www.indianmilitary.info
Monday, May 25, 2009
Execution of ‘non-functional financial upgradation’ with effect from 2006 ordered for all Group-A organised services
The govt has finally issued orders for non-functional financial upgradation for all Organised Group-A Civil Services on 21 May 2009.With this, whenever an IAS officer gets empanelled at a particular post in the Centre, all other Group-A service officers shall also be moved up to the same pay level after a period of two years from the date of empanelment. The upgradation of other Group-A officers shall not have any functional effect, that is, the upgradation shall only result in a higher pay or grade pay and would not lead to an enhanced status. Such officers shall maintain the status of their functional grade pay. To take an example, if an officer of the IAS of 1999 batch is empanelled as a Deputy Secretary to Govt of India in 2008 (Pay Band-3 / Grade Pay 7600), then all other Organised Group-A civil officers of the 1997 batch shall also be placed in GP 7600 in a non-functional capacity, their functional GP shall remain 6600. With these orders, all organised Group-A civil services are set to move into Pay Band-4 after 16 years of service.The following is the PB-4 empanelment schedule for the IAS with effect from 20061992 batch of the IAS was approved for functional empanelment as Director to Govt of India (PB-4 / GP 8700) in July 2006, hence all other organised Group-A civil services of the 1990 batch would move to PB-4 / GP 8700 on a non-functional basis with effect from July 2006.1986 batch of the IAS was approved for functional empanelment as Joint Secretary to Govt of India (PB-4 / GP 10000) in October 2006, hence all other organised Group-A civil services of the 1984 batch would move to PB-4 / GP 10000 on a non-functional basis with effect from October 2006.1975 batch of the IAS was approved for functional empanelment as Additional Secretary to Govt of India (PB-4 / GP 12000) in March 2006, hence all other organised Group-A civil services of the 1973 batch would move to PB-4 / GP 12000 on a non-functional basis with effect from March 2006.The complete Govt sanction letter can also be viewed by clicking here.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 5:44 AM 8 comments
Labels: Grade Pay, Misc, Pay Commission
Friday, May 22, 2009
Retired Lt Colonels can rejoice
Refer to this previous post on this blog (20 May 2009).Consequent to the placement of Lt Cols and equivalent in Pay Band-4, the revised orders for grant of enhanced pension have been issued by the Ministry of Defence. The full pension of pre-06 Lt Colonels is now Rs 25,700.Of course, DA @ 22% is admissible in addition to the above mentioned amount as on date.The complete govt letter / notification can be viewed and downloaded by clicking here.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 8:26 PM 45 comments
Labels: Pay Commission, Pension, Policy and Benefits
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Benefit of rounding off / bunching of disability percentage for calculation of disability element would be applicable to superannuating personnel too
The 5th Central Pay Commission had recommended the benefit of rounding-off / bunching of disability percentages for grant of disability element of disability pension. It was recommended that persons with disability till 50% should be paid a disability element calculated by taking the disability at 50%, those with a disability between 50-75% should be granted a disability element by taking the disability as 75% and those with a disability above 75% should be granted a disability element @ 100%.The said modalities were notified by the Govt in 2001 with effect from 1996. However, the govt sanction letter provided that the said benefit would only be made available to those who were invalided out and not to those who were discharged on completion of terms or on superannuation with a disability, and that the latter would be granted a disability element in accordance with the actual percentage of disability and hence would not be provided the benefit of rounding off / bunching.The Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court however did not take this kindly. The Hon’ble High Court in 2008, in the case Paramjit Singh Vs Union of India, ruled that even those who are discharged on completion of terms or on superannuation would be entitled to the rounding off and bunching of disability percentage thereby leading to an enhanced pension. The same was done by relying on Regulation 179 (Regulation 53 for officers) of the Pension Regulations for the Army. The said Regulations provide that persons retiring or superannuating with a disability would also be ‘deemed to have been invalided out’ or service.The govt however filed a review petition in the said Writ Petition but the same has been dismissed by the Hon’ble Court and it has been re-iterated that the benefit should be granted to all disabled personnel including those discharged / retiring with a disability and not only to those who have been invalided.The Court has also held that AGIF is liable to pay disability cover even to discharged / superannuating personnel and that AGIF is very much a body under the control of the govt, the actions of which can be challenged in the High Court. It was contended by the Govt that AGIF was not a body of the ‘State’ and hence writ jurisdiction could not be invoked against it.The Times of India has also reported this and the same can be viewed by clicking here.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 8:20 AM 9 comments
May 25, 2009
May 22, 2009
IESM Political touch
Dear All,
As you know, I am not a member of the IESM, but since I am concerned with veteran issues, I am appending my take on the post-election controversy, which has ruled the e-mail circuit since the election results were announced.
Now that tempers seem to have cooled down amongst the veterans, the need is for some introspection by all the organizations, big and small, which are looking after the interests of the veterans. This includes the Core Group of the IESM.
One has seen in the past that everyone wants to take credit for anything achieved and this was quite discernable in the various e-mails that were on the web from time to time. These also contributed to discord at times.The fact of the matter is that it is the contribution of every organization and some individuals too which resulted in the veterans getting some issues resolved. When one organization wants to take credit, it creates bad blood unnecessarily and hence should be avoided.
When something adverse happens, all organizations initially react in a manner which can best be described as ‘digging ones heels’, rationalization and trying to justify one’s actions. This phase is in reality counter-productive. Instead, what the members want is reassurances that the decision makers do realize that they got carried away by promises made and the presence of more or less committed persons who pushed the agenda of their favourite party and that they would be more pragmatic and less impulsive in future. Humility and not brashness is needed at this stage, if veteran organizations want to win back and retain their flocks and even get fresh aspirants. This is applicable to all veteran organizations and not just the IESM. After all, they all supported one or the other political parties, for their own reasons.
This is also the time to think rationally, with the head and not the heart, of how to make the best of a bad bargain and re-think on the future course of action. The following points come to my mind, but I am sure more knowledgeable persons would be able to refine and redefine them:
Ø Should the agitational approach continue or should there be a pause, if not an abandonment of this approach altogether?
Ø Is the organization ready to make ‘peace’ (I am not sure whether that is the correct word) with other veteran organizations and chalk out a coordinated, if not joint programme which can help the veterans collectively? It automatically means all concerned to give way partly (of both their egos and programmes) for the common good.
Ø It is quite obvious that one of the earlier actions to be taken is to co-opt more than just the Core Group in the deliberations, as the Group can never be as objective as desirable. If a General Body Meeting can be organized, it may be a good option, but unless a few generally acceptable options are first decided and circulated, such a meeting may well be counter-productive, with a large number just articulating emotions! There may also be a logistics problem. There are two options to overcome the problem, as under:
- Firstly, a brain-storming session should be held by say about 50 selected members, who should debate all issues dispassionately and come up with a working plan for further implementation.
- Secondly, if Option I is not feasible, then another possible solution is to nominate a small cell which can tour major locations in each state to discuss and find out views of a large cross-section of members and even others if feasible.
- Irrespective of the option adopted, the outcome should then be disseminated and members be asked to vote on the issues recommended, thus obviating members from outstations being called for a General Body Meeting.
Ø My view is that time is NOT at a premium. The newly established cabinet and government will need time to settle down to their jobs and deal with more weighty issues. For them, the issue of OROP or other issues agitating the veterans are, I feel, of lesser importance. In the interim, issues considered important by the veterans should be listed out and sent to them so that they are flagged till the concerned veteran organization is ready to commence a more comprehensive dialogue.
The above suggestions are not only for the IESM, but all veteran organizations. Simultaneously, efforts should be re-initiated, separately, to reach understandings amongst all veteran organizations, as all are undoubtedly working for the benefit of the veteran community, in their own way. It may be utopian, at least at this stage, to think that the different organizations will merge and become one entity. However, coordination and cooperation are eminently feasible. What is needed is appreciation of others viewpoints and an accommodative approach.
I have deliberately refrained from commenting on the following issues, as they are highly sensitive and can be read wrongly, when one is trying to mend matters and reach a consensus:
Ø The agitational or the lobbying approach.
Ø Rationalization of the bigger question whether veterans and active service personnel should go their separate ways or adopt the theory of the umbilical chord, stressed by many, including me.
Ø The major question of being politically aligned or being apolitical; many views have already been expressed. In addition, what constitutes being ‘political’ and the parameters of being ‘apolitical’.
.Warm regards.
Vijay Oberoi
Former Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS)Former Director Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS)RESIDENCELt Gen Vijay Oberoi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM 'DAULAT'#673, Sector - 6Panchkula - 134109Telephone - 0172 - 2587642, 2587648e - mail : http://in.mc948.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=oberoivijay@hotmail.comOFFICELt Gen Vijay Oberoi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM PresidentWar Wounded Foundation313, MIG (Ground floor), Pkt-I,Sector-23, Dwarka,New Delhi- 110075 Telephone - 011-45604116E-mail - http://in.mc948.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=warwounded@rediffmail.com ; http://in.mc948.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=enquiry@warwounded.org.Web site http://www.warwounded.org/
As you know, I am not a member of the IESM, but since I am concerned with veteran issues, I am appending my take on the post-election controversy, which has ruled the e-mail circuit since the election results were announced.
