I WONDER : 1992 BATCH ARMY = COLONEL ONLY
Lalit Das of 1992 batch is being promoted to the rank of IG in Orissa.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
UPA REPORT CARD : Welfare of ex-servicemen & serving defence service personnel
PIB
I WONDER :
1. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW PARA 42 AND 43 IS RELATED TO DEFENCE !!
2. PARA 37: RESETTLEMENT COURSES WERE ALWAYS THERE !!!!!
3. PARA 38: THERE IS MORE MONEY SANCTIONED PER INDIVIDUAL IN CGHS AS COMPARED TO ECHS. TEETHING ADM PROBLEMS ARE OVER AND ABOVE THIS FACT.
4. PARA 39: OROP IS STILL A DISTANT DREAM. COMMITTEE OF SECY THEN GOM THEN PM COULD ONLY PARTIALLY HELP THE SOLDIERS. HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE (HLC) NO WHERE IN SIGHT. AFTER LOOSING CASE ON RANK PAY IN SUPREME COURT GOVT APPEALS FOR RE-LOOK ON DECISION SIGHTING ADM/FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. EXTENDING BENEFITS OF RANK PAY CASE TO 6TH CPC APPEARS DIFFICULT. SETTING UP OF EX-SERVICEMAN COMMISSION IS OUT OF SIGHT. AFT IS A WELCOME STEP FOR SURE.
5. PARA 40: WAS THERE EARLIER TOO. INDIAN AIRLINE IS ONLY THERE TO FLY YOU ALONG WITH ALL THEIR DIFFICULTIES !!!!
6. PARA 41: WELCOME STEP THOUGH I DONT KNOW THE DETAILS.
7. PARA 42 & 43: TOO TECHNICAL FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND :)
37) It is a constant endeavour of the UPA government to provide suitable employment for ex-servicemen as also to impart necessary training to prepare them to take on new assignments/jobs. This has enabled more than 50000 ex-servicemen to obtain employment during 2009-10.
38) The health coverage for the ex-servicemen has been widened by empanelling more civil hospitals and diagnostic centers. Disabled ex-servicemen are now entitled to get prosthetic aid from an additional 149 Central Government Health Scheme empanelled centres apart from the Artificial Limb Centre, Pune. The membership of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) has crossed 30 lakhs.
39) A committee was set up to give specific recommendations for the welfare of defence service personnel and pensioners. The recommendations were accepted by the UPA government and this is likely to benefit about 12 lakh personnel. An Armed Forces Tribunal has been established to provide an appellate forum to the aggrieved personnel.
40) To boost the morale of troops, who are posted in far flung border areas and face difficult topographic and climatic conditions, chartering of civil flights has been sanctioned for their faster movement during leave.
41) Prime Minister's Scholarship Scheme was started under the aegis of the National Defence Fund. Under the scheme, scholarships are provided every year to wards of retired personnel and martyrs below officer rank of armed and para-military forces. In 2009-10, scholarships have been granted to 4525 students amounting to Rs.7.40 crore.
42) It has been decided to set up a National Social Security Fund for workers in the unorganized sector like weavers, toddy tappers, rickshaw pullers and bidi workers with an initial allocation of Rs. 1000 crore.
43) Government has also taken important steps for the benefit of workers in the organised sector. Workmen Compensation Act, 1923 has been amended to enhance the benefits to the workers. Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 has been amended to raise the limit of maximum gratuity payable from Rs.3.5 lakhs to Rs.10 lakhs. Comprehensive amendments have been made in the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948 to improve the quality of delivery of health care and other benefits being provided to the insured persons in the organized sector and also to enable ESI infrastructure to be used to provide health care to workers in the unorganised sector. Plantations Labour Act, 1951 has been amended for providing safety and occupational health care to plantations workers.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Army meet on Maoist fight
THE TELEGRAPH
New Delhi, June 4: Army sources today said some units in Jammu and Kashmir had been told to be “on standby” and be ready to leave for Maoist-hit central India at short notice if such an order came.
The sources, however, clarified that the Centre’s current policy of not deploying the army in the battle against the Maoists still stood, and that any new strategy had to be cleared by the cabinet committee on security.
“As of now there is no decision to deploy the army. Even the defence minister has said that unless the cabinet committee on security approves (such a move), nothing can be said,” an army source said.
A cabinet meeting, scheduled yesterday, was cancelled without any reason being cited. Nor was the cabinet committee on security meeting held.
Army sources said a series of meetings was held at the Eastern Command headquarters today to discuss the anti-Maoist strategy. Government sources added that a Rashtriya Rifles battalion could be the one to be moved from Jammu and Kashmir to central India.
It’s not clear what the army’s role will be if it is deployed in the Maoist zone.
The Centre’s strategy is to secure major routes in Chhattisgarh and, if the cabinet committee on security allows it, even the army’s special forces could be sent to de-mine and secure roads and vital infrastructure, the government sources said.
Any move to send the army after the Maoists will attract protests from civil society organisations and even from sections within the government. Even today, many MPs who called on Union home minister P. Chidambaram advised against army deployment against the rebels.
There are 48 CRPF battalions in nine Maoist-affected states, of which 14 are in Chhattisgarh alone. However, the recent setbacks suffered by the paramilitary forces have prompted the government to rethink its strategy.
Jharkhand is under President’s rule and, as its governor said on Thursday, the government has decided to continue with the anti-Maoist operations there.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
India's bureaucracy is 'the most stifling in the world'
BBC NEWS
The report ranks bureaucracies across Asia on a scale from one to 10, with 10 being the worst possible score. India scored 9.41.
Rest is Here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10227680.stm
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Govt looks at direct role for Army against Naxals
THE TIMES OF INDIA
I WONDER : GOVT IS ALREADY CREATING IGP(OPS) FOR CRPF. EARLIER THEY HAD OFFERED DIG POSTS TO BRIGs. NOW DIRECT ROLE FOR ARMY. BUT THE COMMAND AND CONTROL ROLE AND THE SENIORITY ISSUES CROPPED UP DUE TO 6TH CPC LIKE A COLONEL WILL HAVE PROBABLY MORE SERVICE THEN EVEN SOME OF THE IGs, SAME IS THE CASE FOR BRIGS, MAJ GEN ETC ALSO NEEDS TO BE SEEN........AS NO EXTRA VACANCY IS OFFERED TO ARMY AS YET...... BUT YES IF THE SITUATION DEMANDS ARMY SHOULD RISE TO THE OCCASION BUT WITHOUT COMPROMISING THESE ISSUES.....
