Since many of the points of the
two intellectuals are common, a point-by-point explanation to achieve Satyam Ev
Jayate is not being resorted to for the sake of relative brevity.
Who Spends How Much
Other than on Defence Services Pay & Pensions
The
Pay Research Unit (pru-exp@nic.in) brings out a publication entitled Brochure on Pay and
Allowances of Central Government Civilian Employees. The last such brochure is
for 2012-13.
The Brochure provides
statistical information regarding expenditure incurred by the different
Ministries/Departments of Central Government on pay and various types of
allowances such as Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance, Compensatory
(City) Allowance, Overtime Allowance etc. in respect of its regular employees.
It also provides information on Ministry / Department- wise and Group-wise
number of sanctioned posts, number of incumbents in position and vacant posts
as on 1st March. The Brochure contains information about disparity
ratio i.e. the ratio of the maximum to minimum pay of different State
Government Employees.
Some of the allowances are Overtime Allowance, Special Pay &
deputation (Duty) allowance, Composite Hill Compensatory Allowance, Other Compensatory
Allowances, Productivity Linked Bonus, Ad hoc Bonus, Honorarium etc
Almost 84% of the total expenditure is incurred by
five major Ministries/ Departments (Railways, Defence (Civil), Home Affairs,
Post and Revenue) during 2012-13.
Defence
Pension Budget of Rs 54000 crore for FY 2015-16 includes pensions of Defence
Civilians who were employed in the MoD and in Ordnance Factories and not just
Ex-Servicemen.
The
Benefits to Defence Forces that cost the Earth
Entitled ration allowance, not free ration, is Rs 89.90 per day which is to
provide one Defence personnel with 4088 calorific value based on the research
by DRDO, vetted by the MoD and after financial concurrence by MoF. The rations
are supplied to defence personnel at places where there isn’t even a local
kirana store, and also in places like New Delhi or Gandhinagar or Ahmedabad
etc.
The break up that the above amount should provide
daily is as follows: -
Atta + Rice
600 gms; Dal 90 gms; Oil 80 gms;
Milk 250 ml; Onions 60 gms; Potatoes 110 gms; fresh vegetables 170 gms; Sugar
90 gms; Salt 10 gms; Tea or coffee 9/4 gms; Condiments 16 gms; Meat 110 gms or
Eggs 3 or chicken 90 gms for non-vegetarians; Milk 220 ml and eggs 3 for
vegetarians; Fruit citrus 110 gms or non-citrus 230 gms.
Source:
publications.drdo.gov.in/ojs/index.php/dsj/article/download/1701/794
Dr Sharma, being an expert
in marketing might be able to conclude that Rs 89.90 will not suffice and is
lower than Rs 159 per day lowest paid in MP and Chhatisgarh for MNREGAS!
The
Kendriya Vidyalayas have a four - fold mission, viz.,
1. To cater to the educational needs of children of
transferable Central Government including
Defence and Para-military
personnel by providing a common programme of education;
2. To pursue excellence and set the
pace in the field of school education,
3. To initiate and promote
experimentation and innovations in education in collaboration with other bodies
like the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the National Council
of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) etc. and
4. To develop the spirit of
national integration and create a sense of "Indianness" among
children.
Army Schools
The admissions are made based on
the seats available in the classes, they carry a “No denial Policy” to army
wards, and civilians are admitted only
after ensuring that no further seat is required for any Army ward. For
specific details on admission you can visit the official website of the desired
APS….
Symbiosis
1. Institutes of Symbiosis are non communal and non sectarian.
2. Admission is given to any eligible student, National and
International, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, provided he/she is
qualified, eligible and amenable to rules of discipline.
3. No donation or capitation fee is charged for admission to any
program at any institute of Symbiosis.
Promotion and Cadre Strength
Please read Promotion policies on
the RTI manual on the respective Army, Navy Air Force websites. These have to
be and are approved by the MoD.
In 1980s and till 15 Dec 2004,
promotions to Lt Col (and equivalents wherever a rank is referred to) and above
were by empanelment to Promotion Boards; Majors were promoted to Lt Col between
16 and 18 years of service (Arms/Services) and Lt Col to Col in 20 to 22 years
of service (Arms/Services) respectively.
