From: Ved Malik vedmalik@gmail.com
To: guru_bakshi@yahoo.com, navdeepsingh.india@gmail.com
Cc: kamboj_cs@yahoo.co.in, bghosh@gmail.com , krishseth@hotmail.com
Date: Monday, 27 April, 2009, 8:04 PM
Dear General Bakshi and Navdeep,
I am adding my own observations and comments on what the Government has done regarding pension of Lt Gens.
It is a mess!
Firstly! It is too little and too late!!! These delayed orders reflect the negative mindset and reluctance on the part of the Govt-politicians and bureaucrats included. It appears that the orders have been issued more because of political expediency and not because fairness demanded it from the very beginning. I doubt if these instructions will give any joy or repair the damaged spirit and morale in the armed forces.
Secondly! The Govt seems to have no clues about the impact of such divides within ranks. When this was done for Lt Cols, I had pointed it out to the PM and RM. Please see my letter of January 10, 2009 below. (I can disclose this now.) It seems our leaders are not interested in any advice or are far too dumb to understand organizational matters of the armed forces.
...........
10 January 2009
To,
Dr Manmohan Singh,
Prime Minister of India,
7 Race Course Road, New Delhi
I am writing to you once again regarding the 6th Central Pay Commission (6th CPC) recommendations.
It is obvious that your intervention has enabled the armed forces to get a much fairer deal than what was recommended by the 6th CPC and the Committee of the Secretaries appointed to resolve the anomalies. However, it seems that the political intention and directions are being misinterpreted, or being implemented in a manner which will harm the very ethos and spirit of the armed forces and their combat effectiveness.
The pay and allowances of Lt Cols (and equivalent ranks in Navy and Air Force), which forms the cutting edge of our forces, have been divided into two categories. This divide will not only create serious functional problems but more seriously, it will destroy the camaraderie and espirit-de-corps which we endeavor to build in the cutting edge. It will generate disharmony in this one rank and be perceived as a ‘divide and rule’ policy to save a small amount of money.
We are informed that the Group of Ministers has not agreed to rectify the new police and military parities at the level of Lt Gen rank. Sir, this will cause command and control problems whenever the military is called upon to assist the civil authorities in maintenance of law and order, counter insurgency situations and disaster management. Almost all such operations (e.g. J & K and North East) are handled by Corps Commanders who have more than 50,000 soldiers and other resources under their command. If the DGP of a state becomes senior to a Corps Commander, will he command the military personnel? Will he have the capability to rapidly increase or decrease the military assistance? The military is, and should be, the last resort/instrument of the state. It is logical; therefore, that the final responsibility and authority for operations, whenever military is required in large numbers, should remain with a military officer. It is illogical to disturb such experience based parities, which will impact operational capabilities adversely and make civil military cooperation more difficult.
My last point is about the serious muddle that has been created in the pensions. No one is clear why a soldier who has served much longer in service, and risen to a higher rank, is to get lesser or same amount as someone with lesser service and rank to his credit. There is considerable confusion in the disbursement of pension arrears. Lack of clarification on these issues is not only making it difficult to implement new pension orders but has increased heart burning amongst ex-servicemen. Since 16 December 2008, many have them have been sitting on fasts and dharnas at Jantar Mantar, near the Parliament. I recommend that the Defense Minister should call a meeting of ex-servicemen representatives very soon and let his staff explain the rationale, implementation process, and also take their feedback on disbursement.
Copy to:
Mr A K Antony, Defence Minister of India,
South Block,
New Delhi
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I do hope that the Chiefs will reject this 33% rider !
Warm regards,
Ved Malik
General V P Malik
Former Chief of Army Staff,
251, Sector 6,
Panchkula (Haryana) 134 109
India
Tele: +91 172 2586390
