6th CPC : IIT & IIMs whats the matter..

I WONDER :

1. CAN ALL ORGANISATION GO ON STRIKE LIKE THESE "DIGNIFIED " ( REMEMBER THIS WAS TERM USED BY MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE WHEN ONLY EX SERVICEMEN HAD PROTESTED ) PROFESSORS.

2. ANOTHER POINT TO NOTE IS THAT IT IS THESE IIT AND IIM PROFESSORS WHO WERE CONSULTED BY 6TH CPC FOR FORMULATING THE PAY PACKAGE FOR GOVT EMPLOYEES INCLUDING ARMED FORCES.

3. AND WHEN ARMED FORCES OBJECTED TO IT THEY DID CRITISIZE THEM.

NOW WHAT HAPPENED...... KHUD PAR PADI TO STRIKE KAR DI....

New Delhi, Aug. 18: The Centre has snipped the annual increments recommended for teachers at the IITs and IIMs under a new pay regime, shuffling existing hierarchies in a move that could trigger a protracted protest from faculty members.

The revised annual increments approved by the cabinet on August 7 for faculty at India’s apex technical education institutions are lower than those proposed by a central review panel, The Telegraph has learnt.

The new salaries proposed by the central review team headed by former Indian Institute of Science director Goverdhan Mehta were already lower than what the institutes had demanded to tackle a crippling faculty shortage.

But the pay regime approved by the cabinet — based on finetuning of the Goverdhan Mehta report by an inter-ministerial committee — further reduced the financial benefits proposed for teachers.

In absolute terms, the new pay regime hikes starting salaries at each teaching post for the IITs and IIMs by around 150 per cent. But the salaries were last set in 1999 and teachers are unlikely to accept the new hierarchies the new regime creates.

As a sense of the new pay regime started drifting in on IIT and IIM campuses today, faculty associations met to prepare strategies to protest what they argue is “disrespect” to their service.

Senior faculty members told this newspaper that they may try to meet HRD minister Kapil Sibal in a bid to convince him to take a fresh look at the pay structure before it is notified. The ministry is likely to issue the notification of the new pay regime around August 20.

“If this is what the cabinet has approved, the government is effectively saying that they do not care about retaining the best faculty at the IITs and IIMs,” the head of the faculty association of one of the IITs said.

The new regime hits the National Institutes of Technology, the Indian Institutes of Information Technology and the Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad ever harder.

The NITs had demanded pay parity with the IITs, IIITs and ISM — where salaries are already higher than those of university teachers because of the greater market demand for teachers of technical courses. Instead, the NITs will receive the pay prescribed by the University Grants Commission for varsity teachers.

Existing faculty at IIITs and the ISM Dhanbad will continue to receive salaries on a par with the IITs and IIMs under the new regime. New teachers at these institutions will, however, receive salaries similar to UGC scales.

The Telegraph had reported on August 8 that the IIITs and ISM Dhanbad were to lose their current pay parity with the IITs and IIMs under the new regime.

But the new regime also alters existing pay hierarchies within the IITs and IIMs. At present, assistant professors receive salaries on a par with deputy registrars at these institutes while associate professors receive salaries on a par with registrars.

But under the new regime, assistant professors will receive lower pay than deputy registrars and associate professors less than registrars in a shuffle that one IIM professor described as “outrageously unfair”.

“Assistant professors and associate professors need to hold PhDs with first class scores in their research evaluation, apart from teaching experience. These are significantly higher qualifications than those required for administrative jobs,” the professor complained.

The IIMs had demanded that their directors receive a fixed salary of Rs 90,000 a month. The new regime doles out Rs 80,000 a month for directors at the IITs, IIMs, the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, IISc in Bangalore and the National Institute of Industrial Engineering.

Directors at the NITs, IIITs and ISM Dhanbad will receive Rs 75,000 a month, along with a special allowance of Rs 5,000 -- a salary on a par with university vice-chancellors. The special allowance is not considered while calculating benefits like the dearness allowance.

Source : Telegraph

Rafael agrees huge deal with Indian Army

The Indian press reports that Rafael Armament Development Authority has agreed a huge deal with the Indian Army to supply advanced anti-aircraft systems with a range of up to 45 kilometers. The deal, worth $1 billion, was reportedly approved by the Indian cabinet yesterday.

