Monthly Archives: August 2018

ZOOM made the Commissioning Day !After 48 years  for SS-15

& Tech-6 course mates

The unforgettable, significant and memorable day for 298 Gentlemen Cadets of the SS-15 and Technical 6 Batch , commissioned into the Army on 29 Apr 1973  as young Second Lieutenants bubbling with energy with chests swell with pride.

 It is a proud moment where after rigorous training, one is finally acknowledged as an OFFICER of the Indian Defence Services and special pride for their  parents. Today after 48 years those who could make via ZOOM(On line app) on their computers were able to watch how  young childish faces after 48 yrs have turned into handsome young senior veterans with grey hairs and beards.  29 Apr 1973 , was this day when with that coveted one star adorned on their shoulders with their regimental accoutrements shone distinctly on their uniform, they  moved within the academy with their chest up and head held high. The feelings were unique and UN equivocal. To commemorate and bring back those nostalgic moments the course organised a Virtual Celebrations over a Zoom Meeting wherein officers from across the world attended i.e. Australia, USA, New Zealand, Canada . They all remembered the events of that momentous day starting from the passing out parade in the morning to the pipping ceremony at night.

The grey haired and bearded Officers of the batch along with their graceful wives had a special twinkle in their eyes and symptomatic smiles  .The common dialogue was “Today when  we sit back, all that seems only yesterday.” In those good old days the Defence Services career was the most sought after and to have become part of it as an Officer at the prime young age of 20 years , was a matter of great pride.

While congratulating each other on the occasion, they remembered and paid tributes to those batch mates who have achieved their heavenly abode, with some are on war with Covid. Sharing some pics of that memorable day of our Life …..Our Commissioning Day!

The officers and their Spouses are now eagerly looking forward to the Golden Jubilee in 2023 which they all hope they will be able to celebrate physically at the Officers Training Academy at Chennai.

Two veterans have become pillars of Sanjha Morcha and ESM welfare association ie Col Charanjit Singh Khera as Gen Secy since 2009 and now Brig HPS Bedi VSM as Haryana State President

Jai Hind

HOW YOUNG FACES CHANGED WITH TIME AND EXPERIENCE :

POEM ON COMMISSIONING DAY

Commissioning poem

On this day some 48 years ago,

There were go getters, strutting about like peacocks,

In full Army regalia,
Dreams getting fulfilled of the flock,

There was swagger in walk, confidence in talk,

They had come away from no one to someone, after the drill square squad,

The OG had converted, lads into soldiers and gentlemen,

With solemn prayers on lips to live by the oath,

Defend the nation, whatever be the cost,

Nostalgia gripping today, thinking of that pipping,

The crew cuts of 1973 are now bald grandpas

Life passed though like desert sand out of hands,

Loved ,lived each minute no regrets,

Oh Lord,if there is another life,

send us to OTS, I say with folded hands 🙏🙏

Major Gurdeep Samra

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

This day 48 years back, my friends
Was a red letter day for all of us
Who from cadets became Officers
Thus realizing our long cherished dreams.
The Magnificent Army of ours
Had just a few months before
Delivered a resounding victory
In the wake of which we all had
Walked into the hallowed portals of OTS.

Dashing and romantic youngsters
We were when we offered ourselves
For months of rigorous training
In quest of our dream of being pipped.

We had chosen sweat, dust and grime
And the rough, tough and the sapping grind
Of months to the cosy and comfortable
Life our friends in college had opted for.

Besides the rigours of training
Including PT, WT, Drill and Excercises
We put up with, with equanimity,
The crew cut, bullshit and ragging
Rolling, crawling and patti parades,
Countless runs to P Hill and around khajjis,
All together in a span of 10 months
To come out shining to wear those pips.

A few of us bid adieu while in harness
A few after hanging up the boots
And a few recently as is the order of life.
Let us bow our heads to those dear souls
And celebrate the day together
For all of us and on their behalf too.

Let us raise a toast to the collective spirit
Grit and bonhomie of SS 15 & Tech 6.
Let us hope we all make it to the next one
And celebrate the Golden Jubilee together.