Now that tempers seem to have cooled down amongst the veterans, the need is for some introspection by all the organizations, big and small, which are looking after the interests of the veterans. This includes the Core Group of the IESM.
One has seen in the past that everyone wants to take credit for anything achieved and this was quite discernable in the various e-mails that were on the web from time to time. These also contributed to discord at times.The fact of the matter is that it is the contribution of every organization and some individuals too which resulted in the veterans getting some issues resolved. When one organization wants to take credit, it creates bad blood unnecessarily and hence should be avoided.
When something adverse happens, all organizations initially react in a manner which can best be described as ‘digging ones heels’, rationalization and trying to justify one’s actions. This phase is in reality counter-productive. Instead, what the members want is reassurances that the decision makers do realize that they got carried away by promises made and the presence of more or less committed persons who pushed the agenda of their favourite party and that they would be more pragmatic and less impulsive in future. Humility and not brashness is needed at this stage, if veteran organizations want to win back and retain their flocks and even get fresh aspirants. This is applicable to all veteran organizations and not just the IESM. After all, they all supported one or the other political parties, for their own reasons.
This is also the time to think rationally, with the head and not the heart, of how to make the best of a bad bargain and re-think on the future course of action. The following points come to my mind, but I am sure more knowledgeable persons would be able to refine and redefine them:
Ø Should the agitational approach continue or should there be a pause, if not an abandonment of this approach altogether?
Ø Is the organization ready to make ‘peace’ (I am not sure whether that is the correct word) with other veteran organizations and chalk out a coordinated, if not joint programme which can help the veterans collectively? It automatically means all concerned to give way partly (of both their egos and programmes) for the common good.
Ø It is quite obvious that one of the earlier actions to be taken is to co-opt more than just the Core Group in the deliberations, as the Group can never be as objective as desirable. If a General Body Meeting can be organized, it may be a good option, but unless a few generally acceptable options are first decided and circulated, such a meeting may well be counter-productive, with a large number just articulating emotions! There may also be a logistics problem. There are two options to overcome the problem, as under:
- Firstly, a brain-storming session should be held by say about 50 selected members, who should debate all issues dispassionately and come up with a working plan for further implementation.
- Secondly, if Option I is not feasible, then another possible solution is to nominate a small cell which can tour major locations in each state to discuss and find out views of a large cross-section of members and even others if feasible.
- Irrespective of the option adopted, the outcome should then be disseminated and members be asked to vote on the issues recommended, thus obviating members from outstations being called for a General Body Meeting.
Ø My view is that time is NOT at a premium. The newly established cabinet and government will need time to settle down to their jobs and deal with more weighty issues. For them, the issue of OROP or other issues agitating the veterans are, I feel, of lesser importance. In the interim, issues considered important by the veterans should be listed out and sent to them so that they are flagged till the concerned veteran organization is ready to commence a more comprehensive dialogue.
The above suggestions are not only for the IESM, but all veteran organizations. Simultaneously, efforts should be re-initiated, separately, to reach understandings amongst all veteran organizations, as all are undoubtedly working for the benefit of the veteran community, in their own way. It may be utopian, at least at this stage, to think that the different organizations will merge and become one entity. However, coordination and cooperation are eminently feasible. What is needed is appreciation of others viewpoints and an accommodative approach.
I have deliberately refrained from commenting on the following issues, as they are highly sensitive and can be read wrongly, when one is trying to mend matters and reach a consensus:
Ø The agitational or the lobbying approach.
Ø Rationalization of the bigger question whether veterans and active service personnel should go their separate ways or adopt the theory of the umbilical chord, stressed by many, including me.
Ø The major question of being politically aligned or being apolitical; many views have already been expressed. In addition, what constitutes being ‘political’ and the parameters of being ‘apolitical’.
.Warm regards.
Vijay Oberoi
Former Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS)Former Director Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS)RESIDENCELt Gen Vijay Oberoi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM 'DAULAT'#673, Sector - 6Panchkula - 134109Telephone - 0172 - 2587642, 2587648e - mail : http://in.mc948.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=oberoivijay@hotmail.comOFFICELt Gen Vijay Oberoi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM PresidentWar Wounded Foundation313, MIG (Ground floor), Pkt-I,Sector-23, Dwarka,New Delhi- 110075 Telephone - 011-45604116E-mail - http://in.mc948.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=warwounded@rediffmail.com ; http://in.mc948.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=enquiry@warwounded.org.Web site http://www.warwounded.org/
Disability Pension and PB4
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Benefit of rounding off / bunching of disability percentage for calculation of disability element would be applicable to superannuating personnel too
The 5th Central Pay Commission had recommended the benefit of rounding-off / bunching of disability percentages for grant of disability element of disability pension. It was recommended that persons with disability till 50% should be paid a disability element calculated by taking the disability at 50%, those with a disability between 50-75% should be granted a disability element by taking the disability as 75% and those with a disability above 75% should be granted a disability element @ 100%.The said modalities were notified by the Govt in 2001 with effect from 1996. However, the govt sanction letter provided that the said benefit would only be made available to those who were invalided out and not to those who were discharged on completion of terms or on superannuation with a disability, and that the latter would be granted a disability element in accordance with the actual percentage of disability and hence would not be provided the benefit of rounding off / bunching.The Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court however did not take this kindly. The Hon’ble High Court in 2008, in the case Paramjit Singh Vs Union of India, ruled that even those who are discharged on completion of terms or on superannuation would be entitled to the rounding off and bunching of disability percentage thereby leading to an enhanced pension. The same was done by relying on Regulation 179 (Regulation 53 for officers) of the Pension Regulations for the Army. The said Regulations provide that persons retiring or superannuating with a disability would also be ‘deemed to have been invalided out’ or service.The govt however filed a review petition in the said Writ Petition but the same has been dismissed by the Hon’ble Court and it has been re-iterated that the benefit should be granted to all disabled personnel including those discharged / retiring with a disability and not only to those who have been invalided. The Court has also held that AGIF is liable to pay disability cover even to discharged / superannuating personnel and that AGIF is very much a body under the control of the govt, the actions of which can be challenged in the High Court. It was contended by the Govt that AGIF was not a body of the ‘State’ and hence writ jurisdiction could not be invoked against it.The Times of India has also reported this and the same can be viewed by clicking here.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 8:20 AM 1 comments
Labels: Disability Pension, law, Pension
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Increase of pension of retired Lt Cols on grant of PB-4
There are indications that the increase of basic pension of Lt Cols to Rs 25,700 may be the first agenda point when the new incumbent takes his or her seat in the South Block. The said corrigendum may see the light by the end of this month, but as I always say, let’s keep our fingers crossed till it actually comes out in black and white.The figure of Rs 25,700 has seemed mysterious to many. It simply comes about from the basic pension formula, that is, 50 % of Start of Scale (37400) + Applicable Grade Pay (8000) + MSP (6000).There are voices amongst veterans which seem to indicate that there should be a difference of pensions between erstwhile Selection Grade and Time Scale Lt Cols. Please put such ideas to rest since pensions are always determined with current ranks / grades as the backdrop and today there is only one kind of Lt Col. As it is, this idea of differentiation is regressive and not a pretty thought at all and would lead to deprivation of a particular section of veterans who were not promoted to Selection Grade due to the steep pyramid of the forces. When people all around in other organisations are reaching PB-4 with GP 10000 with ease which later translates into higher pensions, some of our own veterans want to minimise the benefits and create a rank within the rank of Lt Col. Sad.I also again request readers not to transmit individual mails on this issue or for calculation of emoluments / pay etc. My profession is too demanding to allow me the time to send separate replies. Such queries can be posted as comments to blog-posts and can be addressed by a cross-section of visitors.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 5:16 AM 20 comments
Labels: Misc, Pay Commission, Pension
__._,_.___
.
