Recipe for disaster for the military

It is worrying that since 2003 1,018 soldiers have committed suicide and that the ‘causes were domestic problems, mental discord, stress and financial problems’

The state of morale in the armed forces in general, and the Army in particular, should be a cause for worry because of the latter’s rapidly declining combat capability. Moreover, an Army with low morale, insufficient manpower and lacking in the required combat equipment is a recipe for national disaster at the hands of foreign invaders.

The recent Supreme Court ruling giving “rank pay” to those officers who were in military service between 1986 to 1996 following a 25-year-long court battle by a few retired officers shows how this rank pay, given by the fourth Central Pay Commission (4th CPC), had been withheld by unaccountable bureaucrats, who had issued the final implementation orders. Even if the rank pay is finally given in the coming months, many of those eligible have passed away or are bed-ridden, and, many had received lower pension also. Today, there are 39 unresolved anomalies from the 6th CPC, which gave its award in 2008.
As India marks the 50th anniversary of the disastrous war with China in 1962, the signs are ominous. India is faced with threats from within and outside. Apart from the economic slowdown, scams and ongoing Naxal insurgency, recent media reports have indicated a couple of mutinies in Army units, where soldiers have risen against their officers. More worrying is the news that from 2003 till now 1,018 soldiers have committed suicide. Last month, defence minister informed Parliament that the “causes for these suicides were domestic problems, mental discord, stress and financial problems”. The enormity of this “suicide tragedy” can be fully understood if we see that between 1984 and 2012, a total of 846 officers and soldiers have died in Siachen.
Some experts have suggested that these mutinies and suicides could be due to the strain of excessive counter-insurgency duties. A few have suggested that the soldier of today is educated and fully aware of how the military has been continuously downgraded as compared to the civil services, CPOs (Central police organisations) and police counterparts. Retired veterans may tell you that it’s a failure of leadership at the officer level. Whatever the reasons, the government needs to urgently find a solution. History shows that most revolts or mutinies are triggered by discontent amongst soldiers and sailors, and these can spread very rapidly.
The “functional” military pyramid structure results in less than two per cent getting promoted to even major-general (equal to joint secretary) in 28 years and lieutenant-general (equal to additional secretary) in 35 years while all their IAS and foreign service counterparts become joint secretaries in 17 years and 90 per cent become additional secretaries in 30 years. Post-2008, all other civil services officers become joint secretaries in 19 years and additional secretaries in 32 years. This happened after the 6th CPC granted “non-functional upgradation” (NFU) to all the 58 Group-A civil services, thus ensuring even a greater disparity with the military. This disparity continues post-retirement, as the pensions to civil services officers automatically become much higher. A number of demonstrations by ex-servicemen (ESM) over “one rank, one pension” have been held since 2009 and a solution needs to be found since there is a close bonding between serving and retired military personnel. The September 24, 2012, announcement of a package Rs 2,300 crore per year for ESM (pre-2006 retirees) and family pensions etc has created more heartburn over one rank, one pension since it still leaves a gap in pensions between pre- and post-2006 retirees. The issue of NFU has also not been addressed.
The Army has many other problems, which were brought out by the last Army Chief V.K. Singh and reported in a leaked letter. Foremost amongst these is the case for about 2,000 155-mm artillery guns, which has been pending government approval for 25 years. An indigenous 155-mm gun should have been made and inducted by now, since the blueprints of the Bofors 155mm gun were received after the contract was signed decades ago.
Surprisingly, some 25 years after 400 Bofors 155mm/39 calibre guns were inducted, an order is now being placed for 145 155mm/39 calibre, “light” helicopter-portable guns from the United States using the “no tender” direct FMS (foreign military sales) option at possibly a higher cost than if global tenders had been offered. A decade ago some Russian-origin 130mm/52 calibre guns were converted to 155mm/45 calibre by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), with Israeli help.
With the import option becoming unlikely, due to the Bofors scandal, the DRDO recently, “suddenly” discovered that it could make both the 39 and 45 calibre, 155mm guns for Army trials by end-2012. The ministry of defence has now belatedly placed an order for 100 such indigeneous guns. The Bofors 155mm/39 calibre gun has a reported maximum range of 29 kilometres, which can be increased to about 40 kilometres by the use of special “base bleed” ammunition. The 45 calibre gun has a slightly longer barrel length, and accordingly achieves a greater maximum range. The latest 155mm/52 calibre gun has even a greater barrel length and can achieve the range of 52 kilometres with “base bleed” ammunition. Since the “Bofors ghost” is unlikely to permit any import of the 155mm/52 calibre gun, it would be prudent for the DRDO to commence indigenisation of this 52 calibre gun also.
The government has readily cleared many cases for modernisation of the Navy, the Coast Guard and the Air Force, but it needs to remember that in the event of a short, sharp war with Pakistan or China, or both, unacceptable loss of territory would result if the Army is not given the requisite motivated manpower and equipment.
The Army, for its part, needs to set its own house in order, weed out corruption, reward merit and concentrate on regaining its past glory, which was based on pure professionalism, discipline and leadership. Can the Prime Minister do something drastic to improve morale and combat capability of the military?