🥂Cheers

Col Muraleedharan Nair

MESSAGES FROM COURSEMATES

[ Hello Course Mates,
Heartiest Congratulations on our Commissioning Date.
Sorry, I have not been active on the Course Group, for personal reasons, but I regard the OTS Phase as a primary one in my life, and my CMs as those gems whom any of us can fall back upon any time. I can never forget the emotional support I got from my CM friends when my Wife left me in Oct 19.
On this day, I pray for those who are back to Heaven, and also wish good health, happiness and s long, contented life to all of you and your Families.
I am in Goa- any help, please reach out.
While each Course get-together in Delhi has been memorable, I apologise for missing the Zoom Meeting, for an unavoidable duty of taking care of COVID positives, and those left behind by my RIP friends.
Regards & best wishes,
And Cheers !

• Brig Arun Vyas
  +91 98180 60445: (GC 9774 Jessami-
  Ord)

Masked up and socially distanced, PM Modi met Army chief General M.M. Naravane, IAF chief R.K.S. Bhadauria & CDS General Bipin Rawat to take stock of Covid readiness.

Clockwise) PM Narendra Modi meets CDS General Bipin Rawat, Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria, in New Delhi this week | ANIText Size: A- A+

New Delhi: Despite a massive surge in Covid-19 cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been meeting India’s top defence officials — but all meetings have been outdoors, following all the safety protocols. 

This comes amid recent studies claiming that small and micron-scale aerosol droplets are primarily responsible for the spread of Covid-19, especially indoors. 

PM Modi Thursday met Chief of Army Staff General M.M. Naravane to discuss the Army’s initiatives to help in Covid-19 management. Sitting across a table at the PM’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi, both Modi and Naravane were wearing masks and maintaining adequate distance.

On Wednesday, the PM held a meeting with Air Chief Marshal R.K.S. Bhadauria to take stock of the efforts of the Indian Air Force to deal with the Covid situation. Bhadauria and Modi were seen sitting across two separate tables

In another meeting Monday, PM Modi met CDS General Bipin Rawat at his residence. 

PM Modi’s in-person meetings come at a time when there has been a massive spike in cases with India’s Covid tally reaching 3.79 lakh cases and more than 3,600 deaths in the last 24 hours.

Many top policymakers and officials in the central government are also out of action after getting infected by the virus. Over two dozen secretaries, additional secretaries and joint secretaries across central government ministries, including the health ministry, have tested positive for the coronavirus in April.  

Also read: PSA oxygen plants — the cleaner, cheaper tech that could help ease India’s current crisis

What science says

An MIT study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America recently, pointed out that there is now overwhelming evidence that relatively small, micron-scale aerosol droplets are primarily responsible for the spread of Covid-19, especially indoors.

Airborne transmission arises through the inhalation of aerosol droplets exhaled by an infected person and is thought to be the primary transmission route of Covid-19. The respiratory droplets are mixed uniformly through an indoor and unventilated space, thus increasing the chance of infection.

The study noted that small infected drops may accumulate and remain suspended by the ambient airflow and mixed throughout the room, until they are removed by the ventilation outflow or inhaled.https://296978b1916d211c005312eff18a0dea.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

In that case, staying outdoors while wearing masks and maintaining social distancing can relatively lessen the spread of Covid-19. 

In the study of 7,324 early cases outside the Hubei Province in China, the authors found that all clusters of three or more cases occurred indoors, with 80 per cent arising inside apartment homes and 34 per cent potentially involving public transportation. Only a single transmission was recorded outdoors. 

Finally, the fact that face mask directives have been more effective than either lockdowns or social distancing in controlling the spread of Covid-19 is consistent with indoor airborne transmission as the primary driver of the pandemic.

(Edited by Debalina Dey)

Also read: More people died of Covid in Delhi in last 4 days than in Mumbai since March

Mansa/Barnala, April 28

The mortal remains of Sepoy Prabhjit Singh and Sepoy Amardeep Singh of 21 Punjab Regiment were consigned to flames at their native villages in Mansa and Barnala districts, respectively. The soldiers were killed in an avalanche at the Siachen glacier on Sunday.

Prabhjit’s brother lit the pyre of the martyr at Hakamwala village in the Budhlada subdivision of Mansa. A contingent of the Army played ‘The Last Post’ and a gun salute followed.