Rafael will supply the Indian army with its Spyder low-level quick-reaction surface-to-air missile system capable of engaging aircraft, helicopters, unmanned air vehicles, drones and precision-guided munitions.

The Indian Army acquired Spyder systems worth $270 million a year ago. The system incorporates a pilot's helmet (display head-up HVD) manufactured by Elbit Systems Ltd. (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE:ESLT), which automatically locks onto targets.

In the latest deal, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) (TASE: ARSP.B1) will serve as a sub-contractor of Rafael. In another recent contract with the Indian army for the supply of Barak ship defense missiles, Rafael is acting as a subcontractor for IAI.

Israel's defense exports to India have now reached $3 billion, making it the largest arms supplier to India, even surpassing Russia.

Army gears up for new terror threats

Increasing incidents of militants taking civilians as hostage or using them as human shields has led the Indian Army in Jammu Kashmir to provide specialised training to troops to avoid collateral damage before carrying out seek and destroy operation.

TIMES NOW Times correspondent Pradeep Dutta brings you a report from Corps Battle School in Rajouri, where the TV crew witnesses a mock anti-terror drill by the Army that included laying a cordon around a jungle and a ‘hideout’ of militants.

Keeping in view the changing tactics of the militants, specialised training is being provided to the troops where the soldiers are being sensitised to different requirements which aim at minimum casuality, avoiding collateral damage.

"We have a very well trained troop, which operates with maturity and they ensure that the civilian life is protected during the operation,” said Col Anil Rana of the Army Corps School in Rajouri.

Militants have been known to take hostages to use them as human shields during encounters with security forces. The civilian hostages act as fail safe measure to help the militants escape to safety. But now the army is training to manage any hostage situation.

Biggest Difference between SIP and NON-SIP Investment

While SIP investors are bound by the commitment to invest on a particular day, a non-SIP investor can invest any time when the market is down so that he gets more units.

All is fair in love and war

Chants of Allah-o-Akbar by Col Ajit Singh Shekhawat's unit fooled the Pak insurgents on Khalubar hill

It was a stormy night on June 30, 1999, on the Khalubar hill in Kargil. The Pakistani insurgents were sitting easy in their bunkers. Apart from the steep hill, torrential rains ensured that nobody dared to venture there. Or so, they thought.

Chants of Allah-o-Akbar suddenly woke them from their slumber. They thought reinforcements from the Pakistani army had arrived. They pulled many of the climbers up the hill. It was their last mistake.

Fooled by the chanting, the Pakistani insurgents indeed helped the Muslim Company of 22 Grenadiers led by Colonel Ajit Singh Shekhawat climb the hill to eliminate them.

Country first: Colonel Ajit Singh Shekhawat

In fact, it was only a handful of jawans who had managed to reach the top due to hostile weather. But the mission was to be completed before daybreak and it was decided to launch the attack immediately. Taken by surprise, the Pakistani insurgents were either killed under heavy fire by the Grenadiers or fled the scene.

For Col Shekhawat, fighting Pakistani ultras was almost a daily business. During his six-year stint in Jammu and Kashmir, he had commanded many such operations. Kargil was just another level of his engagement with the insurgents.

"Col Shekhawat's unit was posted at Hyderabad when intrusion was detected in Kargil. The 22 Grenadiers was awarded as 'Bravest of the Brave' during their stint in counter-insurgency operations and they were considered best suited for operations in mountainous terrain," said honorary lieutenant (retd) Chhagan Singh, a 1971-war veteran, as he recalled his son's role in Operation Vijay.

Landmark victory

The win on Khalubar hill became a landmark event in the Kargil war where the Indian soldiers defeated Pakistanis in most adverse conditions.

"Soldiers by nature are very religious and when it comes to the Indian army, every soldier's first religion is his country. The determination of the men can be assessed from the fact that more than ten men from the same company laid down their lives during the operation," said a senior army officer.

However, the battle was not over and the 22 Grenadiers kept fighting the Pakistani reinforcements, and there came a time when Col Shekhawat asked for artillery shelling on the incoming Pakistanis.

