Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Change in Uniform
Coming to think of what Fidraus has said. It would be interseting to find out how many times the BSF tie and Scarf has been changed in BSF in last 42 years. The only imprint the Director Generals have so far left on the force is the colour and design of tie and scarf which ends with their retirement because the new 'Competent Authority' resolves to change these upon taking over. I must concede though that there have been honorable exceptions in shape of Mr Prakash singh and Mr E N Rammohan. One very funny method of geting public exposure for the force was the annual Fete held at delhi. I dont understand whether this name and fame was for the BSF or for Reemployment of the soon to retire Director General. Thanks to the current DG He has put a stop to this nonsence.
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ReplyDeleteall borderman should send max representation to get our right like in this matter to HM MHA
Respected Sir,
I am a direct entry officer of the 19-- batch of Assistant commandants (Direct Entry). I have put in more than 12 years of service with experiences and skills developed and honed by diverse working environments of Rajasthan, J & K and Tripura. I have also served as an instructor, imparting knowledge and developing the physical and mental capabilities of raw recruits, preparing them for the rigours of everyday life in the Force. Needless to say, after so many years of service in the field, as an Assistant Commandant for 6 years and a Deputy Commandant for 6 years, I have been looking forward to picking up my next rank, that of Second-in-Command and to taking the men under my command to greater heights of professional glory.
The recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission, regarding enhancing quota for promotion of cadre Officers in the rank of Inspector General and above to 50%, which would have made way for better promotional avenues were a pointer towards my attaining promotion soon. But it was with dismay that I read that the cabinet vide their resolution para – 1(viii) published in the Gazette extraordinary Part 1 dated 29/08/08 has referred the matter to the MHA for taking an administrative view on this recommendation of the 6th Pay Commission.
Another recommendation of the Pay Commission, that of upgrading the post of Additional Dy Inspector General, although has been accepted by the Cabinet, the same has been held in abetance by the MHA as communicated by the FHQ BSF New Delhi vide their Signal No R/3207 dated 4/09/08. With an increased vacancy for BSF cadre officers at both these ranks, the cascading effect would have been helpful towards my career progression. I cannot hope to be promoted for another 4-5 years whereas my counterparts in the CRPF and the ITBP have been promoted or on the verge of promotion.
Sir, the men of this illustrious Force been deprived of their rightful place in the sun. Their blood, sweat and toil have kept the borders of our Nation sheltered. It has been an honour for me to have served in this Force for more than 12 years and I would very much like to attain the highest position if I am found fit for it. For the men as well as for Officers like me, a secure working atmosphere with assured career progression is a subject that demands your personal attention. I am hopeful that with your sense of justice and fairplay, an early redressal of my grievance would be possible.
The Brig should be asked why the BSF was not withdrawn during OP Brasstacks and when the Army was in eyeball contact after the Parliament attack?
What was its role during the 1971 Ops. What is the concept of Reorg BOPS.?
Who determines the less threatened areas?
Why were there no incursions in Kargil where BSF was deployed?
If the Army felt that the area they had abandoned in Kargil was less threatened, why did the incursions occur in the areas the Army had vacated? Why did the army vacate the area if wasmore theatened and invite the incursions??
If the area they vacated was less threatened why was the BSF not deployed there?
they can not give this lop sided logic and get away with it by hoodwinking the politicians.
How come the less threatened areas become more threatened the moment BSF digs the trenches and makes the bunkers so that teh Army can occupy them?
Agreed BSF will not be used in an offensive role. Does the army only has an offensive role?
I wonder which place they will launch the offensive in today's scenario. Most of the time it performs a defensive role which is also done by BSF.
Should it be paid more only because it can perform an offensive role ?
In that case they should have separate pay for peace and war time.
The last time they were forced to launch offensives in Kargil because they had let the enemy come right inside their house?
How is izzat linked to money? Is that the reaon that we had the Army officers succumbing to the Tehalka sting operation?
If it is a question of Izzat why is the army denying it to BSF? Is BSF not entitled to Izzat..?
