maximum of the revised scale is less than the amount at which one is entitled to be fixed except in those cases where the same is as a result of modified fixation formula adopted by theGovernment and

(c) Where the amount of revised allowance is less than the existing rate.

(2) Composition: There will be 2 levels of Anomaly Committees, National and Departmental, consisting of reprensentativesof the Official Side and the Staff Side of the National Council and the Departmental Council respectively.

(3) The Departmental Anomaly Committee may be chaired by the Additional Secretary (Admn.) or the JointSecretary (Admn.), if there is no post of Additional Secretary (Admn.). Financial Adviser of the Ministry/Departmentshall be one of the Members of the Departmental Anomaly Committee.

(4) The National Anomaly Committee will deal with anomalies common to two or more Departments and inrespect of common categories of employees. The Departmental Anomaly Committee will deal with anomaliespertaining exclusively to the Department concerned and having no repercussions on the employees of anotherMinistry/Department in the opinion of the Financial Adviser. The items already taken up by the Fast Track Committeewill not be considered by the Anomaly Committee.

(5) The Anomaly Committee shall receive anomalies through Secretary, Staff Side of respective Council upto six months from the date of its constitution an it will finally dispose of all the anomalies within a period of one yearfrom the date of its constitution. Any recommendations of the Anomaly Committee to resolve the anomaly shallto the approval of the Govenment.

(6) Cases where there is a dispute about the definition of "anomaly" and those where there is a disagreementthe staff side and the official side on the anomaly will be referred to and "Arbitrator" to be appointed out of apanel of names proposed by the two sides. However, this arbitration will not be a part of the JCM scheme.

(7) The Arbitrator so appointed shall consider the disputed cases arising in the Anomaly Committees at the National as well as Departmental level.

(8) Orders regarding appointment of the Arbitrator and constitution of Anomaly Committee at NationalLevel will be issued separately.

(9) All Ministries/Departments are accordingly requested to take urgent action to set up the Anomaly Committeesfor settlement of anomalies arising out of implementation of the 6th CPC recommendations as stipulated above.

Sd/- (Dinesh Kapila) Deputy Secretary (JCA)
=====================================
All Pensioners Associations are advised to send their representations relating to alleged anomalies relating to pension to the National Council (JCM)

Subject:- Setting of Anomaly Committee to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission’s recommendation.

The undersigned is directed to say that a National Anomaly Committee consisting of representatives of the Official Side and the Staff Side has been set up by the Department of Personnel & Training vide their OM. No. 11/2/2008-JCA dated 4.2.2009 read with OM dated 12.1.2009 to settle the anomalies arising out of the implementation of the 6th Pay Commission’s recommendations.

In accordance with DoPT’s OM dated 12.1.2009, the anomaly will include cases where the Official Side and the Staff Side are of the opinion that any recommendations is in contravention of the principle or the policy enunciated by the Sixth Central Pay Commission itself without the Commission assigning any reason.

The Department of Personnel and Training has informed that the said committee will examine all kinds of anomalies which are covered under the definition of anomaly as given in their OM No. 11/2/2008-JCA dated 12.1.2009. If the staff side and the official side agree that a particular issue related to pensions is covered under the definition of anomaly, the same may also be taken up for discussion in the National Anomaly Committee.

The Department of Personnel and Training’s OM No. 11/2/2008-JCA dated 12.1.2009 provides that the Anomaly Committee shall receive anomalies through Secretary, Staff Side up to six months from the date of its constitution. Accordingly, all Pensioners Associations, etc, are advised to send their representations relating to alleged anomalies in the orders of the Government relating to pension to the Secretary, Staff Side, National Council (JCM), 13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001.

(M.P.Singh)
Director (PP)
Telefax No. 24624802
==========================
National Anomaly Committee Meeting and decisions.

The first meeting of the National Anomaly Committee was held on 12th December, 2009. Secretary (Personnel) chaired the meeting. On behalf of the Confederation, Com. S.K. Vyas, President and Com. K.K.N. Kutty Secretary General attended and participated in the discussion. In the opening remark, Com. Umraomal Purohit drew the attention of the Chairman of the non-functioning of the Departmental Councils in various departments and the consequent non setting up of Departmental Anomaly Committees. He also raised the issue of the order of the DOPT defining the term Anomaly, which was at variance with the one given in 1997. He recalled the discussion he had with the official side in the matter when it was agreed that the definition of the term would be the same as was in the order of 1997. Responding to the remarks made by the Staff Side Secretary, the Chairman said that his office would take steps to ensure the functioning of the JCM at all levels and informed the meeting that the National Council of the JCM would meet on 16th January, 2009 and the notice therefore has already been issued. On the question of anomaly, it was informed by the Chairman, that all efforts would be taken to address all questions of anomaly and resolve them. The official side clarified that all questions of disparity in relativities would also be addressed except on those on which the 6th CPC has gone into and taken decision enumerating reasons. The Chairman asked the staff Side to bring to the notice of the DOPT/DOE of all those items which stand rejected by the concerned Departmental Anomaly Committees taking shelter under the extant definition.

We now reproduce the items which were discussed and the decisions arrived on each of them.

1.The item Nos. 1 to 4 and 5(iii)(iv) and 7 were grouped together and discussed as they were identical in content. For the sake of convenience, we reproduce item No. 3 which covers all the above mentioned items.

Fixation of Pay in Revised Pay Scale- The VI CPC in para 2.2.19 (vii) has indicated that where prerevised pay scales have been merged it has been done by extending the existing minimum prescribed for the highest pay scale with which the other scales are being merged. Accordingly it has also been stipulated in 7(1) (A) of the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2008 that if the minimum of the Revised Pay Band / Pay Scale is more that what is determined by multiplying the existing basic pay as on 1.1.2006 by a factor of 1.86 and rounding of the resultant figure to the next multiple of 10, the pay shall be fixed at the minimum of the revised Pay Band / Pay Scale. Note 2B below Rule 7, ibid and illustration 4B given in the Explanatory Memorandum to the Revised Pay Rule apply to cases of merger of Pay Scales. Note 2 B states that pay in the revised Pay Bands will be fixed in the manner prescribed in accordance with Clause (A) (i) And clause (A) (ii) of Rule 7. In illustration 4B a case of an employee in the pre revised pay scale Rs.5000-8000 drawing Rs.5600 as on 1.1.2006 in the pay scale of 6500-10500 has been indicated with which the pay scale of Rs.5000-8000 stands merged.

Taking these into account the pay in the Pay Band in the case of all employees in the Pay Scales of Rs.5000-8000 and Rs.5500-9000 has to be fixed at Rs. 6500 multiplied by 1.86 i.e. Rs.12090. The fixation tables for pay scales 5000-8000 and 5500-9000may therefore be modified fixing the pay in the pay band at Rs.12090 wherever it is less than that amount.

Illustration 4B in the explanatory memorandum to the Revised Pay Rules 2008 may be modified as under:- Existing Scale of Pay 5000-8000, Pay Band PB-2 9300-34800
Merged with Pay Scale 6500-10500
Existing Basic Pay as on 1.1.06 Rs.5600
Pay in the PB-2 Rs.5600 X 1.86 = 10420 As per Clause (A) (i) of Rule 7(i) of Revised Pay rules 2008
Pay in the PB-2 Rs.6500- X 1.86 = 12090 As per Clause (A) (ii) of Rule 7 (i) of Revised Pay Rules 2008
Grade Pay Rs.4200

Revised Basic Pay Rs.16290
-----------
Decision:- The Staff Side pointed out that what has been recommended by the 6th CPC in Para 2.2.19(vii_ in respect of fixation of minimum pay in the Pay band for merged pay scales had not been taken into account while computing the pay band and the table. After some discussion, the official side stated to have a re-look into the matter.
----------------------------
Item No. 6.-Benefit on promotion.

It is an accepted proposition that an employee when promoted to a higher post involving higher responsibility should get a suitable raise in his salary. It was on this consideration that FR 22-C was framed whereby the promotee was first granted an increment in the lower Pay Scale and then fixed at the appropriate (next) stage in the higher grade.

At the time of V CPC it was agreed that minimum increase in salary on promotion shall not be less then Rs.100/- There are certain grades in which, on promotion, a hike of Rs.650/- is being allowed with reference to pre-revised pay scale.

In these circumstances grant of only one increment in the lower Pay Band / Pay scale and difference in grade pay, if there be any, being granted on promotion is certainly inadequate. We therefore propose that minimum benefit on promotion should not be less than 10% of the Pay+Grade Pay of the feeder post.

Decision:

The official side stated that the above item was not covered under the definition of anomaly. However, after some discussion, it was agreed that the official side would further discuss the issue outside the forum of the Anomaly Committee.

Item No. 7. - Fixation of pay on promotion.

The minimum Entry pay with Grade Pay in the revised pay structure for direct recruits appointed on or after 1.1.2006 has been specific vide first Schedule, Part –A, Section II of the Gazette Notification of the Govt. of India, Ministry of Finance No. G.S.R. 622 (E) dated 29.8.2008.

On promotion, the pay of the promotees should not be less than the direct recruits.

In VI CPC structure there is no pay scale and new concept of grade pay has been inducted, which should determine the status. As such the following provisions need to be inserted below clarification 2. 'The method of Fixation of Pay on promotion on or after 1.1.2006. "on promotion to the higher grade pay of an employee should be fixed appropriately and in any case it should not be less than the entry Pay in the revised pay structure for direct recruits appointed on of after 1.1.2006 for the post." further, on promotion to the next higher grade pay an employee should be fixed by adding 10% of pay, plus the grade pay as demanded by NC/JCM in its memorandum submitted to the Chairman, NC/JCM/Cabinet secretary on 8.4.2008.

Decision.

The Official Side agreed to issue enabling orders in the matter.

Item No. 8.

Refixation of pension/family pension.

Para 9 of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension's O.M. No. F.No. 38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 1.9.2008 states as under:-

"The consolidated pension / family pension as worked out in accordance with provisions of para 4.1 above shall be treated as final basic pension with effect from 1.1.2006 and shall qualify for grant of Dearness Relief sanctioned thereafter.".

This has left uncovered the provision made in para 4.2 of the same OM, which lays down as under:-

"The fixation of pension will be subject to the provision that the revised pension in no case, shall be lower than fifty present of the minimum of the pay in the pay band plus the grade pay corresponding to the pre-revised pay scale from which the pensioner had retired. In the case of HAG + and above scales, this will be fifty percent of the minimum of the revised pay scale."

Since refixation of pension has been allowed both under paras 4.1 and 4.2, they should both he covered in para 9 of the OM. It is requested that para 9 of the said OM may be revised including both paras 4.1 and 4.2 thereof.

Decision.

Orders have been issued vide O.M.dated 12th and 14th September, 2009

Item. No. 9.

Anomaly in pension for Government Servants who retired/Died in harness between 1.1.2006 and 1.9. 2006

The Sixth Central Pay Commission lays down inter-alia that once an employee renders the minimum pensionable service of 20 years, pension should be paid at 50% of the average emoluments received during the past 10 months or the pay last down, whichever is more beneficial to the retiring employee.

As per the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension O.M. F.No. 38/37/08-P&P(W)(A) dated 2nd September 2008, these orders shall come into force with effect from the date of issue of this OM, namely 2nd September 2008 and shall be, applicable to all Government Servants becoming entitled to pension after rendering the minimum qualifying service of 20 years or on completion of 10 years qualifying service in accordance with rule 49(2) of the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

However, the Govt. servants who have retired on or after 1.1.2006 but before the date of issue of this OM (2.9.2008) have been debarred from this benefit. They will be governed by the rules/ orders which were in force immediately before coming into effect of these orders. In other words their pension will be calculated on average emoluments received during the last 10 months and not on the actual pay last drawn. It is requested that this discrimination should be removed.

Decision.

Orders are under issue. The Staff Side raised the inordinate delay in fixing the revised pension and disbursement of arrears to pensioners. The official side assured to monitor the payment of arrears to pensioners. The refusal on the part of many banks to issue the due and drawn statement even on requisition was also brought to the notice of the Chairman. The Director (Pension) assured that suitable instructions would be issued in this regard to all Banks.

Item No.10.

Commutation of pension.

The minimum period of service for eligibility for pension is 10 years. For appointment to Government Service the minimum age is 18 years. In view of this, if a person is appointed at the age of 18 years he cannot become eligible for pension unless he has served for a period of at least 10 years and attained the age of 28 years i.e. when his birthday falls in the 29th years.

The table adopted a per the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension's OM No. 38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 2.9.2008 shows the minimum age of next birthday after retirement as 20 which is not understood. It is requested that suitable amendment to the table referred to may be notified.

The item was withdrawn by the Staff Side.

Item No.11 to 14. These items were deferred for discussion at the next meeting.
--------------------------
Item No.15.- Parity in pension of all pre 1996 retirees with those who retired on or after 1.1.2006

The Government have already accepted in principle that there shall be parity in pension amongst pensioners irrespective of the date from which they had retired. Accordingly pension of all pre 1986 retirees was revised with effect from 1.1.96 by first determining the notional pay which would have been fixed as on 1.1.86 (treating as if the employees were in service on that date) and then the Notional Pension was updated by applying the same fitment formula which was applied to serving employees.

We, therefore demanded that the notional pay of all pre 1996 retirees may be fixed as on 1.1.96 in terms of Revised Pay Rules, 1996 and the notional pension as on 1.1.96 may be revised w.e.f. 1.1.06 by applying the same fitment formula which is applied in the case of serving employees i.e. by multiplying the notional pension as on 1.1.96 by 1.86 + the Grade Pay of the Pay Scale (V CPC) from which they would have retired.

The revision of pension has been done by applying the formula of Basic Pension as on 1.1.96 + Dearness Pension (50% of Basic Pension) + Dearness Relief on Basic Pension + Dearness Pension+40% of Basic Pension. This is not the same that has been granted to serving employees. In whose case the Grade Pay which is the fitment benefit is 40% of the maximum of the Pre-revised Pay Scale.

As such the Pensioners should also be granted 50% the of Grade Pay of the Pay Scale from which they had retired by way of fitment benefit and not 40% of Basic Pension.

Decision.

The Staff Side pointed out that the 6th CPC in order to maintain the existing modified parity between the present and future retirees had indicated that it would be necessary to allow the same fitment benefit as is being recommended for the existing Government employees vide para 5.1.47 in page 338. However, the Commission recommended that all past pensioners should be allowed fitment benefit equal to 40% of the basic pension. The statement and the recommendation made to give effect to the statement was at variance giving rise to anomaly and disparity in pension entitlement between the past pensioners and the future pensioners. After detailed discussion, the official side agreed to consider the issue once again.
===================

PENSION SLIP THROUGH INTERNET : SBI

2010-02-03T17:02:00.000+05:30

The following is posted for the benefit of information of all veteran brothers:-
===========================================
Dear Veterans

If you draw your pension thro SBI, and have internet banking log in details you can find your pension slip. Please log in and click on "Enquiries" then on "Pension Slip" select the year, month & Defence as category and submit.

For the information of the veterans having accounts with State Bank of India please note that their software had built in facility to generate both these documents at the CPPC level and the Branch has to using its email id access the CPPC and get the document..

So please ask for your dues by complaining at the highest level ALL BANKS AND ALL BRANCHES through internet.

If you donot have the log in details please approach your branch. It is simple and convenient.

Regards

Lt Col P N Krishnan
Veteran
9840223170
========================================
(source: SANJHA MORCHA)

(e-mailed by Manimala, ex-JWO)

ALLOWANCES EXEMPTED UNDER SECTION 10(14)(ii) OF INCOME TAX ACT

2010-02-02T09:43:00.001+05:30

The following allowances are exempt under section 10(14) (ii), subject to the limits stated there-against:-

i. Special Compensatory Allowance or High Altitude Allowance or Uncongenial Climate Allowance or Snow bound Area Allowance or Avalanche Allowance:- Rs. 800/- common for various areas of North East, Hilly areas of U.P., H.P. and J &K (for specific details about the areas eligible for the allowance, please refer to the section 10(14) if I T Rules 1962) and Rs. 7000/- per month for Siachen area of J & K and Rs. 300/- common for all places at a height of 1000 mts or more other than the above places.

ii. Special Compensatory Allowance in the nature of Border Area Allowance or Remote Locality Allowance or Difficult Area Allowance or Disturbed Area Allowance:- Various amounts ranging from Rs. 200/- per month to Rs. 1300/- per month are exempt for various areas as specified in Rule 2BB.

iii. Special Compensatory (Tribal Area/Scheduled Area/Agency Area Allowance available in M.P., TN, U.P., Karnataka, Tripura, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa:- Rs. 200/- per month.

iv. Any allowance granted to an employee working in any transport system to meet his personal expenditure during duty performed in the course of running of such transport from one place to another:
70% of such allowance upto a maximum of Rs. 6000/- per month.

v. Children Education allowance:- Rs. 100/- per month per child upto a maximum of 2 children.

vi. Allowance granted to meet Hostel Expenditure of children:- Rs. 300/- per month per child upto a maximum of two children.

vii. Compensatory Field Area Allowance available in various areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur Nagaland, Sikkim, H.P., U.P. & J&K (for specific details about the areas eligible for the allowance, please refer to the section 10(14) if I T Rules 1962): - Rs. 2600/- per month.

viii. Compensatory Modified Field area Allowance available in specified areas of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, U.P., J&K, H.P. & North East (for specific details about the areas eligible for the allowance, please refer to the section 10(14) if I T Rules 1962):- Rs. 1000/- per month

ix. Counter Insurgency Allowance to members of Armed Forces:- Rs. 3900/- Per month

x. Transport Allowance granted to an employee to meet his expenditure for the purpose of commuting between the place of residence and place of duty:- Rs. 800/- per month

xi. Transport allowance granted to physically disabled (blind or orthopaedically handicapped with disability of lower extremities) employee for the purpose of commuting between place of duty and residence:- Rs. 1600/- per month.

xii. Underground Allowance granted to an employee working in under ground coal mines:- Rs. 800/- per month.

xiii. Special Allowance in the nature of High Altitude Allowance granted to member of the armed forces:- Rs. 1060 p.m. (for altitude of 9000-15000 ft.)
Rs. 1600/- p.m. (for altitudes above 15000 feet.)

xiv. Special allowance granted to members of armed forces in the Highly Active Field Area Allowance:- Rs. 4200/- p.m.

xv. Special allowance granted to members of armed forces in the nature of island duty allowance: - Rs. 3,250/- in Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Group of Islands.

(source : CG Employees news)

FREE HEART SURGERY FOR CHILDREN

2010-01-29T14:19:00.000+05:30

The following e-mail from our Vet.Manimala is posted for the benefit of information of all Veteran brothers:-
===================================

REVISION OF DISABILITY/WAR INJURY ELEMENT OF PENSION IN R/O PRE-96 ARMED FORCES PENSIONERS : BASED ON CoS COMMITTEE REPORT

2010-01-29T08:44:00.036+05:30

THE GOVT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, DEPTT OF ESM ORDERS ON REVISION OF DISABILITY/WAR INJURY ELEMENT OF PENSION BASED ON THE CoS COMMITTEE REPORT (PARA 7.1)MAY PLEASE BE SEEN BELOW.

ALL AFFECTED VETERAN BROTHERS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT APPLICATION (IN TRIPLICATE) AS PER ANNEXURE, WHICH MAY PLEASE BE NOTED AND COMPLIED WITH IMMEDIATELY.
=============================================

Affordable Housing for protectors of our nation; Shaurya Scheme

2010-01-28T08:54:00.000+05:30

THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
============================
Dear Sir / Madam,

We are enclosing an e-brochure alongwith this mail which we would request you to kindly circulate through your mailing list / blog / site.

As you may be aware, ‘Shaurya Scheme’ has been launched at TDI City Sector 110, Mohali (Near Chandigarh) for providing affordable housing to defence and para-military personnel and their families.