NEW DELHI: The government is veering around to expanding the role of the armed forces in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations, with a hard look even being taken at whether they should be "directly deployed'' in the fight against the Maoists.
While an enhancement of their present surveillance, logistical and training mandate is a certainty, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting likely on Thursday will take the final call on whether to enlist the armed forces in a more direct combat role.
The decision will be influenced as much by political considerations as security imperatives. Yet, the possibility of armed forces being asked to take on the Left-wing extremists is no longer being summarily dismissed like before.
Defence minister A K Antony on Tuesday sounded out the three Service chiefs on the sensitive issue, with the 90-minute meeting with Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, Admiral Nirmal Verma and General V K Singh discussing "all dimensions'' of the security situation.
Independent of whether the government decides to push ahead with the idea, the very fact that direct engagement of armed forces is being looked as a serious option is significant.
It marks a critical shift on the part of the government, which had so far shied away from deploying soldiers in the Naxal battle. But a big cause for concern is the increasingly savage and audacious Maoist attacks, which have inflicted heavy casualties on paramilitary forces as well as non-combatants.
In May alone, as many as 172 civilians and 29 security personnel were killed by Naxals, if the derailing of the passenger train in West Midnapore on May 28 is also taken into account.
Though the meeting chaired by Antony examined the "pros and cons of different options'', it's for the CCS to decide on the exact mandate. "But one thing is certain even if the armed forces are deployed in a more direct role, it will be a limited mandate for a limited period,'' said a source.
One possible option could be to divert a few of the 63 battalions of Rashtriya Rifles, the Army's specialised counter-insurgency force operating in Jammu and Kashmir, "for selective missions'' in states worst-affected by Maoist depredations, said sources.
Successive governments have been averse to enlisting the Army in the fight because of the concern that it might lead to a perception about the Indian State not being in control of vast swathes in its own heartland.
There is also the issue of suitability of armed forces, which are trained to kill with heavy force, operating against an adversary who blends into the civilian population and is, in fact, adept at using them as shields.
The top military brass have their own reservations, extending from the lack of familiarity with the terrain and concrete ground-level intelligence to the armed forces being already overstretched in counter-insurgency in J&K and the North-East as well along the long unresolved borders with Pakistan and China.
But underlining the government's resolve to take the battle to Maoists, PM Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said, "In dealing with the challenge of Naxalism, we will pursue a policy that genuinely seeks to address developmental concerns at the grassroots, while firmly enforcing the writ of the state.''
But the dice could still fall either way in the CCS, with the home ministry keen to bolster the fight against the Maoists with "some more help'' from the armed forces but the defence establishment remaining largely reluctant about getting sucked into "yet another internal security duty''.
There has, however, been a significant shift in Antony's position in the last few days, from earlier being a strong opponent of deploying armed forces against Maoists in a direct role to now holding they will "accept'' the government's decision and "implement it with vigour and commitment''.
IAF, on its part, feels it can enhance its "air-support'' beyond the current four Mi-17 helicopters deployed in the region but continues to maintain the use of "offensive airpower'' is not a practical option since it can lead to collateral damage on the ground.
The armed forces, of course, are preparing for the worst-case scenario by finalising action plans to meet any contingency, as reported by TOI last week.
Having already trained around 47,000 paramilitary personnel since 2006 in its counter-insurgency and jungle warfare school in Vairengte and other institutions, the Army is also keen that a separate and dedicated counter-Naxalism training facility be established to train "homogeneous companies'' of police personnel.
While an enhancement of their present surveillance, logistical and training mandate is a certainty, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting likely on Thursday will take the final call on whether to enlist the armed forces in a more direct combat role.
The decision will be influenced as much by political considerations as security imperatives. Yet, the possibility of armed forces being asked to take on the Left-wing extremists is no longer being summarily dismissed like before.
Defence minister A K Antony on Tuesday sounded out the three Service chiefs on the sensitive issue, with the 90-minute meeting with Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, Admiral Nirmal Verma and General V K Singh discussing "all dimensions'' of the security situation.
Independent of whether the government decides to push ahead with the idea, the very fact that direct engagement of armed forces is being looked as a serious option is significant.
It marks a critical shift on the part of the government, which had so far shied away from deploying soldiers in the Naxal battle. But a big cause for concern is the increasingly savage and audacious Maoist attacks, which have inflicted heavy casualties on paramilitary forces as well as non-combatants.
In May alone, as many as 172 civilians and 29 security personnel were killed by Naxals, if the derailing of the passenger train in West Midnapore on May 28 is also taken into account.
Though the meeting chaired by Antony examined the "pros and cons of different options'', it's for the CCS to decide on the exact mandate. "But one thing is certain even if the armed forces are deployed in a more direct role, it will be a limited mandate for a limited period,'' said a source.
One possible option could be to divert a few of the 63 battalions of Rashtriya Rifles, the Army's specialised counter-insurgency force operating in Jammu and Kashmir, "for selective missions'' in states worst-affected by Maoist depredations, said sources.
Successive governments have been averse to enlisting the Army in the fight because of the concern that it might lead to a perception about the Indian State not being in control of vast swathes in its own heartland.
There is also the issue of suitability of armed forces, which are trained to kill with heavy force, operating against an adversary who blends into the civilian population and is, in fact, adept at using them as shields.
The top military brass have their own reservations, extending from the lack of familiarity with the terrain and concrete ground-level intelligence to the armed forces being already overstretched in counter-insurgency in J&K and the North-East as well along the long unresolved borders with Pakistan and China.
But underlining the government's resolve to take the battle to Maoists, PM Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said, "In dealing with the challenge of Naxalism, we will pursue a policy that genuinely seeks to address developmental concerns at the grassroots, while firmly enforcing the writ of the state.''
