Digital Life Certificate : PDC

Few Snaps of Digital Life Certificate Program at IESL Pune District Centre.

Courtesy  : LRO DH Kulkarni (Sec IESL PDC Pune)

8 Pressure Points That Reduce Stress

We all have our ways of dealing with stress. Some people escape to a sunny beach, some prefer a nice glass of wine and some even do our best to ignore it. Each way has its advantages (and sometimes disadvantages) but we can’t always do what helps at the exact moment we need it. This is where pressure points become a quick and effective long term solution. Pressure points are areas in the body that, when applied with some pressure, can trigger various effects in our minds and body. The Scalp

The Scalp is full of pressure points, many of which can effectively and discretely reduce stress levels. You can sit at your office desk, lean back and use two fingers to massage the point where the neck meets the skull for about 20 seconds. Much of the stress we accumulate during the day collects in the shoulders and neck muscles and applying pressure to this point can relieve much of it. The Ear

This pressure point is known as Shen Men (The Spirit Gate) and some experts claim it’s the best stress-relieving point in the body. In reflexology, it is also used to reduce inflammation and pain throughout the body. It is recommended that you massage this spot with an earbud or even a pen, and to take deep, slow breaths during the massage. The Chest

Stress can make us forget to breath or take shallow breaths. This point helps reduce the stress that accumulates in the chest, while reminding you to breathe normally again. Use three fingers to massage this point, or one finger to tap rhythmically on the area while taking deep breaths. If you experience chronic stress, combine massaging this point with the point between your eyebrows. The connection between these two points helps in calming the nerve system. The Stomach

Many reflexologists prefer to use this point because it helps create movement that frees the chest and diaphragm, which improves the breathing process. Patients who go through this treatment instinctively take deeper breaths and almost always report a sensation or relief. The Forearm

A classic spot for reflexology and acupuncture. Stress and anxiety create a reverse energy flow in the body, which this spot is supposed to repair. It helps your energy move in the right direction while aiding in your mental focus and stress reduction. The Palm

The moment you press on this spot, you’ll feel your stress evaporating. It is located on one of the most important meridians (an energy channel), which affects the heart, liver, and pancreas. It is believed that much of the stress we experienced is stored in the liver, so applying pressure at this point is highly effective. It is also a great spot for treating head aches, stomach aches, indigestion and insomnia – all of which could be symptoms of stress.

The Calves

If you feel stress in the upper part of your body, massaging this spot is perfect. The area could be quite tender in people who deal with a lot of stress, and in women in particular. The Foot

.

Pressure at this point can help ease a stressed mind that keeps rethinking whatever it is that causes your stress. Some reflexologists believe that this is the best meridian for treating the pancreas and that its location – at the center of the foot, helps patients reduce their stress and provide better attention to their bodies.

Source : Mail from YR Raghavan 

Four-star General likely to handle Army, IAF & Navy issues

By Rajat Pandit, 

File photo: Cadets commissioned as Officers in Indian army during the passing out parade at the Officers Training Academy in on Saturday.20 march 2010.

 NEW DELHI: India seems to be moving towards getting another four-star general to handle all tri-Service issues in what will primarily be a staff appointment. The Army, IAF and Navy chiefs, the existing four-star generals, will be left operationally-independent to run their own services. 

Defence ministry sources on Tuesday said the proposal to create the new post of a permanent chairman of the chiefs of staff committee (CoSC) was at "an advanced stage of planning" now. The post, of course, would have to be ultimately approved by the Union Cabinet since "the issues involved are very complex", they added. 

The proposed post of the permanent chairman of CoSC, which currently comprises the three chiefs, would be the "first among equals" for resolving all inter-service doctrinal, planning, procurement and operational issues. 

The main focus will be on integrated planning and inter-Service prioritization of procurements to systematically build the country's military capabilities in a holistic manner. At present, the three Services bitterly squabble for the limited defence budget, with each naturally trying to get the most for itself. In the process, the country often does not get the biggest bang for its buck. 

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar in March had held that the existing system — the senior-most of the three chiefs acts as the ex officio CoSC chairman till he retires — reduced the post to being "virtually a figurehead" with no real integration. He had also declared his intention to evolve a "mechanism" to resolve the problem, as was then reported by TOI. 