The basic features are :

1440 Sq ft dwelling units starting from Rs 21.00 lacs

Located at a proper govt demarcated Sector in Mohali

Upcoming location with the new international airport and all other amenities, facilities and landmarks in the close vicinity

Escalation-Free Construction linked payment plan

Prices fully disclosed with no hidden element in the pricing sheet

Units would be ‘ready to move’ once possession is handed over

Much cheaper and closer to Chandigarh and Panchkula than AWHO’s project located in Sector 114 Mohali

Relaxed eligibility conditions for all categories and minimal red-tapism

The forms are ONLY accepted through the following project co-ordinators who shall undertake preliminary scrutiny before forwarding the same to the company.

For all over India (Except Delhi and NCR) : Col PC Kanwar, VSM, Telephone : 09592-444555

For Delhi and NCR : Capt Puneet Dadeech, Telephone : 09891-958271

Queries can be directed to shaurya.scheme@gmail.com

Thanking You

Shaurya Scheme Team
Affodrdable Housing for protectors of our nation @ Sector 110 Mohali

CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE DETAILS

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

Connect With A Smile Of Contentment

2010-01-28T08:43:00.000+05:30

Her smile beckons me; it is captivating, friendly and full of warmth. She cuts paddy stalks rhythmically with the other womenfolk labouring under the harsh afternoon sun. They giggle as i wave out to them and ask if i can join them in their work. The woman with the warm smile shyly points out that such hard work is not for the likes of me. The rest start laughing. I too join in the laughter, in response to the simple truth of my inability to swiftly cut paddy stalks with the sun burning my back. Theres so much hard work, harsh circumstances , and little leisure in this remote tribal hamlet. Later she speaks to me about her life cheerfully with no trace of the grim circumstances that engulf her. She connects with a smile of contentment. search for all of us. In this elusive search, several paths are explored in the hope to somersault into a life of deep contentment . Whether or not one makes it to that point of bliss becomes inconsequential if it means sidestepping connectedness with fellow beings. Happy responses to lifes travails are confounding. Is this a mindset that has decided to quietly accept what life has to offer as ones destiny or a smiling dare you to challenging circumstances Surely it is the latter. In each one of us is the innate desire to connect to our circumstances, share moments from our life with another and brave it out. That is the inner core from where each one of us draws energy to live life through hard times.

A smile reflects whats inside us and communicates our desire to experience connectedness with another. Smiling at another is a fleeting moment, but sublime nevertheless. Contentment is a natural outcome of engaging in such moments. Leading a meagre existence is not very appealing. Despite that, with few resources to indulge in materialistic extravagances, there is a simple understanding among these people on the endless bounty of connecting to others and finding contentment. At the other extreme, the modern world is all set on a great march to fulfil an ever-demanding cycle of needs. Rushing past our fellow travellers, there is forgetfulness in our behaviour, little attempt to connect, fear of looking in the eye and displaying feelings. But the deep reservoir of emotions within us is waiting to connect. It is in anguish at not being able to express. And in anguish, there is little scope for contentment. Contentment becomes most elusive, and ironically becomes a never-ending even if the need to connect for the exalted soul becomes less important , there are many who crave for a connection with another being as a means to walking the path of contentment.

It is said that all beings are one, but that they manifest in different forms, and scientific studies have proven that life forms of all kinds respond to warmth and make an effort to connect. It must be this fundamental connectedness that beckons me to the warm smile of a total stranger in a remote tribal hamlet. The lighting up of a face with an exuberant smile, the brushing aside of the daily tirades of life and taking the circumstances as a given is nothing but the opening up of our souls to the many opportunities of exulting in this moment of existence. Then why the search Connecting with a smile is perhaps a way to finding ourselves in a state of contentment.

(Joyoti Deai, The Speaking Tree, toi)
=============================

SUBJECT - REVISION OF SERVICE PENSION FROM 1.1.1996 ONWARDS - REGARDING

2010-01-27T11:27:00.000+05:30

MANY VETERAN BROTHERS CALLED ME TO POST IN THE BLOG MY PETITION FOR REVISION OF PENSION WEF 1.1.96, BASED ON THEE JUDGEMENT OF PANJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT, IS POSTED BELOW FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS.

THEY MAY ALSO SEND SIMILAR APPLICATION WITH THEIR PENSION DETAILS.

ARMY AND NAVY BROTHERS MAY WRITE THEIR RECORD OFFICES AND ARMY/NAVY HQ ADDRESSES.

IF SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FLOOD THE AUTHORITIES, IT IS HOPED THEY RESPOND POSITIVELY.

THANKS
===============================
FROM : 612027 EX-SGT GV NARAYANA,
C/0 V NARSIMHULU (CONTRACTOR),
HOUSE NO.170/C,
BASAVESHWARA COLONY,
MAKTHAL (TQ),
(DIST) MAHABUBNAGAR - 509208
ANDHRA PRADESH

TO : 1)THE DEFENCE MINISTER,
GOI, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE,
SOUTH BLOCK,
NEW DELHI-110011

2)THE SECRETARY (ESW),
DEPTT OF EXSM WELFARE,
5 - A, SOUTH BLOCK,
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOI,
NEW DELHI 110011

3)THE DIRECTOR (PENSION/POLICY),
213, A WING, SENA BHAVAN,
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOI,
NEW DELHI 110011

4)THE DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED HQ (AIR FORCE),
SOUTH HUTMENTS, KASHMIR HOUSE,
RAJAJI MARG, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOI,
NEW DELHI 110011

5)AIR HEADQUARTERS (VAYU BHAVAN)
DTE OF PAY PENSION AND REGS.
NEW DELHI 110011

SUBJECT - REVISION OF SERVICE PENSION FROM 1.1.1996 ONWARDS - REGARDING

REF :- 1) GOI MOD LTR NO.1(2)98/D(PEN/SER) DATED 3/2/98 AND 14/7/98.
2) GOI MOD LTR NO. 1(1)99/D(PEN/SER) DATED 7/6/99.
3) GOI MOD LTR NO. 14(3)/2004-D(PEN/SER)/VOL.III DATED 1.2.06.
4) PCDA(P) ALLAHABAD CIRCULAR 350 DATED 19.5.06
5) GOI MOD LTR NO.17(4)/2008(1)/D(PEN/POLICY) DATED 11.11.08.
6) PCDA(P) ALLAHABAD CIR ULAR NO.397 DATED 18.11.08.
7) AFRO LTR NO.RO/3201/7/P&WW(CBS)/612027 D/D 18.6.09.
8) PB &HAR HC JUDGEMENT (CWP NO.6223/2007 DATED 26.5.2008)

RESPECTED SIR,

1. I have the honour to state that I was sanctioned a Service Pension of Rs.551/- w.e.f. 29.11.1989 vide Pension Payment Order No. CS/14/B/11350/1990 on my discharge from the IAF. On my petition to revise my pension (correct rate), the AFRO vide letter cited at (7) above, had informed me the pension rates (incorrectly) fixed on various dates as stated -

"8. The Revised Consolidated Penssion (RCP) and Revised Pension(RP) payable to the Pensioner for 18 years of qualifying service is as per the details appended below:-

RCP Rs.1694/- wef 1.1.96 Table No.135 annexed to GOI MOD ltr No.1(2)/98(Pen/Ser) d/d 14/7/98 (V CPC recommendations).

RP Rs.2541/- wef 1.4.04 Table No.62 annexed to O/o the PCDA(P) Allahabad circular No.350 d/d 19/5/06 (with 50% DP merged).

RP Rs.1837/- wef 1.1.06 ---------------------------do----------------------- (without merger of 50%DP)

RP Rs.2755/- wef 1.1.06 --------------------------do-------------------------(with 50% DP merged)

RP Rs.4218/- wef 11.1.06 GOI MOD ltr No.17(4)/2008(1)/D(Pen/policy) daated 11.11.08 and O/o PCDA(P) Allahabad Circular No.397 d/d 18/11/08 (VI CPC recommendations).

2. In the light of Panjab and Haryana High Court Judgement No.6223/2007 dated 26.5.2008, had quashed the cut off date 1.1.06 vide Para 9 of circular dated 1.2.2006 and directed the GOI to grant revised pensionary benefits to all the petitioners and similarly situated PBORs within a period of 6 months. Hence the applicability of this judgement in my pension case also. My correct Service Pension (for 18 years reck.service) should have been fixed at the rates as given below:-

RCP - Rs.1862/- (Rs.1837/-+25/- (50% of Classn allowance) wef 1.1.96 - (wrt max.pay scale of Gp -Y=3775-5050/- as per above MOD Orders.) The effective date should have been wef 1.1.96 (as clarified in terms of Panjab and Haryana High Court Order No.6223/07)

RCP - Rs.2080/-(Rs.2035/-+25/- (50% of Classn allowance)wef 10.10.97 (wrt max.pay scale of Gp-Y=4320-5595/- as per MOD Orders.

RP - Rs.3078/-(Rs.3053/-+25- (50% of Classn allowance)wef 1.4.04 (with 50% merger of DP with basic pension)

RCP - Rs. 4940/- (Rs.4600/- (2035 x 2.26 VI CPC Formula) + Rs.100/-Classn.allowance+ Rs.240/- GCB 1,2,3 rates) w.e.f. 1.1.06 aas per VI CPC Recommendations.

RCP - Rs.5871/- (Rs.5531/- (15210x24/66 = 5531)+ Rs.100/- CA +240 GCB (I,II,III) Alternatively beneficial pension as per Para 5 of MOD Orders of 11.11.08, 18.11.08 and 2.2.09 in terms of VI CPC Recommendations w.e.f. 1.1.06.

3. You are requested to kindly pass orders so that my correct pension is revised by AFRO as stated above and issue a Corr.PPO at an early date.

4. Thanking you sir.

Yours faithully,

Date :-------------------- (GV Narayana)Ex-sgt
ENCL : AS STATED
Copy to:-

1) CGDA, WEST BLOCK, RK PURAM, New Delhi- for kind information and necesssary action.
2) PCDA(PENSION),DRAUPADI GHAT, Allahabad(U.P.) - --do--
3) Jt.CDA(AF),C/O AFCAO,SUBROTO PARK, New Delhi-10 --do--
4) AFRO, SUBROTO PARK, New Delhi -110010
============================

BEYOND RULES TO RESPONSIBILITY

2010-01-27T06:15:00.001+05:30

The following article is posted for the benefit of information of all Veteran Brothers:-
==================================
In our daily routine we blindly follow other people's directions instead of relying on our own intelli-gence because it is easy to place responsibility on others. Once, a sergeant in his training session asked the recruits why walnut wood was used for making the rifle. The recruits thought hard and one of them answered, 'Because walnut is harder than other types of nuts.' The sergeant brushed him off saying , 'Wrong!' Another recruit ventured , 'Because it is more durable.' The sergeant's voice boomed, 'Wrong !' A third person tried his luck, 'Because it is waterproof .'

The sergeant tired of the answers by now, replied, 'You boys surely have a lot to learn. Simple reason: that is what is laid down in the rule book!' You say you are obedient, but you are actually shirking the responsibility of owning up to your actions. This is a dangerous and age-old habit — following the rule book is dangerous because sometimes you are not even aware that you are missing responsibility and intelligence. You become a parrot — repeating the same thing for years together because someone told it to you.

Once, a convict was scolding his lawyer, 'You are a useless lawyer. You don't even understand your responsibility of when to raise an objection.' The puzzled lawyer asked him, 'I don't understand. When do you think I should have raised an objection when I didn't ?' The convict replied, 'When the opposing lawyer spoke, you objected. But, when the judge declared me guilty, you kept your mouth shut.'

It is always easy to put the blame on the whole world. But, if you just look a little deeper, you can see how you are responsible for what is happening in your life! Because you do not live every moment with awareness and take responsibility for your words and actions, you do so many things unconsciously. Then, when the effects of these actions happen, you claim you don't deserve the results.

Acting out of your own intelligence is always taking complete responsibility for what you do. When you obey someone else you feel that you are being subservient to that person. But when you disobey that person, you feel guilty. The way out of this conflict is to follow your intelligence with the understanding you alone are responsible for your action. Then you will not hurt anyone including yourself. And you will be responding intelligently to the person you are disobeying as well. Be Blissful!

(By : Raj Kumar Makkad)
===============================

60TH HAPPY BIRTHDAY - INDIA

2010-01-26T05:56:00.017+05:30

(SOURCE: TOI)

THE COAS DESIGNATE TO TAKE CHARGE ON 31.3.2010

2010-01-22T18:20:00.003+05:30

Lt Gen VK Singh, Chief of Army Staff Designate takes over on March 31. He issued a statement today saying, "I am grateful for this honour and the responsibility which our leaders have bestowed on me. I shall carry out my duties well to lead one of the world’s finest Army. It will be my endeavor to lead the brave men while keeping up with the best tradition of the Indian Army and upholding the Indian Constitution."
(SOURCE: lIVEFIST)

Maj (Dr) TC Rao, Chairman Esm Cell, DPCC, nominated as Member, Security Committee to CW Games 2010

2010-01-22T07:06:00.003+05:30

The following e-mail from Maj (Dr) TC Rao (Retd), is posted for the benefit of information of all Veteran Brothers:-
============================================
Dear Sir,

Please find enclosed herewith,

Regards,
Maj (Dr) T C Rao (Retd)
=============================================
Dear Veterans,

You will be happy to know that with your good wishes, blessings, and encouragements, I have been nominated as Member of Security Committee to forthcoming Common Wealth Games 2010. The committee would advise the Executive Management on matters relating to planning and monitoring the functional area, and will remain in touch with Executive Management.

The task assigned to me is a challenging one. I would need your valuable support and blessings in the forthcoming games.

I am, doing my best to get rehabilitation of Ex- serviceman in these forthcoming games and had discussion with Minister of Sports, Chairman Common Wealth Games and Chief Minister of Delhi regarding this.

I will keep on apprising about our progress from time to time.

“JAI HIND”

Maj (Dr) TC Rao
Chairman
DPCC
==============================
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR REHABILITATION FOR RETIRED DEFENCE OFFICERS

NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL,
UTPADAKTA BHAVAN, 5-6,
INSTITUTIONAL AREA,
LODHI ROAD,
NEW DELHI-110003

EPABX LINES: -
24690331, 24690332, 24390333, 24625447, 24694156

Contact Person: N K Changi
Mob: 9891177728

VACANCY ON CONTRACTUAL BASIS

NUMBER OF VACANCIES : 150

CRITERIA FOR QUALIFICATION:-

AGE : 52 – 65 YEARS

RANK : MAJOR AND ABOVE

REMUNERATION:- RS. 1500/- PER DAY + TA

For more details you are requested to Contact above Address.

Thanking you.

Sincerely yours,

Maj (Dr) T C Rao
Chairman
Ex-Servicemen Department
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee
==========================

MRS SONIA GANDHI, CHAIRPERSON, UPA AND PRESIDENT, INC RECIPROCATES THE 2010 NEW YEAR GREETINGS OF EXSERVICEMEN

2010-01-21T15:45:00.001+05:30

THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL FROM MAJ(DR) TC RAO (RETD), IS POSTED BELOW FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
================================================
Dear Veteran,

I had sent New Year greeting to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson UPA & President, India National Congress Party on behalf of Ex-servicemen.

Our greeting have been reciprocated by her which is attached.

I am always available to you for service.

“Jai Hind”

Regards,
Maj (Dr) T C Rao
Chairman
DPCC
=====================

===================================
LET US ALL HOPE THIS NEW YEAR TO BRING ALL GOOD THINGS TO ALL ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY.

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

A CORRECTION TO THE POST - A MIX UP..OF CASE NO.....

2010-01-21T15:36:00.001+05:30

      I sincerely apologise for posting inadvertantly, due to mix-up of cases numbers, which is now corrected as follows (thanks to Maj Navdeep Singhji, for correcting me):-
============================================
There were two SLPs, one on the issue of grant of improved pay scales and resultant pension wef
1-1-96 rather than Oct 97, and the second was on grant of improved pensionary benefits and higher weightages wef 1-1-96 instead of 1-1-06 when the GoM report was implemented.

The first SLP has been dismissed while the second is still pending and the decision of the Hon'ble Punjab & Haryana High Court is still under a stay.
============================================
      The inconvenience caused due to posting of wrong information is HIGHLY REGRETTED.

      This is for the information of all veteran brothers.
=========================================

THE SUPREME COURT DISMISSED SLP OF GOI(MOD) AGAINST THE VERDICT OF PANJAB & HARYANA HIGH COURT(CWP NO.6223/07)

2010-01-21T06:04:00.006+05:30

    Some of our Veteran brothers are under the impression that the Govt of India (MOD) have filed SLP and obtained STAY ORDERS on the judgement of Panjab and Haryana High Court, wherein the PARA 9 OF MOD ORDER DATED 1/2/2006 WAS QUASHED AND DIRECTING THE GOVT TO IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE DATE OF REVISED PENSIONS W.E.F. 1.1.1996 INSTEAD OF 1.1.2006.

     BUT THIS IS NOT TRUE AND INCORRECT.

    All Veteran brothers may kindly note that the SLP filed by the GOI, MOD against the Orders of Hon.Panjab and Haryana High Court (CWP No.6223/07), in the Supreme Court of India, had been dismissed, AND HENCE THE SAME BE CONSTRUED AS UPHELD BY THE HON. SUPREME COURT.
    Therefore, all concerned veteran brothers may send individual petitions for revision of their pensions W.E.F. 1.1.1996 AS PER THE VERDICT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT JUDGEMENT, as suggested earlier (in this blog) vide SPECIMEN APPLICATION TO CONCERNED AUTHORITIES FOR CORRECT FIXATION OF PENSION W.E.F.1.1.1996.

STORM/LIGHTENING HITTING BURZ DUBAI TOWER

2010-01-20T09:32:00.002+05:30

WHY WE NEED LIGHTNING ARRESTER ? ....KINDLY LOOK THE PICTURE AND SEE HOW THE LIGHTNING ARRESTER SAVE THE TOWER.

It's all happening in Dubai ....spectacular photos of last night's storm...

When lightning hit the world's tallest tower! For as long as half hour lightning hit the tower and the thunder sounded all over the neighouring areas ! An unforgettable night!
(E-MAILED BY THOMAS MANIMALA)
===========================================

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

SRI SATYA SAI BABA HONOURS VETERANS

2010-01-19T07:52:00.001+05:30

The following is posted for the benefit of information of all veteran brothers:-
======================================
From: Ravindran Major majorravi@gmail.com

Sent: 16 January 2010 08:16

Subject: SRI SATYA SAI BABA HONOURS VETERANS

There is some good news.

Sri Satya Sai Baba has asked his devotees to honour soldiers and veterans. So on Army Day, yesterday, all over the country Sai Samithi members had invited veterans and extolled their contributions. 9 veterans, including me, were there as guests at the local sai samithi where they gifted us a brass lamp, a steel tray, couple of sai books, and of course the prasad! The host while welcoming us said that 'bhagwan' always used to tell his devotees that they should look after their parents and those who failed to do so should never go to him. But 'this time' he also told them that they should ever be grateful to the soldiers who work tirelessly along the borders to secure this country so that 'all of us could enjoy the freedom to do what we want and sleep peacefully'.

I am NO devotee of Sri Sai Baba but I know that he is doing a lot of humanitarian services to the society. And when you think that those who are tasked, empowered and equipped to do these 'services' as a job - whom we normally refer to as the government- are only cheating us, and we have no option but to acknowldege them as human beings, then Sai Baba may definitely be raised to the category of bhagwan!

regards n bw

ravi
(Maj P Ravindran, Kalpathy, Tamil Nadu)
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(source : iesm blog)

A SIMPLE (CALATION/CHEALATION THERAPY) IN PLACE OF "BYPASS-SURGERY" FOR HEART ATTACK CASES

2010-01-18T06:56:00.001+05:30

THE FOLLOWING (FORWARDED E-MAIL FROM CO SS SOHI IS POSTED BELOW FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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E-MAIL FROM - MAJ GEN RAJINDER SINGH, VSM (14.1.10) raj2jas@gmail.com
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This is a new theory which has come to my knowledge very recently and I thought that I should also share this with you all. A few days back my Friends Father in law was admitted in a nursing home due to severe chest pain. He had an attack in 1997 and was undergoing normal treatment. Due to the sudden pain just 15 days back we once again got him admitted in a private nursing home at Kandivali, Mumbai.