But the dice could still fall either way in the CCS, with the home ministry keen to bolster the fight against the Maoists with "some more help'' from the armed forces but the defence establishment remaining largely reluctant about getting sucked into "yet another internal security duty''.
There has, however, been a significant shift in Antony's position in the last few days, from earlier being a strong opponent of deploying armed forces against Maoists in a direct role to now holding they will "accept'' the government's decision and "implement it with vigour and commitment''.
IAF, on its part, feels it can enhance its "air-support'' beyond the current four Mi-17 helicopters deployed in the region but continues to maintain the use of "offensive airpower'' is not a practical option since it can lead to collateral damage on the ground.
The armed forces, of course, are preparing for the worst-case scenario by finalising action plans to meet any contingency, as reported by TOI last week.
Having already trained around 47,000 paramilitary personnel since 2006 in its counter-insurgency and jungle warfare school in Vairengte and other institutions, the Army is also keen that a separate and dedicated counter-Naxalism training facility be established to train "homogeneous companies'' of police personnel.
2 Army officers fight over top post
THE ASIAN AGE
The Army’s image is set to take a further beating with an ongoing tussle between two senior lieutenant generals of the Indian Army over appointment to the top post of the tri-services Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS). The tussle, between the Director General of Hospital Services Lt. Gen. Pradeep Bhargava and the Commandant of the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital Lt. Gen. Naresh Kumar is now likely to reach the courts. Lt. Gen. Bhargava is senior to Lt. Gen. Kumar in service. This will be the first controversy of its kind to hit new Army Chief Gen. V.K. Singh who took over earlier this year as chief and comes in the wake of incidents such as the Sukna land scam last year that had dented the Army’s image.
The current DGAFMS (Lt. Gen. N.K. Parmar) retires on June 30 this year and the matter has therefore acquired an urgency in government circles.
It all started when the Army and ministry of defence (MoD) actively began to consider expunging a numerical grading in a confidential report (CR) of 2005 that would have probably have resulted in Lt. Gen. Kumar becoming DGAFMS.
This was being considered on the grounds that one of the numerical gradings that year could be “technically invalid”.
Sources said Lt. Gen. Bhargava then complained to the government that such a move would not be in accordance with the “system of good governance that the armed forces represent”. Both the officers had been empanelled for promotion from major-general to lieutenant general in 2008.
If the government and Army approve expunging of a grading in one of Lt. Gen. Kumar’s CRs, he could be considered by a review board to have been empanelled in 2007 itself thus making him the front-runner for the post of DGAFMS. This would also mean that Lt. Gen. Bhargava would be superseded.
Lt. Gen. Bhargava retires on August 31 this year while Lt. Gen. Kumar retires next year.
But appointment to the post of DGAFMS will give them more tenure till they reach the age of 62.
But what has added to Lt. Gen. Bhargava’s fears is that the MoD and Army are likely to expunge the numerical grading, resulting in Lt. Gen. Kumar becoming the new DGAFMS.
Lt. Gen. Bhargava is now likely to petition the armed forces tribunal against any such move.
The current DGAFMS (Lt. Gen. N.K. Parmar) retires on June 30 this year and the matter has therefore acquired an urgency in government circles.
It all started when the Army and ministry of defence (MoD) actively began to consider expunging a numerical grading in a confidential report (CR) of 2005 that would have probably have resulted in Lt. Gen. Kumar becoming DGAFMS.
This was being considered on the grounds that one of the numerical gradings that year could be “technically invalid”.
Sources said Lt. Gen. Bhargava then complained to the government that such a move would not be in accordance with the “system of good governance that the armed forces represent”. Both the officers had been empanelled for promotion from major-general to lieutenant general in 2008.
If the government and Army approve expunging of a grading in one of Lt. Gen. Kumar’s CRs, he could be considered by a review board to have been empanelled in 2007 itself thus making him the front-runner for the post of DGAFMS. This would also mean that Lt. Gen. Bhargava would be superseded.
Lt. Gen. Bhargava retires on August 31 this year while Lt. Gen. Kumar retires next year.
But appointment to the post of DGAFMS will give them more tenure till they reach the age of 62.
But what has added to Lt. Gen. Bhargava’s fears is that the MoD and Army are likely to expunge the numerical grading, resulting in Lt. Gen. Kumar becoming the new DGAFMS.
Lt. Gen. Bhargava is now likely to petition the armed forces tribunal against any such move.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Defence Salary Account
KNOW MORE ABOUT DEFENCE SALARY ACCOUNT. ITS SAME FOR ARMY, AIRFORCE AND NAVY :
http://www.irfc-nausena.nic.in/irfc/dpa/mou_sbi.htm
http://www.irfc-nausena.nic.in/irfc/dpa/MoU_Defence_package.pdf
http://www.irfc-nausena.nic.in/irfc/dpa/mou_sbi.htm
http://www.irfc-nausena.nic.in/irfc/dpa/MoU_Defence_package.pdf
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Govt finds new ways to dodge RTI
HINDUSTAN TIMES
The government may have refrained from amending the Right to Information Act after Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s intervened, but it has found a subtler way to refuse information.
Public authorities can refuse information in a particular format on the ground that “it would disproportionately divert the resources of a public authority” or that it “can be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the records”.
The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the nodal office for RTI law, has said the section 7 (9) of the RTI law gives right to a public authority to deny information if it leads to diversion of resources disproportionately.
In a circular issued this week, the department also rules out the possibility of the public authority asking the RTI applicant to pay for diversion of public resources to get the information in the sought format.
Seeking a charge for diversion of resources was often used by Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) to deter RTI applicants. In one case, the Delhi Police had asked for Rs 20,000 for providing some information.
While that has been termed illegal, the DoPT has provided a more lethal tool to CPIOs —that is to deny information. The department said information sought in a particular format can be refused.
The circular was issued in response to transparency watchdog Central Information Commission asking the government to frame rules for charging fees for providing information that is priced and towards mailing charges.