On behalf of Governor VP Singh Badnaur and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sukhpreet Singh Sidhu laid the wreath.

He conveyed condolences to martyr’s father Jagmel Singh and mother Melo Kaur and ensured all possible help to them. He also said Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had announced Rs 50 lakh ex-gratia compensation and a government job for the next of the kin.

Others present were Budhlada MLA Budh Ram, former MLA Ajit Inder Singh Moffer, SDM Sagar Setia, Subedar Bhupinder Singh of 21 Punjab Regiment and District Defense Services Officer Col Maninder Singh.

In Barnala, the mortal remains of Sepoy Amardeep Singh were consigned to flames with full honour at Karamgarh village. Deputy Commissioner Tej Partap Singh Phoolka said as per the government rule, the 23-year-old soldier’s family would get Rs 50 lakh ex gratia. — TNS

Army Chief informs PM that force is giving all needful help to states, people

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, April 29

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed the Army’s preparedness in dealing with the serious situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, as Chief of Staff MM Naravane called on him to apprise him of the various measures so far taken by the personnel of the defence force.

According to an official statement issued by the government, Naravane told the Prime Minister that the Army was making its medical staff available to state governments and was setting up temporary hospitals in various parts of the country to fight the pandemic.

During the meeting, the Army Chief apprised the Prime Minister that efforts are being made to open the force’s hospitals for civilians, wherever possible, and that citizens could approach their nearest Army hospitals, the statement said.

“General MM Naravane informed the Prime Minister that the Army is helping with manpower for imported oxygen tankers and vehicles, where specialised skills are required to manage them,” the statement read.

The Prime Minister has been holding daily meetings with various stakeholders both within the government and outside to marshal the country’s resources in its fight against coronavirus, as the pandemic has been raging in various parts of the country.

Manjeet Singh GK said his team is arranging oxygen from Punjab and Haryana to provide oxygen to the people in Delhi

New Delhi, April 29

Amid an acute shortage of medical oxygen in Delhi, Gurdwara Singh Sabha located in Greater Kailash area of the national capital has started ‘Oxygen Langar’ for refilling of oxygen cylinders, where people can come and refill their empty oxygen cylinders.

Former president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Manjeet Singh GK told ANI that his team is arranging oxygen from Punjab and Haryana to provide oxygen to the people in Delhi.

Singh further said that at the moment they have an oxygen supply for only 100 to 150 people.

“If we will have more oxygen then we will be able to run the oxygen langar for 24 hours,” he added.

Along with medical oxygen, the gurdwara also made arrangements for home delivery of food for COVID-19 infected people.

The gurdwara has also issued a helpline number where people can ask for help regarding food.

The national capital is witnessing over 300 daily fatalities due to COVID-19 for the past seven days.

The city reported 25,986 new COVID-19 cases and 368 related deaths on Wednesday, taking the total active cases in Delhi to 99,752. ANI

Beijing, April 29

China’s military on Thursday described as “completely inconsistent with the facts” the assertion of Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) tried to change the status quo in eastern Ladakh.

The remarks by the spokesperson of China’s Ministry of National Defence came days after Gen Rawat said India stood firm in preventing a change of status quo on the northern borders and the country proved it will not get pushed under any pressure.

“They tried to ensure that they can change the status quo by the use of disruptive technologies without using force…They thought that India, as a nation, will succumb to the pressures that they have been putting on us because of the technological advantage that they have,” Gen Rawat said in his address at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on April 15, referring to the border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.

“But, I think India stood firm on the northern borders and we have proven that we will not get pushed,” he said at the virtual conference.

When sought China’s response to Gen Rawat’s remarks, China’s defence ministry spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian “rebutted” it during the monthly virtual press conference, the Chinese military’s official website reported.

“Snr. Col. Wu responded at a regular press conference of the Ministry of National Defence on April 29 that the relevant remarks by the Indian side are completely inconsistent with the facts,” the report said.

“Regarding the situations in the western section of the China-India boundary, China has explained the ins and outs in detail, and the responsibility does not lie with China,” he said.