The doctors later suggested for Angiography. We conducted the Angiography at Hinduja Hospital and knew from the reports that he has multiple blockages. The doctor told that he cannot undergo Angioplasty due to several blockages but suggested 'By Pass Surgery'.

The same day evening we bought him home since the doctor suggested that his heart is very weak and we can perform the by-pass only after 15 - 20 days. In the mean time we were discussing this issue with our relatives and friends, we got this new information from one of our family friends.

There is a new therapy in the market which is known as - Chelation Therapy. Or Calation Therapy.

According to this therapy any patient who has to undergo by-pass need not undergo the same. The patient is given appx. 18 bottles of blood where in some medicines are injected along with it. The blood cleans the system and removes all the blockages from the heart. The no. of bottles may increase depending upon the age factor and health of the patient. The cost of the blood per bottle would be appx. Rs.2,500/- The treatment takes of appx. 1 month.

There are only 4 doctors in India and one of them is Dr.Dhananjay Shah at Malad (Mumbai) another at Karnataka. He has a list of patients who had to undergo by-pass from Lilavati, Hinduja and other major hospitals but after undergoing the above treatment they are absolutely fine and leading a normal life.

I give below the Doctor's details for your info:
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Dr Hiten Shah, Integrative Cardiac -Vascular Clinic Heart Rehab Centre,
230, Satyam Mall, Ashirwad Poly Clinic,
Vastrapur, Ahmedabad,, 380015, Gujarat, India
Tel: +91 09998848590 or 9898077966 Fax: 07940067882
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Dr. Dhananjay Shah. Hospital
Tel: 0091-22-2889 2089. Mob: 98194 39657.
Email: shahdhananjay@ rediffmail. com
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DR HITESH SHAH
209, SAMRUDDHI, LINK RD.,
MALAD WEST, MUMBAI, 400064, India
Tel: 91 22 28773777 / 09869035111
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Dr Nirupa Mehta, Oxymed Hospital,
320/E; 9A Main, 40 Cross, 5 Block,
Jayanagar, Bangalore, 560041, Karnataka, India
Tel: 080-56533273; 9986162526
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Dr.B.Ayaz Akber
Oxymed Hospital No:6,First Main Road,
Kasthurba Nagar, Adyar,Chennai -600020, (T N),
India Tel: 044-24452753
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Dr.Vidyut.K. Shroff
1-C, Mahavir, Lajpatrai Road,
Vile Parle [W], Mumbai, 400056, Maharashtra,
India Tel: 91-22-26133889 ; 91-22-26631157
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Safe Health
6-3-1100/5, TVS Suzuki Lane,
Raj Bhavan Road. Hyderabad, 500 082,
Andhra Pradesh, India Tel: 040 2341 4418
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Dr. Rathna Alwa MD, M.R.C.P. et.al.
428, 9th. main road, HRBR layout,
1st. block, Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore-560043,
India. Tel: 5455166 / 5454025
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Look it up in the internet also for more info

Kindly pass on the message to the people you know and one can save huge amount of money, time and risk of undergoing the operation.
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A ray of hope for 1.25L undertrials - Govt Gives Courts 6 Mths To Free Undertrials Languishing In Jails

2010-01-17T07:48:00.006+05:30

THE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION:-

New Delhi: Year 2010 could go down in history as a watershed one for undertrial prisoners, who for long have been the silent victims of apathy of the police , prosecuting agencies, prison authorities and judiciary. The UPA government is putting a six-month deadline starting from January 26 for the release of 1.25 lakh of the 1.7 lakh undertrials languishing in jail though booked for petty offences and despite having served a major part of the prescribed maximum sentence.

Law minister Veerappa Moilys mission to set right the state of affairs was reflected in his letter to the chief justices of all the high courts requesting them to do everything possible to facilitate the early release of these prisoners . The mission for early release of the undertrials languishing in prison for long years will be launched on Law Day on January 26 as part of the comprehensive legal reforms initiated by the UPA government, which held an elaborate consultation with the chief justices and chief ministers in August last year. India has around 1,500 jails having a capacity to lodge 2.5 lakh prisoners . But these house as many as 3.5 lakh inmates. As many as 70% of the jail population comprises undertrials, which means their number could be pegged at 2.45 lakh. As 70% of the undertrials are booked for petty offences, this category in jails would be 1.7 lakh.

The first target is to get those languishing in jails for years for petty offences and those who have either undergone the maximum punishment or major portion thereof without conviction out of prison by July 31, Moily told STOI from Bangalore.
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Law does not require a citizen to be a coward: SC
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At a time when terrorism and mafia pose a grave security threat to India, the Supreme Court has given a pro-active meaning to the 'right to self-defence' and said the law does not require a lawabiding citizen to behave like a coward when confronted with an imminent unlawful aggression.

Nothing is more degrading to the human spirit than to run away in the face of danger , said a Bench comprising Justices Dalveer Bhandari and A K Ganguly. It laid down a 10-point guideline on right to self-defence , under which a person cannot be accused of committing a crime even if he inflicted mortal wounds on the aggressor. But, it warned against using it as a tool to settle scores or enmity. It also did not approve the use of force in excess of what was warranted to avert imminent danger to the life and property of the person exercising the right to self-defence . "The citizen, as a general rule, are neither expected to run away for safety when faced with grave and imminent danger to their person or property as a result of unlawful aggression, nor are they expected, by use of force, to right the wrong done to them or to punish the wrong doer of commission of offence ," said Justice Bhandari writing the judgment for the Bench. "The right of private defence is thus designed to serve a social purpose and deserves to be fostered within the prescribed limits," it said.
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The Five Commandments of SC
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Right to self-defence available to only one facing imminent danger

Mere reasonable apprehension is enough to put this right into operation

It is unrealistic to expect a person under assault to modulate his defence step by step with any arithmetical exactitude

Force used in self-defence ought not to be wholly disproportionate than necessary for protection of self or property

Person who is in imminent and reasonable danger of losing his life or limb may in exercise of self-defence inflict any harm even extending to death on his assailant either when the assault is attempted or directly threatened
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(SOURCE : TOI)

SPECIMEN INDIVIDUAL PETITION FOR REVISION OF PENSION FROM 1.1.1996 - SGTs/EQUIVALENTs AND BELOW RANKs : IN THE LIGHT OF CWP NO.6223/07)

2010-01-15T17:15:00.032+05:30

        The landmark Judgement (CWP No.6223/07) of Panjab and Haryana High Court on 26.05.08, HAD QUASHED PARA 9(effective date-1.1.2006) OF MOD ORDER DATED 01.02.2006, and ordered revision of modified pension w.e.f. 1.1.1996. And thus paved the way to implement the PCDA(P) Allahabad PENSION TABLES (CIRCULAR 350 OF 29.5.2006) W.E.F. 1.1.1996.

       Due to Revised Scales of Pay/Groups Merger w.e.f. 10.10.1997, the rates of pensions too undergone a further upward revision from 10.10.1997, to some afffected trades/groups.

      Similarly, with Merger of 50% of DP in Pension w.e.f. 1.4.2004, these rates again get changed.
The PCDA(P), in their official website, UNFORTUNATELY AND WRONGLY added the DP element, while revising the pensions w.e.f. 1.1.2006, quoting - Authority:G.O.I. letter no 14(3)/2004-D(Pen/Sers)/Vol.III dated 01/02/2006 and 02/05/2006.

     The 6th CPC pension rates came into force as per MOD PENSION ORDERS OF 11.11.2008  (and the PDAs have simply applied Annexure III rates) as per Para 4 o the order, w.e.f. 1.1.2006. The beneficial FIXATION OF PENSION AS PER PARA 5 IS NOT DONE BY THE PDAs.

      Further it was re-iterated for Modified Parity of pension vide MOD ORDER DATED 18.11.08 AND MOD ORDER DATED 2.2.2009, to revise the MORE BENEFICIAL PENSION to the lowest three ranks of Sgts and below equivalents, which was not done.

        The PDAs were also supposed to have made available a copy of ANNEXURE -IV to the pensioner for his verification. The Govt had recently given a PUBLIC NOTICE TOO on this issue
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IN THE CONTEXT OF ABOVE AND WITHOUT HAVING REGARD TO THE OUTCOME OF THE COS COMMITTEE REPORT IMPLEMENTATION/OUTCOME, ALL VETERAN BROTHERS MAY FORWARD INDIVIDUAL REPRENTATION TO AUTHORITIES CONCERNED.

THIS WILL HELP THE AUTHROTIES TO KNOW THE WRONG DONE TO ARMED FORCES PENSIONER PRECISELY, BESIDES THE INDIVIDUAL PENSIONER FEEL A SENSE OF SATISFACTION THAT HIS PROBLEM/GRIEVANCE IS POSTED TO THE AUTHORITIES FOR REDRESSAL.

THE SPECIMEN PETITION TO ALL CONCERNED AUTHORITIES AS INDICATED BELOW:-

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FROM;

Ser.No................... Rank---------Name------------,

Address-----------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------

TO : 1)THE DEFENCE MINISTER,
GOI, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE,
SOUTH BLOCK,
NEW DELHI-110011

2)THE SECRETARY (ESW),
DEPTT OF EXSM WELFARE,
5 - A, SOUTH BLOCK,
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOI,
NEW DELHI 110011

3)THE DIRECTOR (PENSION/POLICY),
213, A WING, SENA BHAVAN,
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOI,
NEW DELHI 110011

4)THE DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED HQ (AIR FORCE),
SOUTH HUTMENTS, KASHMIR HOUSE,
RAJAJI MARG, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOI,
NEW DELHI 110011

5)AIR HEADQUARTERS (VAYU BHAVAN)
DTE OF PAY PENSION AND REGS.
NEW DELHI 110011

SUBJECT - REVISION OF SERVICE PENSION FROM 1.1.1996 ONWARDS - REGARDING

REF :- 1) GOI MOD LTR NO.1(2)98/D(PEN/SER) DATED 3/2/98 AND 14/7/98.
2) GOI MOD LTR NO. 1(1)99/D(PEN/SER) DATED 7/6/99.
3) GOI MOD LTR NO. 14(3)/2004-D(PEN/SER)/VOL.III DATED 1.2.06.
4) PCDA(P) ALLAHABAD CIRCULAR 350 DATED 19.5.06
5) GOI MOD LTR NO.17(4)/2008(1)/D(PEN/POLICY) DATED 11.11.08.
6) PCDA(P) ALLAHABAD CIR ULAR NO.397 DATED 18.11.08.
7) PANJAB &HARYANA HC JUDGEMENT (CWP NO.6223/2007 DATED 26.5.2008)

RESPECTED SIR,

1. I have the honour to state that I was sanctioned a Service Pension of Rs.----------P.M. w.e.f.------------------ vide Pension Payment Order No. ------------------------------------- on my discharge from the IAF. My pension was revised to Rs.--------------PM- w.e.f.1.1.96 as per V CPC formula (Exiting pension +148%DA+IR-1+IR-2+40% fitment on EP = RP. i.e. Rs............+.........+50+60+..........=Rs...............). My revised pension rates fixed on various dates are as stated below-

The Revised Consolidated Penssion (RCP) and Revised Pension(RP) payable to the Pensioner
for ---------years of qualifying service is :-

RCP Rs.--------/- wef 1.1.96 Table No............. annexed to GOI MOD ltr No.1(2)/98(Pen/Ser) d/d 14/7/98 (V CPC recommendations).

RP Rs.------------ wef 1.4.04 Table No.------ annexed to O/o the PCDA(P) Allahabad circular No.350 d/d 19/5/06 (with 50% DP merged).

RP Rs.---------- wef 1.1.06 ---------------------do ---------------------- (without merger of 50%DP)

RP Rs.--------/- wef 1.1.06 ---------------------do---------------------------(with 50% DP merged)

RP Rs.---------/- wef 1.1.06 vide GOI MOD ltr No.17(4)/2008(1)/D(Pen/policy) daated 11.11.08 and O/o PCDA(P) Allahabad Circular No.397 d/d 18/11/08 (VI CPC recommendations) (BUT the my PDA ------------Bank,------------------------------------Dt.--------------- had fixed Rs.-----------/- as my basic pension wef 1.1.2006 and being paid as on date.)

(THESE REVISED PENSION RATES ARE INCORRECT WITH REFERENCE TO

(1) REVISION OF EFFECTIVE DATE - 1.1.1996.
(2) CALCULATION OF EMOULMENTS FOR PENSION FIXATION PURPOSE ON SCALE OF PAY OF RANK/GP (IN NO CASE SHALL BE LESS THAN 50% OF THE MAXIMUM OF THE REVISED SCALE OF PAY INTRODUCED WEF 1.1.1996 FOR THE RANK/GROUP LAST HELD.

2.   HENCE, THIS APPEAL TO YOU TO KINDLY INTERVENE AND ISSUE ORDERS TO SET RIGHT THE ISSUE URGENTLY - AS PER THE FOLLOWING SUBMISSIONS:-

(A) REVISION OF EFFECTIVE DATE 1.1.1996:- The Panjab and Haryana High Court Judgement CMP No.6223/2007 dated 26.5.2008, had quashed the effective date 1.1.06 vide Para 9 of MOD circular dated 1.2.2006, (we allow the present writ petition and quash the cut off date 01.01.2006 and clause (9) of circular dated 1.2.2006 and direct the respondents to grant revised pensionary benefits to all the petitioners and similarly situated PBOR within a period of six months from today.) and directed the GOI to grant revised pensionary benefits to all the petitioners and similarly situated PBORs, W.E.F. 01.01.1996. The relevant Paras 8, 11, 15 and 16 (discussed on the issue) of the Judgement are furnished below:-

"8. Pay Commissions are constituted by the Government of India regarding revision of pay scales and pensionary benefits to the employees of the Central Govt including armed forces. While accepting the
recommendations of 5th Pay Commission, no pensionary benefit accrued to PBOR which is apparent from circular dated 07.06.1999 which is reproduced above. It would be totally unfair and illogical that while other employees of the Central Government got the benefit of recommendations of 5th Pay Commission but the lowest ranks of the Armed Forces were deprived of any increase in pensionary benefits. Though it is the stand of the Government of India that a Group of Ministers was constituted to examine the demands of ex-servicemen for one rank one pension but the fact remains that the Group of Ministers found an anomaly in respect of pensionary benefits payable to PBOR. The recommendation of the Group of Ministers was that the pension of pre 01.01.1996 retiree PBOR is to be revised with
reference to maximum of post 01.01.1996 pay scales meaning thereby that pension was to be revised in terms of the maximum of post 01.01.1996 pay scales. Once in respect of pre 01.01.1996, pension was required to be redetermined with respect to maximum scale of the post w.e.f. 01.01.1996, the cut off dated 01.01.2006 loses its reasonableness. There is no explanation to pick up date 01.01.2006 for the grant of revised pensionary benefits to PBOR except that date has been fixed keeping in view the
financial condition of the Government but the fact that it was an anomaly in the pensionary benefits payable to PBOR could not be disputed. Once there was anomaly in respect of pensionary benefits, pensionary benefits are payable from the date of creation of anomaly and that interpretation will alone serve the purpose and the object of removing anomaly.

11. Though financial constraint is a valid criteria for fixing cut off date for grant of benefits but in the present case, neither the respondents had given any data in respect of financial constraints nor such financial constraints can be relevant when anomaly in the pensionary benefit is sought to be removed. If all other retirees of Government of India have got the benefit of revised pension then why the lowest rank of Armed Forces have been deprived the benefit of revised pension. Since anomaly is sought to be removed in pursuance of the recommendations of the Group of Ministers, PBOR would be entitled to revised pension from the date other employees of the Central Govt have got the revised pensionary
benefits. The plea of financial constraints has been raised in respect of lowest paid employees of the Armed Forces, when all other categories of employees including services have been given the benefit. Such discriminatory treatment is wholly arbitrary.

15. ................. However, in the present case, it is not a new scheme which is being introduced but an anomaly which was noticed in the circular granting revised pensionary benefits alone which is sought to be removed by the recommendations of the Group of Ministers. Such recommendations have to be given effect from the date anomaly arises and not from any other date.

16. In view of the above, we allow the present writ petition and quash the cut off date 01.01.2006 and clause (9) of circular dated 1.2.2006 and direct the respondents to grant revised pensionary benefits to all the petitioners and similarly situated PBOR within a period of six months from today."

(B)CALCULATION OF EMOULMENTS FOR PENSION FIXATION PURPOSE ON SCALE OF PAY OF RANK/GP (IN NO CASE SHALL BE LESS THAN 50% O THE MAXIMUM OF THE REVISED SCALE OF PAY INTRODUCED WEF 1.1.1996 FOR THE RANK/GROUP LAST HELD. NOT LESS THAN 50% OF PAY SCALE:

GOI MOD ORDER D/D 3.2.98, prescribes, - I. The term reckonable emoluments shall mean:- (a) Officers:- xx xx xx xx xx (b) P BORs including N cs ( E):- Maximum of scale of pay of the rank and group in the pre-revised scales plus 50% of the highest classification pay appropriate to the pay group plus actual Dearness Allowance upto AICII 1436 and Interim Relief I & II. For calculation of gratuity and family pension, basic pay, Classification Pay actually drawn will be included in computing reckonable emoluments”. However, while issuing circular on 7-6-1999 in respect of implementation of Government's decision on the recommendations of 5th Pay Commission allowing pensionary benefits in respect of COMMISSIONED OFFICERS/PBORs, it was circulated as under:-

“ 2.1 Commissioned Officers-Post & Pre 1.1.96 cases- (a) Pension shall continue to be calculated at 50% of the average emoluments in all cases and shall be subject to a minimum of Rs.1275/- p.m and a maximum of upto 50% of the highest pay applicable to Armed Forces personnel but the full pension in no case shall be less than 50% of the minimum of the revised scale of pay introduced w.e.f. 1.1.96 for the rank last held by the Commissioned at the time of his/ her retirement. However, such pension shall be reduced pro rata, where the pensioner has less than the maximum required service for full pension.
(b) and ( c) xx xx
“2.2. PBOR- Post and pre 1.1.96 cases- The revision of service pension in terms of these modified orders in respect of PBOR retirees will not be beneficial except for the rank of JCOs granted Hony.
Commission of Lt. and Captain as the service pension is calculated at the maximum of the pay scale including 50% of highest classification allowance, if any of the rank and group in which paid.

In terms of clause 2.2 of the above circular, the revision in the service pension was not beneficial for PBOR retirees except for the rank of JCO granted honorary commission. It is the case of the petitioners that three lowest ranks of the Air Force, such as Sepoy, Naik and Havildar, were not getting any benefit of revision of pension as circulated by the Government of India itself. The Group of Ministers examined the demand of exservicemen claiming same pension for the same rank, found that there was justification in improving the pensionary benefits of PBOR, particularly three lowest ranks. While accepting the recommendations of the Group of Ministers on 01.02.2006, it was inter alia circulated as under:-

“ 2. Finally, GOM unanimously recommended that the pension of pre 1.1.1996 retiree PBOR may be revised with reference to the maximum of post 1.1.1996 pay scale. In addition, the weightage of Sepoy, Naik and Havildar ranks for past as well as future retirees be increased to 10/8/6 years respectively subject to a maximum qualifying service of 30 years. The benefit would be given only in respect of service pension. 3. The above recommendations of the GOM have been accepted by the Government. Sanction of the President is hereby accorded to the modifications to the extent specified in this letter in the relevant Rules/Regulations/Instructions concerning pensionary benefits of the PBOR. 4. xx xx xx xx
5. The following is added after Para 2.2 (a) of this Ministry's letter No. 1(1)/99/D/D(Pen/Services) dated 7.6.1999 relating to revision of pension of post and pre 1.1.1996:

“ With effect from 1.1.2006, pension of pre 1.1.1996 retirees in all ranks of PBOR in Army, Navy and Air Force for 33 years of qualifying service shall not be less than 50% of the maximum pay in the revised scales of pay introduced with effect from 1.1.1996 including 50% of highest classification allowance, if any, of the rank and group held continuously for 10 months preceding retirement subject to a minimum pension of Rs.1913/- p.m.
Such pension shall be reduced pro rata where the pensioner has less than the maximum qualifying service for full pension that is 33 years. (the GOI MOD Order Dated 3.2.98 Prescribes a min.pension of Rs.1275/-).