“The government has not considered it desirable to charge fees towards expenditure involved in mailing information or overhead expenditure,” the circular said.
Rahul's healing touch for slain CRPF man's kin
TIMES OF INDIA
LUCKNOW: Shiv Narain Yadav may finally sleep through the night without getting up every half an hour. The octogenarian father of constable Vinod Kumar Yadav — one among the 76 CRPF men killed during the Maoist strike in Dantewada — admitted to having turned an insomniac since the news of Vinod's gruesome death reached the little uneventful hamlet, Pure Khushal, last month.
There has been a constant trickle of visitors ever since but none could bring the solace the family needed till Rahul Gandhi stepped in the modest little house at Pure Khushal in Sangrampur block of Amethi.
"Though his son would not come back, Rahul's visit," says the old man, "could save the family particularly his daughter-in-law Savitri and two grandchildren from ruination". Rahul dropped in unannounced at 9am on Wednesday and spent nearly half-an-hour with the grieving family members.
"He proved to be an extremely patient listener... senior Yadav was hardly coherent... women were wailing and would not calm down and there was quite a din..." says Brijesh Kumar Singh, block pramukh of Sangrampur, who accompanied the MP.
IAF helicopters engaged in relief, rescue operations
PTI
Shillong, May 28 (PTI) Indian Air Force today engaged four helicopters for relief and rescue operations in the derailment of the Mumbai-bound Gyaneshwari Express in West Midnapore district in West Bengal in which over 71 people have been killed and hundreds injured.
Two MI-17 helicopters, one Advanced Light Helicopter and one Cheetah helicopter have been pressed into service, defence spokesman Wing Commander Ranjeev Sahoo said here.
The helicopters are operating from the Air Force Station, at Kalaikunda in West Midnapore district, he said adding an AN-32 aircraft had carried a surgical team from Jorhat in Assam to the Air Force Base in Kalaikunda.
He said a medical team from the Air Force base in Kalaikunda consisting of three doctors and seven paramedics were also despatched along with ambulances and coaches.
Two Indian Air Force engineers caught taking bribe
PTI & HINDUSTAN TIMES
I WONDER : ITS MES NOT IAF !!!!! WE MUST ISSUE CLARIFICATIONS ON SUCH PRESS RELEASES AS THEY FURTHER TARNISH THE FORCES IMAGE......
Two engineers attached to Military Engineer Services and posted at the Indian Air Force base at Nashik, were arrested for accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a contractor.
The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Rajendra Kukkar, assistant garrison engineer (contracts) and Shashikant Patil, junior engineer attached to the office of garrison engineer (Indepe-ndent) in Nashik from Hotel Sai Palace, where Kukkar had thrown a birthday party.
Deputy Inspector General of Police, CBI ACB, Praveen Salunke said the contractor had done road construction work at the air force base, for which he was yet to be paid.
The engineers promised him money only if he paid the bribe. Initially, the engineers demanded a bribe of Rs 70,000, but the contractor negotiated and brought the amount down to Rs 50,000, the CBI said.
Last Friday, the contractor approached the Mumbai office of the CBI and lodged a complaint.
The CBI recorded telephone conversations between the engineers and the contractor to gather evidence. The engineers asked the contractor to deliver the amount on Monday but at the last moment postponed it to Tuesday.
The CBI found that the engineers had on earlier occasions taken a two to three per cent commission to clear bills of various other contractors.
ECHS EXPANSION
Government Approves Massive Expansion of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme
To provide equitable treatment to all eligible Ex-Servicemen and their dependents under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) and to enhance the scheme’s coverage, the Union Cabinet today approved Establishment of 199 new polyclinics including 17 mobile medical facilities and 15 new regional centres at a cost of Rs. 141 crores. With this, the ECHS facility will now be extended to those areas, where Ex-Servicemen population is below 2,500 by setting up polyclinics which are within reasonable distance from Ex-Servicemen concentrations.
The Cabinet also approved reorganization and strengthening the Central Organisation ECHS by suitably increasing the manpower. It has authorized additional manpower – 2263 in number on contractual basis, to man the additional 199 polyclinics. It has also authorized 315 serving personnel – 60 officers and 255 PBORs, for proposed regional centres and seven officers and 15 PBORs for Central Organisation ECHS.
Financial implications towards creation of infrastructure will be about Rs.141 crore. This will entail a capital expenditure of Rs. 118.52 crore towards cost of land, construction and medical equipment. An amount of Rs. 22.25 crore of expenditure will cover purchase of furniture etc, and IT hardware. On the recurring side, an expenditure of Rs.43 crore per annum is envisaged.
It may be recalled that the ECHS was introduced on April 01, 2003 to provide comprehensive medical coverage to Ex-Servicemen pensioners, war widows and dependents by establishing 227 polyclinics at stations with Ex-Servicemen population above 2500 throughout the country. 106 polyclinics are at military stations and 121 polyclinics are at non-military stations. Where the Ex-Servicemen population is less than 2,500, the Ex-Servicemen face hardships in reaching polyclinics because of the distance. There are over 30 lakh ECHS beneficiaries now. On an average 60,000 Servicemen retire every year and this results in a further addition of 60,000 Ex-Servicemen and 1,44,000 dependents to the list of beneficiaries each year. Over 7 lakh Ex-Servicemen, who retired prior to April 01, 2003 have not opted for the scheme primarily due to non-availability of polyclinics near their places of residence. There are also insufficient number of regional centres to monitor the polyclinics.