The writer, a vice-admiral, retired as Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam

Comments

It is a wonderful comparison

It is a wonderful comparison of the Army officers. When I joined the Indian Army in June, 1968, I used to get 50/= more than an IAS officer. After doing my M.A. and later B.Ed. I was happy that I joined Education Corps of Indian Army, which paid me more than an IAS and a Lecturer in the University. But when I reached my last days of service as a Major I realised I was taken for a ride by the so called Babus. I left the Indian Army to join the Civll Services as a Educationist. I was heavily paid. But since I was in the service no pension was given to me. I my last days a service personnel who had completed the pensionable service, I am getting peanuts compared to a Babu who has put in 29 yrs. 131 days of recknable service. What a pity?

THE GOVT IS TREATING THE

THE GOVT IS TREATING THE SERVICES AND RETIRED PERSONNEL WORSE THAN SLAVES AND INDENTURED LABOR OF THE BRITISH ERA!
WE ARE THE ONLY ARM OF THE GOVT WHO HAVE NO SAY IN DETERMINING OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND EMOLUMENTS!
ONLY LANDLESS LABORERS AND DISTRESSED
PERSONS WILL NOW JOIN THE SERVICES!

THE GOVT IS TREATING THE

THE GOVT IS TREATING THE SERVICES AND RETIRED PERSONNEL WORSE THAN SLAVES AND INDENTURED LABOR OF THE BRITISH ERA!
WE ARE THE ONLY ARM OF THE GOVT WHO HAVE NO SAY IN DETERMINING OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE AND EMOLUMENTS!
ONLY LANDLESS LABORERS AND DISTRESSED
PERSONS WILL NOW JOIN THE SERVICES!

The Army has no hope. No wise

The Army has no hope. No wise Indian will join this lousy force. The Armed Forces in India is for the unemployed or people who live below Rs 32 a day.
Let any prospective candidate ask himself a simple question? Join the army for what? Protect what? Protect whom?

FOR KIND ATTENTION MADAM

FOR KIND ATTENTION MADAM SONIA JI/PM SIR/RM SIR & ALL CHIEFS

DE-GRADATION OF ARMY AND UP-GRADATION OF CIVIL[IAS/IPS]