3.    TO CUT THE LONG STORY SHORT, I SUBMIT THAT, the Minimum and Maximum Service Pensions of Armed Forces personnel were increased by successive CPCs are furnished below for your ready reference:-

WEF 1.1.96=MIN(MAX) PEN OF IV/V CPC - INCREASE (MULTIPLIED)
(1) Rs.375-Rs.5000/-= Rs.1275-Rs.15000/-   - 3.4/3 TIMES (CG EMPLOYEES)
(2) Rs.375/- -----       =Rs.1913/- --------        - 5.101/ TIMES (MOD ORDER 1.2.06.)
WEF 1.1.06=MIN(MAX)PEN OF V/VI CPC - INCREASE(MULTIPLIED)
(1)Rs.1275-15000/-= Rs.3500-45000/-          -2.745/3 TIMES (CG EMPLOYEES)
(2)Rs.1913/- ----     = Rs.3500/- -----             -1.829/3 TIMES (AF PENSIONERS)

4.     I bring to your kind notice that while upper level Pension rates are maintained at 3 times increase, the lower level Pension Rates have been decreased considerably from 3.4 TO 2.745(by .655 times) for CG Employees and from 5.101 to 1.829 times(by 3.272 times), paving way for a wide disparity. Equity, Justice and Fairplay demand that this Disparity/Decrease rates for lower ranks, at least, be maintained akin to IV to V CPC increase (3.4 times).HENCE YOUR PERSONAL INTERVENTION IS REQUESTED TO SET RIGHT THE MALADY.

5.      In view of the applicability of this judgement in my pension case, and the MOD order 1.2.06, my correct Service Pension (for 18 years reckonable service) should have been fixed w.e.f. 1.1.96 at the rates as given below:-   (the figures given as an example)

RCP - Rs.551/- X 5.101 = Rs.2810/- w.e.f. 1.1.96
RCP - Rs.2835/-(Rs.2810/-+25/- (50% of Classn allowance)wef 10.10.97
RP - Rs.4240/-(Rs.2810+1405=4215/-+25-) (with 50% merger of DP with basic pension WEF 1.1.04)
RCP - Rs.6690/- (2810 x 2.26=6350/-( VI CPC Formula) + Rs.100/-Classn.allowance+ Rs.240/- GCB 1,2,3 rates) w.e.f. 1.1.06 as per VI CPC Recommendations - (NOT BENEFICIAL),

HENCE-BENEFICIAL PENSION AS PER VI CPC FORMULA - (3.4 TIME INCREASE) :
RCP Rs.9900/-(2810 X 3.4=9554 R/O=9560)+ Rs.100/-Classn.allowance+ Rs.240/- GCB 1,2,3 rates)W.E.F.1.2.06. OR 9560 X 24 / 33=6952 R/O 6960 +100+240=7300)

3. You are requested to kindly pass orders so that my correct pension is revised by AFRO as stated above and issue a Corr.PPO at an early date.

4. Thanking you sir.

Encl : As stated                                   Yours faithully,

Date :...................                                (x y z   )Ex-sgt

Copy to:-
1) CGDA, WEST BLOCK, RK PURAM, New Delhi- for kind information and necesssary action.
2) PCDA(PENSION),DRAUPADI GHAT, Allahabad(U.P.) -          --do--
3) Jt.CDA(AF),C/O AFCAO,SUBROTO PARK, New Delhi-10          --do--
4) AFRO, SUBROTO PARK, New Delhi -110010          --do--
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UPDATE ON NEW IMPROVED PENSIONARY BENEFITS FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL

2010-01-15T07:40:00.002+05:30

AN UPDATE ON NEW IMPROVED PENSIONARY BENEFITS FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL is posted below for the benefit of information of all veteran brothers:-
================================================
Q. When are the new OROP scales expected ? (Ex-Hav S S Sudan)

Ans.- There is nothing called the ‘OROP scales’ in the offing. The letter regarding the new improved pensionary benefits for defence personnel (does not include Officers) is expected to be issued any time now. Also the letters concerning improvement of pension of Lt Gens, broad-banding of disability percentages for pre-96 disability pensioners as well as grant of percentage system of disability element for pre-2006 disability pensioners, are also expected to be issued.

(Source : Q. and A on Indian Military blog)

A REALITY CHECK ...ON INDIA AND ITS ARMY

2010-01-14T10:43:00.002+05:30

DO-IT-YOURSELF INDIA

2010-01-13T09:10:00.000+05:30

INDIA is increasingly a do-it-yourself country. And the government of India should give a medal to the residents of Tajnagar village, near Gurgaon, for setting a new benchmark in the DIY (do-ityourself ) scheme of things. Having waited a quarter of a century in vain to get their own railway station from a sarkar that seemed deaf to all their pleas, the enterprising Tajnagaris had a whip around among themselves, raised Rs 21 lakh, and set up their own railway station, certainly the first DIY railway station in India, if not in the world.

God is said to help those who help themselves. Our sarkar goes one better than God: it doesnt even help those who help themselves,but implicitly urges them to continue good work and keep helping themselves some more because as sure as eggs is eggs the sarkar certainly aint going to help anyone. In that way our sarkar is eminently fair, and does not discriminate on the basis of caste, creed or gender. It leaves us all irrespective of particular persuasion to help ourselves to whatever it is that we think we require.

You want an uninterrupted supply of bijli Fine, its not an unreasonable request. But dont look to the sarkar, or any of its many agencies, to generate it for you; youve got to do it yourself. Get a genset. Or a kerosene lantern and a handheld pankha. What No kerosene available in the government-run fair price shops Havent you ever heard of a do-it-yourself source of supply for kerosene or for that matter for anything else you might require, like potatoes, and onions, and dal and rice which is called the black market

No municipal water to be had Stop bellyaching and get on with the job of digging a community bore well in your area. Set up a rain harvesting system. Push comes to shove, buy bottled water. To drink No, dummy. To bathe in. Its either that or dont take off your clothes before sending them to the drycleaners.

Government hospitals and healthcare centres either non-existent or full of rats, disease and infections Go to a private read, do-it-yourself nursing home. What do you mean you cant afford it Of course you can. What do you think do-it-yourself medical insurance is for, for which you have to pay those humongous annual premiums

There are no textbooks, blackboards or teachers at your local sarkari school Send your kid to a school set up by a do-it-yourself entrepreneur who charges swingeing fees for the services provided. Almost everything in India is on a do-it-yourself basis. Electricity, water, health, schooling. With the virtual collapse of the governmental postal system, the sarkari postman has become an endangered , if not a nearextinct , species, spotted only at Diwali time when he rings your doorbell to collect his yearly baksheesh . The rest of the time you deal with a do-it-yourself delivery system called a courier company.

Rising incidence of crime in your neighbourhood and the cops unable, or unwilling, or both, to do anything about it Employ do-it-yourself security guards to protect your property and your person. In some parts of the country you have not just do-it-yourself cops but do-ityourself armies, like the Ranvir Sena, or the Salwa Judum. And to provide competition to these, you have another do-ityourself army called the Naxalites, who are said to run a parallel do-it-yourself state-within-a-state in over 160 districts across the country.

Each day, in every way, Indias do-ityourself capacity increases, as exemplified by the resourceful villagers of Tajnagar who got themselves their own DIY railway station, thus relieving railway minister Mamatadi of an onerous chore. The sarkar should recognise and honour such doit-yourself enterprise. The residents of Tajnagar deserve a medal for the DIY spirit theyve shown. Trouble is, the medal will also have to be of the DIY variety, because the sarkar cant supply even that.

(secondopinion@timesgroup.com http:// blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/jugglebandhi/)
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SUKNA LAND CASE - ARMY CHIEF SOFT ON MILITARY SECRETARY

2010-01-13T09:05:00.000+05:30

Army chief General Deepak Kapoors decision to take only administrative action rather than the harsher disciplinary action in the shape of a court martial against his close aide and military secretary Lt-Gen Avadhesh Prakash has evoked incredulity down the ranks. The court of inquiry (CoI) into the alleged Sukna land scam case, in which three other generals have been indicted blames Lt-Gen Prakash for allegedly concealing information and taking undue interest in furthering the vested agenda of real estate developer and family friend Dilip Agarwal.

The Army HQ on Tuesday, however, said it would be premature to conclude that Lt-Gen Prakash, who retires on January 31, would escape with just an administrative reprimand. But the erupting fissures in the top Army brass are there for all to see. Eastern Army Command (EAC) chief Lt-Gen V K Singh, who is slated to become Army chief on March 31, has locked horns with Gen Kapoor after having recommended immediate termination of services of his aide Lt-Gen Prakash.

(SOURCE : TOI)

INDIAN NAVY POISED TO SET UP A KEY STATION NEAR HYDERABAD IN 1400 ACRE AREA

2010-01-13T08:56:00.000+05:30

Nearly 1400 acres of forest land will be allotted to the Indian Navy at Pudur mandal in Ranga Reddy district which is about 65 kms from the city. The state government has agreed to allot the required land to Indian Navy to set up Very Low Frequency (VLF) station and Communications Station at Pudur. The Navy will monitor the Arabian sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean signals from this station , which according to them is a strategic location for the purpose.

Indian Navy Commadore (signals) Capt Alok Khanojo, T V Rao, joint director of Designing Chief Engineer Office, Indian Navy, Visakhapatnam and Ranga Reddy district joint collector M Jagan Mohan and sub-collector Mutyala Raju conducted joint inspection at Pudur on Friday.

A survey will be conducted for demarcation of the required land for Indian Navy by January 20. The state government has agreed to give the land which is a reserve forest land, Jagan Mohan told TOI on Friday. Officials said there are about 2700 acres of forest land in Pudur. Since the Navy wanted an entire 1400 acres at a stretch in that area, the state government gave a green signal for the allotment.

While the revenue department will allot the same extent of the land to the forest department , the Indian Navy will bear the expenditure to grow trees in the allotted land. Prior to that, the Navy had sought 1,000 acres of land at Vikarabad mandal in RR district which is about 70 km from the city. The defence wing also expressed its readiness to pay compensation to private land owners if there was government land around the area, but the revenue department informed them that there was no government land and it would be impossible to acquire private land in such a huge extent. Following this, the Navy reportedly chose the forest land at Pudur.

(SOURCE : TOI)

GYANDEEP : INDIAN ARMY - IGNOU PARTNERSHIP(SOLDIERS TO GET DEGREE FROM IGNOU)

2010-01-12T20:14:00.003+05:30

New Delhi: The Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) recently entered into a partnership with the Indian Army aiming to provide the soldiers a second career option post retirement. The new venture, called 'Gyandeep', will award degrees to train the soldiers during their service period. IGNOU will register the Army's 38 regimental training centers, 55 human resource development centers, 11 central training centers and other established schools of instruction as community colleges where soldiers will be trained and imparted learning in their chosen vocations.

The scheme is based on the US system of community colleges in Defence cantonments which is expected to benefit a majority of the 1.2 million soldiers in the Army. The initiative will not only enable the jawans to earn B.A., BBA, B.Sc. and B.Com. degrees but will also help them master livelihood-driven courses.

Typically Indian Army soldiers retire around 40, with a productive span of nearly 15-20 years ahead of them. Because of their long training and discipline, post retirement, there is a demand for ex-Servicemen in industries, enterprises and security services. A formal degree will not only enhance their personality but create new employment opportunities for them.

With the entry of soldiers into the community college system, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) as well as the Gross Graduation Ratio (GGR) is expected to increase. The soldiers can get themselves enrolled to a community college in their training academy and pursue the course according to their convenience.

An associate degree will be provided to those who successfully complete the two years of training.
Thereafter they will be given lateral entry to the third year of a three-year degree course for a graduate degree. 96 credits are required by the soldiers to be legible for a graduate degree.

A five member joint consultative committee representing IGNOU and the Army has been formed to formulate a curriculum for the two-year associate degree as well as lay guidelines for in-servicesoldiers to enhance their education.

(source - HARDCORE SOLDIER)

WELFARE BULLETIN

2010-01-12T07:44:00.002+05:30

THE FOLLOWING BULLETIN IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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ISSUE OF FIRST CLASS/2ND AC COMPLEMENTARY CARD PASSES TO THE WIDOWS OF GALLANTRY AWARDEES (CHAKRA SERIES)

1. First Class/2nd AC Complementary Card passes were being granted to the Gallantry Awardees (Chakra Series) belonging to Defence Forces and widows of posthumous award winners and the Police personnel conferred with President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, Police Medal for Gallantry and to the widows of posthumous Gallantry awardees of the two categories of awards.

2. It has now been decided by the Railway Board that on the death of the Gallantry award winners, Ist Class/2nd AC complementary card passé fecility should be extended to the surviving widows of all Gallantry awardees at par with the facility already available to widows of posthumous Gallantry awardees of Defence/Police Forces.

3. The widow will need to submit the following documents/information to the office of Zonal Railway Headquarter or the Divisional Railway Manager to avail this facility. The passes will be issued by the above two offices.

(a) Name of the recipient of Gallantry Award (in block letters)
(b) Residential Address
(c) Attested copy of the citation of the Gallantry Award
(d) Attested photocopy of Pension Payment Order
(e) Two recent passport size, attested photographs of applicant
(f) Attested photocopy of the Death Certificate of the Awardee
(g) Certificate from a Gazetted Office indicating that the widow has not re-married.

Authy : GOI, Min of Railways, Railway Board letter No. E(W) 2004 PS 5-6/55 dated 06.10.2004.
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FORMAT -I ----WILL

I........son of.........aged...years resident of............

Hereby revoke all former Wills and Testamentary dispositions made by me and declare this to be my LAST WILL and TESTAMENT.

I declare that I am of sound disposing mind and I am making this Will of my own free will and accord without any persuasion, undue influence of coercion whatsoever.

I do hereby leave, devise, bequeath and give to my wife Mrs.....aged...... years all my property, movable and immovable, whatsoever and whosesoever, which I may be possessed of or entitled to at the time of my death.

AND I hereby appoint my wife the said Mrs...........to be the sole Executrix of this my WILL and I authorise her to take all steps incidental in the execution of this WILL.

AND in the event of simultaneous demise of my wife Mrs.......... And my own self, by this WILL I bequeath that all the above mentioned items be share by my children as under:

Name Share

1.............. ...........

2.............. ...........

So that the above mentioned items or the amount realized from the items if sold are divided into the share/proportion as specified above. For such an eventuality I hereby appoint Mr............S/O.........aged....yrs, resident of ..........as Executor/Executrix of this WILL.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I, said.........have hereto signed at........on this the .....day of......200.......

...........

(Signature)

SIGNED by the said testator.........at his last Will Testament in the presence of us. Present at the same time, who in his presence and in the presence of each other, sign as witness hereto.

1.......................

2.......................

(WITH FULL NAMES AND ADDRESS)

(It is advisable to have one witness a doctor)
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FORMAT -II ----WILL

This is the last will of Sri...........s/o.....Late Sri........ Made this day.......voluntarily and while in sound state of mind.

And whereas I am possessed of movable and immovable properties more particularly described in the schedule hereto which are my self acquired properties and which are acquired without any detriment to the ancestral property or to the family funds and I have the absolute power of disposal over the same.

And whereas I am anxious to make necessary arrangement in respect of the enjoyment of my properties after my lifetime, so that unnecessary misunderstanding between the members of my family may be avoided. Therefore, I am executing this last will and TESTAMENT of mine of my own free will voluntarily, without any compulsion or pressure of any person, with a sound disposing mind and declare as follows:

I hereby revoke all former wills and codicils made by me at any time heretofore.

I have my wife, two daughters and one son.

I Bequeath the property described as item No-I in the schedule hereto to my wife Smt..................aged..years absolutely to he held and enjoyed by her with full and absolute power of alienation.

I bequeath property described as item No.3 and 4 in the schedule hereto my first daughter Smt/Kum......aged...years and second daughter Smt/Kum.........aged....years, absolutely to be held and enjoyed by them.

Schedule Property

1.

2. (Details with documents nos/make etc, describing each item/set of items)

3. I hereby appoint my wife, the said Smt.......to be the sole Executrix of this my WILL.

In the event of simultaneous demise of my wife.........and my own self, by this WILL I bequeath that all above mentioned items at Sl Nos...be shared by my children as under.

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

For such an eventuality I hereby appoint Sri/Smt.............. s/o.........aged...years, resident of.............., as Executor/Executrix of this WILL.

IN WITNESS WHERE OF, I, the said ........... have hereto signed at ............. on this ........ day of ........ 200...

(Signature)

The above named Testator has signed in our presence and each of us has in presence of the Testator signed his name hereunder as an attesting witness.

(a) 2.

(Signature with full name and address)

NOTE: It is advisable to have one witness as a doctor
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From:........... Ref. No: (if any)......

To:..............

Dear Sir,

NOTIFICATION OF DEATH OF; HUSBAND/PENSIONER FOR SANCTION/AWARD
OF FAMILY PENSION AND ADMISSIBLE DEATH GRANTS/OTHER BENEFITS

1. I regret to inform the death of my........(relationship with the deceased), whose particulars are given below :-

(v) Rank:....

(vi) Name(in block letters):.......

(vii) Service No:........

(viii) Date of commission/enrolment:........

(ix) Date of retirement/release/discharge:........

(x) Date of death:......

(xi) Cause of death:........

(xii) Pension Payment Order (PPO): Original PPO No.......dt...... Corr No (if any:........dt.........

(xiii) Particulars of PDA (Bank/DPDO/Treasury) where the pension account of the deceased was operated......................

Account No (Joint with spouse/single):.................

(xiv) Particulars of my account No (if pension a/c was not joint) S/B....... Name of the Bank and Branch:...................

2. I request that I may be sanctioned/awarded/paid the family pension, Family Assistance Scheme benefits, lumpsum grant, ex-gratia and various other financial benefits for which I am entitled, at your earliest convenience.

Place:.......... Yours faithfully,

Date:........... ..........

(Signature as with bank account)
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COUNTING OF SERVICE RENDERED AS ARTIFICER APPRENTICE
FOR THE PURPOSE OF PENSION/GRATUITY

With regard to counting of Boy service rendered before attaining the age of 17 years as qualifying service for the purpose of Pension/Gratuity in respect of Army and Air Force personnel. These orders do not stipulate for counting of Artificer/Apprentice service for the purpose of Pension/Gratuity in respect of Army and Air Force personnel similar to the orders contained in MOD letter No.PN/1288/88/CC/C/D (Pen/Sers) dated 17.2.1998 and 08.2.2002 for Navy Personnel. The matter has been reconsidered and it has been decided that the provisions of MOD letters dated 17.2.1998 as amended by 08.2.2002 will mutatis mutandis apply to the Army and Air Force Personnel also.

Authy : MOD (Deptt of Ex-SM Wel)/B/39022/AG/PS-5/907/B/06/D (Pen)/Sers) dated 17 May 06.
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INCORRECT DEDUCTION OF RANK PAY WHILE FIXING PAY IN THE I
NTEGRATED SCALE CONSEQUENT TO IMPLEMENTATION OF IV CPC REPORT

1. Consequent to the implementation of the IV CPC, the pay of AF Officers was fixed in terms of SAFI 1/S/87. The procedure outlined in the SAFI for fixation of initial pay in the revised scales is given briefly in the succeeding paras: -

(a) An amount representing 20% of the basic pay in the existing scale shall be added to the 'existing emoluments' of the Officers.

(b) After the existing emoluments have been so increased, as amount equivalent to the rank pay, if any, appropriate to the rank held by the Officer on 01 Jan 86 at the rate prescribed in Para 3 (a) (ii) of AFI will be deducted. Thereafter, the Officers will be fixed in the revised scale at the stage next above the amount thus computed.