After 16 Dec 2004, as per Ajai Vikram
Singh Committee -1 (AVSC-1), promotions of Captains to Major is in 6 years,
Major to Lt Col in 12 to 14 years but the time frame and empanelment procedure
for Col and above is as before as it is empanelment and consideration by a
Promotion Board. Lt Cols
Cadre
reviews are approved by the MoD and based on principle of ‘matching savings’
i.e how many junior ranks posts will a Service give up for one senior rank
post.
Promotion Boards consider the
panels for Lt Col & equivalent promotion to Col & equivalent and are
approved by the Chief of Army or Navy or Air Force but with the cadre i.e
number of vacancies that will arise due to promotions, deaths, medical
invalidment etc. Proceedings of Promotion Boards for Brigadiers and Major
Generals are approved by MoD and for Lt Gens by the Appointments Committee of
the Cabinet.
Protest/Agitation
for OROP
The protests are by retired Services personnel. It is not by serving personnel and Dr Sharma, this is necessary for sake of truth and he should read
the proceedings in the High Court of Delhi where CPO personnel, retired and serving have filed cases
for Non-Functional Upgradation.
Reproduced below from Source: http://www.livelaw.in/treat-all-paramilitary-forces-as-organized-services-group-a-officers-to-get-non-functional-financial-upgradation-delhi-high-court/
A Delhi High Court Bench comprising Justice
Kailash Gambhir and Justice Najmi Waziri has directed the central Government to
consider all paramilitary forces, the CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB, as
“organized services”.
The order, that would benefit about 10, 000 Group A Officers, said that
Group-A Officers of paramilitary forces should be given all benefits, including
non-functional financial upgradation (NFU) from 2006 in terms of the Sixth Pay
Commission, on the lines of those given to administrative services officers.
The Sixth Pay Commission Report had included a provision to provide
Group-A officers with non-functional upgradation in pay scales, since upgrade
of designation and promotions were not possible due to shortage of vacancies.
Ministry of Home Affairs had however denied such benefits to the forces,
claiming that BSF and other forces were “a General Central Service’ and not an
“organized service.”
The Court was hearing a plea filed by more than 200 serving
and retired officers of the paramilitary forces, demanding grant of
NFU to them alleging the deprivation of
the financial benefit is “affecting the morale and efficiency of the
officers.” They said “undertaking these policy measures will ensure pay parity and social
recognition as they would get timely promotions.” They had challenged
an Office Memorandum issued by the ministry in October 2013 that had denied the
benefits of pay scale revision under the NFU policy to the CAPF personnel
(emphasis supplied).
The Officers had reportedly claimed that officers from the
paramilitary forces are facing stagnation because of lack of adequate promotional
posts. The situation was aggravated by the fact that a majority of the higher
posts in the hierarchy had been filled up by deputations by officers from the
Indian Police Service and the government has failed to take adequate steps for
career progression of the cadre officers.
Representing the officers, Senior Advocate Jyoti Singh pleaded that
though they are the members of armed forces of union and employed on very
sensitive duties like guarding of borders, maintaining internal security,
fighting terrorism and left wing extremism and involved in disaster management
etc., yet they are not being given their due with respect to the status as well
as financial benefits.
The Court observed that the Centre had admitted in several
notifications and documents since 1986 that the Central Armed Police Forces
(CAPF) came under “organized services.” It noted that “as recently as
on February 11, petitioners in central forces have been categorized as
‘organized services’, therefore benefits ought to be granted to them”.
Now, all except the Armed Forces are recognised as Class A Organised
services and hence eligible for NFU i.e one IAS officer is promoted and every
body else gets Non-Functional
Upgradation (sic) i.e. higher Grade pay and Pay in the Pay Band for someone
else being promoted. So BSF attains OROP without having to struggle or agitate.
Dr Sharma and Chetan Bhagat may wish to read the
recent High Court of Delhi judgement about BF etc being Class A organised
Services. Writ Petition (Civil0 153/2013 & CM Nos 3088/2013. 4134/2013,
9418/2015 etc refer.
Both intellectuals may like
to note that MoD has not complied with a Supreme Court order in a case filed by
a retired AFMS doctor, to pay Armed Forces Medical Services doctors the Dynamic
Assured Career Progression, though it is paid to Govt’s civilian doctors and a
battle of words is on between MoD and the Chiefs of Staff Committee who
requested the MoD to pay an allowance akin to NFU to the Armed Forces Officers
to prevent command & control embarrassment. Payment of NFU will increase
Grade Pay since emoluments drawn determines seniority and status in Govt.