1. THE ONE RANK ONE PAY ANNOUNCEMENT IS A MISLEADING & IS INCORRECT ,
THE BABUS HAVE AGAIN PLAYED THE TRICK. IT IS A MODIFIED PARITY
2. A CAT CASE Cat case pre-2006 WHICH HAS BEEN CLEARED BY SC ,
BUT GOVT HAS GONE FOR APPEAL .Case W.P. 1535/2012 Reg: Appeal against Judgment of CAT Delhi (in OA 655-2010) reg. Modified Parity for Pre-2006 Pensioners, came up before a new Bench (of Hon'ble Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Hon’ble Justice Siddharth Mridul) at item. 13) in Delhi High Court on 17.7.2012[It was adjourned for hearing on 29th November, 2012.
THIS CASE LIKE RANK PAY IS ALMOST CLEAR. BABUS WILL NOT DELAY AT ALL
AS IT IS BENEFICIAL TO THEM & IT WILL BE APPLICABLE TO ARMED FORCES TOO,BEING AN ANOMALY[ THIS IS AS GOOD AS OROP] NO PROBLEM OF MONEY OR WORK LOAD WILL BE POSED BY BABUS BECAUSE IT EFFECTS THEM.
3.SO IN ANY CASE WE WILL BE BENEFITED, BUT YOU & YOUR GOVT+PARTY WILL LOOSE ITS CREDIT THAN IT WILL BE TOO LATE.[SERVICE + PENSIONER WILL BE BENEFITED DUE TO WRONG FITMENT OF PAY SCALE]
4..ARMY COMES TO RESCUE OF CIVIL AUTHORITY[IAS/IPS ] ON THEIR FAILURE IN NAME OF AID TO CIVIL POWER.
5.THE ARMED FORCES WERE PAID HIGHER PAY & PENSION [PENSION USED TO BE 75 % OF PAY, AS APPLICABLE IN OTHER COUNTRIES] NOW THE PENSION HAS BEEN REDUCED TO 50%.
6.However, this was arbitrarily and without any justification changed by 3rd CPC in 1973.
7.The RAJYA SABHA Committee opined that the Govt has TAKEN an ill considered decision,.Ex Servicemen Discontent is Disturbing . legitimate and fair demand of OROP be accepted..Rajya Sabha Petition Committee strongly recommended its sanction and implementation OFOROP.
8.PM/FM/RM/LOK SABHA/RAJYA SABHA ALL HAVE ACCEPTED ONE ONE RANK PENSION BUT A CABINET UNDER SECRETARY HAS REJECTED IT.
IS UNDER SECRETARY ABOVE ALL THE AUTHORITIES & GOVT WHO HAVE ACCEPTED ,OROP, SUCH A PERSON SHOULD BE PUNISHED & SENT HOME.
HE IS SOWING SEEDS OF DISCONTENTMENT IN FORCES.
FORCES DO NOT HAVE UNIONS ,BUT NO WHERE IN THE WORLD UNDER PAID ARMIES HAVE WON. THE SITUATION IS MORE CRITICAL NOW .CHINA HAS ENCIRCLED US FROM POK>ADVANCED IN LADAKH>ADVANCED IN ARUNACHAL>ADVANCED IN SEA .TIES WITH SRI LANKA,BHUTAN & NOW NEPAL. THUS UNMANAGABLE FRONT WILL BE THERE FOR INDIAN FORCES TO DEFEND.
A] THE STATE NOW IS NO BETTER THAN 1962 ,THAT TIME LATE PT NEHRU COULD NOT UNDER STAND EVIL DESIGN OF CHINA & WE PAID HEAVY PRICE,
B] LATE MADAM INDRA GANDHI UNDER STOOD & BOOSTED MORALE OF ARMY & GAVE PERKS TO ARMY, SHE GOT NAME IN HISTORY CREATED BANGLA DESH.
C] NOW UNDER SONIA JI & PM IS THE CHALLENGE, BUT BABUS HAVE PLACED
CURTAIN & BOTH ARE UNAWARE THE REAL MISERIES OF SERVING ?EX SERVICEMEN. THE HISTORY REPEATS ,IF NOW YOU DO NOT WAKE UP ,THE SITUATION WILL GO BEYOND CONTROL. THIS HAS BEEN CLEARLY TOLD BY NAVAL CHIEF TO RECENT TIME BOUND COMMITTEE. EVEN HON'BLE RM TOO HAS
CONVEYED SAME TO PM SIR.
D] EVEN THEN NEITHER OROP HAS BEEN GIVEN NOR PAY REVISION OF 6 th CPC HAS BEEN DONE,. ASTONISHINGLY EVEN NFU STATUS FOR TIME SCALE HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN. TO DAY ARMY IS LOWEST PAID & AT ABNORMALLY LOW STATUS. WITH MORALE IN BOOTS NO ARMY CAN WIN,BUT HOW DOES EFFECT THESE BABUS.
9.The Defence Personnel have suffered thrice over[THREE PAY COMMISSIONS ERODED THEIR PAY/PENSION/STATUS ]; The pension of Defence highest rank has increased only 45 times, that of civilian highest rank it has increased 108 times). THE COL[SELECTION]/BRIG GOT MERE INCREASE OF 30 TIMES.There is just no justification for the same.
10.IN IAS/IPS & CLASS -I OFFICER ARE DRAWING the pay of Addl Secretary Lt Gen(GP Rs 12000/- in 32 yrs of service by virtue of their service being Organised Gp A Service.
