Comments on Indian Military : Service Benefits and Issues: A very Happy New Year, followed by an important po...

Lok Pal with limited exposure in case of contract...

2012-01-27T12:51:33.069+05:30

Lok Pal with limited exposure in case of contract through bidding or tender process may be applicable to Armed forces. except in this field ,It is not possible to behave like so called civilineucrats.all other matters relating to armed forces are either confidential or security related . obviously we need to have leadership free to take decisions like FM maneckshaw. we cannot afford one civilian dictating us our job.

MASS CAMPAIGN AGAINST CORRUPTION HAS EMERGED DUE T...

2012-01-16T10:42:21.679+05:30

MASS CAMPAIGN AGAINST CORRUPTION HAS EMERGED DUE TO FAILURES AND LOOPHOLES IN THE EXISTING SYSTEM HENCE THERE WAS A NEED TO BRING IN THE LOKPAL.ITS HIGH TIME WE STOP TREATING THE ARMED FORCES AS A HOLY COW UNDER THE COVER OF MORALE ETC. IF THE MORALE WAS OF SO IMPORTANCE THEN WHY WAS SUCH A DISPARITY CREATED IN THE SIXTH PAY COMMISSION...WHICH WAS ALSO A PLANNED WAY OF DEGRADING THE RANKS... COULD BE AVOIDED DUE TO STIFF RESISTANCE AND INITIATIVE TAKEN BY NAVY CHIEF.ARMED FORCES SHOULD BE BROUGHT UNDER LOKPAL AS IT ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED BY CBI FOR SCAMS LIKE ADARSH, SUKHNA, LIQUOR , CSD , CONTRACTS , ETC

Armed Forces MUST come under Lokpal. It is a sad s...

2012-01-15T21:14:05.404+05:30

Armed Forces MUST come under Lokpal. It is a sad step to not do so...

Without any doubt we all should be under the ambit...

2012-01-14T19:07:10.085+05:30

Without any doubt we all should be under the ambit of Lokpal...at least those deptts having to intract and deal with contractor including MES,GREF supplies ,procurements of all types, canteen services etc why should such deptts whose activities have got nothing to do with miltary and operational matters be given such a imunity... its high time the army only takes up the issue with central govt and offers itself for inclusion ..i think it will do a lot of good to all of us..

Without any doubt we all should be under the ambit...

2012-01-14T18:59:13.635+05:30

DEFINITELY - YES

2012-01-14T00:44:23.047+05:30

DEFINITELY - YES

In the recent past corruption is institutionalized...

2012-01-09T16:58:50.994+05:30

In the recent past corruption is institutionalized even in armed forces. If anyone denies, either he is a true soldier (my kudos to him, however rare species he may be) or plain blind. If Lokpal is a movement of people against corruption, I guess, there should be no exceptions.

There is no doubt that in the last couple of years...

2012-01-09T13:51:28.932+05:30

There is no doubt that in the last couple of years, cases of corrupt practices in the Armed Forces have increased manifold and have tarnished the transparent image of all those who are in active Military Service today as well as the Veterans.The shameful act of the offenders should definitely be curbed but in no case
with the force-entry of LOKPAL BILL into Military Services.
MILITARY and CIVIL are two opposite words.We have lot many Acts,Orders,Instructions etc. in the Armed Forces.These are very strong weapons in the hands of our Military Administrators and more than adequate to counter all types of odds within our houses!Otherwise too,interference/involvement of any Civilian Institution in Military Activities, may not be safe in consideration with the National Security and should strictly be kept away with.
Unfortunately,in the last 64+ years of our independence we have failed miserably in 'Character Building' of the people of this country and there lies the problem!
We have seen a good number of cases where the Law Makers have become the Law Breakers, thus creating a lot of hue and cry in the society.
LOKPAL BILL,once introduced in its entirety, to eradicate corruption from the Civil Society,bound to fetch favorable results and its Shadow Effect will invariably be there in 'Military Society' also.

Are we the naivest people on earth? this grand sta...