The move to create the new post with a fixed tenure, in effect, is the NDA government's unfinished agenda from its last term in office under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The L K Advani-led group of ministers' report on reforming the national security system in 2001 had stressed the need for a chief of defence staff (CDS) to provide single-point military advice to the government and manage the country's nuclear arsenal, among other things. 

Several GoM recommendations were then implemented, including some tri-Service structures under an integrated defence staff (IDS) led by a three-star general. But the then NDA government had developed cold feet over creating the all-important CDS post due to political-bureaucratic resistance for appointing an "all powerful general" as well as turf wars within the three services. 

The permanent CoSC chairman, in turn, is a watered-down version of the CDS post recommended by the Naresh Chandra Taskforce in 2012. This was, incidentally, accepted by the three Services in 2013. Many experts, however, say what is really needed is a five-star CDS with the requisite power and authority to lead the armed forces. 

Interestingly, in the US, the chairman of joint chiefs of staff is the highest-ranking military officer and principal military advisor to the American President. But the chiefs of the unified combatant commands, who handle different geographical parts of the globe, also report directly to political leadership.

Source  TNN | 22 Jul, 2015

CBI to Conducts Checks

The CBI today carried out surprise checks at Indian Naval Hospital (INHS) in Mumbai’s Colaba and Armed Forces Medical Stores Depot in Kandivali after receiving information that drugs were being allegedly purchased in violation of the ‘Stock Policy’.

 

The action of the agency took place in coordination with Naval and Army authorities.

 

The CBI sources said they had received inputs that medicines were allegedly being procured from local dealers at exorbitant rates instead of purchasing these stocks at approved rates from contract dealers or original manufacturers in accordance with “Stock Policy”.

 

“The information also indicates that certain drugs are allegedly being procured in excess of the actual requirement and in violation of the ‘Stock Policy’, thereby leading to expiry of a large quantity of medicines,” an official said.

The sources said it was also alleged that expired medicines were being returned without realising the cost of the same from the local dealers.

Source : PTI, New Delhi, July 17, 2015
 

Soldiers Grievances Panel

By Vijay Mohan

In an unprecedented step, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has set up a committee of experts to look into grievances related to service matters and pensions of Armed Forces personnel so as to initiate measures to minimise litigation and disputes in courts.

The orders for setting up the committee were signed by Parrikar yesterday. Consisting of five members, the committee will report directly to the Defence Minister and is mandated to submit its findings and recommendations within 60 days. The committee’s terms of reference include recommending broad institutional changes to mechanisms for redressal of grievances and holistically examine resolution of issues that have led to massive pending litigation.

According to sources, over 10,000 cases pertaining to service matters such as pay fixation, promotions, policy interpretation, pensions and military justice are pending before the Armed Forces Tribunal, the High Courts and the Supreme Court.

The committee members include Lt Gen Richard Khare, former Military Secretary; Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal, former Adjutant General; Chandigarh-based High Court lawyer Major Navdeep Singh; and Kargil war survivor and blade runner Major DP Singh.

Terming it a historic progressive decision to bring comfort to serving and retired defence personnel, Major Navdeep Singh said formulating the committee was a watershed moment devoid of any political hues and in line with the Prime Minister’s directives that the government should be able to focus on the core functioning of its ministries and disputes should be resolved in-house so that aggrieved employees were not forced to approach the courts.

Ex-servicemen’s organisations have for long been calling for reduction in litigation, especially appeals initiated by the MoD against disabled soldiers in the past few years.

Source : Tribune News Service, Chandigarh, July 17 2015

Fourth Sepoy Mutiny

 By Lt Col CR Sundar, psc MSc (Defence Studies)

 

20??

In the past the greatest changes in our country were wrought by Sepoy uprisings. Three such uprisings brought about immense transformations. All three of them came about as a culmination of discontent among the ranks of the armed forces caused by the callous attitude of the rulers of the day. They resulted in bloodshed and in their own way weakened the rulers and paved the way for their exit.

Vellore Sepoy Mutiny 1806.

This took place at Vellore Fort in July 1806. The reason was the long existing hated practice of flogging as a punishment which existed within Indian Regiments.

In its aftermath flogging as a punishment was abolished in India.

Indian Sepoy Mutiny 1857.

Whereas tallow and lard-greased cartridges were the trigger to the mutiny there existed long pending grievances over the issue of promotions based on seniority. Also they kept increasing the number of European officers in Indian battalions. This led to slow progress in promotions and very few Indians could rise to get a commission. Even those that did could reach commissioned rank only when they were too old to be effective.

