Intellectuals Dissonance on OROP & agitation

In response to Dr Dheeraj Sharma in http://www.financialexpress.com/article/fe-columnist/orop-can-we-monetise-every-act-of-service/133294/ and by Chetan Bhagat in  http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/The-underage-optimist/its-time-to-analyze-orop-with-our-head-not-our-heart/?utm

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 1^st 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.

 Sources: http://finmin.nic.in/pru/Publications.htm and PCDA (P), indiabudget.nic.in and cpao.nic.in

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.

Source: http://kvsangathan.nic.in/Mission.aspx

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….

Source: www.ssbcrack.com › SSBCrack

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.

 Source: http://www.symbiosis.ac.in/symbiosis-society/symbiosis-society-vision-&-mission.php

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.

Source: http://www.bsf.nic.in/en/introduction1.html

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 14^th August 2015, the agitation was gasping for attention. It got the attention of the media thanks to Delhi Police and the MHA. On 5^th 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.