11. The Government accepted the recommendations of Sixth CPC and granted the NFU to Organized GP A Services .BUT DENIED TO DEFENSE SERVICES A HEIGHT OF DEGRADATION OF FORCES
H]In fact, now Sub Inspectors of CRPF/BSF/ATBP too can beat Def Services Offrs when they too will retire with the salary of Addl Secretary / Lt Gen, if they get promoted as Asstt Comdt / DSP in 8 yrs.
J]All this will only fuel frustration, disgruntlement and will have a demoralising effect on the Armed Forces Offrs.
K] Since Def Offrs will have to work alongside some of the OrganisedGp A Services mentioned, a disparity of this magnitude will lead to functional problems .
L]In some stations, it is already being heard that Civ Offrs have started projecting themselves as senior to top military offr l. Such problems will only increase in future.
M]Moreover, this issue must not be allowed to linger till 7th CPC for resolution .ELSE LOT MANY SURMOUNTABLE PROBLEM WITH IN ARMY WILL SET IN & command& control will be face multiple problems.DISGRUNTLED ARMIES IN WORLD NEVER WIN A WAR. THANK GOD OUR ARMIES ARE BEST IN WORLD . HENCE KINDLY BE GOOD TO ARMY & LOOK AFTER.
However , the issue needs a more forceful action by RESPECTED PM/FM/RM SIR
N]. Benefits of NFU DENIED
O]. It not only affects pay/pension, it also affects status.
P]. TO DAY ARMY COMES IN AID TO CIVIL POWER.
[ ONCE CIVIL AUTHORITY IAS/IPS FAIL IN PERFORMING THEIR DUTIES]MAY BE EARTH QUAKE,FLOOD RELIEF,TRAIN ACCIDENT,ASIAD GAMES,NAXAL PROBLEM,TERROR ATTACK ,CHILD IN WELL,STRIKE BY RAIL,ELECTRICITY BOARD, TELESERVICES, HOSPITAL SERVICES & SO ON LIST IS NEVER ENDING.
Q]. GOVERNMENT LAST HOPE IS ARMY & IF YOU NEITHER GIVE PAY/PENSION AT LEAST AT PAR WITH CIVIL IAS/IPS THAN YOU CANNOT EXPECT MIRACLES FROM THE ARMY. NO WHERE IN WORLD POOR PAID ARMY HAS EVER WON
R]. KINDLY RESTORE STATUS , GIVE PAY,PENSION NOT LESS THAN IAS/IPS & MAINTAIN FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF EQUALITY & DO NOT VIOLATE ARTICLE 14 OF CONSTITUTION & FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF EQUALITY.
T] IMMEDIATE NEED TO REVISE PAY & PENSION[FULL OROP].SPEEDY PAYMENT OD ARREARS WITH CORRESPONDING DA w.e.f 1/1/2006
11, COL [TIME SCALE] SHOULD BE PLACED IN SUPER TIME SCALE ,AS IN CASE OF IAS/IPS & OTHRES.
Super Time Scale (Senior Administrative Grade)(Pay-Band-4)
Joint Commissioner of Police
37,400-67,000 plus grade pay of 10,000
Inspector General of Police,Commissioner of Police(City), Joint Secretary if empanelled as such (R) Cabinet Secretariat(GOI)
Super Time Scale (DIG/Conservator Grade)(Pay-Band-4)
Additional Commissioner of Police
37,400-67,000 plus grade pay of 8900
Deputy Inspector General of Police,Commissioner of Police(City), Director (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI)
Selection Grade(Pay-Band-4)
Deputy Commissioner of Police if in the Selection Grade
37,400-INR67,000 plus grade Pay of 8700
Senior Superintendent of Police, Director (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI)
Junior Administrative Grade(Pay-Band-3)
Deputy Commissioner of Police, also designated as Senior Superintendent in certain States such as UP and Punjab
15,600-39,100 plus grade pay of 7600
Superintendent of Police,Deputy Secretary (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI)
Senior Time Scale (Pay-Band-3)
Deputy Commissioner of Police / Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police
15,600-39,100 plus grade pay of 6600
Additional Superintendent of Police - if placed as such
Junior Time Scale(Pay-Band-3)
Assistant Commissioner of Police
15,600-39,100 plus grade pay of 5400
Deputy Superintendent of Police,Circle Officer, Senior Field Officer (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI)

