POOR TREATMENT TO DEFENSE PERSONNEL

Dear Sir,
I am extremely happy to note the service your set up is doing to the public. I have some observations on 6th pay commission report pertaining to the defense services personnel. In fact the pay commission has done a very shabby and unimaginable treatment to the defense personnel. Even earlier pay commissions too have been doing the same.
I may mention that every section of the employees can sound voice to express their discontentment, but it is the defense soldiers alone, who are so strong in maintaining discipline and law abiding, no one ever opens his mouth.
Today, even the public knows as to what is the state of affairs of the defense forces pertaining to their financial condition. All ranks remain hand to mouth. In addition to many unfavourable service conditions; this too is one of the main reasons that a huge deficiency of officer exists and real talents do not come forward to join defense service and it may be appreciated that such a state is against the security of the nation and national interest. All the previous pay commissions as well the Governments are responsible for the present state of affairs.
It is well known to all that the service conditions of the defense personnel are highly precarious, rough, tough, hard, grueling, arduous, ruthless, strenuous, severe, brutal, vigorous, rigorous, exhausting, backbreaking, troublesome, horrifying, scary, petrifying, risky, terrifying, frightening, harsh, perilous, death-defying, dangerous, hard-hitting, insecure, hazardous, treacherous, terrorizing, and unsafe. It is due to these service conditions, the real talents do not come forward to join the defense services and the present huge deficiency which is prevailing since decades, will never be made up and the present huge deficiency will never be made up unless necessary steps in giving attractive pay, allowances, perks and benefits in various forms are given during their service as well as after retirement.
I request you to please publish my observations. Also, I request you to send these observations to the Prime mister, all cabinet ministers, cabinet secretary, all the members of the review/screening committee, as well as to all the three chiefs of staff of all the three wings of defense services. In fact, I too would have sent these observations on my own but I could not do so since I do not have any email address with me. If it can provided by your benign self I shall be highly obliged. Rather, it suggested that you should give complete address, telephone numbers and email addresses of all of them, so that any individual, whosoever wants to put across his view points, he may do so without any difficulty. I also request your benign self to kindly provide me the email addresses of all the English and daily national news papers.
My observations are as under:
THE OBSERVATIONS ON THE 6TH PAY COMMISSION REPORT.
The observations given here under are the barest minimum. In fact, such observations should be circulated through internet and media and more observations should be invited directly from the defense services officers, retired ones, luminaries, eligible candidates and public. Also, the matter of huge deficiency of officers in defense services should be frequently investigated by the public, the Govt. as well as various agencies as to why the real talents are not coming forward to join defense services, rather than going for IAS and private services. There is lot to be done for the defense services and retired soldiers. It is most important for the Govt., the Prime Minister, Defense Minister, Finance Minister, the entire Cabinet of Minister, Parliamentarians and all politicians to ponder over the matter and take immediate steps in the matter. It is rather in the best interest of the nation and its security to give better deal to the defense officers in comparison to any other civil services officers to attract the real talent thereby assist in making up huge deficiency of officers. By doing so, the morale of all the services will be kept high if their own and their families present and future is fully secured.
The following need to be looked into and action taken as suggested:-
I may mention that every section of the employees can sound voice to express their discontentment, but it is the defense soldiers alone, who are so strong in maintaining discipline and law abiding, no one ever opens his mouth.
Today, even the public knows as to what is the state of affairs of the defense forces pertaining to their financial condition. All ranks remain hand to mouth. In addition to many unfavourable service conditions; this too is one of the main reasons that a huge deficiency of officer exists and real talents do not come forward to join defense service and it may be appreciated that such a state is against the security of the nation and national interest. All the previous pay commissions as well the Governments are responsible for the present state of affairs.
Before giving comments and observations on the 6th Pay Commission Report, I may mention that it is well known to all that the service conditions of the defense personnel are highly precarious, rough, tough, hard, grueling, arduous, ruthless, strenuous, severe, brutal, vigorous, rigorous, exhausting, backbreaking, troublesome, horrifying, scary, petrifying, risky, terrifying, frightening, harsh, perilous, death-defying, dangerous, hard-hitting, insecure, hazardous, treacherous, terrorizing, and unsafe. It is due to these service conditions, the real talents do not come forward to join the defense services and the present huge deficiency which is prevailing since decades, will never be made up and the present huge deficiency will never be made up unless necessary steps to give them attractive pay, allowances, perks and benefits in various forms are taken during their service as well as after retirement.
Further, it is brought out that in addition to unfavourable service conditions of defense personnel; a wide disparity exists between civil services officers and defense services officers. In fact, it is due to this disparity also, the real talents do not come forward. This disparity can only be removed by giving them the higher pay to defense officers and PBOR commensurately to their counterparts and prevailing service conditions.
To elaborate the disparity, it may be seen that initially, an IAS officer and Defense service officer start on equal footings so far their salary is concerned. But after a year or so, an IAS officer is promoted to the post of under secretary which is equivalent to the rank of a Major or equivalent ranks in other wings of defense forces; where as, the officers in defense services attain the rank of a major after seven years. As such, just after a year, a wide gap is created in the salary of an under secretary and an officer of the rank of major and equivalent ranks in the defense forces. Due to quick promotions for all the civil services officers and inordinately delayed promotions in defense services, this disparity keep increasing and persists till the rank of Brigadier/Major General. This is highly demoralizing and needs to be removed urgently.