Heavy shelling

"The company knew that the artillery shelling could kill them also, but they were ready to lay down their lives.

Col Shekhawat himself got injured during the operation," said another senior officer.

A pure infantry man, Col Shekhawat is known as an expert shooter and mountaineer and he loves to spend time with his soldiers.

"He is a pure soldier, who is very much admired by his men. He used to observe fast during Ramadan along with his soldiers," he added.

Inspired from his father Col Shekhawat wanted to join the Navy, but now he feels lucky to have joined the infantry.

Hon Lieutenant Chhagan Singh is a proud man, as both of his sons made their career in the armed forces.

Col Shekhawat's younger brother, Ranjit Singh, joined Indian Navy and is posted at Vishakhapatnam as a Commander.

Grenadiers all the way
Grenadiers have the unique distinction of receiving the highest number of Param Vir Chakra (PVC) the highest gallantry medal in the Indian army. 18 Grenadiers infantry unit of the Indian Army won the Tiger Hill in the Kargil war and Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav was awarded PVC in the operation. Yadav received 14 bullets while killing Pakistanis on the Tiger Hill top, but he did not stop there, and in fact, climbed down the steep hill to inform his company about Pakistani reinforcement.

The concept of Grenadiers evolved from the practice of selecting the bravest and strongest men for the most dangerous tasks in combat.

MUST READ : When the shoe pinches the other fellow

During my tenure at Indian Army Headquarters as an Officer in early eighties, employees of Army HQ used to visit me for their official work. The more people I met, the more I learned about life and also about difficulties faced by others.

One thing I was sure of, that everyone was in need of money i.e. their own payments, as early as possible. And one day tears rolled down the cheeks of one gentleman.

I distinctly remember that on a bright sunny day in March 1981, one very well dressed elderly person entered my office.

“May I come in?”

“Yes,”- I said, adding, “Please sit down, what can I do for you?”

“I am Suri, Staff Officer at MS branch. One of my traveling allowance claims is pending in your Section and I request that the same may be cleared.”

“OK – do you have the details?” I inquired.

He gave me the details and I asked a clerk to give his claim form to me. On seeing the form I realized that the total claim was for Rs 158/-(then around Six dollars) and out of this sum he had already drawn an advance of Rs. 100/-.(Three and a half dollars) I was thunderstruck, and I kept glancing at this well to do gentleman sitting next to me wearing an immaculate suit with a gold plated watch and a gold ring in his left hand, and tought about his claim form – the small sum he had come to claim.

And wondering how much money he would have spent on fuel alone to come to me for this paltry sum.However, he got the cheque for Rs.58/- after 20 minutes.

He then thanked me for the work which I used to do everyday. I never deserved the accolades he showered for this little work I had done. And then, inadvertently, the question roaming in my mind popped out of my mouth.

“Mr Suri, why did you take the trouble to come personally for this paltry payment? You could have called me on phone.”

“It is not about this small payment. It is the advance of Rs. 100/- that was pending against my name and was creating problems. See, I have retired and my retirement benefits have been withheld because there is one advance pending against me.”

“Have your pension documents arrived here?”

“Yes , a month ago,” he said.

I picked up the phone and told the pension payment section to help him quickly and informed him that the advance has been adjusted..

I told him not to worry; it shall be done within the week. And then tears rolled down his cheek and he said: -

“I was planning all along that whenever we got the retirement benefits, we would go places for sight-seeing. But now this money has no value. I lost my wife three months ago.”

I was dumb struck – my heart stopped beating for a second and I controlled myself with great difficulty, all I could mutter and mumble was – “I am very sorry.”

And then he left.

That day I learnt a major lesson.

You can never know where the shoe is pinching the other fellow. How aptly said: “One day you will meet someone who will tell you what you don’t know, but should know”.

- Ravi Matah writes for Vancouverite from New Delhi, India. His short stories and features have been published in several Indian magazines. Ravi will write a weekly column here and more often if necessary. He is a great story teller, he writes beautifully about life’s little happenings. And he’ll cover other aspects of life in India too, ranging from politics to cricket.