TASKS OF THE BSF:
The tasks of the BSF are divided
as follows:
1.
Peace time:
o
Promote a sense
of security among the people living in the border areas.
o Prevent trans border crimes,
unauthorized entry into or exit from the territory of India.
o
Prevent
smuggling and any other illegal activity.
In the last few years the BSF has, in addition to their
duties, been deployed for counter insurgency and internal security duties (emphasis supplied)
2.
War
Time:
o Holding ground in less threatened sectors so long as
the main attack does not develop in a particular sector and it is felt that the
local situation is within the capability of BSF to deal with. The BSF
units can continue to remain deployed in particular sector even in a war
situation to release the Army for
offensive tasks. In the event of a
major attack developing, which is not within the capacity of the BSF to
deal with, the Army can be expected
either to reinforce the BSF with Artillery or other support, or relieve the BSF
from its role in the particular sector (emphasis supplied).
o Protection of vital installations
particular air-fields against enemy commandoes/para troopers or raids. The role can be entrusted to the BSF Units
which are placed under the Army's operational Control.
o Providing extension to the flanks
of main defence line by the holding of strong points in conjunction with other
units.
o
Limited
Aggressive action against para military or irregular forces of the enemy within
the overall plan of the Armed Forces .
o Performing special tasks
connected with intelligence including raids. These are tasks which might be
entrusted to BSF Units by the Army in a war situation according to local
necessity. It would, however, be expected that the state of training and
equipment of the particular BSF Units would be kept in view in assessing their
adequacy for the tasks.
o
Acting as
guides in an area of responsibility where routes are known. This is a task
which the BSF should be able to perform.
o Maintenance of law and order in
enemy territory administrated under the control of Army. Normally, ordinary
civil police force would be utilised for this task but the BSF could be used to
supplement the civil police or to act in lieu thereof in a situation where
civil police is not readily available.
o
Provision of
escorts.
o
Guarding of
prisoners of war cages
o Assistance in control of refugees.
It is the intention to utilise civil police force and armed Home Guards etc.
for these tasks but again depending upon local exigencies, the BSF might be
entrusted with these tasks.
o Anti - infiltration duties in
specified area. This is an important responsibility which will have to be
performed by security forces. The exact responsibility of the BSF in this
matter is still under consideration and separate instructions are expected to
be issued.
Others who are Patriotic
What about
doctors? Do you realise that a typical junior resident (first-year post-graduate
student of medicine) probably works for unimaginable hours and sometimes for
several days at stretch?
Facts: On numerous occasions doctors have gone on
strike, paralysing hospitals and putting patients in need to critical care in
jeopardy. They have been rewarded with pay rises.
What about
the constabulary of the state police forces? The cutting-edge level of state
police forces work long and perilous hours each day.
Facts: In an law & order situation, in riot hit
areas, the Army is called out to restore law & order and carry out flag
marches to ensure that riots subside to the level that the local police can
then take over.
What about
our teachers? What about miners?
Facts would speak for themselves if one reads
Government websites about the abysmal level of education from primary to higher
secondary. Isn’t that why the teaching shops or coaching shops are
proliferating?
As for
miners, the Government places IAS officers as heads of the companies and
utilises services of consultants who would be in a better position to render
facts for consideration.
Are we
trying to say that the CAPF, paramilitary forces, doctors, teachers, miners,
serve the nation less than the armed forces? More importantly, are they less
patriotic?
Fact,
every one serves the
nation – the corporates, the Public Sector Banks, the Foreign Portfolio
Investors and they all get tax exemptions of Rs 63000 crore, re-capitalisation
of Rs 70000 crore over the next 5 years, and exemption from Minimum Alternate
Tax of Rs 40000 crore. They too serve the country trying to increase its GDP
and the growth rate to 8.5% etc. They are patriotic too! But at the cost of Rs
1, 23, 000 crore!!
In conclusion
Before 14th August 2015, the agitation
was gasping for attention. It got the attention of the media thanks to Delhi
Police and the MHA. On 5th September 2015, the RM provided a wet
blanket, which was made wetter by the PM’s speech in Chandigarh but the focus
remained on OROP and its agitation.
This
is another effort at Satyam Ev Jayate.