Benefit of rounding off / bunching of disability percentage for calculation of disability element would be applicable to superannuating personnel too
The 5th Central Pay Commission had recommended the benefit of rounding-off / bunching of disability percentages for grant of disability element of disability pension. It was recommended that persons with disability till 50% should be paid a disability element calculated by taking the disability at 50%, those with a disability between 50-75% should be granted a disability element by taking the disability as 75% and those with a disability above 75% should be granted a disability element @ 100%.The said modalities were notified by the Govt in 2001 with effect from 1996. However, the govt sanction letter provided that the said benefit would only be made available to those who were invalided out and not to those who were discharged on completion of terms or on superannuation with a disability, and that the latter would be granted a disability element in accordance with the actual percentage of disability and hence would not be provided the benefit of rounding off / bunching.The Hon’ble Punjab & Haryana High Court however did not take this kindly. The Hon’ble High Court in 2008, in the case Paramjit Singh Vs Union of India, ruled that even those who are discharged on completion of terms or on superannuation would be entitled to the rounding off and bunching of disability percentage thereby leading to an enhanced pension. The same was done by relying on Regulation 179 (Regulation 53 for officers) of the Pension Regulations for the Army. The said Regulations provide that persons retiring or superannuating with a disability would also be ‘deemed to have been invalided out’ or service.The govt however filed a review petition in the said Writ Petition but the same has been dismissed by the Hon’ble Court and it has been re-iterated that the benefit should be granted to all disabled personnel including those discharged / retiring with a disability and not only to those who have been invalided. The Court has also held that AGIF is liable to pay disability cover even to discharged / superannuating personnel and that AGIF is very much a body under the control of the govt, the actions of which can be challenged in the High Court. It was contended by the Govt that AGIF was not a body of the ‘State’ and hence writ jurisdiction could not be invoked against it.The Times of India has also reported this and the same can be viewed by clicking here.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 8:20 AM 1 comments
Labels: Disability Pension, law, Pension
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Increase of pension of retired Lt Cols on grant of PB-4
There are indications that the increase of basic pension of Lt Cols to Rs 25,700 may be the first agenda point when the new incumbent takes his or her seat in the South Block. The said corrigendum may see the light by the end of this month, but as I always say, let’s keep our fingers crossed till it actually comes out in black and white.The figure of Rs 25,700 has seemed mysterious to many. It simply comes about from the basic pension formula, that is, 50 % of Start of Scale (37400) + Applicable Grade Pay (8000) + MSP (6000).There are voices amongst veterans which seem to indicate that there should be a difference of pensions between erstwhile Selection Grade and Time Scale Lt Cols. Please put such ideas to rest since pensions are always determined with current ranks / grades as the backdrop and today there is only one kind of Lt Col. As it is, this idea of differentiation is regressive and not a pretty thought at all and would lead to deprivation of a particular section of veterans who were not promoted to Selection Grade due to the steep pyramid of the forces. When people all around in other organisations are reaching PB-4 with GP 10000 with ease which later translates into higher pensions, some of our own veterans want to minimise the benefits and create a rank within the rank of Lt Col. Sad.I also again request readers not to transmit individual mails on this issue or for calculation of emoluments / pay etc. My profession is too demanding to allow me the time to send separate replies. Such queries can be posted as comments to blog-posts and can be addressed by a cross-section of visitors.
Posted by Navdeep / Maj Navdeep Singh at 5:16 AM 20 comments
Labels: Misc, Pay Commission, Pension
__._,_.___
.
Pension History and status
1. From the rank based pensions of 1947 when the pension of a Colonel was the same as the Secretary to the Government of India, with higher ranks drawing greater pensions, the downhill continues without a break. This was because a ceiling in the case of civilians was not applicable to the Armed Forces, to what exists today. This paper seeks to put into one place how and why this came about.
2. Regrettably the Indian Armed Forces have lagged behind in their efforts towards enhancing the adequacy of pensions in relation to the truncated career and consequent steep drop in life time earnings. In fact the pension of our personnel has actually declined as percentage of last pay drawn since Independence and today stands lower than the civilian counterparts for the bulk of our personnel. To my mind the reasons for this state of affairs was perhaps due to lack of experience and understanding of the crucial role played by a just and equitable emolument structure in the early post independence years. Thereafter, as we gained experience and knowledge, we concentrated on the pay and allowances of the emoluments at the cost of post retirement benefits. It is only in the past 15- 20 years that we have been alive to this aspect but are unable to make headway on account of difficulties retrieving lost ground.
3. The 3rd Pay Commission started the damage by defining Armed Forces pension as nothing more than something to meet adversity for it stated that with the truncated career it was inconceivable that personnel would spend their remaining working life doing nothing. They did away with rank based pension for officers, changed the weightage to the detriment of everyone.
4. In the early eighties the COSC appointed Major General MEA Krishnan to review our pensions and suggest how to retrieve lost ground. This Report was one of the masterpieces on the subject. A copy was held in the PCC(N) of the 4th and 5th CPC but is no longer around. I think USI should hunt around for a copy to be kept in the library. The COSC sent the report to the MOD after accepting the same. It formed the basis of our memorandum to the 4th CPC.
5. The Government appointed the now famous KP Singh Deo committee. The committee made a large number of recommendations on Ex Servicemen. The Govt. proudly announced in Parliament that it had accepted the majority (90%) of the recommendations. What it failed to accept was return to ONE RANK ONE PENSION done away by the 3rd CPC and that all pensioners irrespective of vintage should draw the same pension for the rank they retired. A committee headed by the Defense Minister with MPs as members however examined it for acceptance and implementation but rejected the OROP. We are however continuing our fight for its implementation..
6. The 5th CPC in Chapter 127 of their Report referred to the Nakra judgment in the Supreme Court. It recorded that it respects the judgment. Pension is not in the nature of alms being doled out to beggars. Retired personnel need to be treated with dignity and courtesy befitting their age. Pension is their constitutional, statutory, inalienable, legally enforceable right earned by the sweat of the brow.
7. The most controversial subject in the field of pension as recorded by the 5th CPC was the glaring disparity of pensions of people of the same rank who retired at different periods. Govt. had tried to solve this problem partially for the Armed Forces by adopting the One Time Increment. This did not meet their demand of One Rank One Pension. The 5th CPC however recommended parity in pensions between pre 1996 and post 1996 pensioners.
8. In our Joint Memorandum to the 5th CPC the Armed Forces had proposed enhancing retiring pension to 75% of last pay drawn. It was felt that due to the truncated career and early retirement Armed Forces personnel suffered considerably on the quantum of entitled pension. Further with the restricted career progression the life time earning differential vis-à-vis the civil services was disproportionately large.
9. Nearly all associations sought similar enhancement ranging from 60 to 100%. The 5th CPC accordingly hired Tata Economic Consultancy Services (TECS) to
(a) Assess the post retirement income requirement taking into account the existing pension structure in private, public and international sectors.
(b) Identify ways and means for payment of pension at higher rates than at present to both civilian and armed forces personnel.
10. TECS study revealed that 65% of last pay drawn would be a reasonable requirement of income by pensioners. Accepting the TECS findings, the CPC felt that since 50% of LPD was already being paid and not to place further burden on the Government, the balance 15% should come from a supplementary Contributory Pension Fund. The two schemes for Pension Funds reccunnenfed by TECS and accepted by the 5th CPC separately for civilian Govt. officials and Armed Forces personnel were (a) Indexed pension scheme for civilians and (b) Unindexed or Nominal pension scheme for Armed Forces personnel. A comparison of the two schemes showed a greater contribution by Defense pensioners attributable to early retirement and longer retired life span.
11. The 5th CPC also quoted a number of foreign armed forces in similar situations adopting the same route. The ADF introduced Pension Fund Schemes in the early 90s. The Malaysians have gone a step further. The Trust created not only provided for additional pension over and above the Govt. contribution but also commercial loans for self employment. A similar scheme for the US Armed Forces by adding on Health care is in vogue. Two pension funds operate successfully in India, namely belonging to ONGC and Air India.
12. The pension funds could be operated Service wise like their GIS in view of difference in size and actuarial parameters. The Services however rejected the concept of pension fund, saying it was for the Govt. to find ways of granting the higher rate of pension.
13. The commonly held belief that the Central Govt. pension bill has the potential to reach unsustainable level does not appear to be based on any realistic assessment of such liabilities in future years. This was the finding of the Director and the Advisor of the Perspective Planning Division, Planning Commission, Govt. of India in their Paper 1/2004-PC of July 2004 titled PENSION LIABILITIES OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT: PROJECTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS. After examining the major accounting departments including Defense, they concluded that the present pension system should prevail and that the future pension liability should be sustainable. The study revealed that whilst the number of PBOR was 345832 in 1960 it was 1172623 in 2000, the rate of growth over 20 years fell from 2.1 to 1.1%, rate of retirement was between 3.3% in 1960 and 3.6 % in 2000, whilst the annual retirees ranged between 11445 in 1960 and 42152 in 2000. Similar figures were computed for officers. It computed the projected employment between 2001 and 2010 under the heads of total numbers, no. superannuating, seeking voluntary retirement, and total retirees. It computed projected pension payments increasing by 7.6 % which was the lowest among civil( 7.6%). Railways (8..1%), Telecom (15.3%) and Post (9.3%). With rises in GDP up to near 9%, it is possible for increases in rates of pension.
14. All this not with standing, the Dept. of Economic Affairs, MOF floated an RFP on 15 Oct 2005 for operationalising the New Pension Strategy. A separate pension fund was proposed to be created for civilians joining after 01 Jan 2004. By excluding Armed Forces it was evident that the Govt. was implementing 5 CPC recommendations for civilians. I responded to the RFP by forming a team of retired officers of all three Services, who were knowledgeable of pensions and had worked with me during Pay Commissions. I felt that NPS was eminently suited to our SSC officers and PBOR. The RFP had been allocated a sum of $ 200000. In my long years in logistics, I had not seen a GOI RFP in a foreign currency. Anyway my RFP response was returned saying that since there was a change in TOR could a fresh response be submitted, which I did. Nothing further was heard and the structure for accounting the recoveries has not been put in place. Where the recovery from the individuals is going for two years is not known.
15. Reverting to the 6th CPC only for pensions, it does not talk of the 5th CPC recommendation for enhancing the rate of pension to 65%. It negates OROP by recording that pension parity has been given by 5th CPC would be suffice. It does not talk of how this pension parity will be maintained, since MSP counts for pension for post 1.1.2006 retirees but is not admissible to pre 1.1.2006 retirees.