It may be well understood that all the facts of unfavourable service conditions as brought out at item above and pay and perks what the defense officers get are well known to the public and eligible candidates, because of which just a few ones are attracted towards defense services. It is because these reasons, a huge deficiency of officers has been existing in all the wings of defense services since decades. It is still high time that the Govt. must find some way out to eliminate this disparity at least in giving better and attractive pay and perks to the defense services officers. Rather, the defense services officers must be paid commensurate to their job and their miserable service conditions. If the requirement is looked into adequately, this will prove in the best interest of the nation and its security. The only way out to solve the problem of huge deficiency of officers is to give suitably and adequately better edge to them that will attract the talent.
To remove of the disparity, Military Service Pay is one of the measures, the 6th Pay Commission has thought of. However, giving the single/fixed Military Service Pay (MSP) from Lt. to Brigadier is absolutely uncalled for. It is not correct to recommend the same MSP for the junior most officers and the most senior officer. Presumably the commission could not seem to have appreciated the factual requirement due to the fact that there was no service officer as a member of the commission to advise them on the matter.
Even otherwise, recommending Rs. 6000/- as MSP is too meager and negligible even for the officers of the rank of Lt. The minimum MSP for the Lt should be Rs. 12000/- and for brigadier, it must be Rs. 22000/-. There should be an increase of Rs. 2000/- for each higher rank from Lt to Brigadier.
The MSP must be paid with effect from the date of implementation of the Pay Commission report as is being done in the cases of all other allowances.
The MSP must be included for giving increments and also the MSP should be increased periodically.
Another disparity and discrimination is that the period of training of defense services officers and PBOR is not counted for their promotions, pension or any other purposes, nor they are given their full pay and allowances of the training period; where as in the case of all the civil services officers and other employees of Central Govt. as well State Govt. too, when they do the training the entire period of their training is being counted for pension, seniority for promotion, and all other purposes as well as they are paid their for their full pay, allowances of the training period. This too is a clear disparity and discrimination. The seniority of the defense services officers and PBOR should be accounted for from the day they join the service in the training institute and full pay and allowances as well other facilities should be paid/provided to them as is being done in the case of all the civil services employees.
The Pay Commission seems to have done justice, that too up to some extent in the case of Secretaries, and other equivalent posts of Cabinet Secretary. It may be appreciated that the 5th Pay commission as well as 6th Pay Commission or earlier Pay Commissions had/has recommended enhancement of their basic pay more than three times of their earlier basic pay. The basic pay of Cabinet Secretary at the time of 5th and 6th Pay Commissions was 9000 and 30000/- respectively. The 5th Pay Commission had recommended from 9000/- to 30000/- that was 3.33333… times more and now the 6th Pay Commission has recommended from 30000/- to 90000 that is exactly three times more. Even when we see the case of junior most officer i.e. 2nd Lt or Lt. the basic pay of this rank at the time of 5th Pay Commission was 2200/- that was raised to 8250/- which was almost four times. Where as by the present 6th Pay Commission, justice has not at all been done for Officers and PBOR. Considering the present scenario, talents needed, there being no attraction of suitable candidates towards defense services, due to which, there has been acute shortage of Officers since decades. The authorities, therefore must ponder, consider, appreciate and realize the ground situation keeping in mind the national security; the basic pay of all officers and PBOR must be enhanced that should vary from four to six times i.e. higher enhancement for the juniors and at reducing scale for the seniors. However, it must not be less than four times of original basic pay in any ones’ case.
Increments at the rate of 2.5% is negligible, in comparison to what was recommended by earlier Pay Commissions and Govt. In fact, it must be minimum 5% of the basic pay.
Recommending variable increments to the officers is absolutely uncalled for. Rather, it is going to be very difficult to decide to whom to give and to whom not to give this type of variable increment. Such a system must not be thought of for such senior officers who fall in the category of PB3. It seems that such senior officers are not putting their best efforts in discharging their duties, rather, they are doubted to be shirkers. Further, this system will give a handle to the authorities to do favouritism to some that may result in heart burning to others who are not given this type of increment.
The DA increments should be given on all the allowances including MSP and/or all the allowances should be automatically doubled after every five years.
The pension on the retirement of all officers and PBOR should be calculated on their basic pay including all the allowances.
All officers and PBOR should be ensured that when ever, pays are revised after every Pay Commission Reports, their pension will be re-fixed on the basis of maximum of the scale of the rank they hold/held. Alternatively, at least; pension must be re-fixed considering number of years of service they rendered at the time of their retirement and not merely, based on minimum pay of the rank they held on their retirement after the Pay commissions Report implementation as is being recommended presently. This will have great impact and attraction for new entrants as well to the serving officers who are leaving the service much before their superannuation.