2. Maj AK Danapalan (Retd) had filed a writ petition in the High Court of Kerala praying that his pay be refixed in the rank of Captain as on 01.0.86 without deducting the amount of Rank Pay from his emoluments and the Rank Pay appropriate to his rank would be paid to him over and above the amount so fixed. The Court has upheld the plea of the Officer and directed to refix the pay of the petitioner wef 01.1.86 without deducting the Rank Pay. An appeal was filed in the High Court of Kerala, which was dismissed. An SLP was filed in the Supreme Court, which was also dismissed. A sum of Rs. 28, 031/- in favour of the petitioner was issued by the MoD towards compliance of the judgement of the High Court.

3. MoD vide their ID note No. 1(2)/2006/D (Pay/Services) dated 07 Apr 06 has now asked this HQ to work out the financial implications involved in there fixation of pay of Officers who were affected on account of formula of pay fixation devised by IV CPC.

4. The matter is under consideration with MOD.

Authy :- Air HQ/25840/21/D Accts dated 01 Jun 06)

UPDATE as on March 07,2007

In the interest of equity and justice, Chairman COSC in sep-2006, had requested the Raksha Mantri for issuing suitable instructions to extend this benefit to all other similarly placed officers -both serving and retired.

Large number of officers in the meanwhile had filed cases in various courts.The Govt.of India then petitioned the Supreme Court to club all such cases and be heard at one place. Supreme Court has admitted the GOI plea on Feb05, 2007.
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RESETTLEMENT SCHEME FOR ESM/WAR WIDOWS
SPONSORED BY THE CORPORATE HOUSES

The following Corporate Offices have offered resettlement proposals for ESM/War Widows :-

(a) BAJAJ AUTOS has offered Two Wheeler Rural Sales/Service centres for retired Air Force Personnel/next of kin at an investment of Rs.75,000/- to Rs.1.5 lacs with monthly profits of Rs.7,000/- to 15,000/-. Bajaj offices in various cities be contacted to get more details.

(b) TATA MOTORS have agreed to allow special discounts to all Ors who are presently not entitled to CSD benefits on purchase of Cars/Jeeps.

(c) HCL has also offered special concessions to all serving and retired personnel of the IAF.

For further details/discounts available on various vehicles kindly contact with AFA (Head Office) or respective AFA Branches
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PRIME MINISTER'S MERIT SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME

1. On the occasion of the Independence Day 2005, the Hon'ble Prime Minister has announced a scholarship scheme called 'Prime Minister's Merit Scholarship Scheme'. The scheme will be applicable only for the wards/widows of ex-servicemen who joined professional degree course in Engineering, Medicine, Dental, Veterinary, MBA, MCA duly, recognised by the respective government regulatory bodies during the academic year 2006-07. A total number of 4000 cases will be benefit from this scheme every year.

2. Amount of Scholarship. (a) Rs. 1250/- per month for boys.

(b) Rs. 1500/- per month for girls.

3. Academic Requirement. At least 60% marks at the 10+2 level for the initial sanction. For renewal in subsequent years, 50% marks each year.

4. Duration of the Wcholarship. Two to five years as approved by the concerned regulatory body for the programme.

5. Persons eligible for the Wcholarship. The following persons are eligible for the scholarship :-\

(a) Wards of ex-servicemen and their widows (below officer rank).

(b) Wards of widows of ex-servicemen died in harness due to causes attributed to military service.

(c) Widows of ex-servicemen die in harness.

(d) The scheme is open only for widows and unmarried wards of ESM/Widows. However, marriage/re-marriage at a subsequent date would not disqualify the awardees.

6. Application can be had from Kendriya Sainik Board by sending a demand draft of Rs.30/- drawn in favour of Secretary KSB payable at Delhi or Director Rajya Sainik Board payable at respective state capital. Application can also be downloaded from Website http://www.dgrindia.com. In this case the cost of the application should be send by demand draft along with the filled in application form. For more details please contact:

Kendriya Sainik Board
West Block - IV, Wing-
RK Puram, New Delhi - 110 066
Telephone: 01-26192361, 26715250

Authy: - Air HQ/23484/28/PM S/SHIP/PSW(wel) dated 13 Jul 06
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LIFE TIME GRANT TO WW-II VETERANS/WIDOWS FROM IAFBA

1. IAFBA has been paying Monthly Maintenance Grant of Rs.1500/-pm for life to WW-II Veterans/Widows under needy WW-II Veterans Scheme.

2. One of the existing condition "WW-II Veterans should bot be in receipt of any grant/pension was causing hardships to the veterans who are forced to surrender the State Govt grant in favour of the higher IAFBA grant.

3. IAFBA has since initiated the case for waiver of this clause, which has now been approved. Accordingly future cases would be regulated as follows :

"Those veterans/widows who are not drawing any pension/grant should be paid full Rs.1500/-pm and others should be paid grant in such a manner that pension/grant received from Central/State government plus grant from IAFBA should be Rs.1500/-pm neither less nor more".

Authy : Air HQ/26076/WWII/IAFBA/Accts dated 09 Aug 06
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ECHS : AN APPEAL TO AIRZENS

According to report published in Hindustan Times, dated 10 Jun 2006 ECHS was being exploited recklessly by private hospitals. Malpractice has become so endemic that the ECHS rejection rate of emergency claims processed by it is a whopping 50 percent.

Retired airzens would agree that the convenience provided to them through ECHS should be exercised genuinely. AFA appeals to all its members to ensure that the lifetime free medical treatment facility should not be misused and the discipline inculcated in them during the service is maintained even after the retirement.

In case it comes to your notice that somebody is misusing the facility, please report to ECHS.

Let one dirty fish not spoil the whole pond.
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BENEFITS TO EX-SERVICEMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES FROM RAJYA SAINIK BOARD DELHI

(a) Marriage Grant to widow/widows's daughter's marriage - Rs. 8,000/-

(b) Funeral Grant to widows/dependents on the death of ESM - Rs. 2,000/-

(c) Grand Citizen Award to ESM who is 80 years and above - Rs. 5,000/-

Note : The Ex-serviceman, widow MUST belong to Delhi as per the Service Records and registered with the Rajya Sainik Board, Delhi for availing of any of the above mentioned benefits.

Authy : RSB letter No. F-13/C/Gen/RSB/3834 dated 25 Aug 2006.
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ASSISTANCE TO NOK/FAMILIES OF DECEASED AIR WARRIORS

Air Headquarters (AOA)'s Branch) has set up an Adm Help Cell called "SAMVEDNA" at the Station and the Command HQs with designated appointments and a laid down charter of responsibilities. The main intention of setting up such cells is to help the NOK of deceased Air Warrior in claiming the entitled benefits expeditiously. Whenever the NOK is facing any hurdle, it is required to be resolved by taking proactive approach. It is most urgent that correct compilation of pension papers/forms of NOK of deceased air warriors is forwarded to the concerned agencies as expeditiously as possible so that timely help and early pension is authorised to the NOK. This Cell will be playing a vital role in helping/settling the NOK. All concerned to note.

Authy : Air HQ/23481/22/1/PS (Wel) dated 14 Aug 06
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Air Force Association, 2005
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FOR DETAILED INFORMATION PLEASE CLICK HERE

MAGNIFICIENT MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES

2010-01-12T07:08:00.004+05:30

HELP GUIDE - PENSIONS

2010-01-11T07:21:00.001+05:30

ELIGIBILITY- DIVORCED/ WIDOWED DAUGHTER

As per clauses (ii) and (iii) of sub-rule (6) of Rule 54 of the C.C.S (Pension) Rules, 1972 read with clause (b) of Para 7.2 of this Department’s O.M. No. 45/86/97-P&PW (A)- Part I dated the 27th October 1997, son / daughter including widowed / divorced daughter shall be eligible for grant of family pension till he/she attains the age of 25 years or up to the date of his/her marriage/remarriage.

In consultation with the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure and the Ministry of Law and Justice, Department of Legal Affairs etc., it has now been decided that there will be no age restriction in the case of the divorced/widowed daughter who shall be eligible for family pension even after their attaining 25 years of age subject to all other conditions prescribed in the case of son/daughter. Such daughter, including disabled divorced/widowed daughter shall, however, not be required to come back to her parental home as stipulated in Para 2(ii) of this Department’s O.M. dated 25th July 2001, which may be deemed to have been modified to that extent.

HANDICAPPED CHILDREN OF ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL

As per existing Para 7 of A. I. 51/80 (and corresponding provisions on the Naval and Air Force side), after the widow, a minor son unto the age of 21 years and for unmarried daughter up to the age of 30 years are eligible for grant of ordinary family pension.

The President is pleased to decide that if the son or daughter of a Service Personnel is suffering from any disorder or disability of mind or is physically crippled or disabled so as to render him or her unable to earn a living even after attaining the age of twenty one years in the case of the son and thirty years in the case of the daughter the family pension shall be payable to such son or daughter for life subject to the following condition namely: -

If such son or daughter is one among two or more children of the Service Personnel, the family pension shall be initially payable to the minor children in the order set out in note under Para 8 of AI 51/80 (and corresponding provisions of the Naval and Air side) until the last minor child attains the age of twenty one or thirty years as the case may be, and thereafter the family pension shall be resumed in favour of the son or daughter suffering from disorder or disability of mind or who is physically crippled or disabled and shall be payable to him/her for life

AUTHORITY - GOI, MOD letter No. A/49601/AG/PS4(e)/3363/B/D (Pension/Services)dated 27 Aug 1987.

Download Form

HANDICAPPED CHILDREN OF ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL UNABLE TO EARN AN
INDEPENDENT LIVING

As per existing policy, during the life time of pensioner and spouse, family pension endorsement cannot be notified in the PPO in favour of disabled son/daughter. However, if the name of such son/daughter is to be placed on records of Pension Sanctioning Authority, Pensioners can furnish the information in quadruplicate as per attached Performa along with latest medical certificate to each of the following addresses by Registered post :-

(i) PCDA(P), Allahabad, G1, Military Group, Gp-IV, Draupathi Ghat, Allahabad, (UP).

(ii) Dy CDA(AF), Pension Cell, Subroto Park, New Delhi – 110010

(iii) AD, Dte of PO3(F), Air HQ, Vayu Bhavan, New Delhi – 110011 for officers

(iv) JD, Dte of PP&R, Air HQ, West Block-6, RK Puram, New Delhi – 110066

(v) AFRO, Subroto Park, New Delhi – 110010 for PBORs

It may also be noted that when such contingency arises, such son/daughter/legal guardian, as the case may be, has to apply for sanction of family pension in the prescribed application form to the Pension Sanctioning Authority through Dte of PP&R along with fresh Medical Certificate from Medical Officer not below the rank of Civil Surgeon , on the armed forces side would be an Medical Officer of the rank of Brigadier or above shall be considered appropriate for issue of certificate. As far as possible, the exact mental or physical condition, disability and degree of disorder of the Child and also (ii) state that handicapped child is not in a position to earn his or her livelihood.

The person receiving the family pension as guardian of such son or daughter shall produce every three years a certificate from a Medical Officer not below the rank of a Civil Surgeon or medical officer not below the rank of Brigadier or above to the effect that he or she continues to suffer from disorder or disability of mind or continues to be physically crippled or disabled.

Authority. MOD Air HA/24229/263/FPNS/PP&R- 3(i)/582/F/D Pen/Sers dated 29.11.05

REVISION OF PENSION OF CORPORAL RANK - RETIRED ON OR AFTER 01 JAN 1986

GOI, MOD vide their letter No. (1)/92/D(Pen/Sers) Part – II dated 13 Oct 98 has accorded sanction for the grant of service pension to Corporals (CPL) of Indian Air Force, who have been discharged on or after 01 Jan 1986 and rendered actual qualifying service of 15 years or more but less than 17 years of service at the same rates as admissible to those with actual qualifying service of 17 years. The arrears of pension and dearness relief thereon will be payable from 01 Jan 1992. The revision as required will be done by O/o JCDA(AF) by issue of Corrigendum Pension Payment Order.

Download Form

INFORMATION & FACILITATION COUNTER OF DEPARTMENT OF PENSION & PENSIONERS WELFARE

An Information & Facilitation Counter of Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare is functioning opposite Gate No.2, Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market, New Delhi – 110003 for providing information and assistance for facilitating the redressal of pensioners’ grievances. The name, telephone number, fax number and e-mail address of the official at the Counter is as under :-

Name : Smt. Lakshmi Pal, Section Officer

Telephone No. : 011 – 24652985

Fax No. : 011 – 24652985

E-mail address : pen.gram@nic.in

For prompt attention, all correspondence from pensioners should contain the following essential details, so that relevant records can be easily linked: -

(i) Name

(ii) Full Address

(iii) Office from which retired (Full form)

(iv) Post held at the time of retirement (and scale of pay)

(v) If pension has been sanctioned, quantum may be specified along with the following :-

(a) particulars of Accounts Officer who issued the PPO

(b) particulars of Pension Disbursing Authority

(c) PPO Number / or a photocopy of the PPO

(SOURCE : AFA)

MANAGING INDO-PAK TENSIONS

2010-01-11T07:06:00.001+05:30

CONVERSION OF PENSION A/C INTO JOINT ACCOUNT WITH SPOUSE : ARMED FORCES PENSIONERS

2010-01-10T19:29:00.007+05:30

PAYMENT OF PENSION THROUGH AUTHORISED BANKS(CREDIT OF PENSION TO JOINT BANK ACCOUNT OPERATED BY A PENSIONER WITH HIS/HER SPOUSE)

Under the facility of disbursement of pension through Authorised Banks available to pensioners, a pensioner is entitled to receive his/her pension by getting it credited to a saving/current bank account operated individually by him/her. Para 4.1, 4.2 and 12.9 of the “Scheme for Payment of Pension for Central Government Civil Pensioners Through Authorised Banks” outline the present procedure for credit of pension to Bank Account of the pensioner.

It has now been decided to permit credit of pension also to a joint account operated by pensioner with his/her spouse in whose favour an authorization for family pension exists in the pension payment order (PPO). The joint account of the pensioner with the spouse could be operated either by ‘Former or Survivor’ or ‘either or survivor’ basis subject to the following terms and conditions: -

(a) Once pension has been credited to a pensioner’s bank account, the liability of the Government/Bank ceases. No further liability arises, even if the spouse wrongly draws the amount.

(b) As pension is payable only during the life of a pensioner, his/her death shall be intimated to the bank at the earliest and in any case within one month of the demise, so that the bank does not continue crediting monthly pension to the joint account with the spouse, after the death of the pensioner.

(c) Payment of Arrears of Pension (Nomination) Rules 1983 would continue to be applicable to a Joint Account with the pensioner’s spouse. This implies that if there is and accepted nomination’ in accordance with rules 5 and 6 of these Rules, arrears mentioned in the Rules shall be payable to the nominee. (from AFA )
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All veteran brothers may ensure that the PENSION ACCOUNT in banks/PDAs may be converted into JOINT ACCOUNT with SPOUSE name as mentioned in Part.B-FAMILY PENSION (COL.22) of the PPOs. The application format for the same and the relevant authority letter (can be copied from this blog) is furnished below, for the benefit of their information.
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No. CPAO/Tech/ Amendments/Sch.Book/2005-06/69

Govt of India, Min of Fin, Dept of Exp, Central Pension Accounting Office
Trikoot-II, Bhikaji Cama Place, New Delhi.

Dated: 09-06-2005

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Sub:-Payment of pension through Authorized Banks-Credit of pension
to Joint bank account operated by a pensioner with his/her spouse.

1. Under the facility of disbursement of pension through Authorized Banks available to pensioners, a Pensioner is entitled to receive his/her pension by getting it credited to a saving /current bank account operated individually by him/her. Paras 4.1,4.2 and 12.9 of the "Scheme for Payment of Pension for Central Government Civil Pensioners Through Authorized Banks" outline the present procedure for credit of pension to Bank Account of the pensioner. - However, operation of a joint account is not permitted under the existing scheme.

2. The matter whether pensioners should be given an option to receive pension by getting it credited to their saving or current bank accounts operated jointly with their spouse, has been under consideration. It has now been decided to permit credit of pension also to a joint account operated by pensioner with his/her spouse in whose . favour an authorization for family pension exists in the Pension Payment Order (PPO). The joint account of the pensioner with the spouse could be operated either by 'Former or Survivor' or Either or Survivor' basis subject to following terms and conditions:

(a) Once pension has been credited to a pensioner’s bank account, the liability of the Govt/Bank ceases. No further liability arises, even if the spouse wrongly draws the amount.

(b) As pension is payable only during the life of a pensioner, his/her death shall be intimated to the bank at the earliest and in any case within 0ne month of the demise, so that the bank does not continue crediting monthly pension to the joint account with the .spouse, after the death of the pensioner. lf; however, any amount has been wrongly credited to the joint. account, it shall be recoverable from the joint account and/or any to her account held by the pensioner/spouse either individually or jointly. The legal heirs, successors, executors etc. shall also be liable to refund any which has been wrongly credited to the joint account.

(c) Payment of Arrears of Pension (Nomination) Rules 1983 would continue to be applicable to a Joint Account with the pensioner's spouse. This implies that if there is an 'accepted nomination' in accordance with Rules 5 and 6 of these Rules, arrears mentioned in the Rules shall be payable to the nominee.

3. Existing pensioners desiring to get their pension credited to a joint account as indicated above are required to submit an application to the branch bank, from where they are presently drawing pension in the enclosed form. This would also be signed by the pensioner's spouse in token of having accepted the terms and conditions laid down in this Office Memorandum. These instruction are also applicable to the Govt. servants who will be retiring of this Office Memorandum.

4. 'The existing Scheme shall stand modified to the extent indicated above Formal correction to the Scheme will be issued in due course by the Central Accounting Office."

5. All Ministries/Departments and all Authorized Banks are requested to give publicity to the Office Memorandum so that pensioners may avail of this benefit.

(Vadana Sharma)
Chief Controller (Pension)

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LETTER FORMAT - CONVERSION OF INDIVIDUAL PENSION A/C TO JOINT A/C
(Send letter to the Branch Manager of the bank which operates your Pension Account)

To

The Branch Manager
_________________
_________________

Sub: - Payment of pension under PPO No.____________________ through your bank branch.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I wish to receive my pension under PPO No._______________by getting it credited to the saving/current bank account no.____________________ which is operated jointly in your branch by me and my spouse, Mr./Mrs._______________________ in whose favour an authorization for family pension exits in the Pension Payment Order (PPO).

I have read and understood the contents of the Government of India, Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, Central Pension. Accounting Office OM No.CPAO/Tech/ Amend-ments/S.ch Book/2005-06/69 dated 09.06.2005 which contains the following terms and conditions: Once pension has been to a pensioner's bank account, liability of the government/ bank ceases. No further liability arises even if the amount is wrongly drawn by the spouse.

(a) As pension is payable only during the life of a pensioner, his/her death shall be intimated to the bank at the earliest and in any case within one month of the demise, so that the bank does not continue crediting monthly pension to the joint account with the spouse, after the death of the pensioner. If, however, any amount has been wrongly credited to the joint account, it shall be recoverable from the Joint account and/or any other account held by the pensioner/spouse either individu1ly or jointly. The legal heirs, successors executors etc, shall also be liable to refund any amount, which has been . wrongly credited to the joint account.

(b) Payment of Arrears of pensions (nomination) Rule, 1983 would continue to be applicable to the joint account with pensioner's spouse. Thus. If there is an 'accepted nomination' in accordance with Rule 5 and 6 of these Rules, arrears mention in the Rules will be payable to the nominee.

I accept the above terms and conditions; My spouse too, in token of having accepted those terms and conditions, has put his/her signature below.

1. Signature of Pensioner:_____________________________

2. Signature of Spouse:_________________________________

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THE BOY AND THE APPLE TREE--- MUST READ....!!!!

2010-01-09T08:24:00.001+05:30

THE EMAIL RECEEIVED FFROM Jayvant Walawalkar IS POSTED BELOW FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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Jayvant Walawalkar - Respected Sirs,

FOR ME THE TREE ...IS INDIA
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Everybody has an apple tree in his life. And its your Parents !!!

