A LETTER TO THE RM 
FROM W/O A VETERAN

(SHRI MANOHAR PARRIKAR)
(THE RM - NOT THE 'W'!)

Respected Shri Parrikarji,

The Indian youth join Army for many reasons. Some are romantics filled with patriotism and altruistic concern for the welfare of country. Some are looking for a job to support their poverty ridden family and some just blunder in. But they serve unto death for a higher reason, that is, `Guardian Attitude’. The Guardian Attitude is generated through a regime of tough training and strict discipline and strengthened by camaraderie between soldiers and officers and shared sense of glorious past which are hallmark of Military.

Very idea of Guardianship has to be rooted in the concepts of honour, higher purpose, and belief that the soldier-citizen is a standard bearer, who embodies the superior virtues of men’ but are loath to self-publicize. Consequently `the military elite, like other leadership groups is inhibited in proclaiming its special virtues’. 

The Indian military leader ship has, perceptibly not, been able to match up the shenanigans of a bureaucracy steeped in traditions of Delhi Durbar and unable to safeguard organisational interests of the military. This leaves elected leaders with responsibility to ensure that fiscal pedantry and bureaucratic skulduggery do not kill Guardian Attitude of military by depriving or stealing the special affections showered on it by a grateful society through special pay and perks given to soldiers and officers.

Examples which highlight progressive degradation of military since 1947, denial of fair wages and reduction in pension and recent recommendation for mass punishment by 7th CPC on military because some senior officers allegedly abused provisions of disability pension are matters of history and enough is available in public domain hence not repeated here. I am, however, keen to know your response to the following issues:-

•     One hears a common refrain from `interested’ 
       elements, especially bureaucracy that Armed 
       Forces are manpower happy. But it would come 
       as surprise to you that while three services 
       spend 37 per cent of their budget on `Revenue’ 
       account while the figure for `Revenue’ 
       expenditure of Civil Wing is massive 63 per cent! 
       Do you have any plans to review the `Outcomes’ 
       from this huge expenditure? 

•     As per Report of 7th CPC the MoD has 
       sanctioned posts of 5,85,000 civilians, which is 
       nearly half the strength of three Services. In 
       view of increased mechanization and IT enabled 
       offices has a review of their efficacy and efficient 
       been undertaken with a view to right-size it?

•     Civil element of the MoD has higher ratio of 
       Group A services at 4 per cent and Group B at 15 
       percent as against the Army, which has 3.79 
       percent officer and 12 percent JCOs against 86 
       percent Other Rank. As a result, not only less 
       hands are available for actual work on site on an 
       average expenditure on a civilian employee of 
       MoD is higher.

•     Please glance at page 28 of 7th CPC report and 
       you will find that MoD grossly understated 
      expenditure on its civilian staff. It will be 
      worthwhile to know whether it was done 
      intentionally.

•     You may also wish to check as to how the MoD is 
       spending more than Rs. 1000 Crore per annum 
       on pay, allowances and establishment of 
       Ministry 
       of Finance personnel! Do you genuinely need 
       such a large number of finance guys to manage 
       MoD budget or is it a case of freeloading at the 
       cost of soldiers? 

•     No wonder MoD spent Rs. 1883 on itself Crores 
       in last fiscal (Refer demand No. 21 of Union 
       Budget 2015-16). This amount is more than 
       combined total budget of MHA, MHRD, MEA 
       and 
       a few other ministries combined. Do you plan to 
       undertake any measure to reduce this 
       expenditure?

•     There are 62 Cantonments in India. Each of 
      these has a CEO and DEO. These two IDES 
      officials, who are equal to Major/ Colonel, occupy 
      large lavishly appointed bungalows which are 
      maintained by a retinue of staff! Do you have any 
      plans to find out as to how are these facilities 
      funded?

•    Military Engineering Service (MES) spends 60 
      percent of its budget on Revenue account! Is that 
      fair for an organisation which it only meant to 
      supervise works to spend Rs. 7200 Crores on pay 
      and allowances to supervise works worth 
      Rs.4800 Crores executed by contractors?

•    DRDO, purportedly a `Research’ organisation 
      spends 61 per cent of its budget on revenue 
      account. Thus leaving only 39 per cent for 
      'Research’!

•    The Defence Minister and other ministers of MoD 
      are entitled to civilian staff including civilian 
      staff cars and civilian drivers. Do you plan to 
      relieve Army drivers and any other combatants 
      attached to your office to let them perform their 
      primary duties in Army?

•     As a CM you must have enjoyed facilities of 
      having a Camp Office at home. Are there any 
      plans to do away with this archaic concept which 
      allows ministers and civil officials to garner staff 
      and other resources like electricity for personal 
      purpose at cost to public exchequer?

•    Are there any plans to remove/ reduce MTS and 
      telephone attendants from residences and offices 
      of government officials and ministers of MoD?

I close with a fervent hope of a reply and positive reaction to issues raised.

Best regards

Sincerely yours,