Following is the list of additional polyclinics planned to be established:-
Jammu & Kashmir
Baramulla, Doda, Poonch, Baribrahmna (Jammu), Kargil, Nagrota (Kathua)
Himachal Pradesh
Rampur (Shimla), Nahan (Sirmaur), Shahpur (Kangra), Palampur (Kangra), Kullu, Dera Goppipur (Kangra), Jogindernagar (Mandi), Chamba, Ghumarwin (Bilaspur), Sarakaghat (Mandi), Barsar (Hamirpur),
Punjab
Mohali, Ajnala (Amritsar), Tarantaran (Amritsar), Beas (Amritsar), Nawansahar, Suranassi (Jalandhar), Uchi Bassi (Hoshiarpur), Abohar (Ferozpur), Jagraon (Ludhiana), Batala (Gurdaspur), Srigovindpur (Gurdaspur), Sultanpur Lodhi (Kapurthala), Phagwara (Kapurthala), Samana (Patiala), Barnala (Sangrur), Nabha (Patiala), Doraha (Ludhiana), Samarala (Ludhiana), Mahalpur (Hoshiarpur), Talwara (Hoshiarpur)
Haryana
Gohana (Sonepat), Mehan (Rohtak), Sampla (Rohtak), Loharu (Bhiwani), Kosli (Jhajjar), Bahadurgarh (Jhajjar), Gurgaon, Nuh (Gurgaon), Charki Dadri (Bhiwani), Mahendragarh, Narwana (Jind), Palwal (Faridabad), Hansi (Hissar), Dharuhera (Rewari), Narayangarh (Ambala), Kharkhauda (Sonepat)
National Capital Territory of Delhi
Shakurbasti, Timarpur, Khanpur, Preetvihar
Rajasthan
Neem Ka Thana (Sikar), Shergarh (Jodhpur), Dausa, Sanganer (Jaipur), Bhuwana (Jhunjhunu), Bhilwara, Suratgarh (Hanumangarh), Dungarpur, Rajsamand, Rajgarh (Churu), Chirawa (Jhunjhunu), Behror (Alwar)
Uttar Pradesh
Bagpat, Gonda, Basti, Jaunpur, Greater Noida (GB Nagar), Lakhimpur, Moradabad, Bijnaur, Rampur, Hardoi, Banda, Roberts Ganj (Mirzapur), Barabanki, Unnao, Hathras
Uttarakhand
Joshimath (Chamoli), Dehradun, Vikas Nagar (Dehradun), Tehri, Rudraprayag, Ranikhet, Almora, Bageshwar, Banbasa (Champavat), Rudrapur (Udham Singh nagar), Dharchula (Pithoragarh), Lansdowne (Paurigarhwal), Uttarkashi, Ramnagar (Nainital)
Bihar
Bhagalpur, Kathiar, Motihari, Siwan, Samastipur, Madhubani, Buxar, Vaishali, Sasaram (Rohtas) Khagaria, Munger, Sitamarhi
Jharkhand
Deoghar, Gumla, Chaibasa (West Singhbhoom), Daltonganj (Palamu), Dhanbad
Madhya Pradesh
Satna, Ujjain, Amla (East Nimar), Pachmarhi (Hoshangabad)
Chhattisgarh
Jagdalpur (Bastar), Bilaspur, Raigarh
West Bengal
Berhampore (Murshidabad), Baruipur (South 24 Pargana), Bankura, Howrah, Raiganj (North Dinajpur), Cooch Behar, Kalimpong (Darjeeling), Binaguri (Jalpaiguri)
Assam
Lanka (Naugaon), Bongaigaon, Tinsukia, Tezpur (Sonitpur), Misamari (Darrang), Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Dhubri, Lakhimpur
Manipur
Chura Chandpur
Nagaland
Mokokchung
Mizoram
Lunglei
Arunachal Pradesh
Tezu (Lohit), Along (West Siang)
Orissa
Puri, Sambalpur, Koraput, Angul, Bhawanipatna (Kalahandi), Dhenkanal
Andhra Pradesh
Srikakulam, Anantapur, Karnool, Cuddapah, Nellore, Karimnagar, Eluru (West Godavari), Secunderabad (Rangareddy), Khammam, Mehbubnagar
Tamil Nadu
Erode, Sivagangai (Sivaganga), Kumbhkonum (Tiruvallur), Chennai, Ramanathapuram, Tambram (Kanchipuram)
Kerala
Mavelikara (Alleppey), Kanhangad (Kasargode), Kalpetta (Wayanad), Thodupuzha (Idukki), Thiruvananthapuram, Changanacherry (Kottayam), Moovattupuzha (Ernakulum), Iritti (Kannur), Kunnamkulum (Trichur), Kottarakara (Kollam), Ranni (Pathanamthitta), Killimanur (Thiruvananthapuram)
Karnataka
Kolar, Tumkur, Hassan, Shimoga, Bangalore, Gulbarga, Bidar, Virarajendrapet (Kodagu)
Maharastra
Beed, Nanded, Karad (Satara), Wardha, Navi Mumbai (Mumbai), Pune, Khadki (Pune), Yavatmal, Dhule.
Goa
Vasco – Da – Gama
Gujarat
Gandhidham, Surat, Rajkot
Pudduchery
Pudduchery
In addition to these polyclinics 15 regional centres will also be set up at Shimla, Jalandhar, Dehradun, Ambala, Hissar, Meerut, Allahabad, Ranchi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Nagpur, Vizag, Bangalore, Coimbatore & Trivandrum.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
COAS TO REVIEW CURRENT PROMOTION POLICY
TIMES OF INDIA
NEW DELHI: When he took over as Army chief last month, General V K Singh promised to improve the "internal health'' of his 1.13-million force. He has set the ball rolling now.
Gen Singh is putting his weight behind a comprehensive review of the "quantification-based'' promotion policy for officers, which was ushered in by his predecessor Gen Deepak Kapoor and the now-retired military secretary (MS) Lt-Gen Avadhesh Prakash in January 2009, say sources.
The steeply-hierarchical armed forces certainly need a "healthy'' promotion policy to ensure that officers with "robust moral fibre'' reach the upper echelons.
This has become crucial after a flurry of liquor, ration, fuel and meat scandals, with several senior officers in the dock, has rocked the traditional high standards of probity and discipline in armed forces like never before.
Incidentally, Prakash, who as MS was in charge of all promotions and postings in Army, is himself embroiled in the alleged Sukna land scam case with three other generals.
Sources say Gen Singh has tasked a committee led by director-general of artillery Lt-Gen K R Rao to suggest changes in the January 2009 promotion policy, which are likely to be discussed in the Army commanders' conference next week.
This comes in the backdrop of "negative feedback'' from the "environment'' (Army parlance for its formations spread across the country) about the policy.