PRATIBHA SAMMAN SAMAROH : 09 JAN 10

2010-01-08T11:56:00.000+05:30

THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATTION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:- ( FOR GOOGLE DOC.VIEW - PLEASE CLICK HERE )
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“GRAMIN UTHAAN-BHARAT NIRMAN”
(Regn No-S/45217/2003)

Bharat- Nirman Chief Patron
Capt Ajai Singh Yadav
Hon’ble Minister of Finance, Institutional Finance, Credit Control, Planning, Irrigation, Forests & Environment

Patron
Rao Dharam Pal
MLA
Govt of Haryana

Dy Patron
Lt Gen (Retd.) J B S Yadava,
PVSM, AVSM, VrC,VSM

President
Col (Retd.) Hari Singh

Vice President
Col (Retd.) Raj Singh

General Secretary (Founder)
Maj (Dr.) T C Rao,
Veteran

PRATIBHA SAMMAN SAMAROH

1. A “Pratibha Samman Samaroh” is being organized at Sabji Mandi, Jharera Village, Delhi Cantt-110010 at 5 PM on 09 January 2010 by “Gramin Uthaan – Bharat Nirman” .

2. Blankets would also be presented to needy people on this occasion.

3. Problems and difficulties being faced by Ex-Servicemen and the residents of Delhi Cantt would also be discussed.

4. You are cordially invited to attend the function and help the NGO in increasing their drive to take up the problems of Villages and under developed areas of Delhi.

With kind regards,

Yours sincerely,
Maj (Dr) TC Rao
General Secretary (Founder)
“Uthaan House”, WZ-908A, Ring Road, Naraina, New Delhi-110028 (INDIA),

Mob No 9654016112 & Tele No.: - 011-25775493
E-mail:-graminuthaan@gmail.com, Website: - http://www.graminuthaan.com/
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THE MEANING OF LIFE (IN LIGHTER VEIN)

2010-01-07T11:26:00.001+05:30

On the first day, God created the dog and said: “Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of 20 years.” The dog said: “That’s a long time to be barking. How about only 10 years and I’ll give you back the other 10?’

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: “Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I’ll give you a 20-year life span.” The monkey said: “Monkey tricks for 20 years? That’s a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back 10 like the Dog did?” And God agreed.

On the third day, God created the cow and said: “You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer’s family. For this, I will give you a life span of 60 years.” The cow said: “That’s kind of a tough life you want me to live for 60 years. How about 20 and I’ll give back the other 40?” And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created man and said: “Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I’ll give you 20 years.” But man said: “Only 20 years? Could you possibly give me my 20, the 40 the cow gave back, the 10 the monkey gave back, and the 10 the dog gave back — that makes 80, OK?” “OK,” God said. “As long as you’re sure.”

So that is why for our first 20 years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next 40 years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next 10 years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last 10 years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

And that, my friends, is the meaning of life. Now you know.

(SOURCE : G CONNECT)

BURZ DUBAI, THE TALLEST IN THE WORLD

2010-01-05T13:46:00.003+05:30

(sent by e-mail by Vet Manimala)

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS!!

2010-01-04T07:41:00.001+05:30

WHEREVER YOU CLICK, SOMEONE'S WATCHING!!??

2010-01-03T11:41:00.001+05:30

Each time you surf, email or chat, your private information is being accessed without your consent or knowledge-
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A few weeks back, Mark Z u cke r b e r g , Fa c e - books founder, made a few changes to the privacy settings in his profile on the social networking site. What he did was fairly simple . Facebook essentially allows its users to chose their level of privacy, by deciding whether they want to restrict access to their friends , friends of friends or everyone . Zuckerberg chose the option everyone , allowing hundreds of people access to his personal information, which was earlier restricted only to his friends.

Nothing wrong with that, one would presume. However, Zuckerbergs move was a precursor to a major policy decision by his company , that was aimed at encouraging its members to share more information,by asking them to review their privacy settings. What Facebook didnt convey was that unless users actively managed their privacy settings themselves, their information about family, relationship, education, work etc, and their posts would be made visible to everyone, by default. Internet observers were soon up in arms, terming it as a ploy to nudge users to share information so that search engines could index more pages from their site.

Although Facebook defended its decision by claiming that it was a step towards empowering its 350 million users , the episode has renewed the larger debate of privacy on the internet. The moot question it has raised is this does the privacy of users get regularly infringed in a medium, whose strongest point, perhaps, is that users can remain fairly anonymous, unless they wish to voluntarily share information about themselves

The answer is a big Yes, says Katitza Rodriguez, director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), a Washingtonbased group that focuses public attention on privacy issues. All across the world, privacy infringement is an issue that has assumed alarming proportions. Whether it is through websites, search engines, email or social networking sites, the information of users is being accessed without their consent or even their knowledge.

How does this happen Take search engines, for instance, says Rodriguez. Internet Protocol addresses which identify unique computers are the primary method by which information submitted to search engines is made personally identifiable. Other methods include search query analysis and the use of cookies. The irony is that most users are simply unaware that search engines like Google are collecting their personally identifiable data.

And, how is this information used There are two major threats to privacy today governments seeking greater access to our lives, and companies who wish to commoditize our lives, says Professor Gus Hosein of the London School of Economics. If a countrys government wants to get information about you, they can simply approach Google or Microsoft, and you will never be any the wiser. Similarly, companies want to know what you are doing wherever you are, so that they can sell ads to you.

Why this is worrying is because this also leaves the field open for a lot of potential misuse. As an advanced user of the internet , I still have to rely on blind faith at times to ensure that my data is not being abused. This is not a comforting thought, says Hosein. The excessive collection of personal data by internet companies has also led to the problem of identity theft, especially in the US.

Even in India, where individual privacy rights have never been a major issue, the perception is changing fast.Increased use of internet, growth of e-commerce and e-governance and recent trends like misuse of information by telemarketers is rapidly changing our notion of privacy, says Kamlesh Bajaj of the Data Security Council of India, a Nasscom subsidiary, formed to spread awareness about online privacy and data protection practices in the country.

As awareness about the issue is growing, so is the demand for action. Privacy groups like EPIC have now started putting pressure on internet companies to establish fair information practices which ensure that the information they collect will not be used for secondary purposes without the knowledge and informed consent of the user. They are also encouraging citizens around the world to sign the Madrid Privacy Declaration, which affirms that privacy is a fundamental human right.

With all this happening, users would be hoping that at least in the new decade, they can surf the net, without someone constantly looking over their shoulder.

(SOURCE :TOI)

THE LAW WILL TAKE ITS OWN COURSE - A JUDGE ALSO FINDS THE SLOW PACE OF JUSTICE KILLING

2010-01-02T13:14:00.000+05:30

THE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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A judge also finds the slow pace of justice killing - Clean Chit In The Rs 23 Cr PF Scam 10 Months Ago, But District Judge Yet To Be Reinstated :-

It is common knowledge that the Indian justice delivery system exhausts litigants. But, here is a shocker: A District Judge has been the victim of the snailpaced judiciary for the past 10 months. In April last year, CBI and the Supreme Court gave a clean chit to Kanpur District Judge (DJ) Subhash Chander in the Rs 23 crore PF scam. Despite proving his innocence , the senior DJ continues to be under suspension. Now, he is hoping against hope for reinstatement prior to his retirement in March this year.

When the PF scam allegedly involving judges from all three tiers of the judiciary first broke out nearly two years ago, Chander was put under suspension by the Allahabad High Court as his name figured in the list of judges who had some role to play in the illegal withdrawal of provident fund monies of class III and IV employees of the Ghaziabad District Court.

When his repeated pleas of innocence fell on deaf ears, he moved the Supreme Court. Chander made an emotional plea for a speedy conclusion of the probe against him, saying the PF scam had cast an unnecessary shadow on his 33 years of unblemished judicial track-record and jeopardised his chance for elevation as a judge of the HC.

On the SCs direction and after a thorough scrutiny of Chanders role in the scam, the CBI submitted a report to the apex court hinting that the key accused in the case then treasury officer Ashutosh Asthana could have sung more than what he knew in the PF scam. The agency gave a clean chit to the DJ saying that the allegations against him were baseless.

In the light of CBIs report, the SC on April 5, 2009, accepted the agencys report which, after verifying all the allegations, had found no incriminating evidence to link him to the scam. The clean chit from the premier agency and then the SC restored the dented honour of the DJ. Yet, even after 10 months, the suspension order of the Allahabad HC is still in operation. HC sources told TOI that a decision on Chanders fate could be taken only by a Full Bench of the High Court. It was apparent that though the decision of the SC was conveyed to the HC, the latter had not found time to discuss the matter, little realising that the delay was severely hurting an innocent District Judges reputation and service.

Asthana, the former treasurey officer in the Ghaziabad District Court who died in mysterious circumstances inside Dasna Jail on October 17 last year, had allegedly confessed that he used to illegally withdraw money from PF accounts in tacit approval of the District Judges.
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(SOURCE ; TOI)

A NEW YEAR AND MORE OF PROSPERITY AND PEACE

2010-01-01T15:47:00.000+05:30

     AN ARTICLE ON THE ABOVE SUBJECT BY SRI SRI RAVISHANKARJI IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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     Each New Year, we wish others happiness and prosperity . What really is the sign of prosperity There are several a smile, contentment, freedom, the willingness to share, fearlessness and the trust and confidence that you will get what you need in life.

     Welcome the New Year with a genuine smile. As you flip the calendar , keep flipping your mind as well. Dont fill your future dates with past events. Learn and unlearn from the past, and move on.

     You want to be free of greed, hatred, jealousy and all such imperfections . Understand that negative emotions are due to the past. Do not let the past affect your life in the present. If you cannot forgive the past, then your future will be miserable. This New Year make up with someone with whom you are not on good terms. Start life afresh.

     In the New Year, wish peace and prosperity for all. Do selfless service. Live your life well. Realise that your priority is to check violence in the world, free of domestic and societal violence. Make a resolution to do more good, help people in need and bring solace to those suffering.

     Whenever you are useful to people, merit will never be lost. Any good gesture or action of yours will always come back to you. Today you have the whole world for a family. Thats what you need to feel, that everybody is part of your own family. Take responsibility . Then there is no suffering.

     The spiritual dimension of life brings a great sense of belongingness , responsibility, compassion and caring for the whole world, for all life. In its truest form spirituality helps us overcome narrow boundaries of caste, creed, religion and nationality and gives you a broader awareness of life everywhere.

     Open your eyes and see how much you have been given. Focus on what you have rather than what you dont have. The more grateful you are, the more will be given to you. Conversely, the more you complain, the more will be taken away from you. This is what Jesus Christ meant when he said, Those who have will be given more; those who dont give, and even what they have will be taken away from them.

     With gratitude, reach out and help those who are less endowed. You will get much contentment when you serve selflessly. Then you realise that your problems arent so big after all. The biggest reason for mental depression is the constant refrain of the mind that says, What about me This is a sign of lack of prosperity. Become free like a bird. Open your wings and learn to fly. This is something you have to experience within yourself. If you think you are in bondage, you will remain bound here. Be free. When will you experience freedom After you die Become free right now. Sit down and become contented. Spend some time in meditation and satsang. This not only calms your mind, your inner self becomes strong enough to deal with challenges.

   When the mind relaxes, the intellect becomes sharp. When the mind is loaded with ambitions and feverish desires, then the intellect loses its keenness. When intellect and observation are not sharp, life does not express itself fully. Ideas dont flow properly and abilities diminish day by day. With this understanding, you step out of your narrow confines and that will solve many of the problems in your life. When you are centred, there is happiness always . With this calmness, talents arise naturally. Intuition comes, beauty comes, peace comes; Love springs up. Prosperity comes.

(SOURCE - TOI )

NEW YEAR GREETINGS

2010-01-01T06:59:00.005+05:30

WISHING ALL VETERAN BROTHERS,

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010........

NEW YEAR (2010) GREETINGS

2010-01-01T01:00:00.002+05:30

THE FOLLOWING 2010 NEW YEAR GREETINGS ARE POSTED (TO ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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Compliments of the Season and a Happy New Year to you and your family.

===============================================
2010 Contract

After serious and cautious consideration... your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year 2010!

It was a very hard decision to make.... So try not to screw it up!!!

My Wish for You in 2010

-May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.

-May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.

-May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!

-May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy

-May the problems you had, forget your home address!

In simple words ............

May 2010 be the best year of your life!!!

Happy New Year!!

Cheers, Love and Regards,

(AS E-MAILED BY EX SGT Walawalkar JY)
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Report Card of the Ministry of Home Affairs for December 2009

2009-12-31T21:14:00.000+05:30

The Union Home Minister Shri P. Chidambaram presented the Report Card of the Ministry of Home Affairs for December 2009 here today. Following is the text of the Minister’s statement:-
=====================================

CENTRAL PARA MILITARY FORCES

Under the Modernisation of Police Forces Scheme for 2009-10, MHA has a provision for Rs.1,250 crore. A sum of Rs.118.43 crore was released to various States in December 2009, taking the total release so far to Rs.849.66 crore. CISF has been sanctioned additional posts to provide security to establishments/installations as under:

Mumbai airport .. 518 posts
New Delhi airport .. 289 posts
Aurangabad airport .. 55 posts
Rajiv Gandhi ThermalPower project, Hissar .. 126 posts
Ratnagiri Gas and Power Ltd. .. 231 posts

.A scheme has been formulated to re-employ Ex-servicemen on contractual basis in the categories of Constable and Sub-Inspector in BSF, CISF and SSB. CRPF has already been permitted to reemploy Ex-servicemen

A Research Cell will be set up in the National Police Academy, Hyderabad to conduct research on subjects relating to policing and internal security. Research Fellowships will be offered. In course of time, the Academy will become a Centre for Research Studies in police subjects.

(SOURCE - P I B)

THE DECREE OF GREGORIAN/MODERN CALENDER

2009-12-31T07:37:00.001+05:30

THEE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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Modern calendar was decreed in circa 1582. What is the Gregorian calendar. The current international calendar and the worlds most widely used one is the Gregorian calendar, first proposed by Italian doctor Aloysius Lilius and decreed on Feb 24, 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom it was named.
It was adopted to rectify the errors in the older Julian calendar. Due to its obvious connotations of Christianity, sometimes its used by replacing the traditional era notations AD and BC (Anno Domini and Before Christ) with CE and BCE (Common Era and Before Common Era).

What was the Julian calendar

Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar in 45 BC. The Julian calendar was an improvement on the Roman calendar and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year, or the time taken by the Sun, as seen from the Earth, to return to the same position along its path. It has a regular year of 365 days divided into 12 months, and a leap day is added to February every four years. Hence the Julian year is on average 365.25 days. It was in common use in Europe until the 1500s, when countries in that region started changing to the Gregorian calendar .

What was the leap year error

Although the new calendar was much simpler than the pre-Julian calendar, the algorithm for leap years was mistaken. It added a leap day every three years, instead of every four years. According to Roman grammarian and philosopher Macrobius, the error was the result of counting inclusively, so that the four-year cycle was considered as including both the first and fourth years. This resulted in too many leap days. Augustus remedied this discrepancy after 36 years by restoring the correct frequency. He also skipped several leap days in order to realign the year and it earned him a place in the calendar as the eighth month was named after him.

What long-term problems did the use of the Julian calendar cause

On average, the astronomical solstices (the time when the Sun appears to reach its northernmost and southernmost extremes) and the equinoxes (when the Sun is positioned directly over the Earths equator) advance by about 11 minutes per year against the Julian year. As a result, the Julian calendar introduced an error of one day every 128 years. So every 128 years, the year shifted one day backward with respect to the calendar . By 1582, that meant that the world was running 10 days ahead of time. To get rid of inconvenience made by the Julian calender, the Gregorian calendar was introduced .

How are there 97 leap years in 400 years

Every year divisible by 4 is a leap year, except for most of the years divisible by 100. Among the latter, every year divisible by 400 is a leap year. So, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2100, and 2200 are not leap years. But 1600, 2000, and 2400 are leap years.

Is there a 4,000-year rule

It has been suggested by the astronomer John Herschel that a better approximation to the length of the tropical year would be 365.24225 days. This would mean 969 leap years every 4000 years, rather than the 970 leap years mandated by Gregorian calendar . This could be achieved by dropping one leap year from Gregorian calendar every 4000 years. This rule, however, has not been officially adopted.

How did countries shift to the Gregorian calendar

Pope Gregory XIII decreed that 10 days should be dropped from October 1582 so that October 15, 1582 should follow immediately after October 4 of that year. Most catholic countries including Spain, Portugal and most of Italy soon adopted it. But Protestants were a bit reluctant . The British Empire and Sweden adopted it in 1752 and 1753 respectively. Russia , however, remained on the Julian calendar until 1917, after the Russian Revolution (which is thus called the Oct Revolution though it occurred in Gregorian Nov) and Greece continued to use it until 1923.

What are the other calendars

Most Muslims use the Hijri calendar to determine the proper Islamic holy days. It is a lunar calendar with 354 days and hence a year is about 11 days shorter than the solar year. As a result, Islamic holy days usually shift 11 days earlier in the Gregorian year. Similarly, the Saka calendar, which is a lunisolar calendar, was adopted as the official calendar of India . In this calender, the year zero starts in the year 78 of the Christian era. To determine leap years, add 78 to the Saka year if the result is a leap year in the Gregorian calendar, then the Saka year is also a leap year. The Persian calendar is used in countries such as Iran and Afghanistan.
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(SOURCE : T O I )

WHAT THE WORLD THINKS ABOUT US (INDIANS) -BY DR.FARRUKH SALEEM (PAKISTANI JOURNALIST)

2009-12-30T08:50:00.002+05:30

THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL SENT BY JY WALAWALKAR IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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What the world thinks about us...INDIANS !!! Capital suggestion Written By Dr Farrukh Saleem, a Pakistani journalist [MUST READ]. Here's what is happening in India:
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The two Ambani brothers can buy 100 percent of every company listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) and would still be left with $30 billion to spare. The four richest Indians can buy up all goods and services produced over a year by 169 million Pakistanis and still be left with $60 billion to spare. The four richest Indians are now richer than the forty richest Chinese.

In November, B S E benchmark Sensex flirted with 20,000 points. As a consequence, Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries became a $100 billion company (the entire KSE is capitalized at $65 billion). Mukesh owns 48 percent of Reliance.

In November, comes Neeta's birthday. Neeta turned forty-four three weeks ago. Look what she got from her husband as her birthday present: A sixty-million dollar jet with a custom fitted master bedroom, bathroom with mood lighting, a sky bar, entertainment cabins, satellite television, wireless communication and a separate cabin with game consoles. Neeta is Mukesh Ambani's wife, and Mukesh is not India's richest but the second richest.

Mukesh is now building his new home, Residence Antillia (after a mythical, phantom island somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean). At a cost of $1 billion this would be the most expensive home on the face of the planet.. At 173 meters tall Mukesh's new family residence, for a family of six, will be the equivalent of a 60-storeyed building. The first six floors are reserved for parking. The seventh floor is for car servicing and maintenance. The eighth floor houses a mini-theatre. Then there's a health club, a gym and a swimming pool. Two floors are reserved for Ambani family's guests. Four floors above the guest floors are family floors all with a superb view of the Arabian Sea. On top of everything are three helipads. A staff of 600 is expected to care for the family and their family home.

In 2004, India became the 3rd most attractive foreign direct investment destination. Pakistan wasn't even in the top 25 countries.

In 2004, the United Nations, the representative body of 192 sovereign member states, had requested the Election Commission of India to assist the UN in the holding elections in Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah and Dowlat-e Eslami-ye Afghanestan. Why the Election Commission of India and not the Election Commission of Pakistan? After all, Islamabad is closer to Kabul than is Delhi.

Imagine, 12 percent of all American scientists are of Indian origin; 38 percent of doctors in America are Indian; 36 percent of NASA scientists are Indians; 34 percent of Microsoft employees are Indians; and 28 percent of IBM employees are Indians.

