The Indian ‘Penny’ Commission
Posted on April 4, 2008
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Well, it’s bonanza time for the ‘Babus’ once again. Although such a massive rise happens once in ten years, I’m sure the rest of the Central Government employees may not be happy with the recommendations of the report. Especially the defence which I’m sure must be feeling relegated to the standards of the Security Guard status, albeit of the nation. The absolutely incoherent manner in which the Defence personnel, especially the middle level cadre has been dealt with, is a clear indication that they won’t get their dreams of arrears leave apart any parity with civilian status. They can keep enjoying the difficult postings and face the pulls and pressures of the nation’s enemies while the IAS and other civil services face the real ‘pulls and pressures’ and at the same time keep enjoying the extremely fast promotions to SAG and HAG levels(14 years) which a defence person reaches in 30+ years of service, if at all he climbs the pyramidical platform. The commission has not touched upon this aspect of pay scale leave apart the number/percentage of civilian vs the defence officers that make it to these levels. Nearly 80% of defence officers don’t get to reach these levels which should have been addressed ‘NOW’ to maintain parity. So a defence officer can best remain somewhere in the social circles of the UDC’s and LDC’s of the Civilian setup. The wide resentment led the Service Chiefs to take up the matter with their Minister. If you feel that economic power is the order of the day and our Babus need to be well fed and paid, you cannot forget that without a strong defence, a strong economy cannot sustain. The cream of the nation wants good remuneration when they give you good output. Good money is available in plenty today if you can put in hard work and I’m sure with this package, the middle level and experienced defence lot would have much better options in the economic superworld of India.
Today if you don’t pay money, you will not get the quality that you are so hopeful of. Haven’t you heard of the famous joke wherein a guy staying with his wife in a star hotel goes alone for a walk where he comes across a girl who offers her services. He offers her half her quoted price which she refuses. The next day when he goes for a walk with his wife, the same girl comments, ” This is what you get for so much”.
I’m sure the services will find it difficult to retain its people, that is if it gets quality people in the first place.
posted on Indiantvtoday.com by Mr KK Jain, an avid social worker who has retired from the Coal Industry and is now freelancing and working as senior advisor to private firms in New Delhi, India.
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