16. It has abolished weightage since reference to 33 years service also abolished. It has simplified pension to just 50% of LPD. The edge in commutation has been retained.
17. So where do we go from here?
18. My wish list from the 6th CPC would be as follows for pensions alone
· Rate of retiring pension be raised to 65% as recommended by the 5th CPC and accepted by the Armed Forces. The formation of a service pension fund as recommended by TECS and approved by 5th CPC is not approved as the Government has the capacity to pay ( see paragraph 13 above). In any case whenever increases in rates of pension viz 33% to slab system to the present 50%, no pension fund was talked of or required. Why now.
· Pension parity as recommended by 5th CPC and ratified for continuation by 6th CPC is only hence forth applicable to civilians. With MSP being applicable to only those in service as on 1/1/06 and counting for pension, the post 1/06 retirees will not have parity with pre 01/06 pensioners. This can be resolved by granting an equivalent to MSP as an add on to all pensioners irrespective of vintage.
· In so far as OROP is concerned, there are two dimensions. All pensioners irrespective of vintage but of the same rank must get same pension. This has been largely met till 6th CPC by pension parity. The second aspect is that pension must be rank based as existed till 3rdCPC. This means that all Colonels should have same pension. All MWOs should have same pension.
· SSC officers should receive pension now that 6th CPC has done away with 33 years and weightage.
· Medical insurance should be applicable to pensioners for both OPD treatment and medicines and hospitalization. Medical insurance schemes could managed by respective Service GIS. ESCHS like its counter part CGHS has not proved successful .
· A body like Ex Servicemen’s League with its Governing Council must represent Service pensioners in all matters affecting their interest.
Vice Admiral Barin Ghose
B 449 Sushant Lok I
Gurgaon 122002 Haryana
Phone 124-4044069, Mobile 9871381479
E Mail bag1944@yahoo.co.in
2. Regrettably the Indian Armed Forces have lagged behind in their efforts towards enhancing the adequacy of pensions in relation to the truncated career and consequent steep drop in life time earnings. In fact the pension of our personnel has actually declined as percentage of last pay drawn since Independence and today stands lower than the civilian counterparts for the bulk of our personnel. To my mind the reasons for this state of affairs was perhaps due to lack of experience and understanding of the crucial role played by a just and equitable emolument structure in the early post independence years. Thereafter, as we gained experience and knowledge, we concentrated on the pay and allowances of the emoluments at the cost of post retirement benefits. It is only in the past 15- 20 years that we have been alive to this aspect but are unable to make headway on account of difficulties retrieving lost ground.
3. The 3rd Pay Commission started the damage by defining Armed Forces pension as nothing more than something to meet adversity for it stated that with the truncated career it was inconceivable that personnel would spend their remaining working life doing nothing. They did away with rank based pension for officers, changed the weightage to the detriment of everyone.
4. In the early eighties the COSC appointed Major General MEA Krishnan to review our pensions and suggest how to retrieve lost ground. This Report was one of the masterpieces on the subject. A copy was held in the PCC(N) of the 4th and 5th CPC but is no longer around. I think USI should hunt around for a copy to be kept in the library. The COSC sent the report to the MOD after accepting the same. It formed the basis of our memorandum to the 4th CPC.
5. The Government appointed the now famous KP Singh Deo committee. The committee made a large number of recommendations on Ex Servicemen. The Govt. proudly announced in Parliament that it had accepted the majority (90%) of the recommendations. What it failed to accept was return to ONE RANK ONE PENSION done away by the 3rd CPC and that all pensioners irrespective of vintage should draw the same pension for the rank they retired. A committee headed by the Defense Minister with MPs as members however examined it for acceptance and implementation but rejected the OROP. We are however continuing our fight for its implementation..
6. The 5th CPC in Chapter 127 of their Report referred to the Nakra judgment in the Supreme Court. It recorded that it respects the judgment. Pension is not in the nature of alms being doled out to beggars. Retired personnel need to be treated with dignity and courtesy befitting their age. Pension is their constitutional, statutory, inalienable, legally enforceable right earned by the sweat of the brow.
7. The most controversial subject in the field of pension as recorded by the 5th CPC was the glaring disparity of pensions of people of the same rank who retired at different periods. Govt. had tried to solve this problem partially for the Armed Forces by adopting the One Time Increment. This did not meet their demand of One Rank One Pension. The 5th CPC however recommended parity in pensions between pre 1996 and post 1996 pensioners.
8. In our Joint Memorandum to the 5th CPC the Armed Forces had proposed enhancing retiring pension to 75% of last pay drawn. It was felt that due to the truncated career and early retirement Armed Forces personnel suffered considerably on the quantum of entitled pension. Further with the restricted career progression the life time earning differential vis-à-vis the civil services was disproportionately large.
9. Nearly all associations sought similar enhancement ranging from 60 to 100%. The 5th CPC accordingly hired Tata Economic Consultancy Services (TECS) to
(a) Assess the post retirement income requirement taking into account the existing pension structure in private, public and international sectors.
(b) Identify ways and means for payment of pension at higher rates than at present to both civilian and armed forces personnel.
10. TECS study revealed that 65% of last pay drawn would be a reasonable requirement of income by pensioners. Accepting the TECS findings, the CPC felt that since 50% of LPD was already being paid and not to place further burden on the Government, the balance 15% should come from a supplementary Contributory Pension Fund. The two schemes for Pension Funds reccunnenfed by TECS and accepted by the 5th CPC separately for civilian Govt. officials and Armed Forces personnel were (a) Indexed pension scheme for civilians and (b) Unindexed or Nominal pension scheme for Armed Forces personnel. A comparison of the two schemes showed a greater contribution by Defense pensioners attributable to early retirement and longer retired life span.
11. The 5th CPC also quoted a number of foreign armed forces in similar situations adopting the same route. The ADF introduced Pension Fund Schemes in the early 90s. The Malaysians have gone a step further. The Trust created not only provided for additional pension over and above the Govt. contribution but also commercial loans for self employment. A similar scheme for the US Armed Forces by adding on Health care is in vogue. Two pension funds operate successfully in India, namely belonging to ONGC and Air India.
12. The pension funds could be operated Service wise like their GIS in view of difference in size and actuarial parameters. The Services however rejected the concept of pension fund, saying it was for the Govt. to find ways of granting the higher rate of pension.
13. The commonly held belief that the Central Govt. pension bill has the potential to reach unsustainable level does not appear to be based on any realistic assessment of such liabilities in future years. This was the finding of the Director and the Advisor of the Perspective Planning Division, Planning Commission, Govt. of India in their Paper 1/2004-PC of July 2004 titled PENSION LIABILITIES OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT: PROJECTIONS AND IMPLICATIONS. After examining the major accounting departments including Defense, they concluded that the present pension system should prevail and that the future pension liability should be sustainable. The study revealed that whilst the number of PBOR was 345832 in 1960 it was 1172623 in 2000, the rate of growth over 20 years fell from 2.1 to 1.1%, rate of retirement was between 3.3% in 1960 and 3.6 % in 2000, whilst the annual retirees ranged between 11445 in 1960 and 42152 in 2000. Similar figures were computed for officers. It computed the projected employment between 2001 and 2010 under the heads of total numbers, no. superannuating, seeking voluntary retirement, and total retirees. It computed projected pension payments increasing by 7.6 % which was the lowest among civil( 7.6%). Railways (8..1%), Telecom (15.3%) and Post (9.3%). With rises in GDP up to near 9%, it is possible for increases in rates of pension.
14. All this not with standing, the Dept. of Economic Affairs, MOF floated an RFP on 15 Oct 2005 for operationalising the New Pension Strategy. A separate pension fund was proposed to be created for civilians joining after 01 Jan 2004. By excluding Armed Forces it was evident that the Govt. was implementing 5 CPC recommendations for civilians. I responded to the RFP by forming a team of retired officers of all three Services, who were knowledgeable of pensions and had worked with me during Pay Commissions. I felt that NPS was eminently suited to our SSC officers and PBOR. The RFP had been allocated a sum of $ 200000. In my long years in logistics, I had not seen a GOI RFP in a foreign currency. Anyway my RFP response was returned saying that since there was a change in TOR could a fresh response be submitted, which I did. Nothing further was heard and the structure for accounting the recoveries has not been put in place. Where the recovery from the individuals is going for two years is not known.
15. Reverting to the 6th CPC only for pensions, it does not talk of the 5th CPC recommendation for enhancing the rate of pension to 65%. It negates OROP by recording that pension parity has been given by 5th CPC would be suffice. It does not talk of how this pension parity will be maintained, since MSP counts for pension for post 1.1.2006 retirees but is not admissible to pre 1.1.2006 retirees.
16. It has abolished weightage since reference to 33 years service also abolished. It has simplified pension to just 50% of LPD. The edge in commutation has been retained.