For the record: Sabeer Bhatia created and founded Hotmail. Sun Microsystems was founded by Vinod Khosla. The Intel Pentium processor, that runs 90 percent of all computers, was fathered by Vinod Dham. Rajiv Gupta co-invented Hewlett Packard's E-speak project. Four out often Silicon Valley start-ups are run by Indians. Bollywood produces 800 movies per year and six Indian ladies have won Miss Universe/Miss World titles over the past 10 years.

For the record: Azim Premji, the richest Muslim entrepreneur on the face of the planet, was born in Bombay and now lives in Bangalore.India now has more than three dozen billionaires; Pakistan has none (not a single dollar billionaire) .

The other amazing aspect is the rapid pace at which India is creating wealth. In 2002, Dhirubhai Ambani, Mukesh and Anil Ambani's father, left his two sons a fortune worth $2.8 billion. In 2007, their combined wealth stood at $94 billion. On 29 October 2007, as a result of the stock market rally and the appreciation of the Indian rupee, Mukesh became the richest person in the world, with net worth climbing to US$63.2 billion (Bill Gates, the richest American, stands at around $56 billion).

Indians and Pakistanis have the same Y-chromosome haplogroup. We have the same genetic sequence and the same genetic marker (namely: M124). We have the same DNA molecule, the same DNA sequence. Our culture, our traditions and our cuisine are all the same. We watch the same movies and sing the same songs.

What is it that Indians have and we don't?

INDIANS ELECT THEIR LEADERS. AND ALSO TO MENTION - THEY THINK OF CONSTRUCTION OF OWN NATION, UNLIKE NATIONS WHO ARE JUST CONCERNED WITH DESTRUCTION OF OTHERS......
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MANDATORY REGISTRATION OF ALL COMPLAINTS AS FIRs (RUCHIKA CASE FALLOUT)

2009-12-30T07:05:00.001+05:30

THE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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Learning a lesson from Ruchika case, the government plans to issue circulars to all states and Union territories calling for mandatory registration of all complaints as FIRs. However, the police officials have their own excuse behind non-registration of complaints . Typically, police officials often claim that they need to see whether a complaint is "genuine " and point to limitations in manpower. These arguments are not without merit , but discussions in home ministry and and PMO have felt that the risk might be worth it. The SHO or case officer should have to explain why a case was not registered after an FIR was filed.

It is pointed out that registering an FIR is mandatory with regard to "atrocities " against SC and STs where nonregistration could mean punitive action. "No SHO hesitates for even a minute to register a complaint under the SC and ST (prevention of atrocities) Act," said a PMO official. Ruchika's family members had alleged that the local police refused to register the FIR when they lodged a complaint against Rathore in the molestation case. The police allegedly also refused to register a case when Ruchika's brother was harassed by cops on false charges.

Former chief of bureau of police research and development , Kiran Bedi, said "Governments and police often show an artificial control of crime. This is also a source of corruption and crime. The home ministry will have to work in tandem with states and judiciary or this will remain on paper." She added, "The country has finally woken up and realised the need to register all crimes.'' Elaborating the move in the backdrop of many such complaints from across the country, the home ministry official said: "The objective of the circular to the states and UTs is to ensure that even if a complaint is false, police have to investigate it after registering the FIR" .

He said: "If the complaint is found to be false, police can always drop the FIR. But that should not be a deterrent in registering genuine complaints as FIR" . Various police reforms commissions and the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D ) had stated about the existing problem of non-registration of FIRs. Although the matter was discussed while analyzing the police reform issues, a section of the cops argued that it could be possible only when the strength of the force is increased substantially.
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(SOURCE : T O I)

MOST ESM GET JUSTICEAFTER DECADES, THAT TOO VIA COURTS AND THROUGH THE SYSTEM/PROPER CHANNEL

2009-12-29T19:54:00.000+05:30

Dear Veterans/ Sirs,

1. Like many such cases being handled by our Ex-Servicemen Grievances Cell, Regd (NGO), Sep Charan Singh of 2 Sikh LI gets his Dis Pen (60%) after 25 Yrs, not by system's efficiency/ wisdom but through the Courts. You may like to read his attached real story & condition.

2. Ropar was the biggest recruiting Centre during World Wars & now full of ESM. Most ESM/ Widows are crying for proper compensation even today in Free India. They come for help to ZSBs & then to NGOs. This NGO have succeeded in helping hundreds of them but still no end to it.

3. Army HQ/ MOD has amended many rules & provisions on genuine request and much more need to be improved, yet.

4. Western Command ESM Helplines is also tired helping endless such cases, which speak volumes of Civil Admn failure.

5. There is a real need to flood ESM into civil Admn, MOD, Banks and CDAs/ DPDOs. So that we get some Justice & employment/ resettlement.

Regards. Col Sohi. 9815107744.

AFTER LS, RS TOO PASSES BILL ALLOWING FREE AIR TRAVEL TO " ANY NUMBER OF RELATIVES" OF MINISTERS

2009-12-29T11:41:00.000+05:30

Withhout a debate, as was done in the Lok Sabha too last week, the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday gave its nod to a Bill to allow free air travel to “any number of relatives or companions” accompanying ministers on official tours.

The Salaries and Allowances of Ministers (Amendment) Bill, 2009, was passed by the Rajya Sabha without any discussion after Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan said the business advisory committee has already decided to do so.

The Bill entitles ministers to take along “any number of companions or relatives” by air, but is subject to a maximum of 48 such fares per year. The MPs already enjoy such benefits. The Statement of the Objects and Reasons of the Bill said the idea was to end this discrepancy between ministers and MPs.

“It is observed that an MP is entitled to travel by air for each single journey performed by him, either alone or along with spouse or any other number of companions or relatives whereas a minister can avail this facility either for himself or for his family members only,” the Statement of the Objects and Reasons said.

“A Minister shall be entitled to an amount equal to the fare for a single journey performed by him, during each year, within India, either alone or along with spouse or legitimate or step-children, residing with and wholly dependent on him, or any number of companions or relatives, at the same rates at which traveling allowance is payable to such minister... subject to maximum of 48 such fares per year,” the amended clause in the Bill said.
(source : indian expresss)

GRANT OF FOUR INCREMENTS TO ALL LOK SABHA EMPLOYEES????

2009-12-29T11:31:00.000+05:30

THE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE BENEEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has run into trouble with the government for unilaterally granting four increments in one go to all Lok Sabha Secretariat employees. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has now put it on record that he does not support the move, which ought to have been first discussed with his ministry. In what is turning into a controversial and complicated issue, the increments have been given over and above the sixth pay commission hikes. Disbursal has already started and arrears too have been paid. It is learnt that this will cost over Rs 100 crore, and was done without concurrence of the Finance Ministry.

By an order on September 22, issued through the Lok Sabha Secretary General, the Speaker authorised grant of “two advance increments each” with effect from April 1 and April 2, 2007 to “all employees in the revised structure of pay, as a one time measure”. The justification given was that this would remove “pay anomalies” and the expenditure would be borne from the Lok Sabha budget.

Matters, however, came to a head when Rajya Sabha Secretariat employees demanded the same from Vice-President Hamid Ansari who raised the issue with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal as any such financial decision has to be cleared by a joint committee which has representation from both Houses and the Finance Ministry.

The Lok Sabha has some 2,900 employees while the Rajya Sabha has 1,300.

Bansal then took up the matter with Mukherjee who responded on November 17: “There appears to be no justification in granting advance increments in the case of those employees who are already in receipt of a substantial amount as ‘special pay’ for performing their duties. On the recommendations of the sixth CPC (central pay commission), the government has granted Military Service Pay to Defence Forces’ officers and PBORs. However, they have not been granted any advance increments. Hence, the grant of advance increments to the employees of Lok Sabha Secretariat is likely to generate a demand from various other sections of employees of central government and courts etc, to grant them similar benefit.”
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Comments-
Rajiv Gupta - 28-Dec-2009 : Somebody should stop this open loot by Govt. Babus -Govt. service was considered to be a social service since Govt. make its income by taxing its citizens. As such any rational Govt. is dutybound to ensure that expenses on salaries of its employees are reasonable. However this Govt. headed by Mr. Manmohan singh has crossed all limits. In a poor country where 80% people still have average daily income of Rs 20/- only, this shameless Govt. has doled out crores of Rupees to its babus. Now these parasites not only get hefty salary & allowances but alo get everything right from power to respect. This is absurd and somebody should raise voice over this open dacoity by Govt. on taxpayers money. It is like a dacoit gang looting and distributing looted money amongest them. But then who will listen. Everyone right from Netas to judiciary have their pockets filled up with this loot. It is so shameful in a country which calls Gandhiji and Lal Bhadur Shastri its leaders.
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Praveen Belapurkar - 28-Dec-2009 : It is free for all in government. Recently ministers and M.P.'s increased their allowances. Where was Mr. Finance Minester? Why not he questioned the wisdom of decision and why not he cmae forward giving details of burden on countery's tax payers. It is a loot.
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Gopal - 28-Dec-2009 : Pay hikes to LS staff - What was the need to offer special increments when enough has been coughed out through VI pay commission. If the salary of LS/RS staff can be hiked by the wishes of the presiding officers, why link their pay to Pay commissions ? You cannot have both the benefits. The cat has come out of the bag in ISRO. Why this partiality ? In what way other depts are inferior ? Will Mr FM clarify ?
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Faktuddin Janmohmed - 28-Dec-2009 : Ministers can now officially travel with companions at the costs of Public Exchequer!Jai ho Soniaji - Apart from putting his foot down to the demand increase in the salaries of the employees of the Lok Sabha,this pusine mined finance minister was very exfited in permitting the ministers to take companions to travel air and tarins though they are permitted to take their accompany them.How can the Minbisters be permitted to have this previlage when most of them so travelling with aldies in no way related to them and their by eqating their such companions as their relatives.Shame on this Finance Min ister and his party leaders even after Narayan Dutt Tiwari had been abused in Raj Bhavan with 3 women at a time.
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Shanthanu - 28-Dec-2009 : Loot in the name of Govt - The weakest FM who cannot think of equity in perks and benefits to all the employees is making a high drama of financial drain. Kasab can eat away crores, Liberhan drain 8 crores, 470 Central projects are shelved out of 900 for mismanage-ment. The list is endless. This country can never dream to be developed in centuries to come.
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Srinivas - 28-Dec-2009 - Why do you make an issue out of it? - In ISRO, all got about 20% if increase over and above the recommendations of Sixth pay commission. Besides, some of the chumachas of ISRO chairman Madhavan Nair, got about 4-6 additional increment (not advance increment). To top it all, some of the empoyees have been rewarded with cash incentives from 10,000 rupes to one lakh rupees. When this old hagg Pranab happily and readily agreed to such outrageous proposals, why should he object now? ISRO got all these incentives which they didn't deserve for making a chandrayaan which was in reality utter flop show. All central givernment employees should be treated in same manner, expcept serive personnel who protect the nation day and night risking thier life.
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(Source - Indian express)

WEARING OF UNIFORM AT ALL TIMES ; POLICE

2009-12-29T08:46:00.001+05:30

THE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL VETERANS:-
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(SOURCE : AGGI JOTTINGS)

OROP - EVERY ESM, SEND PETITION TO MOD, ONCE A MONTH

2009-12-28T07:34:00.004+05:30

The following e-mail is reproduced below for the information of all veteran brothers:-
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Respected Sirs,

I was away at remote village in my state i.e. MAHARASHTRA, helping citizens of economical backward classes. Yesterday I came back, it is found that EXSM of JCO and below ranks are in habit of crying only, instead of that, if on any given day they are united, they can rape any government. But their job is only to cry and ask Gavini sir, PJS sir and Raju sir about OROP, the movement they get OROP they will never bother to see whether you people alive or not.

Respected Sirs, we are at fault, sir, kindly note that, on one fine morning two Armed Forces were separated, i.e. Indian Armed Forces and Pakistan Armed Forces.

Now, as on date Pakistani faujis can topple their government at any time and Indian faujis are down to beggars, begging for OROP , what a contrast.

For all this we are responsible no one else, respected sirs, still time is there, if not we, let next generation enjoy the fruit of OROP, for that we got to be united first. which is not seen by me in near future.

IT WAS MY IDEA THAT, ALL EXSM SHOULD WRITE EVERY MONTH ABOUT OROP TO MOD, FIN MIN, AND P.M. BUT OTHER THAN W.O. BALKRISHNAN NO BODY HAS TAKEN ANY PAIN.

In view of the above, kindly ask EXSM not to cry on blog, kindly ask them to be united FOR THAT THEY HAVE TO SPEND SOME MONEY ALSO.

Thanks & Regards,

X SGT Walawalkar JY
INDIA NAIR FORCE
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2009-12-27T18:46:00.001+05:30

IN 20 YEARS FLAT, SERVICE PENSION EARNED! - BUT WHY DOES MOD TAKE 20 YEARS TO SETTTLE DISABILITY PENSION TO A POOR HAPLESS WIDOW OF ESM?

2009-12-27T18:37:00.003+05:30

THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL EXTRACT IS POSTED FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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Ref: ESM/GC-M/08/149 Dated: 20 Dec 08, 31/3/09, 28/4/09, 11/5/09, 4/6/09, 12/10/09, 4/11/09 & 25/12/09.

TO : 1. Oi/c Records, The Sikh LI, Fatehgarh- 209601 (UP).
2. Adjt Gen, IHQ of MOD (Army) New Delhi-11.
3. PCDA (P), Allahabad- 211014 (UP).
4. Jt Secy, ESM Welfare Deptt, MOD New Delhi-11.

Palwinder Kaur is still struggling for Family Pension of her missing Soldier husband of Fatehgarh Sahib (Pb) (No 4456567 Missing/ presumed dead Sep Balbir Singh of 15 Sikh LI)

Sir,

1. Please ref to Palwinder Kaur’s petition dt 14/12/07 & Record’s latest L/dt 16/2/08 (& Legal Notice).

2. It is reported by Smt Palwinder Kaur of VPO Tarkheri Distt Fetehgarh sahib, that she is still not getting her Family Pension, even after 18/20 year’s gap of her Missing/ presumed dead husband late Sep Balbir Singh of the Sikh LI. Sep Balbir Singh was on annual leave and went missing on 10/ 14 Oct 1990, before joining back unit 15 Sikh LI at Bathinda. He had completed more than 13 year’s of service (wef 24/9/77) and was due for pension shortly. God knows the reason of his missing. All out efforts had/ have been made by all the family members & Police but no trace of Balbir Singh has been found till today.

2. Palwinder Kaur had repeatedly submitted all the asked for documents to the Records. She has no property or job/ source of income, but managing family some how by doing menial work here & there. She has two marriageable daughters & youngest grown up son studying (17-18 yrs), all at highest expenditures level. Finally, as per Records a/q letter, she had re submitted following documents through ZSB Fatehgarh Sahib (Pb), under the guidance of this NGO:-

(a). FIR’s copy of missing Balbir Singh.
(b). Latest Police Report that Balbir Singh was/ is still missing.
(c). Palwinder Kaur’s Affidavit duly attested by Cl-1 magistrate and witnessed by two Ex-Servicemen of the same village and Sarpanch, No trace/ contact with Balbir Singh.
(d). Similar Certificate by Gram Panchayat.
(e). Indemnity Bond for repayment if Balbir Singh reappears.

3. We understand from the Army Gp Insurance Fund’s L/dt 23/10/08 to Palwinder Kaur that, Sep Balbir Singh had been declared deserter by his Unit & not missing/ presumed dead in due course of time. That’s why she is also not getting her full entitled Insurance coverage amount. Therefore, in the absence of proper publication of Part-II order/ Casualty, poor, uneducated, helpless & a widow is suffering from Family Pension release from last 18-19 years.

4. Therefore, You may kindly do the needful to complete the required documentation, so that the suffering widow Palwinder Kaur gets her over due Family Pension released. We shall also be relieved & highly obliged please.

Your’s Sincerely,
Sd/-
(Sign of Palwinder Kaur)
Copy to: (Lt Col SS Sohi, Retd). President,
1. Dir SW Pb & ZSB Fatehgarh.
2. All concerned. Ex-Services Grievances Cell (Regd).
==============================
5. Sir, Col TM Patnaik, CO 15 Sikh LI is not canceling Pt-II Order of Missing soldier/ ESM, even after 18/19 years, which was due for amendment after 7 yrs of occurrence. Therefore, you may kindly help the widow, now.

6. Brig BS Dhillon, last CO 15 Sikh LI is posted as G-1 (i) HQ 11 Corps is also fully responsible for her miseries.
===========================
Progress Action Report- I & II.

7. Sir, The name & loc of CO 15 Sikh LI was traced out & above SOS L/ dt 11/5/09 was written all over to Indian Army (once Records got held up). Then, CO 15 Sikh LI spoke to me on 21/5/09 & asked for NOC from the widow, which was sent to him promptly with a copy to records. So that necessary Part-II order can be published for release her of Fly Pen.

8. The attached DO letter dt 20/5/09 of CO 15 Sikh LI (Col TM Patnaik) to CRO (& copy to this NGO), has quoted para 14 of AO 1/2003, that its Record’s duty and unit had played its role? It also means that unit clk O2E in Records system do not exist? Col of the Regt is also requested to intervene & motivate Records not to harass lady any more.

9. Therefore, please sort out procedural aspects & help the widow for Family Pension. We shall be obliged please.

10. Col of The Regt. Sir, Records need your guidance to clear her prolonged Family Pension case and sufferings. Col SK Randev Dy Dir ZSB Fatehgarh Sahib also requested Records on 3/4/09 & 25/5/09 to expedite this Fly Pen case.
=============================
To: As above & MOD, EWD. (Lt Col SS Sohi, Retd).
Copy to: As above. Dated: 4/6/09 & 8/6/09.
=============================
11. Sir, Pr CDA (Pensions) Allahabad had fwd sheet Roll of late Sep Balbir Singh to Mr VK Gupta, (35066) Dy Director, AG’s Branch, Room No.216 Sena Bhawan New Delhi-11, vide their/ CDA Letter No.G4/1/04/ 11389/VII/128 dt 24/3/05. Meanwhile, CO 15 Sikh LI had asked for No Objection certificate on 22/6/09 from the Widow to declare her late husband Sep Balbir Singh, as presumed dead.

12. You may kindly do the needful to fwd clearance/ Documents to PCDA (P) & Records Sikh LI on priority, so that the above suffering widow may get some respite in life, now at least. We shall be obliged please.

13. Sir, AG Branch has kindly permitted her case to be progressed for Pension on the basis of long roll documents available. Therefore Records & PCDA are kindly requested to help the Widow Palwinder Kaur to release her long awaited Family Pension. It is info on 20/11/09 that the case is fwd to the PCDA(P) to release her Fly Pen. We shall be really obliged please.

Copy to: Col Of the Regt & all concerned. (Lt Col SS Sohi, Retd) Dt: 12/10/09,
13/11/09 & 20/11/09.
======================
Progress Action Report-III.

Sir,

14. Please ref above para 13. I was conveyed wrong/ misleading info by Records Sikh LI, that Fly Pen case of Palwinder Kaur have been fwd to PCDA(P) Allahabad after getting sanction of AHQ. Accordingly, I had requested Sub Area Allahabad on 4/11/09 to help lady for early release of her Pension. After checking progress with PCDA (P), Oi/c Def Pen Liaison Cell, Sub Area Allahabad, Col Pandey wrote on 10/12/09 to Oi/c Records SLI to fwd the claim papers of Pen case to PCDA(P) under info to them. So that, they do the needful help action, please.

15. Now, I have got a shocking info that Oi/c Records The Sikh LI has send a courier now on 21 Dec to AHQ for needful sanction of AHQ. God knows the truth, but we leave this to the higher authorities to find solution & resolve the very long pending Fly Pen case on priority, to help their own Def Widow at the earliest, please. She has done no crime but still suffering.