Under it, 95% marks are given for "quantified parameters'' like ACRs (annual confidential reports), courses, honours and awards. Only 5% is kept for "value judgement'' by selection board members on criteria like performance, recommendations, potential for employability in higher ranks and, importantly, "degree of difficulty'' in tenures.
"This policy ignores environmental reality by relying too much on quantification. It virtually eliminates the human angle,'' said a senior officer.
Added another, "It gives little credit to officers for serving in tough field postings like high-altitude areas or counter-insurgency operations. Earlier, gallantry awards and field service had much more weightage.''
The bifurcation of major-generals and lieutenant-generals into "command'' and "staff'' streams, with the former heading operational formations and the latter administrative duties, has also not gone down well in several quarters.
The counter-view is the policy quantifies as many selection criteria as is feasible for "greater objectivity'' and enables the "most deserving'' officers from a batch are picked for higher ranks. "It keeps human subjectivity down to a minimum,'' said an officer.
READERS MAY LIKE TO READ THIS TOO :
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Resentment+in+Army+over+promotion+policy-a0206370340
READERS MAY LIKE TO READ THIS TOO :
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Resentment+in+Army+over+promotion+policy-a0206370340
PROMOTION GUIDELINES IAS & IPS
IPS PROMOTION GUIDELINES:
http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/ProGuidPAR160410.pdf
IAS PROMOTION GUIDELINES :
http://persmin.nic.in/EmployeesCorner/Acts_Rules/IASPromotionGuideLines.pdf
http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/ProGuidPAR160410.pdf
IAS PROMOTION GUIDELINES :
http://persmin.nic.in/EmployeesCorner/Acts_Rules/IASPromotionGuideLines.pdf
Sunday, May 23, 2010
PC reviews deployment, operational strategy of CRPF
THE TIMES OF INDIA
NEW DELHI: Home minister P Chidambaram on Saturday took stock of the deployment of CRPF personnel across the country, especially in the Naxal-affected states, and reviewed the force's operational strategy.
The meeting came a day after the CRPF transferred three of its officers posted in Chhattisgarh and set up a court of inquiry as a follow-up action on the Rammohan Committee report.
During the over two-hour meeting at the CRPF headquarters here with the force, Chidambaram also had a detailed discussions on the report of the Rammohan Committee which had inquired into the April 6 incident in which 76 CRPF personnel were killed by Naxals in Chhattisgarh. The minister is also understood to have sought information related to latest pattern of Naxal violence and what steps could be taken to deal with the situation, sources said.
On Friday, the home ministry had shunted out its deputy inspector general Nalin Prabhat and two other officers for their alleged lapses in the Dantewada tragedy after considering the report.
Besides Prabhat, a 1993 batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, the other two officials who have
been sent out are Commandant A K Bisht and inspector Sanjeev Bangre. While Prabhat will be joining in Chandigarh, a charge he was already holding, Bisht has been moved to a training centre Aradi in Orissa. Bangre has been shifted to Anantnag in Kashmir. A separate court of inquiry to be headed by an officer of the rank of inspector general has been instituted against these officers. R S Sahota will replace Prabhat while Ashok Swami will move in as Commandant of 62 Battalion.
The meeting came a day after the CRPF transferred three of its officers posted in Chhattisgarh and set up a court of inquiry as a follow-up action on the Rammohan Committee report.
During the over two-hour meeting at the CRPF headquarters here with the force, Chidambaram also had a detailed discussions on the report of the Rammohan Committee which had inquired into the April 6 incident in which 76 CRPF personnel were killed by Naxals in Chhattisgarh. The minister is also understood to have sought information related to latest pattern of Naxal violence and what steps could be taken to deal with the situation, sources said.
On Friday, the home ministry had shunted out its deputy inspector general Nalin Prabhat and two other officers for their alleged lapses in the Dantewada tragedy after considering the report.
Besides Prabhat, a 1993 batch IPS officer of the Andhra Pradesh cadre, the other two officials who have
been sent out are Commandant A K Bisht and inspector Sanjeev Bangre. While Prabhat will be joining in Chandigarh, a charge he was already holding, Bisht has been moved to a training centre Aradi in Orissa. Bangre has been shifted to Anantnag in Kashmir. A separate court of inquiry to be headed by an officer of the rank of inspector general has been instituted against these officers. R S Sahota will replace Prabhat while Ashok Swami will move in as Commandant of 62 Battalion.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Indian Army Military Police help line launched
ONE INDIA
http://news.oneindia.in/2010/05/20/indianarmy-military-police-help-linelaunched.html
New Delhi, May 20 (ANI): The Indian Army has launched the Military Police help line here.COAS inaugurated the facility on Wednesday during the biannual Army Commanders Conference.
New Delhi, May 20 (ANI): The Indian Army has launched the Military Police help line here.COAS inaugurated the facility on Wednesday during the biannual Army Commanders Conference.
Common Military help line telephone number 155200 can now be accessed across the nation to provide assistance to military personnel.
The number that is available at Military Police Control Rooms has been instituted to provide immediate assistance and be instrumental in solving and mitigating crisis being faced by military personnel.
In addition, it will provide an excellent facility for the civil police and the public to contact the Army Military Police to provide first hand information of any situation where military persons are involved or has potential to affect the military persons.
The telephone number has been allotted in coordination with department of telecommunication and can be accessed locally and from outside the locality by prefixing the STD code of that station.
The facility has been activated presently at some of the metro cities and state capitals, and is likely to be extended across the nation soon. (ANI)
The number that is available at Military Police Control Rooms has been instituted to provide immediate assistance and be instrumental in solving and mitigating crisis being faced by military personnel.
In addition, it will provide an excellent facility for the civil police and the public to contact the Army Military Police to provide first hand information of any situation where military persons are involved or has potential to affect the military persons.
The telephone number has been allotted in coordination with department of telecommunication and can be accessed locally and from outside the locality by prefixing the STD code of that station.
The facility has been activated presently at some of the metro cities and state capitals, and is likely to be extended across the nation soon. (ANI)
Army man, uncle held for spying by ATS in Gujarat
PTI
I WONDER : ITS MES MAN NOT ARMY MAN !!!!