TO ADD FURTHER A DIG WAS ONE TIME JUNIOR TO Lt COL

Colonel has been equated with Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG). The rank of a DIG who was till date between a Lt Colonel and a Colonel is now officially equal to a Brigadier. Both are now on a Grade Pay of Rs 8900.

DIG HAS BEEN PUT AT PAR WITH BRIG

[IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT POLICE HAS GONE ONE RANK UP ALREADY DURING COAS MALHOTRA TIME. HE DID HIS BEST TO REVERSE POLICE ACTION, BUT COULD NOT DO SO & DID NOT UPGRADE RANK OF HIS FORCES.NOW FURTHER DEGRADATION & MOD/ARMY IS NOT REACTING
TO-DAY BRIG EQUAL IS TO ONLY DIG[ WHO IS JUNIOR TO COL] IN INTER-SE SENIORITY
SO COL HAS NOW BECOME JUNIOR TO DIG , COMMAND & CONTROL STRUCTURE WILL RUPTURE IN AID TO CIVIL POWER/RR/ BORDER ROADS EXTRA

DIFFERENCE OF PAY SCALE OF COL[S] VS LT COL [TS/S] WIIL BE COL LTS] =59400-58090=1310- INCOME TAX @20%+CESS 3%=RS .777/
AS THERE IS HARDLY ANY DIFFERENCE IN TAKE HOME PAY OF COL [TS] & COL [SELECTION]. SO WHY BOTHER ATTITUDE WILL PREVAIL.MOREOVER NO /ZERO DIFFERENCE IN PENSION THAN WHY SLOG & GET KILLED OR INJURED WHEN NO BENEFITS / REWARD FOR WORKING

12. COL [SELECTION GRADE] SHOULD BE ABOVE SUPER TIME SCALE,/IPS]
[THAT IS IN HAG SCALE AS APPLICABLE TO IAS /IPS & OTHERS,
Police Service officers Pay according to 6th PayCommission (Official Indian Govt. Page) |access date=2010-04-26}}
Grade
Position In The State Government(s)
Pay Band[clarification needed]
Equivalent Position or Designation In the State Government(s) or Government Of India (GOI)
Above Super Time Scale (Apex Scale)
Commissioner of Police (State)
80,000 (fixed) plus grade pay-Nil
Director General of Police - Only one cadre post, all other DGPs are in HAG + scale of Rs 75,500-80,000, Director (GOI),Director General (GOI),Secretary (R) Cabinet Secretariat (GOI)
Above Super Time Scale (HAG)(Pay-Band-4)
Special Commissioner of Police
67,000-79,000
Additional Director General of Police,Commissioner of Police (City), Special or Additional Director (GOI), Special or Additional Secretary (R) Cabinet Secretariat(GOI)

13. THERE ARE THREE HAG SCALE SO PLACE THREE CATEGORY OF SELECTION GRADE ACCORDINGLY COL[SELECTION]BRIG ,MAJ GEN & PLACE LT GEN IN HAG + SCALE AS DESIRED BY PM IN FORMATION OF COMMITTEE.
14. KINDLY ACT FAST BEFORE SC JUDGEMENT AS MENTIONED ABOVE.PLEASE NOTE IF YOUR GOVT/ CONGRESS MISSES THIS GOLDEN TIME,THEN BJP WILL EN CASH ALL YOUR HARD WORK .WE WILL STILL GET OUR DUES BY SC>BJP.
LET CONGRESS KA HATH BE ARMY KE SAATH,.KINDLY SHUN BABUS THEY ALL READY LANDED YOU IN SO MANY SCAMS ,THE RECENT ONE IN MAHARASTRA IS RS 72000 CRORE FOR BENEFIT OF FEW & RS 4000 CR FOR OROP IS PEA NUT
14. I understand Chankya said to his king" your kingdom is doomed if and when our soldier has to ask for his dues".
WITH WARM
REGARDS

pmosb@nic.in via vastu9.nic.in
12:22 PM (25 minutes ago)
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The Admiral has given a very

The Admiral has given a very true picture of the state of men and machine in our armed forces. i only hope that the government of the day will get a good sense of it and improve the things as proposed by the worthy admiral

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