17. So where do we go from here?
18. My wish list from the 6th CPC would be as follows for pensions alone
· Rate of retiring pension be raised to 65% as recommended by the 5th CPC and accepted by the Armed Forces. The formation of a service pension fund as recommended by TECS and approved by 5th CPC is not approved as the Government has the capacity to pay ( see paragraph 13 above). In any case whenever increases in rates of pension viz 33% to slab system to the present 50%, no pension fund was talked of or required. Why now.
· Pension parity as recommended by 5th CPC and ratified for continuation by 6th CPC is only hence forth applicable to civilians. With MSP being applicable to only those in service as on 1/1/06 and counting for pension, the post 1/06 retirees will not have parity with pre 01/06 pensioners. This can be resolved by granting an equivalent to MSP as an add on to all pensioners irrespective of vintage.
· In so far as OROP is concerned, there are two dimensions. All pensioners irrespective of vintage but of the same rank must get same pension. This has been largely met till 6th CPC by pension parity. The second aspect is that pension must be rank based as existed till 3rdCPC. This means that all Colonels should have same pension. All MWOs should have same pension.
· SSC officers should receive pension now that 6th CPC has done away with 33 years and weightage.
· Medical insurance should be applicable to pensioners for both OPD treatment and medicines and hospitalization. Medical insurance schemes could managed by respective Service GIS. ESCHS like its counter part CGHS has not proved successful .
· A body like Ex Servicemen’s League with its Governing Council must represent Service pensioners in all matters affecting their interest.
Vice Admiral Barin Ghose
B 449 Sushant Lok I
Gurgaon 122002 Haryana
Phone 124-4044069, Mobile 9871381479
E Mail bag1944@yahoo.co.in
Apr 26, 2009
Re-Emp and Re-Settlement retired offrs
Commercial Employment in Private Sector.
As per the provisions of AI 2/S/74, retired service officers of the rank of Col and above are required to seek prior permission of the Govt before taking up commercial employment in the private sector within two years of their date of retirement. Army Headquarters letter No. 35072/MS-Retirement dated 19 May 1989 spells out the procedure for securing the prior Govt permission. The retired officers are required to apply in the prescribed proforma (as per Appendix ‘J’) to the MS Branch/MS(X) for officers of the rank of Brig & above and to MS Branch/MS-Retirement for officers of the rank of Col.
Resettlement in Civil Life. Retiring Army Officers may apply for civil employment. However, para 341 of Regulations for the Army 1987 enjoins that an officer who is granted any pension, gratuity or other benefit in respect of his/her Army service or who is likely to receive any pension, gratuity or other benefit, shall obtain the permission of the President before accepting any employment under a Government outside India at any time after his/her Army Service has ceased. An officer of the rank of Colonel or above, whether the rank is held in substantive capacity or otherwise who is granted a pension, gratuity or other benefit, in respect of his/her Army Service or who is likely to receive any pension, gratuity or other benefit shall also obtain such permission prior to accepting employment before the expiry of two years from the date his/her Army Service ceases in the following cases :-
(a) Commercial employment in private undertakings.
(b) Employment in a civil post under the Central or State Government or an Union Territory Administration/Government, or in a post under a Body Corporate owned or controlled by Government if the other officer had been allowed to retire prematurely at his/her own request. Such permission will not, however, be required if the officer had retired from Army Service in the normal course on completion of the standard service prescribed for his/her rank or if he/she had been invalided from Army Service on grounds of ill health or physical disability. Such permission will also not be necessary in cases where due to personal reasons the officers proceeding on normal retirement are allowed to retire a few days earlier (not exceeding one month) than the due date.
Army Placement Agency (APA). To assist retiring Army Officers in seeking avenues for suitable jobs in civil after retirement, the APA has been established in Adjutant General’s Branch/CW Directorate, Integrated HQ of MOD (Army) with Army Placement Nodes (APNs) at major industrial centres. In addition, Army Placement Satellite Nodes (APSNs) have also been opened at most of the Regimental Centres and some Sub Area/Station Headquarters to facilitate registration and placements of the retiring PBOR. This establishment is in addition to the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) where also, retiring Officers can register their names for employment separately. To register their names with the APA, retirees can obtain application forms and details from the APA/APNs or can log in to its web site www.apa.co.in which is very elaborate and user friendly. Retirees may also approach APA/APNs for any registration related queries or assistance at the following address :- Army Placement Agency AG’s Branch/CW Directorate Integrated HQ of MOD (Army) West Block-III, RK Puram, New Delhi-110066 Telephones : 011 – 26186075, 26186192 Fax : 011 – 26100241 E – mail : apajobs01@yahoo.co.in
Auth : MS(X) Note No. A/46050/Gen/MS(X) dated 07 Jul 04 &
APA Note No. B/44960/Misc/AG/APA dated 17 Aug 05.
Directorate General Resettlement
Resettlement. The primary thrust of the DGR is on dignified resettlement of all ranks retiring from the three services and efforts are made to explore various avenues for employment of ex-servicemen (ESM). With a view to resettle/re-employ ESM, the DGR arranges the following:-
(a) Training. Plan and conduct Resettlement Training programmes to reorient retiring Defence personnel towards civil employment.
(b) Employment. Sponsor registered officers/PBOR for providing employment opportunities in government/semi government/ public sector organizations and assistance in employment with corporate sector.
(c) Self - Employment. Schemes for self-employment and assistance in obtaining loan in farm and non-farm sectors.
Rehabilitation and Welfare. The rehabilitation and welfare schemes as laid down by the Govt from time to time are executed by the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) which functions under administrative control of DGR and is co located.
Training Programmes
Training Programmes (Offrs). Training for preparing retiring/retired officers for their resettlement in civil life is one of the major functions entrusted to the DGR. The resettlement training courses provide nationally/internationally accepted certification to facilitate officers to get quick employment within/outside the country. In addition six months courses being conducted at reputed B Schools (IIMs - Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Indore, XLRI Jamshedpur, MDI Gurgaon, NMIMS Mumbai. These courses have received an overwhelming response from officers and resulted in good job placements in the corporate sector. Other courses are being conducted in multifarious fields like Information Technology, Security Services, Entrepreneurship Development, Business Administration, Personnel Management, Hotel Management, Tourism, Human Resources Development, Law, Insurance and many other short term courses on miscellaneous subjects. Constant endeavour is made to improve the quality of training by regular monitoring. The courses are reviewed every year to include courses in new fields based on the participation in current requirements of civil market and corporate world and also to delete obsolete courses. The booklet/CD on courses are distributed down to unit level and can also be obtained free of cost from Training Directorate of DGR or viewed on DGR web site: dgrindia.com.
Eligibility Conditions.
(a) Permanent commissioned officers - last five years of service (last ten years with NOC from service HQ).(b) Retd officers - within 05 years of retirement, subject to age less than 60 yrs.(c) SSC offrs not sought/granted PC, only in last year of service (any time during extn period for army officers).(d) Re-Employed Officers Not Eligible.
Employment
Security Agencies. The DGR registers/sponsors security agencies for providing security guards to various PSUs and industries in the private sector. The scheme offers good self-employment opportunities to retired officers and adequate employment opportunity to ex-PBORs in a field where they have sufficient expertise. The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) had issued instructions to all PSUs to get security personnel through DGR sponsored Security Agencies. The scheme has shown good results. Through this scheme about 1800 ESM security agencies have been empanelled and approximately over 1,50,000 ESM have gained employment. Fresh forays have been made into the banking sector with active intercession of the Reserve Bank of India and the Finance Ministry. The RBI has issued instructions that the security of the treasury chests of all Banks in the country be entrusted to DGR sponsored ESM Security Agencies only in the absence of the Banks own integral security.
Officer’s Employment. All officers are advised to register with the DGR for Employment/ Self-Employment Assistance in various schemes and for jobs in Govt/ Semi Govt and private sector. The registration is free of cost and offers a great opportunity to retired officers of all ranks, specially middle level officers, to get themselves sponsored for jobs in Govt/Semi Govt and Corporate Business Houses. To spread awareness about potential in ex-defence personnel, seminars are organized periodically in conjunction with ASSOCHAM/FICCI/CII. The registration forms are available on DGR website - dgrindia.com and is also attached as Appendix ‘K’. Registration can be done in the last year of service.
Self-Employment Schemes As it is not feasible to provide Government jobs to all ex-servicemen after their retirement from the Armed Forces, government has formulated several self-employment schemes for encouraging and giving opportunities to ESM entrepreneurs intending to set up their own ventures.
(a) Coal Transportation Scheme. DGR sponsors Ex-Servicemen Coal Transport Companies for the execution of loading and transportation of coal in various coal subsidiaries of Coal India Limited (CIL). The Unemployed retired officers and JCOs registered with DGR, are selected to form ESM Coal Transport Companies and are sponsored to respective coal subsidiaries for five years, extendable by another four years. Presently, nearly 94 such companies are operating under the various coal subsidiaries of CIL. The functioning of these companies is monitored by DGR.
(b) Coal Tipper Scheme. The widows of Defence personnel, who died while in service due to causes attributable to military service, can be sponsored by DGR for attaching one tipper truck in their name with an ESM Coal Transport Company. Eligible widow/disabled soldier is required to make a deposit of Rs. 85,000/- with any of the nominated coal transport company. The company pays them Rs. 3000/- per month for a period of five years, after which the deposited amount of Rs. 85,000/- is paid back to widow/disabled soldier. The functioning of these companies is monitored by DGR.