It is surprising that a 1.1 Million strong Army is comparing its role and tasks and pay packet with BSF which is less tha 3 lacs in numbers.
Why is the Army so vehemently against the BSF getting any perks while they want allownaces for evrything.!!
No one grudges them their Military pay... Why should they want the BSF not to get the Para Military allowance.
Do we grudge them the free rations in kind, their medical facilities, the Form Ds, the separated family accomodation, the Army schools and colleges, the reservaion in jobs , free plots of land, the petrol pumps and canteens etc etc???
This is a typical Dog in the Manger policy which shows the army is very poor light...
Agreed the BSF plays a complementary role to the Army, but the hardships faced by BSF are no less than the Army. How can they justify that the Army jawan in the same bunker facing the same difficulties fighting teh same enemy and braving the same odds is entitled to better rations, better equipment and better pay just because he wears a green uniform and the BSF chap a khakhi uniform??
What happened to the principle of equal pay for simlar jobs .
The threatening tone in the last sentence of the note does not augur well for the Indian democracy and only reaffirms the views of Mr Kuldeep Nayar which the Brig has cleverly avoided to comment on.
I think some retired officer from BSF should write back to put the record straight..
Best regards
My Dear Mr Nayar,
1.Thank you for writing an article on the major issues of the Armed Forces.I wish to put across my views on two issues, you have stated in the article.
2.Unionism by Chiefs.The Chiefs of Staff Committee( CoSC), an approved committee of the RM ,consists of all the three chiefs ,which take decisions collectively. Though there is a Chairman CoSC;presently the Naval Chief, but he has no authority, as he remains a titular head,like the President of India.Therefore the three Chiefs had to approach the RM collectively on the issues of Armed Forces . Had the Govt accepted and implemented the Subramanium Committee report on the appointment of a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS),this contingency would not have arisen.Therefore the impression of a unionism attitude of the Chiefs as stated by you is a perceptional difference.If the CDS is appointed, he becomes the principal advisor to the RM on all defence matters.This may not be to the liking of the Defence Secretary,who wields unlimited authority on defence services without accountability.
3.BSF Vs Army. BSF does not perform the same tasks as the Army and neither are they the first line of defence.They manage the borders during peace times and in no war no peace situations.The moment a conflict erupts they are withdrawn to the least threatened areas in the rear and replaced by regular army. They are also not trained and equipped entirely as the regular army.BSF is given only defensive roles in least threatened areas or in most cases,allotted in sub units under the command the army for employment in less important tasks.They are never employed for Offensive Operations. Even in counter insurgency operations like J&K/NE states,they are generally deployed near inhabited areas,under army formations ,keeping the Army away from civil population as far as possible.The deployment of army in this operation is at the cost of its primary task of providing external security.Therefore comparing BSF ,a para military force ,with the
regular army is synonymous with the comparison of medical staff with para medical staff.
4.The Armed Forces are NOT asking for more money as perceived by many,but for restoration of their Honour(Izzat) which has been eroded over the last 60 years,by the bureaucracy with their ill intended advice to the ignorant political masters,in the garb of civilian control,which defacto becomes the control by the bureaucracy. In a materialistic world,unfortunately , the status is determined by the pay package and hence the linkage with the pay commission and comparative wages.
5.I may add that a willing horse has been flogged for too long without caring for its long term implications on the security of the nation.
With best wishes and warm regards,
Brigadier PTGangadharan, Guards,
Veteran,
It is indeed a small step fprward in understanding the para military forces of India and the contribution they have made post their creation.taking the example of BSF, an armed force of the union of india.Right from liberation of Bangladesh to fighting the insurgency in the north east and in controlling the punjab militancy to the recent scarifices made in J&K;BSF has always worked in the shadows of the Indian Army.UNRECOGNISED....UNREWARDED...UNCARED for. Now the time is ripe to make amends.Let the country know who sacrifices his today to make our future secure.The prahari who stands alone on the border thinking of his motherland's safety. Now is the time when we need to thank the BORDERMAN & recognise his sacrifices.{