The rebellion wiped out the East India Company and the last vestiges of the Moghul rule. It marked the beginning of a new rule.

Navy Ratings Mutiny 1946.

Leading Signalman MS Khan and Petty Officer Telegraphist Madan Singh took the lead and formed the Naval Central Strike Committee. The strike call given by them found immediate response in all the naval ports of India.

Though the loss of life was minimal the mutiny made the British colonial rulers aware that India has reached a ‘point of no return’ in her struggle for independence.

OROP Jawans Mutiny 20??.

The Government of India has not yet realized the Jawans, the Sepoys of today, know that for long they have been given a bad bargain under the pretext of keeping the age profile young.

Let us take the case of two lads aged about 20 years in 1975. One joins the Indian Army as a Sepoy and the other joins a civil government service. In 1990 at the age of 35 and a service of 15 years the sepoy would have been sent on a pension averaging about Rs. 3,000 per month. The government employee would retire in 2015 at the age of 60 years.

In the 25 years between 1990 and 2015 the military pensioner would have earned Rs. 9 lakhs as pension whereas the government servant would have earned close to Rs. 1.25 crores as salary and perks and would retire with a much larger pension.

Therefore the minimum that can be done is to accept OROP. “The principal of OROP implies that uniform pensions be paid to Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of the date of their date of retirement and any further enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioner”. It will help the retired ExServiceman get at least 30% of what his civilian counterpart gets.

Those jawans serving today know that they would be subject to the same misfortune suffered by their fathers. Retirees are struggling today for justice. It will not be long before serving soldiers rise in mutiny against this injustice. Though that would be a sad day it appears inevitable.

Conclusion

The government may consider the following questions deeply.

1.     Today we have enemies at our door steps. Can we afford a mutiny in the armed forces?

2.     During the British rule mutinies were crushed by ruthless summary justice. The same cannot happen today.

3.     Even if the mutiny is crushed OROP, or something better will have to be accepted. Why not accept it before we reach a ‘point of no return’?

Military Pension Concept

Military Pension is a concept devised by the bureaucracy with some intent. The concept must be viewed with caution by the leaders of the Veteran’s community presently engaged with the Government on the issue of OROP. 

As it seems, the nomenclature of the proposal suggests that the Government is likely to lay down a Pension Band like the present Pay Band. The point that is likely to be missed out is, equating the pension of the Veterans of the past with the pensions of soldiers retiring from service today with equivalent rank and service. As a result the Pension Band is likely to be much below the Pension applicable to personnel of the same rank and length of service retiring today.  The implication would be, even if the pension band, say for a Brigadier retiring with 25 years of service is Rs 2000 per month with an increase of Rs 25 for every 6 months increase in service, it would fit in with the definition of OROP. In other words, the Pension Bands may be delinked from Last Pay Drawn. 

The bureaucracy may be banking on cashing on this interpretation to circumvent OROP. Once announced the Government will go whole hog to mislead the general public to claim that the Veteran’s demands have been fully met as the pension from then on would be same for persons of the same rank with same service irrespective of their date of retirement.

It appears to me that instigated claims of CAPFs demanding OROP, the JCOs and OR getting less increase due to OROP etc. are being generated to create friction amongst ranks and files of the army as well as the Veteran’s community. It would also enable the Government to create a belief amongst the civil population that OROP indeed is a complicated process. On this very pretext of allegedly being able to examine the issue of OROP comprehensively to include CAPF and other Police Forces, the issue may be palmed off to 7^th CPC. The larger aims and approach of the Government (read bureaucracy) explains the delay in implementing OROP. 

If you study this carefully, it may be a sinister plan something similar to the 3^rd CPC. This will reduce the pension of the present retirees delinked from their Last Pay Drawn. In the long run, the pensions of the Defence Community will be hit very hard. 

The purpose of writing this blog is to caution those handling the issue including the Service HQ of the likely pit falls. Even after the Government makes the announcements, the experts from the Veteran’s community and the Service Headquarters need to study the letter carefully before claiming success or expressing happiness over the issue. We should remember how the Rank Pay was skirted even after the Government letter was issued. 

Incidentally, along with OROP, we need to insist that a rep from each service and the Veteran’s community need to be included in the committee working out the details of the scheme. It is time the Service HQ and the Veteran’s community also insists that similar representation is accepted in the 7th CPC before it is too late to mend things.