(c) Allotment of Oil Product Agencies. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has reserved 8% of the Oil Product Agencies, i.e. LPG Dealership, Petrol Pumps, Kerosene Distributorship etc. for widows and dependants of those who died due to causes attributable to Military Service and disabled soldiers with disability of 20 percent and above attributable to Military Service. Eligible persons can apply as and when such a vacancy under ‘Defence Category’ is advertised in the newspapers. The DGR sponsors eligible candidates by issuing eligibility certificate to them. Interview is conducted by a Dealer Selection Board constituted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Final allotment is made by the concerned oil company to the selected candidates.
(d) Management of CNG Stations in National Capital Region (NCR). The scheme for management of CNG stations belonging to Indraprastha Gas Limited was launched as a pilot project in July 2001. The scheme has been extended to retired officers. This scheme is presently available in Delhi only.
(e) Finance (Farm and Non – Farm Sector)
(i)
SEMFEX - II Scheme (From Arms to Farms).
(ii)
SEMFEX - III Scheme (Sena Se Gramodyog).
(iii)
NEF Scheme (Sena Se Laghudyog).
(iv)
Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme.
(v)
Small Road and Water Transport Operators (SRWTO) Scheme.
(vi)
Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme.
(vii)
Scheme for Purchase of Land for Agriculture and Allied Activities.
(viii)
Financial Assistance for Rural Housing.
(ix)
PMRY Scheme for Ex-Servicemen.
(x)
Herbal Farming Scheme for Ex-Servicemen.
Kendriya Sainik Board
Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) deals with various financial related and personal grievances issues as applicable to the ESM/wards/widows of ESM. The Rajya Sainik Boards and Zila Sainik Boards functioning at state level function under the KSB. It also deals with the allocation of reserved seats for the wards of ESM for admission to professional colleges (MBBS and Engg) and PM Scholarship Scheme.
Assistance and Contact Info
The details of DGR activities are available on DGR website - www.dgrindia.com. The details of training courses and forms etc are also available on the website. DGR publications can be obtained from Publicity Dte of DGR also. Contact Nos. are as given below:-
Training Dte
Emp Dte
Self-Emp Dte
Finance Dte
Publicity Dte
KSB
2619235826192366
26192349
2619235526192357
26192353
26192365
26192360
For further details please contact:-
Director (As Applicable) Concerned Directorate Directorate General Resettlement Ministry of Defence West Block – IV RK Puram New Delhi - 110066
Khadi and Village Industries Commission-KVIC. To assist ex-servicemen, widows and disabled defence personnel in establishing Khadi and Village Industries in rural areas, DGR has formulated a scheme with KVIC. Under the scheme, training and marketing of the product is undertaken by KVIC. The rate of interest for loans taken is 4%.
As per the provisions of AI 2/S/74, retired service officers of the rank of Col and above are required to seek prior permission of the Govt before taking up commercial employment in the private sector within two years of their date of retirement. Army Headquarters letter No. 35072/MS-Retirement dated 19 May 1989 spells out the procedure for securing the prior Govt permission. The retired officers are required to apply in the prescribed proforma (as per Appendix ‘J’) to the MS Branch/MS(X) for officers of the rank of Brig & above and to MS Branch/MS-Retirement for officers of the rank of Col.
Resettlement in Civil Life. Retiring Army Officers may apply for civil employment. However, para 341 of Regulations for the Army 1987 enjoins that an officer who is granted any pension, gratuity or other benefit in respect of his/her Army service or who is likely to receive any pension, gratuity or other benefit, shall obtain the permission of the President before accepting any employment under a Government outside India at any time after his/her Army Service has ceased. An officer of the rank of Colonel or above, whether the rank is held in substantive capacity or otherwise who is granted a pension, gratuity or other benefit, in respect of his/her Army Service or who is likely to receive any pension, gratuity or other benefit shall also obtain such permission prior to accepting employment before the expiry of two years from the date his/her Army Service ceases in the following cases :-
(a) Commercial employment in private undertakings.
(b) Employment in a civil post under the Central or State Government or an Union Territory Administration/Government, or in a post under a Body Corporate owned or controlled by Government if the other officer had been allowed to retire prematurely at his/her own request. Such permission will not, however, be required if the officer had retired from Army Service in the normal course on completion of the standard service prescribed for his/her rank or if he/she had been invalided from Army Service on grounds of ill health or physical disability. Such permission will also not be necessary in cases where due to personal reasons the officers proceeding on normal retirement are allowed to retire a few days earlier (not exceeding one month) than the due date.
Army Placement Agency (APA). To assist retiring Army Officers in seeking avenues for suitable jobs in civil after retirement, the APA has been established in Adjutant General’s Branch/CW Directorate, Integrated HQ of MOD (Army) with Army Placement Nodes (APNs) at major industrial centres. In addition, Army Placement Satellite Nodes (APSNs) have also been opened at most of the Regimental Centres and some Sub Area/Station Headquarters to facilitate registration and placements of the retiring PBOR. This establishment is in addition to the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) where also, retiring Officers can register their names for employment separately. To register their names with the APA, retirees can obtain application forms and details from the APA/APNs or can log in to its web site www.apa.co.in which is very elaborate and user friendly. Retirees may also approach APA/APNs for any registration related queries or assistance at the following address :- Army Placement Agency AG’s Branch/CW Directorate Integrated HQ of MOD (Army) West Block-III, RK Puram, New Delhi-110066 Telephones : 011 – 26186075, 26186192 Fax : 011 – 26100241 E – mail : apajobs01@yahoo.co.in
Auth : MS(X) Note No. A/46050/Gen/MS(X) dated 07 Jul 04 &
APA Note No. B/44960/Misc/AG/APA dated 17 Aug 05.
Directorate General Resettlement
Resettlement. The primary thrust of the DGR is on dignified resettlement of all ranks retiring from the three services and efforts are made to explore various avenues for employment of ex-servicemen (ESM). With a view to resettle/re-employ ESM, the DGR arranges the following:-
(a) Training. Plan and conduct Resettlement Training programmes to reorient retiring Defence personnel towards civil employment.
(b) Employment. Sponsor registered officers/PBOR for providing employment opportunities in government/semi government/ public sector organizations and assistance in employment with corporate sector.
(c) Self - Employment. Schemes for self-employment and assistance in obtaining loan in farm and non-farm sectors.
Rehabilitation and Welfare. The rehabilitation and welfare schemes as laid down by the Govt from time to time are executed by the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) which functions under administrative control of DGR and is co located.
Training Programmes
Training Programmes (Offrs). Training for preparing retiring/retired officers for their resettlement in civil life is one of the major functions entrusted to the DGR. The resettlement training courses provide nationally/internationally accepted certification to facilitate officers to get quick employment within/outside the country. In addition six months courses being conducted at reputed B Schools (IIMs - Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Bangalore, Indore, XLRI Jamshedpur, MDI Gurgaon, NMIMS Mumbai. These courses have received an overwhelming response from officers and resulted in good job placements in the corporate sector. Other courses are being conducted in multifarious fields like Information Technology, Security Services, Entrepreneurship Development, Business Administration, Personnel Management, Hotel Management, Tourism, Human Resources Development, Law, Insurance and many other short term courses on miscellaneous subjects. Constant endeavour is made to improve the quality of training by regular monitoring. The courses are reviewed every year to include courses in new fields based on the participation in current requirements of civil market and corporate world and also to delete obsolete courses. The booklet/CD on courses are distributed down to unit level and can also be obtained free of cost from Training Directorate of DGR or viewed on DGR web site: dgrindia.com.
Eligibility Conditions.
(a) Permanent commissioned officers - last five years of service (last ten years with NOC from service HQ).(b) Retd officers - within 05 years of retirement, subject to age less than 60 yrs.(c) SSC offrs not sought/granted PC, only in last year of service (any time during extn period for army officers).(d) Re-Employed Officers Not Eligible.
Employment
Security Agencies. The DGR registers/sponsors security agencies for providing security guards to various PSUs and industries in the private sector. The scheme offers good self-employment opportunities to retired officers and adequate employment opportunity to ex-PBORs in a field where they have sufficient expertise. The Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) had issued instructions to all PSUs to get security personnel through DGR sponsored Security Agencies. The scheme has shown good results. Through this scheme about 1800 ESM security agencies have been empanelled and approximately over 1,50,000 ESM have gained employment. Fresh forays have been made into the banking sector with active intercession of the Reserve Bank of India and the Finance Ministry. The RBI has issued instructions that the security of the treasury chests of all Banks in the country be entrusted to DGR sponsored ESM Security Agencies only in the absence of the Banks own integral security.
Officer’s Employment. All officers are advised to register with the DGR for Employment/ Self-Employment Assistance in various schemes and for jobs in Govt/ Semi Govt and private sector. The registration is free of cost and offers a great opportunity to retired officers of all ranks, specially middle level officers, to get themselves sponsored for jobs in Govt/Semi Govt and Corporate Business Houses. To spread awareness about potential in ex-defence personnel, seminars are organized periodically in conjunction with ASSOCHAM/FICCI/CII. The registration forms are available on DGR website - dgrindia.com and is also attached as Appendix ‘K’. Registration can be done in the last year of service.