2012-01-07T23:57:48.626+05:30

Are we the naivest people on earth? this grand standing of being the upholders of highest levels of probity and morality is what has brought us down to such levels, vis-a vis our counterparts in all other fields. for once guys, learn to be smart, the only damn thing that works for us is the "emotional connect" with the people of the country. we get hounded and degraded at all levels, we are kept out of every important decision making process. most even don't consider as part of the govt machinery. we ourselves bandy about the good reasons why civil and military should not mix too much at all levels. are we not already looking over our shoulders even now, before we do anything worthwhile and in the best interest of the organisation? are we not already under immense pressure when we are in sensitive appointments, by both forces internal and external to the organisation? come on folks, donot preach and put ourselves on a non-existent pedestal. If we are not included in the lokpal mayhem.. thank god for small mercies... we already have our peers and seniors breathing down our necks to pull us down. we do not need another authority to walk into our lives to further erode our sense of pride. we have lost all sense of uppity (which a soldier needs to have), we have been decreed to rot in anonymity.. let us atleast do wat we do, at least with some modicum of izzat. I do not care for one more babu (with immense powers) to hound me on anything else. Be smart people!!

one should not see LOKPAL as ghost. Afterall it ...

2012-01-06T23:09:21.231+05:30

one should not see LOKPAL as ghost. Afterall it will be run by the human being having leg, arms, eyes, ears and tongue. After some time it will also do the same thing as being done by our five sense organs.

If the govt/armed forces bosses are really serious then they must streamline the system in armed forces. The role of MES must be checked in the first instance because it is the most honest corrupt organisation.

Absolutely no Lokpal for Defence Forces. Defence S...

2012-01-06T20:51:56.244+05:30

Absolutely no Lokpal for Defence Forces. Defence Secrets and Issues are too large for average civilians to even comprehend. Civilians and news teams led by teenagers have made a hash out of Sukhna, Mumbai Towers, Chief's Age, Ration Authorisation v/s availability, CSD and URCs etc.... It takes an utter lack of understanding of basics and confusing non related issues and only civilians who know nothing about Fauj and have a vague mental picture of "what fauj should be?", can manage to create such confusion. Media, news outlets and civilians thrive on created and manufactured news and have no responsibility any longer. A foot soldier on the other hand knows when to keep his mouth shut. Even our CAG has no idea about Fauj. They blame the Army for non procurement of Guns, Ammo, Helicopters, Vehicles everything. What Fauj requires is a CDS and NO RPT NO civilian interference.

The Armed forces should have been included in it. ...

2012-01-06T13:25:48.139+05:30

The Armed forces should have been included in it. The last sentinel cannot be allowed to be left to its own devices. It would empower the soldier and bring down corruption which very much exists in the Army specially at the officer level as they only have access and powers to spend the public/regimental funds.

Dear Major, A very Happy New Year to You, Your fa...

2012-01-05T19:30:06.229+05:30

Dear Major,

A very Happy New Year to You, Your family and all the readers on this blog.

Armed forces should also be under LOKPAL.

In any case it should not be out of the preview of LOKPAL.

Rajeev Behal
Ex-Sgt
Indian Air Force

ieCan Law under Lokpal act faster than the Army Ac...

2012-01-05T19:29:37.031+05:30

ieCan Law under Lokpal act faster than the Army Act ?There are enough provisions in Army Act to administer fast justice in all cases including corruption.Lokpal is necessary for people not under army act.

THERE SHOULD BE A SEPARATE AND STRICT MECHANISM AK...

2012-01-05T19:21:27.665+05:30

THERE SHOULD BE A SEPARATE AND STRICT MECHANISM AKIN TO LOK PAL FOR ARMED FORCES.THE CIVIL SIDE HAS WAYS AND MEANS TO SAVE THEIR SKIN BY POLITICAL BARGAINING WHEREAS ARMED FORCES HAVE NON.90% PEOPLE SITTING IN PARLIAMENT HAVE SOME CASE OR OTHER AGAINST THEM BUT VERY FEW ARE BEHIND BARS EVEN BUREAUCRATS ARE ABLE TO CALL THEIR SHOTS.THE NEEDFUL SHOULD BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT INTERFERING IN EACH OTHERS DOMAIN.OTHERWISE WE WILL BECOME CIVIL ARMED FORCES AND NOT INDIAN ARMED FORCES

Usually Citizen's Charter should not have been...

2012-01-05T12:50:57.326+05:30

Usually Citizen's Charter should not have been applicable to AFs with its patent high ethos, morals and timeliness.
But sadly the decadence & subjugation of the Officer Cadre per se has led to overall fall in grace for the AFs.
Yesterday, I was horrified, when watching "Kya Yehi Sach Hai" (a movie abt IPS); due to stark similarity and
sheer mirroring of circumstances. Recently a serving (re-employed) officer suggested that to get a choice posting one only has to offer a bottle of BLU LABEL in MS Br!!!

