Indian Defence Services have a right to be Angry

by Nitin Gokhale

In continuation of the last post on 6th Pay Commission award to central government employees and the anomalies noticed in it vis-a-vis the military, here are some more exles of discrimination pointed out to me by friends in the military (and I have no reason to disbelieve them). When I ask friends in the Civil Services about this, they dismiss the issues as a minor aberrations and say the "military whines too much."

To which my counter is: who has brought the situation to this pass? There is no clear answer then.

In my view, these "minor quibbles" have created a reservoir of resentment that might just burst one day to everyone's detriment. In every interaction I have with soldiers from Andamans to Amritsar and from Kohima to Kargil, I hear the disgruntlement getting louder. I don't know if any one is monitoring/listening to these voices of  hurt in India's cantonments.

For instance, a soldier or an airman posted in Shillong (which is not an insurgency area) doesn't get any extra allowance or is not allowed to retain any house in Delhi or elsewhere but when he hears a CRPF or a BSF employee posted in Shillong getting extra allowance just by virtue of being posted in the North-east (see table), naturally the Army jawan feels let down. He after all takes the same time to travel back home and faces the same hardship in dislocating his family. This is just one instance. One can quote many more exles.

But the powers-that-be better take heed before the situation gets out of hand.

 I feel if the country wants to retain the edge enjoyed by the soldier, these anomalies need to be addressed forthwith, otherwise a day will not be far off when it will be difficult to even get soldiers to join the armed forces.

Take a look.

Why should there be so much difference in the pay, perks and facilities of various class of officers, under this Government of India?

Thanks to the mean and self centred Indian Babus, who literally dictate terms for self aggrandisement, to the corrupt Indian Politicians including the ignorant and self serving Ministers.

DISPARITY IN ALLOWANCES

Name of allowance	Defence Personnel (For Officers &; ORs)	Central Armed Police Force / Central Govt   employees
(a) Para allowance For spl forces and Para personnel)	Rs 800 to 1200/pm	Rs 7,200 to 11,000 / pm for COBRA Battalions (commando battalions)
(b) Disabled employees	Thrown out of service immediately	Govt has to retain them till 60 yrs under Disability Act
(c) Kashmir/NE Regional HRA	Nil	Double HRA
(d) Protection of Service	Armed Forces exempted from operation of Section 47.  Hence no protection of employment available in case of disability.	Full protection under Section 47 of the Act. Will not be discharged on account of disability.
(e) Pay and Allowances	Employee can be discharged on account of disability. Nil Admissible	Full pay and allowances admissible till the age of 60, even if unable to attend any official duty.  Can even be kept on supernumerary post and paid all pay and allowances.
(f) Pension	Nil Admissible	Entitled to full service length till superannuation and pension thereafter.
(g) Right to life of dignity of self and family	Nil. No facilities or protection for self and dependents.	Full pay and pension and complete government protection/cover with entitled facilities Admissible to dependents.
(h) Increase in Pension of highest rank employee from 1973 to 2006	. 45 times . Highest Def Rank Pension  1973 -  Rs 1000/-pm  2006 -  Rs 45000/-pm	. 108 times . Highest civilian rank pension   1973  - Rs 416.50/-pm   2006  - Rs 45000/-pm
(j) Period of Service	. 85% compulsorily retired between 35 -37 years age. .  12-13% compulsorily  retired between 40-54 years age	Upto 60 years of age
(k) Career Progression	. Three promotion at 8, 16, 24 years of service. . 85% compulsorily retired after 15-17 years service and denied 3rd career progression	Three Promotions at 10, 20, 30 years of service
(l) Officers Promotion opportunities	1% Maj Gen at 32-33 years of service.	100% Joint Secy at 16-18 years Service 100% Addl Secy 32 years Service
(m) When posted in Peace stations in NE like Shillong, Aizawl, entire Sikkim and Ladakh	Nil	. . 12.5 per cent of basic as Spl  Duty allowance, . Double HRA,  . . Hardship allowance 25 % of basic pay (for IAS officers of UT cadre) and . . Detachment allowance of Rs 300 per day for all CAPF personnel
(n) Home loan	Rs 2.1 lakh	Upto Rs 7.1 lakh
FOR OFFICERS
(o) HQ allowance	Nil	Rs 4,000
(p) Instructor allowance	Rs 1800 for Col &; above (in NDC, War Colleges etc)	Rs 19,000
(q) Non-functional upgradation	Nil	JS Pay at approx 22 yrs. Add Sec pay at 32 yrs
(r) Outfit allowance	Rs 3,000 (per three years—8 Uniforms)	Rs 7,500 per three yrs
(s) Deputation allowance	5 per cent of basic pay	10 per cent of basic pay

http://nitinagokhale.blogspot.in/2012/07/why-soldiers-have-right-to-be-angry.html?spref=tw 

The above information has been obtained from various sources