16. But, One thing is sure that, Santa Clause is not bringing any gift for unlucky widow Palwinder Kaur even after 19/20 year’s wait and she will again have nothing to celebrate on Happy New Year’s eve, along with grown up 3 children. Col Comdt of the Regt & CO 15 Sikh LI were suggested to send their Sub Majors to the widows house along with Rs one Lakh each, to show sympathies, concern & to compensate their prolonged ignoring of their own soldier’s widow. Therefore, we again request to listen to the silent cries of the helpless lady & do our duty to get her Fly Pen, the earliest.

To: As above. (Lt Col SS Sohi, Retd). President,
Copy to: As above. Ex-Servicemen Grievances Cell, Regd.
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(source ; Sanjha morcha)

ALERT - BLOOD NEEDED - JUST AN SMS AWAY

2009-12-27T11:33:00.003+05:30

THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL SENT BY MAJ(DR) TC RAO, (RETD), IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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Now it has become easier to get the blood we need.

All you have to do is just type "BLOOD “Needed Blood Group”

And send SMS to 96000 97000"

(Example: "BLOOD B+")

A BLOOD DONOR WILL CALL YOU!!

So please pass this message to all.

It certainly would save many lives.

Its a Must to Know and Share with the loved ones.

Do it now

With Warm Regards,

Maj (Dr) T C Rao (Retd)
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MOD FILING WRIT PETITIONS IN HIGHER COURTSAGAINST DISBILITY PENSION CASES WON BY ESM, ADOPTING ANTI ESM POLICY

2009-12-26T07:24:00.001+05:30

The following e-mail on MOD filing writ petitions in Higher Courts against Dis Pen cases won by ESM, adopting anti ESM Policy against the spirits of Justice & Policy of Govt., is posted for the benefit of information of all Veteran Brothers:-
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Dear Veterans/ Sir,

1. Please read the attachments to see the attitudes by Civ Masters/ Babus agains the Disabled ESM who win Court cases against MOD's wrong & illogical anti ESM Policy. MOD file cases in higher Courts to deprive ESM of their entitlements. MOD often ignores even Court's verdicts.

2. Last page of MOD legal cell's Minute sheet was obtained by RTI.

Regards.
Col Sohi,
President
ESM Grievances Cell (Regd). Mohali. 9815107744.
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CHRISTMAS AND 2010 NEW YEAR BEST WISHES/GREETINGS

2009-12-25T06:50:00.002+05:30

ON THE EVE OF CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR (2010), I CONVEY MY BEST WISHES AND GREETINGS TO ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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(PHOTO E-MAILED BY VET.MANIMALA)

ANNEXURE IV - PRE-1.1.2006 PENSIONERS

2009-12-24T11:30:00.008+05:30

IN CONTINUATION OF THIS POSTING, THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL IS POSTED FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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Dear Veteran’s,

1. Deptt of Ex-Servicemen welfare (Ministry of Defence) has issued a notification for all Ex-Servicemen that Pension Disbursing Agencies must furnished details as per annexure IV (as attached) to CDA(P) Allahabad and copy to individuals so that correctness of entitlement is known to all pensioners. All Bankers and Pension Disbursement Agencies have been informed about it.

2. Please check with your Bankers/Pension Disbursement agencies if said form is sent to CDA(Pensions) Allahabad & copy is given to you.

3. Govt of India Notification is also enclosed.

Jai Hind,

Maj (Dr) TC Rao
Chairman
Ex-Servicemen Congress
Delhi & NCR
23 Dec 2009
===============================
Government of India
Deptt of Ex-servicemen Welfare (Ministry of Defence)
Deptt of Finace Services (Ministry of Finance)

Notice to all Ex-Servicemen pensioners

1. The pension of pre 1-1-2006 ex-servicemen in implementation of the recent recommendations of the 6th CPC has to be revised as per MOD’s letter dated 11 Nov 2008 which is also available on the websites www.chda.nic.in, www.pcdapension.nic.in, and www.mod.nic.in .

2. Annexure IV to MOD’s aforementioned letter which has 16 columns is required to be completed by all the Pension Disbursing Authorities (PDAs) and given to the pensioners. In Column 12 of the Annexure IV details of computation of revised pension/family pension are to be indicated while in Column 13 arrears of pension/family pension are to be mentioned by the Banks.

3. Deptt. Of Financial Services have issued clear instructions to the Chief Executives of all public sector banks to complete the task of revision of pension expeditiously and supply Annexure-IV duly filled in to the Ex-Servicemen pensioners vide their letters F No.2/2/2008-BO.II dated 15th December 2009.

4. Therefore, the ex-servicemen pensioners should obtain a copy of Annexure IV from the respective Pension Disbursing Banks. The concerned Banks are also requested to supply Annexure IV duly completed to all ESM pensioners so that correctness of entitlement of pension can be ascertained by them.

Notice :- This notice is being issued by the Department of Financial Services (Ministry of Finance) and the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (Ministry of Defence) in public interest
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ANNEXURE IV

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ANNEXURE -IV TO MOD PENSION ORDER D/D 11.11.2008

2009-12-24T07:28:00.009+05:30

ALL VETERAN BROTHERS ARE AWARE OF A JOINT PUBLIC NOTICE OF THE MINISTRIES OF DEFENCE AND FINANCE, PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS ON 21.12.09 AND POSTED IN THIS BLOG HERE IN THIS BLOG   ON 22.12.09:-
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THERE IS IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO THE NOTICE JOINTLY ISSUED BY THE TWO MINISTRIES. THE PENSION DISBURSING AUTHORITIES/BANKS ARE DIRECTED TO PREPARE AND FURNISH ANNEXURE IV (AS PER MOD PENSION ORDERS DATED 11.11.08, WHICH CONTAINS ALL DETAILS OF PENSION/ARREARS ETC) TO ALL PRE-1.1.2006 ARMED FORCES PENSIONERS.

THIS WILL ENABLE THE CONCERNED PENSIONERS TO KNOW/ASCERTAIN/VERIFY THE CORRECTNESS OF THE PENSION FIXATION BY THE BANKS. (THIS WAS NOT DONE BY THE BANKS).

IT IS KNOWN TO ALL VETERAN BROTHERS THAT THE PDAs/BANKS HAVE FIXED THE PENSIONS WEF 1.1.06 AS PER PARA 4.1 OF THE MOD ORDER (AS PER RATES MENTIONED IN THE TALES TABLES)

THERE IS AN OPTION AS PER PARA 5 OF THE SAID ORDER, TO REVISE THE PENSION.

    "PARA 5. THE CONSOLIDATION OF PENSION WILL FURTHER SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION THAT THE CONSOLIDATED PENSION, IN NO CASE SHALL BE LOWER THAN 50% OF THE MINIMUM PAY IN THE PB + THE GP CORRESPONDING TO THE PRE-REVISED SCALE FROM WHICH THE PENSIONER HAD RETIRED/DISCHARGED, INCLUDING MSP AND X PAY WHERE APPLICABLE."

THIS OPTION WAS NOT EXCERCISED BY MANY PENSIONERS DUE TO LACK OF INFO. NEITHER THE RECORD OFFICES/PCDA/PDA/BANKS INFORMED THE PENSIONERS THE PENSION TABLES AS PER THIS PARA. THE PDAs.BANKS TOO PERHAPS HAD NO CLUE ON THIS.

NOW WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS TO FURNISH INFORMATION TO PENSIONERS IN THE PRESCRIBED ANNEXURE IV, THE PENSIONERS CAN STAKE CLAIM TO EXERCISE THE OPTION. PLEASE CLICK ANNEXURE IV FOR CLEAR VIEW.
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SO, VETERAN BROTHERS, APPROACH YOUR PDA/BANKER, COOPERATE BY FURNISHING SERVICE DETAILS ETC AND ENSURE CORRECT FIXATION OF YOUR PENSION.

GOOD LUCK.
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CGEs ANAMOLY COMMITTEE MEETING - MINUTES

PARA 15.parity in pension of all pre 1996 retirees with those who retired on or after 1.1.2006

The Government have already accepted in principle that there shall be parity in pension amongst pensioners irrespective of the date from which they had retired.

Accordingly pension of all pre 1986 retirees was revised with effect from 1.1.96 by first determining the notional pay which would have been fixed as on 1.1.86 (treating as if the employees were in service on that date) and then the Notional Pension was updated by applying the same fitment formula which was applied to serving employees.

We, therefore demanded that the notional pay of all pre 1996 retirees may be fixed as on 1.1.96 in terms of Revised Pay Rules, 1996 and the notional pension as on 1.1.96 may be revised w.e.f. 1.1.06 by applying the same fitment formula which is applied in the case of serving employees i.e. by multiplying the notional pension as on 1.1.96 by 1.86 + the Grade Pay of the Pay Scale (V CPC) from which they would have retired.

The revision of pension has been done by applying the formula of Basic Pension as on 1.1.96 + Dearness Pension (50% of Basic Pension) + Dearness Relief on Basic Pension + Dearness Pension+40% of Basic Pension. This is not the same that has been granted to serving employees. In whose case the Grade Pay which is the fitment benefit is 40% of the maximum of the Pre-revised Pay Scale. As such the Pensioners should also be granted 50% the of Grade Pay of the Pay Scale from which they had retired by way of fitment benefit and not 40% of Basic Pension.

Decision.

The Staff Side pointed out that the 6th CPC in order to maintain the existing modified parity between the present and future retirees had indicated that it would be necessary to allow the same fitment benefit as is being recommended for the existing Government employees vide para 5.1.47 in page 338. However, the Commission recommended that all past pensioners should be allowed fitment benefit equal to 40% of the basic pension. The statement and the recommendation made to give effect to the statement was at variance giving rise to anomaly and disparity in pension entitlement between the past pensioners and the future pensioners. After detailed discussion, the official side agreed to consider the issue once again.
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AMAZING TECHNOLOGY

2009-12-23T10:37:00.000+05:30

THE FOLLOWING FORWARDED E-MAIL IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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Amazing technology from Japan . . . . but can you guess what it is ?

Look closely and guess what they could be...

Are they pens with cameras?

Any wild guesses? No clue yet?
You've just looked into the future... yep that's right!
You've just seen something that will replace your PC in the near future.

Here is how it works:

In the revolution of miniature computers, scientists have made great developments with bluetooth technology.. .

This is the forthcoming computers you can carry within your pockets .
This "pen sort of instrument" produces both the monitor as well as the keyboard on any flat surfaces from where you can carry out functions you would normally do on your desktop computer.

Can anyone say, "Good-bye laptops!"
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(source : email fwd by PV Raju)

PM ASKS BRITONS TO REMEMBER TROOPS ON CHRISTMAS

2009-12-23T10:14:00.000+05:30

(E-MAIL SENT BY VETERAN MANIMALA)

FROM ARMY RECRUIT TO BECOMING CAPTAIN OF INDIAN BASKETBALL TEAM

2009-12-23T08:23:00.004+05:30

THE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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He was a novice and did not know the game before he joined the Army. But Hari Dutt Kapri hailing from Pitthoragarh district not only played basketball, but also captained the Indian team and later was the first Arjun awardee from the area in 1978. Kapri is still devoting his time in the stadium to train youth making efforts in the hope that one day his trained players could make a mark in this game at the national and international level. “I started training the youth in the stadium for Rs 1,500 per month since 2005,” said Kapri.

Born on August 5, 1942, at Chiriyakhan village in Muwani valley of Pitthoragarh district, Kapri joined the Army as a recruit in the Bengal Engineering Group and developed a love for basketball. “I just loved it and started playing after I joined the Army as my fellow jawans made fun of mine when I started practising as the game was totally new to them as well as to me,” recalled Kapri.

By dint of his hard work and motivation, Kapri turned out to be an outstanding cager and was made the captain of the serviced team in 1965 and winning the national competition. He was made the captain of the Indian Basketball team that was placed fourth in the fifth Asian Basketball Championship held at Bangkok in the year 1969.

The winning spree of services basketball team under Kapri started in 1965 and the team continuously won gold at national basketball competition from 1963 to 1978. Kapri also captained the Indian basketball team in 1979 for an invitation basketball championship in Sri Lanka. “I also played in confederation basketball tournament in Malaya in 1970, Asian basketball competition at Tokyo in 1971, Quaid-e-Azam competition in 1976 at Lahore, where we won gold and Asian basketball competition in 1977 at Kualalampur in Malayasia,” Kapri said. “We placed the Indian basketball team at third place from seventh in Asia after we won the Asian basketball championship in 1975,” he recalled.

Kapri was given Arjun award for his contribution in basketball in 1978 and took voluntary retirement from the Army in 1980. He joined Birla Vidya Mandir, a local school, as a coach from 1985 to 2003.
Remembering one of his memorable basketball matches Kapri said, “When the Indian team was playing a match against Thailand at Bangkok in Asian basketball tournament in 1975, I was injured during first half of the match and was taken away on a stretcher from the ground, but my team started losing the match. I requested the team manager and doctor concerned to let me go into the field and play. But when both refused I gave them in writing that I will bear all the risk. I joined the match and led my team to victory with high a score.”

After retirement from Birla Vidhya Mandir, he has volunteered to coach local youth at the stadium and hope that one day another basketball player from the hills would make it a big in the game.

(SOURCE : BD KasniyalPitthoragarh, THRO' E-MAIL OF SANJHA MORCHA)

सियाचिन में फौजी चखेंगे गर्म चिकन बिरयानी

2009-12-23T07:07:00.001+05:30

बेंगलूर। सियाचिन और कारगिल सरीखी बर्फीली जगहों पर तैनात भारतीय फौजी भी अब बेहतर और लजीज मांसाहारी व्यंजन खाने की उम्मीद कर सकते हैं। देश की प्रमुख रक्षा खाद्य प्रयोगशाला के प्रयासों से फौजी अब पैकेटबंद मटन और चिकन बिरयानी या मांसाहारी सैंडविच का स्वाद ले सकेंगे। ये खाद्य पदार्थ स्वादिष्ट होने के साथ ही सारे पोषक तत्वों से भरपूर होंगे। कई दौर के परीक्षण के बाद सेना ने इस विशेष पैकेटबंद खाने को मंजूरी दे दी है। बहुत जल्द इसका बड़े पैमाने पर उत्पादन शुरू कर दिया जाएगा।

अत्यंत ऊंचाई पर तैनात सेना के जवानों को मांसाहारी भोजन उपलब्ध कराने के प्रयासों के तहत मैसूर की डिफेंस फूड रिसर्च लेबोरेटरी [डीएफआरएल] ने इन खाद्य पदार्थो का एक विशेष पैक तैयार किया है। इसमें रखा मांसाहारी व्यंजन एक साल तक उतना ही स्वादिष्ट बना रहेगा और उसकी गुणवत्ता भी नष्ट नहीं होगी। डीएफआरएल के निदेशक अमरिंदर सिंह बावा ने कहा कि ये पैकेट गैर तापीय तकनीक पर आधारित हैं। उन्होंने कहा कि मांसाहार के प्रति भारतीय सेना की रुचि को देखते हुए हमने इन उत्पादों को विकसित किया है। इनमें मांसाहारी भोजन लंबे समय तक ताजा रहता है और शून्य से नीचे तापमान वाली जगहों पर भी बिल्कुल घर में बने खाने की तरह स्वाद बना रहता है।

बावा ने आगे बताया कि सशस्त्र बलों के लिए डीएफआरएल ने भूख बढ़ाने वाली खाद्य सामग्री और पेय पदार्थ भी तैयार किए हैं। खासकर जब जवान सियाचिन और कारगिल जैसी ऊंचाई वाली जगहों पर तैनात होते हैं तो उनमें भूख समाप्त होने के लक्षण दिखने लगते हैं। वे हमेशा पेट भरा महसूस करते हैं और एसिडिटी के शिकार हो जाते हैं। कम खाने की वजह से उनका वजन कम हो जाता है और स्वास्थ्य समस्याएं शुरू हो जाती हैं। इसी समस्या को दूर करने के लिए डीएफआरएल ने भूख बढ़ाने वाली खाद्य सामग्री और पेय पदार्थ तैयार किए हैं। इनमें कुछ मसाले, नींबू, अदरख, जीरा और दही मिला होता है

FLASH! FLASH !! FLASH!!! - PRE-1.1.2006 ESM PENSIONERS!!!????

2009-12-22T20:51:00.015+05:30

THE FOLLOWING NOTICE PUBLISHED IN HINDUSTAN TIMES (21.12.2009) IS POSTED FOR THE INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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(SOURCE : e-MAIL FWD BY COL.SS SOHI)

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EX-SERVICEMEN BLAME BABUS FOR THEIR PLIGHT

2009-12-22T08:14:00.002+05:30

THE FOLLOWING IS POSTED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INFORMATION OF ALL VETERAN BROTHERS:-
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The Punjab State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association has expressed its “utter dismay” over manner in which the union and state government has treated ex-servicemen. The association leaders have squarely blamed the bureaucrats for the present plight of the ex-servicemen. According to association representatives, babus deliberately oppose decisions aimed at the welfare of the ex-servicemen community.

State president of the association Col (retd) Kuldip Singh Grewal said after retirement at an early age, soldiers are put in category of unskilled workers in the government, semi-government and private establishments. He rued that in order to produce a soldier, who could fight with enemy in battlefield, besides undergoing refresher courses, intensive training has been imparted to the soldiers. “Hence, the state government should look into it and issue orders that the retired soldiers will be given status of skilled worker,” he demanded.

Taking up another issue, Grewal claimed that during the recent recruitment drive initiated by the Punjab police for recruiting constables, the candidature of those ex-servicemen, who had not passed Punjabi at matriculation level and had overstepped two years stipulation after date of retirement, was rejected.
“Our association demands that condition of two years stipulation after retirement should be abolished and the ex-servicemen candidates must be given stipulated period to pass Punjabi examination,” he said. Grewal further rued that in sheer defiance of the government instructions, retired soldiers are being “harassed” in the government offices. “The ex-servicemen are not being given due respect, particularly by the officials of the police and revenue departments,” he alleged, while adding that the government must issue strict directions to the various government departments, not to harass the ex-servicemen.

Grewal said various memorials are raised in honour of the soldiers, who have sacrificed their lives for the nation. “The memorials must bear all names of the martyrs belonging to the district or the area where the memorial has been brought up. Memorial pillar must be updated after every war. Presently, names of some of the martyrs have not found place in the lists engraved on the pillars of some memorials,” he disclosed.

(SOURCE : Umesh Dewan, THE TRIBUNE, PATIALA)

NEW HANDBOOK ON PENSION BENEFITS ISSUED BY AFRO IN AUG 09

2009-12-22T07:16:00.001+05:30

      ALL VETERAN BROTHERS MAY KINDLY PERUSE THE LATEST AFRO RELEASED (AUG 09) REVISED HANDBOOK ON PENSION BENEFITS.
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SOME OF THE IMPORTANT INFO ON PENSION,GRATUITY, COMMUTATION OF PENSION AND FAMILY PENSION AND ALSO GRADUATION/DIPLOMA CERTIFICATE ISSUES ARE APPENDED BELOW:-
PAGE - 13----CHAPTER II - PARA 14. -- ON COMMUTATION OF PENSION.

PAGE - 13----CHAPTER II - PARA 15. -- FORMULA FOR CALCULATION OF PENSION/DCRG
(AT APPX.D PAGE 67)
PENSION - @50% OF EMOULMENTS LAST DRAWN OR AVERAGE AMOULMENTS DRAWN DURING THE LAST 10 MONTHS, WHICHEVER IS MORE BENEFICIAL.

COMMUTATION : 50% BASIC PENSION X 12 X AGE VALUE (AGE COUNTED AS ON NEXT BIRTHDAY)
DCRG - TOTAL SERVICE X TOTAL EMOULMENTS+ DA
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PAGE 31...CHAPTER IV PARA 6(b) - PROCEDURE FOR FAMILY PENSION AFTER DEATH OF PENSIONER.

PAGE 43. PARA 5...(F) ISSUE OF GRADUATION/TRADE CERTIFICATES ETC.

PAGE 44.PARA 5.....(J) ISSUE OF PROVISIONAL DIPLOMA CERTIFICATE BY LAST UNIT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AFTER DISCHARGE ORDERS ARE ISSUED.