AFs are not holy cow.....there have been plethora ...

2012-01-05T01:27:52.062+05:30

AFs are not holy cow.....there have been plethora of corruption cases in recent past. We ought to be within the ambit of Lokpal.

Had lokpal been in place, then Shri Avdesh Prakash(Ex Lt Gen) would not have been able to promote his wet canteen contractor Mr Dilip Aggarwal with impunity.

Why shouldnt MES, procurement of rations, clothing, exp on public funds, BRTFs etc be outside lokpal

@ Medical Specialist is absolutely right. I was re...

2012-01-04T22:37:24.400+05:30

@ Medical Specialist is absolutely right. I was referred for endscopy to Maharaja Agarsen Hosp from ECHS. They charged Rs 2700/- whereas they charge
Rs 2200/- to others. When i enquired they said, Rs 500/- to be paid to ECHS.

CDA can certainly be brought under Lokpal. CDA and...

2012-01-04T21:33:30.190+05:30

CDA can certainly be brought under Lokpal. CDA and MES have refined "bribe" into an art form.

IMHO appointments dealing with procurement in ASC,...

2012-01-04T21:13:44.708+05:30

IMHO appointments dealing with procurement in ASC, AOC, AMC as also all agencies handling Capital procurement must come under the ambit of Lokpal. It is also a must to bring DRDO and MES (the two biggest bottomless pits) under Lokpal.

We however must not allow jurisdiction over operational and intelligence related matters.

yes army does need lokpal too...but perheps it sho...

2012-01-04T19:55:24.980+05:30

yes army does need lokpal too...but perheps it should be for services only where purchase of equipment / rations / medicines occur. The ambit of arms and security related purchases and actual fighting force should be away from it...most importantly ECHS needs lokpal....i feel pain when i see tons of money wasted since there is no audit which is in place for ECHS. pvt hospital generate bills in air sometimes..

Infact army should be under greater scrutiny becau...

2012-01-04T19:32:38.372+05:30

Infact army should be under greater scrutiny because:-

--- The Army Act has not been able to check corruption.

--- I an organisation playing an important and sensitive roll as National Security, corruption is the last thing one would want. A strong bill such as Lokpal is essential.

-- The myth that the integrity of Senior Army offrs is impeccable -- has been proven wrong so very often.

-- Army has already has Audit Free provisions in field areas and we all know what happens.

-- If army is not brought under lokpal, the day is not far when army will be the most corrupt organisation.

--- How checking corruption be harmful for national security.

Let there be a Lokpal for AFs as well. Bearing in ...

2012-01-04T17:24:13.651+05:30

Let there be a Lokpal for AFs as well. Bearing in mind the specialised job of the AFs, it may be well be structured as a body comprising of Servicemembers and Jurists (like AFTs) of unimpeachable integrity, with adequate safeguards in place. It will only lead to more transparency and accountability within the Org and help in checking corruption.

PS: AFs personnel are not infallible, only the extent and levels may vary vis a vis civs.

I am vis the blog for the first time. I have gone ...

2012-01-04T16:59:48.419+05:30

I am vis the blog for the first time. I have gone through the comments on armed forces and Lokpal.
Due to Armed Forces method of working and service requirements Lokpal as proposed might not be the best structure to check corruption therein.
In the early part someone has very well brought out the problems of meeting deadlines for procurement of stores for events like visits, war
games, functions etc, and quandary of managers (both Commanders and staff officers) to not bend/bypass/break the rules and yet to hit the given time line fully prepared.
If the armed forces are not expected to perform to hit the target every time as in civil departments of govt, the armed forces could be very well brought under Lokpal as it is with no skin off anyone's nose.
But if the armed forces are to continue to be mission/task oriented it will handicap them in not a little way. They will have to think of ways and means of applying the present Lokpal methods to check corruption after due modifications. It's application will have to be strictly managed within the armed forces and civilian element will have to come in at the very end of the process.
This however will/should NOT include the MoD civ services like mes, cda,DEO, DRDO etc. Remember though the Armed forces are not a part of the Govt, these services are a part of the central Govt services.

Armed forces must have adequate external checks li...

2012-01-04T16:44:33.060+05:30

Armed forces must have adequate external checks like CAG, Lokpal, etc. Else, they may get off the correct path and enter into wrong acts / transactions. A lot of financial prudency is required for utilisation of Sadbhavna, S&S Imprest and MI Funds. We must have external checks for maintaining the internal health of the Army