Self-Employment Schemes As it is not feasible to provide Government jobs to all ex-servicemen after their retirement from the Armed Forces, government has formulated several self-employment schemes for encouraging and giving opportunities to ESM entrepreneurs intending to set up their own ventures.
(a) Coal Transportation Scheme. DGR sponsors Ex-Servicemen Coal Transport Companies for the execution of loading and transportation of coal in various coal subsidiaries of Coal India Limited (CIL). The Unemployed retired officers and JCOs registered with DGR, are selected to form ESM Coal Transport Companies and are sponsored to respective coal subsidiaries for five years, extendable by another four years. Presently, nearly 94 such companies are operating under the various coal subsidiaries of CIL. The functioning of these companies is monitored by DGR.
(b) Coal Tipper Scheme. The widows of Defence personnel, who died while in service due to causes attributable to military service, can be sponsored by DGR for attaching one tipper truck in their name with an ESM Coal Transport Company. Eligible widow/disabled soldier is required to make a deposit of Rs. 85,000/- with any of the nominated coal transport company. The company pays them Rs. 3000/- per month for a period of five years, after which the deposited amount of Rs. 85,000/- is paid back to widow/disabled soldier. The functioning of these companies is monitored by DGR.
(c) Allotment of Oil Product Agencies. Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has reserved 8% of the Oil Product Agencies, i.e. LPG Dealership, Petrol Pumps, Kerosene Distributorship etc. for widows and dependants of those who died due to causes attributable to Military Service and disabled soldiers with disability of 20 percent and above attributable to Military Service. Eligible persons can apply as and when such a vacancy under ‘Defence Category’ is advertised in the newspapers. The DGR sponsors eligible candidates by issuing eligibility certificate to them. Interview is conducted by a Dealer Selection Board constituted by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Final allotment is made by the concerned oil company to the selected candidates.
(d) Management of CNG Stations in National Capital Region (NCR). The scheme for management of CNG stations belonging to Indraprastha Gas Limited was launched as a pilot project in July 2001. The scheme has been extended to retired officers. This scheme is presently available in Delhi only.
(e) Finance (Farm and Non – Farm Sector)
(i)
SEMFEX - II Scheme (From Arms to Farms).
(ii)
SEMFEX - III Scheme (Sena Se Gramodyog).
(iii)
NEF Scheme (Sena Se Laghudyog).
(iv)
Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme.
(v)
Small Road and Water Transport Operators (SRWTO) Scheme.
(vi)
Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme.
(vii)
Scheme for Purchase of Land for Agriculture and Allied Activities.
(viii)
Financial Assistance for Rural Housing.
(ix)
PMRY Scheme for Ex-Servicemen.
(x)
Herbal Farming Scheme for Ex-Servicemen.
Kendriya Sainik Board
Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) deals with various financial related and personal grievances issues as applicable to the ESM/wards/widows of ESM. The Rajya Sainik Boards and Zila Sainik Boards functioning at state level function under the KSB. It also deals with the allocation of reserved seats for the wards of ESM for admission to professional colleges (MBBS and Engg) and PM Scholarship Scheme.
Assistance and Contact Info
The details of DGR activities are available on DGR website - www.dgrindia.com. The details of training courses and forms etc are also available on the website. DGR publications can be obtained from Publicity Dte of DGR also. Contact Nos. are as given below:-
Training Dte
Emp Dte
Self-Emp Dte
Finance Dte
Publicity Dte
KSB
2619235826192366
26192349
2619235526192357
26192353
26192365
26192360
For further details please contact:-
Director (As Applicable) Concerned Directorate Directorate General Resettlement Ministry of Defence West Block – IV RK Puram New Delhi - 110066
Khadi and Village Industries Commission-KVIC. To assist ex-servicemen, widows and disabled defence personnel in establishing Khadi and Village Industries in rural areas, DGR has formulated a scheme with KVIC. Under the scheme, training and marketing of the product is undertaken by KVIC. The rate of interest for loans taken is 4%.
Wearing of Uniform by retired officers
(a) All regular officers who have retired from service (including Regular Reserve of officers permitted to retain or granted higher rank on retirement from Regular Reserve of Officers) may wear uniform with badges of appropriate rank on special occasions, such as ceremonial parades, entertainment of military nature and other occasions when wearing of uniform would appear appropriate.
(b) All officers/civilian gentlemen granted honorary commissions (including honorary commission in the Territorial Army and late State Forces), regular officers of the erstwhile State Forces, Junior Commissioned Officers including those granted honorary ranks and other ranks are permitted to wear uniform on all occasions mentioned below: -
(i) Official parties at Rashtrapati Bhawan/Raj Bhawans.
(ii) Invited to official function by Embassy, Delegation or High Commission.
(iii) Army functions including ex-servicemen’s rallies or re-unions.
(iv) Attending durbar or other function in honour of the National Day.
(v) While called upon in aid of civil power.
(vi) While visiting any Military Headquarters on duty.
(vii) While calling on or meeting senior service officers and local heads of the civil administration of and above the rank of Collector/Deputy Commissioner.
(viii) While going to draw pension.
(ix) While serving on the personal staff of a Governor.
(x) When serving on the personal staff of a former ruler (Applies to honorary ex-State Forces Commissioned officers only).
(xi) When attending State or military funerals.
Note : Non-regular officers may wear their full medals or miniatures on civilian dress on occasions specified above.
Types of Dress to be worn. Officers will normally wear the Service Dress of the Regiment/Corps to which they belonged before retirement. Mess Dress may also be worn on appropriate occasion.
Wearing of Badges of Rank. Badges of rank, to be worn by those entitled to use military ranks, will be those of the last substantive rank, except where the higher acting rank has been held for a minimum period of 2 years at the time of retirement or where the use of the honorary/military rank is specifically authorised.
(b) All officers/civilian gentlemen granted honorary commissions (including honorary commission in the Territorial Army and late State Forces), regular officers of the erstwhile State Forces, Junior Commissioned Officers including those granted honorary ranks and other ranks are permitted to wear uniform on all occasions mentioned below: -
(i) Official parties at Rashtrapati Bhawan/Raj Bhawans.
(ii) Invited to official function by Embassy, Delegation or High Commission.
(iii) Army functions including ex-servicemen’s rallies or re-unions.
(iv) Attending durbar or other function in honour of the National Day.
(v) While called upon in aid of civil power.
(vi) While visiting any Military Headquarters on duty.
(vii) While calling on or meeting senior service officers and local heads of the civil administration of and above the rank of Collector/Deputy Commissioner.
(viii) While going to draw pension.
(ix) While serving on the personal staff of a Governor.
(x) When serving on the personal staff of a former ruler (Applies to honorary ex-State Forces Commissioned officers only).
(xi) When attending State or military funerals.
Note : Non-regular officers may wear their full medals or miniatures on civilian dress on occasions specified above.
Types of Dress to be worn. Officers will normally wear the Service Dress of the Regiment/Corps to which they belonged before retirement. Mess Dress may also be worn on appropriate occasion.
Wearing of Badges of Rank. Badges of rank, to be worn by those entitled to use military ranks, will be those of the last substantive rank, except where the higher acting rank has been held for a minimum period of 2 years at the time of retirement or where the use of the honorary/military rank is specifically authorised.