I sincerely hope and pray that my assessment is totally wrong and misconceived. I would be happy if the Government proves me wrong by implementing OROP, the way it was perceived.  

Regards,

Brigadier V Mahalingam (Retd.)

OROP : Important Development

Three Cheers to Major Navdeep Singh

1.       I wanted to share an important development with you.

2.       The Prime Minister and the Raksha Mantri have been concerned about massive litigation and grievances in service and pensioners matters involving the Ministry of Defence. It was also felt that Ministries and Departments should be concentrating on core issues of governance rather than being overwhelmed by such litigation. Excessive court cases and grievances on various policies vitiate the environment, something which is highly avoidable and not in national interest. The discontentment in the last few years on this subject is well known.

3.       In order to ensure holistic resolution and a permanent solution of the issue and to recommend practical ways and means of having an effective mechanism in place so that genuine grievances are resolved in an environment of mutual trust and faith at the lowest possible level, and keeping in view the PM’s vision and directions, for the first time in history the Raksha Mantri has directed the constitution of a Short-term Commission / Committee of Experts who shall examine all related matters to find workable solution(s) to such issues.

4.       It gives me contentment in also informing you that I and Maj DP Singh (https://www.facebook.com/MajorDPSingh) have been tasked by the Raksha Mantri to be Members of this body consisting of a total of Five persons.

5.       I assure everyone that we shall undertake this task objectively, transparently, without fear or favour; neutrally with all sensitivity, and most importantly, swiftly and in all probability within a period of two months.

6.       We thank the PM and the RM for taking this progressive and landmark step and reassure them that we would not let them down.

7.       Just to clarify, this body has no link whatsoever with OROP.

Thanks.

Jai Hind.

Maj Navdeep Singh.

The Politics of Subsidy

 

NEWS AND VIEWS : SAINIK SAMAJ PARTY (NWCR)

 

1. Media is agog with the news of subsidy in Parliament Canteen. I first had my lunch in either Dec1977 or Jan 78. We were told that it is very cheap. Indeed it was cheap. Subsidy in this canteen probably existed even prior to independence. Someone needs to dig out the history.

 

2. Should there be subsidy in parliament Canteen? The party don't think so. It must go. But more important than parliamentary Canteen is the subsidy given to Media Houses for running their print media or electronic TV channels. This subsidy is given is given to these Media eateries /companies an individuals in terms of News Print paper rolls, and all equipment required for running the channels including cameras broadcasting equipment and every bit of it.

 

3. Sainik Samaj Party demands that this subsidy to all media enterprises should be stopped forthwith since it is erroneously called fourth pillar and given huge subsidy.

4. Please share the post if you agree with the idea of withdrawing the subsidy to Media Houses since they have lost their trustworthiness and Social Media in any case has taken the role of public informer and educating agent.

 

Balbir Singh Parmar

Sainik Samaj Party

 

Memorable Moments with PVC Awardees

Dear All,

 I was extremely lucky when I was tasked to escort three living Param Veer Chakra Awardees from Aurangabad to Buldhana on 15 Jul 15. On 16 July a grand reception was arranged by Dept Of Sainik Welfare, Govt of Maharashtra, another by civil authorities and third by all colleges at Buldhana. The entire route was lined up with NCC cadets, school boys and girls with their teachers numbering more than 2000 showering petals on three of them. They were in the open jeep to receive this salute. Even on the same late night CREDAI , of Aurangabad , visited our hotel and paid floral tributes to them. Next morning on 16 th July at sharp 0700 hrs we went to Mahatma Gandhi Eng College auditorium where students and staff numbering more than 250 were present to hear these awardees.

 

 

 We left same day at 0815 hrs for Pune and reached outskirts at around 1445 hrs. Representatives of PSSP and AFA Maharashtra were waiting to offer bouquets to all three of them. Photo below shows to my left, Nb Sub Sanjay Kumar of Kargill war, Hon capt Bana Singh of Siachin fame and Sub Yogendra Yadav of Tiger Hill fame.

 I dropped them at their place of halt thereafter. I accompanied my wife again in the late evening to meet them and paid our profound respects to all of them. They are attending another private civil reception this morning at 1000 hrs where Air Marshal Bhushan Gokhale ( Retd) will be Chief Guest to honour them.