Ahmedabad, May 20 (PTI) An army man and his relative have been arrested in Kutch district by the Gujarat anti terrorist squad (ATS) on charges of spying and passing on Indian Army's confidential documents to Pakistan-based intelligence agencies, ATS officials said today.
Ibrahim Sama, recruited through the Military Engineering Service (MES), and his maternal uncle Osmaan Sama were arrested yesterday from Bhuj in Kutch, which has borders with Pakistan, on charges of spying and criminal conspiracy to disturb internal security, they said.
Confidential and sensitive documents of the Indian Army and some phone numbers of their Pakistani contacts, were recovered during searches conducted in the duo's houses, the officials said.
Both were produced before a local court in Bhuj, which sent them to nine-day police custody for further interrogation, they added.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Chinese firms in India say situation is not 'too bad'
INDIA TODAY
Environment minister Jairam Ramesh's outburst in Beijing notwithstanding, many Chinese companies operating in India do not feel the situation is too bad.
With the exception of telecom equipment manufacturers such as Huawei, the ministry of home affairs has still not granted a hearing to the Chinese telecom equipment manufacturing companies waiting to clarify their stand. The Chinese ambassador is expected to meet the home secretary to seek a level playing field for these companies.
A Huawei official said the company had approached the ministry last week to seek an appointment but is still awaiting a response.
He said Chinese companies such as Huawei and ZTE have now gained a 15 per cent share in the Indian telecom market as their equipment is priced 30 to 40 per cent cheaper than their Western rivals Ericsson, Alcatel- Lucent and Nokia Siemens Networks.
Huawei sales have been growing rapidly in India and touched $ 1 billion in the last fiscal which is a 35 per cent jump over the 2008- 09, he added.
However, with the home ministry turning cautious due to security considerations, the Chinese companies are worried about losing their foothold in India.
The scare created by Chinese hackers targeting computer systems in India's security establishments has only added to the security concerns.
According to senior government officials, while Chinese companies are welcome to participate in Indian infrastructure projects, security issues in select areas cannot be ignored.
Chinese companies have a major presence in power, with Chinese firms bagging orders for setting up a third of the 60,000 MW of power capacity to be added in the 11th Five- Year Plan ( 2007- 12).
Leading Chinese companies such as Dongfang Electric and Shanghai Electric have been the major beneficiaries and have been allowed to compete openly with India's BHEL. The oil exploration and production sector is another field in which Chinese companies have been allowed to take up contracts.
But some restrictions have been placed in the eastern offshore region as the Indian Navy feels vital data pertaining to the sea could be misused by hostile submarines to creep into Indian waters. The Navy has a point as the Chinese have developed a strong military presence in Myanmar and this cannot be overlooked from the geo- political standpoint.
Restrictions have also been placed on Chinese companies operating in areas such as the North- East as Beijing claims these to be disputed areas. Officials claimed that there is no blanket ban.
According to Ravi Perti, GM marketing and communication, mobile division, Haier: "Generally, the Indian market is suspicious of Chinese products as they are considered of poor quality. And it is true to some extent. However as our quality is good, there is no issue. So far, we have established ourselves well and not faced any specific problem." However, Irfan Alam, council member, India China Economic and Cultural Council, feels Chinese companies do face some problems. " One of the biggest problems is visa. The visa process is not smooth for the Chinese companies". "On the policy level things should be smoother. People do not know when some Chinese product will be banned, so there is always an air of uncertainty about doing business," Alam said.
The same problem is faced by the Indian companies in China. So both governments should ease their policies if they want healthy economic ties, he said.
"Chinese companies certainly feel some bias. How can we be a threat to India as 80 percent of our workforce is Indian. This is like singling out Chinese company. If they are so particular about security why single out China?," a ZTE official said.
IAF rejects RTI application on questionable grounds
THE HINDU
Four years after the Right to Information (RTI) Act was enacted to ensure easy access to information for citizens, officials are still rejecting applications on questionable grounds, which may make them liable for punishment.
The Indian Air Force headquarters rejected an RTI application saying that fee attached in the form of Indian postal order was drawn in favour of “Accounts Officer, Indian Air Force” and not “Air Force Public Fund Account, Air Headquarter, New Delhi” as per their internal rules.
The sub-section “RTI-regulation of Fee and Cost Rules, 2005” under the RTI Act section of Indian Air Force’s official web site clearly states that fee can be drawn in favour of Accounts Officer of the Public Authority, which in this case was the IAF.
When the concerned Central Public Information Officer, Wing Commander T. Sajan, was contacted, he said, “The information on the web site may be wrong. We don’t have any such head to accept the fee.”
The Department of Personnel and Training, nodal agency for the implementation of the Act, had in a circular dated December 5, 2008 to all ministries and departments of Government of India made it clear that RTI applications with fee drawn in favour of “Accounts Officer” should not be rejected.
“Refusal to accept an application on the ground that the demand draft/banker’s cheque/IPO submitted by the applicant has been drawn in the name of the Accounts Officer may amount to refusal to accept the application. It may result into imposition of penalty by the Central Information Commission on the concerned CPIO under section 20 of the Act,” it read.
When contacted, Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said this was a clear case of violation of RTI Act and an immediate complaint should be filed with the CIC.
The Sports Ministry had last year rejected two applications seeking details of expenditure incurred on the preparation of Commonwealth Games.
“Your both applications along with postal orders are returned herewith as the information asked for is not readily existing and is not held by the public authority (Sports Ministry),” Pramod Agrawal, Director, International Sports Department of the Ministry, had said in his reply.
The cases are also seen by experts as an indication of poor training given to officials handling RTI requests.
Frequent change of postings too make it difficult to keep a tab on the regular updates which keep coming from Information Commissions and Department of Personnel and Training.
“Most of the officials have been trained but it is a difficult task. Frequent transfers also add to problem,” Mr. Habibullah said.
Globemaster will be flown to India for trials in June
THE HINDU
The Indian Air Force's quest to acquire a tactical heavy lift transport aircraft from the United States will get under way with user trials scheduled for next month in India.