City institute ready with new gun for Army

Pune City-based Armaments Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) is giving the final touches to a modern sub-machine carbine (MSMC) for the Indian Army. The final trials for this 5.56 mm calibre MSMC will be conducted in December this year.

A carbine is a lightweight compact automatic gun with a small barrel; unlike a rifle it fires rapidly and is suitable for close quarter combats.

At present, the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, commandos and the police use a Russian origin 9 mm calibre carbine, which is fairly ancient.

“We are in the process of proving 99.7 per cent reliability for the MSMC. The user will be able to fire up to 200 metres using the MSMC,” said ARDE director Anil M Datar.

The MSMC programme has its origins in the Indian Small Arms System family, which was started in 1982 in a bid to build an indigenous small arms weapons system for India. By 1987, the ARDE had designed the Rifle, the Light Machine Gun (LMG) and the carbine — all part of the INSAS family.

The Army had inducted the INSAS rifle and LMG in 1993; DRDO scientists say it met with a fair amount of success but there were some defects as well, which came to light after the Kargil war.

“The rifle and the LMG was first put to test during Kargil. After that, based on the battlefield experiences, we developed a new version — the INSAS 1B1” said R S Rao, joint director, INSAS, ARDE.

But it was the INSAS carbine that fell through, right from the start. “For the carbine, the ammunition was very powerful. It had higher sound, flash, and recoil effect,” said S V Gade, joint director, INSAS, ARDE. “With the MSMC, we have now changed the length of the ammunition. It is still a 5.6 mm calibre bullet, but it is slightly shorter in length, thereby eliminating the drawbacks of the earlier carbine.”

Finally, the INSAS carbine plan was shelved and in 2002, the Army devised a new set of General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) for the new MSMC, he said.

“Since 2006, when the first prototype was devised, the MSMC has been put through every possible scenario that the Army could conceive of.”

The first trial of the prototype was held in 2006, then 2007-end and the last one was in January 2009.

10 Bns of BSF, CRPF sent to Naxal-hit areas from IHK

SRINAGAR (SANA): At least 10 battalions of [Indian] paramilitary CRPF and BSF have been shifted out from the occupied Jammu & Kashmir State to tackle Naxal violence in different Indian states.

“Three battalions would be shifted out from Jammu region while two would be taken out from Kashmir,” CRPF spokesman Prabhakar Tripathi told Rising Kashmir.

Stating that the de-induction process started since August 17, he said, “We were waiting for the completion of Amarnath Yatra. Now that the yatra has ended peacefully, the CRPF battalions deployed for security of the pilgrimage would be shifted out and deployed in the Naxal hit areas”.

He said the void created by the de-induction would be compensated by the personnel deployed in the nearby battalions located at a certain place.

The CRPF spokesman said due to the soft decline in militancy in the State, it has been decided to move out five battalions to fight Naxal violence. “The de-induction was carried out after receiving nod from Home Ministry,” he said.

About 77 CRPF battalions are deployed in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, on the instructions of home ministry, 16 battalions of para military forces were moved out in phased manner from the State and deployed in Naxal affected area.

DIG BSF Kashmir Frontiers, S K Singh told Rising Kashmir that five battalions of the border guards deployed on Amarnath route have been de-inducted. “These battalions would be sent to border areas like Rajasthan and Punjab. The battalions relieved at these two places would be deployed in Naxal hit region of Chattisgarh”.

Another BSF official, pleading anonymity said of the five battalions, three would be moved out from Kupwara while two others would be pulled back from Bandipore.

“There is immense pressure on Union home ministry to tackle the naxalite violence spread over more than eight states. The problem is increasing with each passing day,” he said, adding, “The situation in Naxal-hit areas have become more serious than Kashmir”.

The clamor is growing in Indian camp to deploy its forces in naxal infested states like West Bengal, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh to new guerilla zones in other states like Orissa, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to tackle the unexpected rising insurgency.

The paramilitary officials said earlier centre has carved out a ‘Cobra force’ to start an anti-naxalite movement. “It was grossly insufficient. The force comprised 10 bns of CRPF. They were specially trained and equipped. Now they are raising more ten battalions of cobra force to fight the Naxalites,” a paramilitary official said.