Apr 15, 2009
Sunday Pioneer
Soldiers must vote for rights : Ashok K Mehta
National security, which is rarely discussed in Parliament, has been trivialised at the hustings too
“You sent a Minister with terrorists to Kandahar while we sent commandos to Mumbai.” The debate is in the past tense and in negative.Traditionally defence issues have arisen following military and operational mishaps and not as part of any institutionalised defence and security strategy formulation. Barring the 1971 military success over Pakistan which eventually became a case of battlefield victory turning into political defeat, the record is one of self-inflicted lapses. The premature acceptance in 1948 of a ceasefire in Jammu & Kashmir, the Himalayan blunder of 1962 exacerbated by the no-use of IAF, the strategic folly of returning Haji Pir Pass and Point 13620 in Kargil to Pakistan in 1965, the mindless storming of the Golden Temple in 1984 and even the ill-managed expeditionary force to Sri Lanka in 1987 will all figure in the hall of foul-ups. Nineteen eighty-eight served as a turning point for externally-sponsored low intensity conflict becoming a proxy war. Nuclear tests on the sub-continent a decade later virtually sanitised the proxy war, encouraging Kandahar, Kargil and culminating in Parakram and Mumbai. No war has been fought since 1971 though border skirmishes and terror-related crises have become routine since the late-1980s. India, which has a high grade world’s fourth largest military, is unable to stop cross-border terrorism. The British left us with sound political institutions and systems of governance. But strategic culture and military thought were not among them. For 50 of the 60 years after independence it was during Congress rule, unencumbered by coalition imperatives, that strategic mistakes were made. Ingrained in its leadership and psyche is a strong defensive and passive mentality that infected the military and locked it in an intellectual straitjacket. The economic reforms of the 1990s brought down the defence budget to below two per cent of GDP, emaciating defence preparedness. By the time of Kargil, Army Chief Gen VP Malik had to say: “We will fight with what we have.” The BJP’s performance was a shade better given it arrived with the nuclear bang. Fortunately the after-Kargil report led to a hundred recommendations on defence reform though regrettably, few could be implemented — especially the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff. Although the BJP had a robust defence programme, ‘India Shining’ robbed it of another term to institutionalise them.The worst hit is internal security. Maoists struck thrice in the last week killing 30 security personnel. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh periodically describes Maoists as the single biggest internal threat facing the country. The insurgency in Assam should have been quelled a decade ago once Operation Rhino and Operation Bajrang were launched in the early-1990s, but recent political meddling has undone the gains from Operation All Clear in Bhutan in 2003 that had rooting out ULFA as its objective. Widespread infiltration from Bangladesh, the Congress’s historical vote-bank, has created a grave security threat. This month’s bombing campaign in Assam is ULFA’s signal that it is fit, alive and kicking. The unabated and unresponded spell of terrorist attacks mapping the country and culminating in Mumbai in the last four years has amazed security experts. The Government’s usual reaction has been: “Sorry. But we’re not soft on terror and will give a fitting reply.” The oldest victim of terror has had no counter-terrorism strategy to protect the people of this country. Mumbai and elections have finally forced the Congress to produce its counter-terror document which is Mission Number One and Pledge to Zero Tolerance to Terror. The accent is defensive and reactive, not punitive or preemptive. The BJP is saying it will send troops to Pakistan to stop terrorism. Only a comprehensive Homeland Security model can remove the deficiencies of internal insecurity.National security strategy and defence and perspective plans gather dust since 2007. For the third time, the defence budget has dipped below two per cent of the GDP and Rs 17,000 crore on modernisation has returned to the Treasury over five years which has affected defence preparedness. The IAF has slumped from 39 to 32 squadrons, naval ship strength has declined by a third and the Army is deficient in aviation, artillery and counter-terrorism equipment. The military has lost its conventional edge over Pakistan, worst of all, in Jammu & Kashmir, the theatre of decision. The Sixth Pay Commission was a good opportunity to raise the morale and image of the services, given the shortages in the officer corps. Civilian-bureaucratic stranglehold over adjudicating the status and salary of the fighting forces has led to massive resentment in the ranks. By the Service Chiefs blinking first after a maze of duplicitous committees to redress the anomalies, soldiers have lost to civilian and para-military counterparts — Lt Generals in higher administrative grade, Lt Colonels in pay and grade bands and sepoys in enhanced service weightage for pension. The Government has reasserted civilian bureaucratic control over the armed forces.The one rank one pension issue has demonstrated through the ex-servicemen’s movement that the most obedient and disciplined force can also lose its cool. The Sixth Pay Commission has created four classes within a class: Pre-1966, post-1966 to December 2005, post-January 2006 to September 2008, and post- October 2008. Further, Major Generals are in court as their pension is less than Brigadiers, altogether leading to confusion worst confounded.The ex-servicemen are likely to vote BJP, which has promised not only one rank, one pay but also income tax exempt pay for servicemen. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who gave India under a Congress Government its first military victory in 1,000 years, was not conferred a Bharat Ratna. A country that does not care for the izzat and iqbal (respect and welfare) of the armed forces is harming their apolitical, secular and disciplined disposition.In the military mind and public perception the BJP stands for making India militarily strong though the bigger challenge for a future Government is political will to employ usable military forces to deter and punish cross-border terrorism. National security, especially internal security must be depoliticised and governed by a national political consensus. Defence planning and strategic security culture must be taught to those who represent the people in Parliament. As the political class of India and the people remember its soldiers only during Kargil, Mumbai and tsunami, soldiers and ex-servicemen must vote for their rights
Soldiers must vote for rights : Ashok K Mehta
National security, which is rarely discussed in Parliament, has been trivialised at the hustings too
“You sent a Minister with terrorists to Kandahar while we sent commandos to Mumbai.” The debate is in the past tense and in negative.Traditionally defence issues have arisen following military and operational mishaps and not as part of any institutionalised defence and security strategy formulation. Barring the 1971 military success over Pakistan which eventually became a case of battlefield victory turning into political defeat, the record is one of self-inflicted lapses. The premature acceptance in 1948 of a ceasefire in Jammu & Kashmir, the Himalayan blunder of 1962 exacerbated by the no-use of IAF, the strategic folly of returning Haji Pir Pass and Point 13620 in Kargil to Pakistan in 1965, the mindless storming of the Golden Temple in 1984 and even the ill-managed expeditionary force to Sri Lanka in 1987 will all figure in the hall of foul-ups. Nineteen eighty-eight served as a turning point for externally-sponsored low intensity conflict becoming a proxy war. Nuclear tests on the sub-continent a decade later virtually sanitised the proxy war, encouraging Kandahar, Kargil and culminating in Parakram and Mumbai. No war has been fought since 1971 though border skirmishes and terror-related crises have become routine since the late-1980s. India, which has a high grade world’s fourth largest military, is unable to stop cross-border terrorism. The British left us with sound political institutions and systems of governance. But strategic culture and military thought were not among them. For 50 of the 60 years after independence it was during Congress rule, unencumbered by coalition imperatives, that strategic mistakes were made. Ingrained in its leadership and psyche is a strong defensive and passive mentality that infected the military and locked it in an intellectual straitjacket. The economic reforms of the 1990s brought down the defence budget to below two per cent of GDP, emaciating defence preparedness. By the time of Kargil, Army Chief Gen VP Malik had to say: “We will fight with what we have.” The BJP’s performance was a shade better given it arrived with the nuclear bang. Fortunately the after-Kargil report led to a hundred recommendations on defence reform though regrettably, few could be implemented — especially the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff. Although the BJP had a robust defence programme, ‘India Shining’ robbed it of another term to institutionalise them.The worst hit is internal security. Maoists struck thrice in the last week killing 30 security personnel. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh periodically describes Maoists as the single biggest internal threat facing the country. The insurgency in Assam should have been quelled a decade ago once Operation Rhino and Operation Bajrang were launched in the early-1990s, but recent political meddling has undone the gains from Operation All Clear in Bhutan in 2003 that had rooting out ULFA as its objective. Widespread infiltration from Bangladesh, the Congress’s historical vote-bank, has created a grave security threat. This month’s bombing campaign in Assam is ULFA’s signal that it is fit, alive and kicking. The unabated and unresponded spell of terrorist attacks mapping the country and culminating in Mumbai in the last four years has amazed security experts. The Government’s usual reaction has been: “Sorry. But we’re not soft on terror and will give a fitting reply.” The oldest victim of terror has had no counter-terrorism strategy to protect the people of this country. Mumbai and elections have finally forced the Congress to produce its counter-terror document which is Mission Number One and Pledge to Zero Tolerance to Terror. The accent is defensive and reactive, not punitive or preemptive. The BJP is saying it will send troops to Pakistan to stop terrorism. Only a comprehensive Homeland Security model can remove the deficiencies of internal insecurity.National security strategy and defence and perspective plans gather dust since 2007. For the third time, the defence budget has dipped below two per cent of the GDP and Rs 17,000 crore on modernisation has returned to the Treasury over five years which has affected defence preparedness. The IAF has slumped from 39 to 32 squadrons, naval ship strength has declined by a third and the Army is deficient in aviation, artillery and counter-terrorism equipment. The military has lost its conventional edge over Pakistan, worst of all, in Jammu & Kashmir, the theatre of decision. The Sixth Pay Commission was a good opportunity to raise the morale and image of the services, given the shortages in the officer corps. Civilian-bureaucratic stranglehold over adjudicating the status and salary of the fighting forces has led to massive resentment in the ranks. By the Service Chiefs blinking first after a maze of duplicitous committees to redress the anomalies, soldiers have lost to civilian and para-military counterparts — Lt Generals in higher administrative grade, Lt Colonels in pay and grade bands and sepoys in enhanced service weightage for pension. The Government has reasserted civilian bureaucratic control over the armed forces.The one rank one pension issue has demonstrated through the ex-servicemen’s movement that the most obedient and disciplined force can also lose its cool. The Sixth Pay Commission has created four classes within a class: Pre-1966, post-1966 to December 2005, post-January 2006 to September 2008, and post- October 2008. Further, Major Generals are in court as their pension is less than Brigadiers, altogether leading to confusion worst confounded.The ex-servicemen are likely to vote BJP, which has promised not only one rank, one pay but also income tax exempt pay for servicemen. Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who gave India under a Congress Government its first military victory in 1,000 years, was not conferred a Bharat Ratna. A country that does not care for the izzat and iqbal (respect and welfare) of the armed forces is harming their apolitical, secular and disciplined disposition.In the military mind and public perception the BJP stands for making India militarily strong though the bigger challenge for a future Government is political will to employ usable military forces to deter and punish cross-border terrorism. National security, especially internal security must be depoliticised and governed by a national political consensus. Defence planning and strategic security culture must be taught to those who represent the people in Parliament. As the political class of India and the people remember its soldiers only during Kargil, Mumbai and tsunami, soldiers and ex-servicemen must vote for their rights
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