In the last week of April, the U.S. Department of Defense notified Congress of a letter of request from the Indian government for acquiring 10 of Boeing Globemaster III.
Briefing a group of correspondents at its facility here, company representatives said the aircraft, to be taken on lease from the U.S. Air Force, would be flown to India by June 21.
“Unlike many other countries that have brought these aircraft, the Government of India insists on trials, and we will be there in June,” Tommy Dunehew, vice-president, Business Development, Boeing, told The Hindu.
The trials would be one part of a possible $5.8-billion deal, negotiations for which will begin only after Congress approves the sale. The product Boeing offers is the latest Block 18 aircraft, and much will depend on the configuration the IAF will want.
It is for India to decide whether it wants to join the worldwide virtual fleet Boeing has set up with other countries — Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, the UAE and the European Union consortium of 12 nations — that have bought these planes.
The IAF plans to base these tactical aircraft at Agra. They can carry 73,616 kg of payload and can be operated by a crew of just three (two in the cockpit and one loadmaster).
Delivery will begin 24 months after the contract is signed. At present, Boeing is producing one plane every three-and-a-half weeks, or up to 15 a year. Its current order book, including some 30-odd pieces for the U.S. Air Force, will run on till 2011. However, should India order these planes, the schedules will be negotiated, Mr. Dunehew said.
It is being deployed for disaster relief operations in various parts of the world. The U.S. Air Force has transported a brigade of men, tonnes of equipment and 400 vehicles over five nights, flying 17 shifts, he said, explaining the ability of the workhorse.
The plane can carry 188 passengers, has reverse thrust engines for short turnaround and equipped with missile warning system with flares to disengage the incoming missiles.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
army cdrs conf
PIB
The Army Commanders’ Conference commenced at Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defence (Army) on 17 May 10. The five days conference, scheduled from 17 May 10 to 21 May 10 is being chaired by Army Chief General VK Singh.
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in his inaugural address emphasised on the necessity for force modernisation to meet emerging threats. He stressed on the requirement of Tri-Services synergy across the spectrum of conflict to meet our National Security needs. The Defence Minister brought out that Cyber Security is the next generation of threat. He stressed the need to make our cyber space fully secure. He said that the Govt was taking all necessary steps to ensure that the Indian Army is kept in a high state of operational preparedness as also ensuring high morale of troops through training and welfare measures.
The Army Chief General VK Singh during his address reviewed the Regional security situation, in which he spoke of the Asymmetric means adopted by non state actors and terrorists to achieve their objectives. He also mentioned the multi spectral threats, which directly affect military doctrines and restructuring.
General Singh stressed on the need to transform the Indian Army so as to customise its operational effectiveness. Talking about training, the Army Chief emphasised on realistic, imaginative and practical training. Referring to Low Intensity Conflict he stressed on “zero tolerance” to Human Rights violations.
Army Chief also emphasised on morals, ethics and value systems in the Army. He brought out that professional commitment, loyalty, sacrifice and integrity were the need of the hour and that there would be no compromise with respect to the image of the Army.
The Deputy Chief of Army Staff and Adjutant General also presented updates in the afternoon session. Discussion on Raising of Arunachal and Sikkim CPO have been trained so far.
The Adjutant General brought out that in future a personality development programmewill be included in the Training curriculum of recruit. It was recommended to be on a trial basis for a period of 2 years. With respect to empowerment of PBOR the followingprogrammes have been given impetus:-
(a) Gyan Deep - Providing Educational Certification to PBOR through IGNOU.
(b) Kshamta - Developing of IT and English speaking skill in PBOR.
(c) VTC - Vocational Trg in last year of service through Centres of excellence which will be established at selected location.
The five days conference will also focus on macro level issues pertaining to prevailing security challengers prevalent in the country and the neighbourhood, military strategy, operational logistics and matters impacting the welfare and enhancement of satisfaction levels amongst all ranks of the Indian Army. The operational preparedness of the Army will be reviewed by senior commanders to include operational plans and the on going modernisationprocess.
Monday, May 17, 2010
KVs restore old quota policy for admission
I WONDER : FAUJIS WERE THE WORST HIT
KVs restore old quota policy for admission
To ensure smooth admission for children of Central government employees, the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangthan has restored its earlier quota policy under which the class strength would not be affected while accommodating students in reserved category.
As per the restored system, reservation will be given to students over and above the existing strength of a class in a central school.
According to this system, each class will have 40 seats. But another five students can be given admission under reserved category.
The students given admission under reserved category will be above the normal strength, the Board of Governors of KVS has decided.
"The reserved students will not eat away the seats for general category students. The reservation will be above the existing class strength," a ministry official said.
The KVS was following this quota system previously. But it was amended few months back bringing the quota seats within the class strength.
However, it created problems for the kids of Central government employees who very often are transferred and have to look for fresh admission for their kids in new schools.
The KVS has also put in place a new transfer policy under which those teachers will be given most priority to get transfer if their spouses are working in the school of their choice.
The KVS has also decided to set up one disabled friendly school in each of its 18 regions.
These schools will have all facilities to help physically challenged students get education.
Besides, teachers of Sanskrit can now switch over to Hindi by appearing certain examination. This will open up their promotional avenues, the official said.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Fed up of being terrorist, man crosses LoC with wife
HINDUSTAN TIMES
A Kashmiri militant crossed over from the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district with his Pakistani bride because he was "fed up" of living the life of a terrorist, police said on Tuesday.
Mohammad Ashraf, who went from Badagaon village in Poonch to Pakistan administered Kashmir for arms training and joined the Lashkar-e-Taiba there, returned on Monday evening with his wife Asma to this side of the LoC, which divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, a police officer said.
He said Ashraf had left in 1999 along with many others for arms training "but gradually got fed up with his life as a militant".
He got married this March and decided to come back home. Indian Army soldiers allowed him to cross over from Poonch sector, about 240 km from Jammu, when they saw him with a woman. After hearing their tale, the army handed the couple over to the local police.
"Further questioning is going on. They would have to be produced in court," the officer said.
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