 My three days with these PVC awardees will remain a unique and most memorable event in my life. You may not get three living legends together in the near future. Nb Sub Sanjay Kumar is presently serving at IMA as Instructor and Sub Yogendra Yadav of Granadiers is serving at Bareilly.Hon Capt Bana Singh is retired and staying at Jammu.

Regards,
Gp Capt Suhas Phatak,(Retd)
President,
Air Force Association,Maharashtra,
Camp, Pune -411001
Tel no : 020-26840442/462

Mob: 09421003200

One Rank One Pension Explained in 10 Points

Here is a 10-point guide:

1.   Retired services personnel also expect a year's back pay in pensions at the new rate, which if approved will be a windfall for pensioners.

2.   Unlike the civil services, where the retirement age is 60, 85 per cent soldiers are compulsorily retired between 35 and 37 years of age. Another 12-13 per cent soldiers retire between 40 and 54 years.

3.   Protesters demanding OROP also point out that civil servants cannot be discharged by the government on account of disability until they reach their retirement age. But soldiers can be discharged any time on account of disability.

4.   Currently, the pension for retired personnel is based on the Pay Commission recommendations at the time when they retired. So, a Major General who retired in 1996 draws less pension than a Lt. Colonel who retired after 1996.

5.   Implementing OROP will cost the government at least an estimated Rs. 8,300 crore annually and the Finance Ministry has to take the final call on it now. One Rank One Pension will benefit 25 lakh ex-servicemen.

6.   One Rank One Pension was an election promise of the BJP. Ex-servicemen are now demanding that it fulfil that promise.

7.   In its last Budget in 2014, months before the national election, the Congress-led UPA government announced that OROP would be implemented, but allocated a meagre Rs. 500 crore.

8.   The BJP government says that was grossly inadequate and that it has, since it came to power, been working hard to implement OROP.

9.   The Supreme Court had ordered the implementation of OROP six years ago in 2009, and in February this year, reminded the government that it is yet to do so. In 1983, the Supreme Court said, "Pension is not a bounty nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweet will of the employer."

10.   A group of ex-servicemen leading protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi claim ex-jawans are willing to fast unto death for OROP. With Anna Hazare on board, the ex-servicemen say they will also protest in election-bound states such as Bihar.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/one-rank-one-pension-explained-in-10-points-782065

Sainik Darpan Jul 2015

OROP Protest - Sainik Samaj Party

OROP PROTEST TAMILNADU – REPORT DT 05 JUL 2015

Lt Col CR Sundar, President Tamil Nadu Sainik Samaj Party

Protest at Ranipet – 05 Jul 2015

Excellent arrangements were made for the protest opposite the Ranipet Thasiladar’s office by ESM S Nagaraj, President Sainik Samaj Party (SSP), Ranipet MLA constituency, ESM NM Sekar, Vice President, ESM M Gajendran, Secretary and ESM D Bhaskaran, Deputy Secretary.

Party flag was raised at the location.

Sloganeering was done in which those present joined in energetically. Slogans were raised against  Modi for having failed to keep his promise and also against the central and state governments for not having shown due consideration for the plight of the Veterans.

Arrangements were made for 200 attendees but only about 60 including ladies turned up. The reason could be because Ranipet does not have a good strength of ESM. Those expected from surrounding areas did not come probably because of fatigue having set in due to too many protests within a short period.

A few snaps are attached below.

All Eyes to Jantar Mantar

By Col K Mohandas

IT IS A SHAME FOR OUR COUNTRY 

Nowhere else in the world, the War Veterans take to streets to seek justice from their own government. But in our country where the Government ignores the services rendered by the soldiers, but continue to pamper the Members of Parliament  with lucrative perks and privileges, this had to happen.

Do you know that the Relay Hunger Strike by the Armed Forces Veterans and War widows had been going on at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi for the past three weeks. A few glimpses from the previous days attached.

And at Jantar Mantar Today, Mrs CharuSheela,  92 year old, w/o Late Col Balbir Singh, past CO 3 Grenadiers participated in the Hunger strike along with others. We are blessed to have such wonderful people amongst us  Pic from the venue, incl That of Mrs Charusheela are att below. The struggle will continue till our demand is met by the Govt.

Visit them at Jantar Mantar anytime from 9.30 AM till 5 PM.Do spend some time with organisers and those on hunger strike. They need your support in ample measure!!