“Thanks to the joint efforts of China and India, the border defence troops of both sides have recently disengaged from contact in the Galwan Valley and Lake Pangong, and the situation in the border area has eased on the whole,” Wu said.

He said earlier this month, China and India held the 11th round of Corps Commander-Level Meeting, exchanging views on issues of mutual concern and agreeing to continue to maintain close communication through diplomatic and military channels, according to the report.

Wu stressed that China’s position on the China-India boundary issue is consistent and clear.

China hopes that the Indian side will cherish the hard-won situation, abide by the relevant agreements of the two countries, he said.

He said two militaries and the consensus reached in previous talks, and work with China to safeguard peace and tranquillity in the border area, so as to bring the relations between the two countries and two militaries back to the track of healthy and stable development, the report stated.

India and China were locked in military standoff at multiple friction points in eastern Ladakh since early May last year but they have completed withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong Lake in February following a series of military and diplomatic talks.

The two sides are now engaged in talks to extend the disengagement process to the remaining friction points. PTI

Among other facilities, package includes visit of doctors at home twice a week

Vijay Mohan

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 28

The Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) has introduced a paid home isolation package for its beneficiaries who have been advised home quarantine due to COVID-19.

The package includes visit of doctors at home twice a week, monitoring of temperature, pulse, oxygen levels and blood pressure, dietician consultation, administration of injections and medicines, use of oxygen cylinder, and monitoring by nursing staff based on the condition of the patient.

Due to the recent surge in number of COVID-19 cases and inability of the health infrastructure to cope with the sudden rise in the number of cases, a large number of beneficiaries with mild symptoms are being advised home quarantine.

“During the home quarantine, there is a need to monitor the patient for his parameters such as temperature, SpO2 levels, blood pressure, etc., as also to consume prescribed medicines. In certain cases, there may be a requirement to administer oxygen to the patient,” a circular issued by the ECHS Central Organisation at Army Headquarters on April 27 states.

“If an ECHS beneficiary who is having complaints of fever, cough, or diarrhoea, etc., and consults a doctor at a service, government, empanelled or non-empanelled hospital, where he is advised home isolation and RT-PCR test, he will be entitled to purchase a home isolation package,” the circular adds.

The cost incurred on availing the package by a patient will be reimbursed by ECHS with a ceiling limit if Rs 1,000 per day up to 14 days from the date of advice for home quarantine.

In addition, the use of oxygen cylinder or oxygen concentrator a home, provision of ambulance to shift a patient to hospital if the need arises and blood tests RT-PCR and CT-scan would also be reimbursable for home quarantine.

ECHS provides medi-care to retired armed forces personnel, their dependents and some other entitled categories through a network of 427 polyclinics spread across the country. It has a scriber base of over 50 lakh beneficiaries.

Following the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, ECHS polyclinics have been opened up for providing COVID-19 treatment to its beneficiaries. Yesterday, the Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh had also approved the hiring of additional contractual staff in 51 ECHS facilities to cater to the increased work load.

Moving field hospital from Himachal to PU Sector 25 campus

Chandigarh, April 27

The Army is moving a field hospital from Himachal Pradesh to Chandigarh after the UT Administration requested the Western Command for setting up a Covid-19 care centre in view of the spike in infection cases.

The 100-bed facility will come up at International Students’ Hostel on the Sector 25 campus of Panjab University. The Army will begin moving in the equipment and staff tomorrow and the facility is expected to be fully functional in five days.

According to Col Jasdeep Sandhu, Director, Civil-Military Affairs, Headquarters Western Command, the Army will be providing medicines, oxygen, ambulances and other supplies to the centre, besides doctors, paramedical and support staff.

Specialist medical cover will also be provided by the Command Hospital in Chandimandir. In addition, the PGI and the GMSH, Sector 16, will also be available for any support. Civilian doctors will also be deputed for liaison.

A meeting was held by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore with officers from the Headquarters Western Command today, where modalities for setting up the centre were discussed.

International Students’ Hostel was selected by the Army after a survey of several sites as it has over 100 AC rooms and open space adjacent to it. The UT Administration had earlier earmarked it as a Covid care centre on a payment basis.

The Army is also moving a couple of field hospitals from different locations to other cities in the region, besides working with the civilian administration to make oxygen generation plants functional.