The lateral shifting of defense personnel should be permissible for all officers and PBOR, irrespective of type of entry/commissioning in service and minimum/maximum service. This is more important for the officers who cease to get further promotions. However, the lateral shifting should be optional.
Low Medical category officers and PBOR should be permitted for lateral shifting, but it should be optional.
The lateral shifting should be permitted in all civil services including IAS, IPS or any others services including Judiciary, provided required qualifications for the posts are met.
The defense officers are given just three chances for getting selection grade promotions which is a great injustice to them. Rather, they should be considered for promotions as is being done in case of civil services officers. However, their employbility can be considered accordingly. Alternatively, they should be latterly shifted if it is so opted by them.
Some posts should be reserved for defense officers and PBOR for lateral shifting in state Govt. services too.
The kit maintenance allowance of present Rs. 7000/- for defense services officers is recommended to be doubled i.e. 14000/-. Taking into consideration the present price index, it is absolutely insufficient. Will the Pay Commission or the Govt. answer “Does the price index get doubled in ten years?” If it is not so, why justice is not being met to the defense officers? It may be noted that the initial cost of all the items of uniforms as on date is not less than Rs. 70000/-. However, if the Govt. cannot afford to give Rs. 70000/-, it must not be less than Rs. 50000/-. Further, most of the items of uniforms have to be replaced after 6 months to one year. Hence, the renewal grant should be raised minimum to Rs. 25000/- and be given after every three years.
It is mentioned that there are large number of uniform items of officers, which are required to be maintained to keep a high standard of the soldiers. The Pay Commission has recommended to double the monthly kit maintenance allowance of officers, which presently is Rs. 200/- only. This allowance is too meager. The monthly kit maintenance allowance should be minimum Rs. 1000/-
Likewise as explained above, doubling of all allowances after ten years is highly illogical. The allowances should be increased commensurate to the price index in ten years. Rather, all the allowances should be doubled periodically/more frequently i.e. after every five years.
There should be no restriction to travel by Govt. agencies nor any permission to travel by any such agency be made mandatory in all cases of defense personnel, especially when they have to travel during their transfers/postings, temporary duties, courses or leave. However, if any one travels by any mode other than the Govt. agency, including, air, rail, road; he should be permitted to claim re-imbursement as per the fare of his entitlement of the mode or actual expenditure incurred, whatever is less.
Fitment formula for fixation of pay and pension of all the defense personnel should be minimum 60% that too after adding DP, and DA in the existing basic pay as on the date of implementation of the Pay Commission report for all employees which will assist in removing the disparity up to some extent.
The disability pension must be given irrespective of percentage of the disability, only if the disability is attributable to military service.
In case of low medical category, all defense services officers and PBOR should be considered for all promotions. However, their employability can be considered accordingly. In case, this suggestion cannot be accepted, all the effected personnel should be laterally shifted, but only if it is so opted by them.
All otherwise eligible defense personnel be considered for foreign postings even in case any eligible officers or PBOR are placed in low medical category, if the disability due to low medical category is less than 50%.
The higher rate of pension should be given to all the defense services personnel starting from the age of 65 years and be enhanced after an interval of every five years. The present recommendations starting higher rate of pension after 80 years is just befooling the people since there are just few handful lucky ones who survive till the age of 80 or thereafter. It should be understood that the health problems normally start increasing year after year from 65 years onwards. However, the rate of initial enhancement at the age of 65, 70 and 75 years may start at the rate of 5% keep increasing at each interval of five years at the rate of 5%. The rate of increase of pension starting from the age of 80 years should be 10% and further enhancement should keep increasing at an additional 10% at the interval of each five years.
The 2% subsidy on house building advances recommended by the Pay Commission is too meager, rather it is negligible. It should be minimum 5% of interest rate to encourage the employees to construct their own houses. This will relieve the burden of the Govt. to construct the houses for all its employees and further keep incurring expenditure on the maintenance of the houses. Also, life of such houses keeps decreasing because of depletion of constructional material thus the maintenance cost of the houses keeps increasing. Even otherwise, the Govt. on an average has to spend almost Rs. 2500000/- to 7000000/- for present cost of construction of the houses for various categories of its employees. If one calculates cost of construction, interest there upon, and expenditure on maintenance of the houses, it will be colossal. In case the subsidy of 5% of interest rate is given for house building advances, it still will be most economical to the state and encourage maximum employees to build their own houses.
Further, to encourage the employees to construct their own houses, the Govt. in addition to giving higher subsidy in interest rate, it should give additional 10% HRA to its employees for all stations especially for those who live in their own houses. Such measures will solve the house problems of serving as well as Govt. employees which are the biggest one after their retirement.
Yours Sincerely,
Lt. Col. (Retd.) K L Jaspal,
H. No. 28, Sector 21B, Faridabad.
EMAIL: krishanlanjaspal@yahoo.co.in

6th CPC implementation

The Authorities of Central Govt may note that all central Govt.Employees have secretly planned a nation-wide strike and BUNDH. They will not budge if suggested recommendations are not implemented w.e.f 1.1.2006. Also, the Govt may note as to how poorly election reluts will be, if interest of its employees is not lookedafter and recommendations are the report not implemented from 1.1.2008.