Monthly Archives: August 2018

ribune News Service

New Delhi, May 4

In a good news for the national capital, reeling under a ‘medical oxygen crisis’, the first lot of oxygen plants to be provided by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has arrived and these will be installed over the next two-three days.

2 oxygen units reach Delhi

• Two of the five oxygen plants to be provided by the Defence Research and Development Organisation arrived in Delhi on Tuesday
• These will be installed over the next two-three days

These are part of the 500 oxygen plants ordered for the country under the PM Cares Fund to tackle the surge in Covid-19 cases. The National Capital Region will get five plants this week at the AIIMS Trauma Centre, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML), Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and one at AIIMS, Jhajjar, Haryana. Each of these plants are designed for a flow rate of 1,000 litres per minute. The system can cater to 190 patients at a flow rate of 5 LPM and charge 195 cylinders per day. The technology has been developed by DRDO based on the on-board oxygen generation system of the fighter jet, Tejas.

Two of these plants reached Delhi on Tuesday and are being installed at AIIMS and RML. These have been supplied by Trident Pneumatics, Coimbatore which is the technology partner of DRDO and has been given an order to make 48 such plants. An order of 332 plants have been placed with Tata Advanced Systems Limited and the delivery will start from mid-May.

Meanwhile, the IAF today landed additional oxygen cylinders. To date, the IAF had brought in 54 cryogenic containers and 900 oxygen cylinders from outside India — Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok, Frankfurt and UK. Within India, the IAF has transported 180 empty cryogenic oxygen containers, apart from other relief material like oxygen cylinders, oxygen plant equipment, essential medicines and hospital equipment. 

The chief minister went on to say Rs two lakh would be given as immediate assistance to the boy’s family

Ludhiana, May 7

A video of a 10-year-old school dropout selling socks on Ludhiana streets to support his family of seven moved many on social media, including Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who announced state aid to fund his education.

The chief minister went on to say Rs two lakh would be given as immediate assistance to the boy’s family.

This comes after Vansh Singh was seen in the video, which has been viewed by millions and shared widely, refusing to accept Rs 50 over and above the cost of socks he sold to a customer

Moved by the gesture, Singh spoke to the boy and his family on a video call on Friday, and said he was impressed by his self-esteem and dignity.

The chief minister then directed the Ludhiana deputy commissioner to ensure that Vansh Singh goes back to school, saying all expenses for his education would be borne by the state government, an official statement said here.

Vansh Singh’s father, Paramjit, is a sock seller too and his mother, Rani, a homemaker.

He has three sisters and an elder brother, and the family lives in a rented accommodation in the Haibowal locality. PTI

New Delhi: Select military hospitals will make 10 to 15 per cent of their designated Covid-19 beds available to the civilian population in cases of specific referrals from the local administration, ThePrint has learnt.

The select facilities will be among the 50 Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) hospitals that have been allowed to treat civilians, subject to availability of beds and other conditions.

According to defence sources, civilians requiring beds in the designated military hospitals will first have to get a referral from the chief medical officer, after which they will have to send a requisition to the collector. This would be forwarded to the local military authority, which will then take the case forward depending on availability of beds.

“The process has to be followed given that all existing military hospitals across the country have little beds available since the pandemic surged in the last few weeks, affecting many military personnel and veterans and their dependents,” a source told ThePrint.

“The number of beds in the existing hospitals is inadequate to meet the number of critical Covid positive patients,” the source said, citing the examples of the Army base hospital in Delhi and INHS Ashwini, one of the biggest naval hospitals in Mumbai, which have been running full in the last several weeks.

Last week, Army chief General M.M. Naravane said the force is setting up temporary hospitals across the country and also opening up its own facilities for civilians wherever possible.

Also read: States seek Army help to fight Covid but ‘overstretched’ forces have limited doctors to spare

Other measures

On Sunday, the Army clarified that the Ministry of Defence has allowed 50 AFMS hospitals — including 42 Army, five Air Force and three Navy hospitals (dedicated and mixed Covid hospitals) — in which civilians could get treated subject to referral by the local health authority after ascertaining bed availability.

This is besides the entitled clientele of AFMS hospitals, which comprise serving personnel and veterans and their dependents.

The Army is also learnt to have assured the veteran community that there will be no restrictions on their admission, treatment and consultations, and they would be accorded priority for treatment in military hospitals.

Meanwhile, the AFMS Directorate General last week asked veteran officers to pitch in the fight against Covid and offer their services in advising and counselling.

The three services have put in their resources to create the requisite infrastructure and medical and quarantine facilities to support India’s ongoing fight against the massive Covid wave.

The defence ministry has also granted the services emergency powers to expedite critical procurement needed to build additional infrastructure to tackle the growing burden of the pandemic.

Also read: Too many CT scans to diagnose Covid could increase cancer risk, AIIMS chief 

Both the travel advisories have been marked ‘Level 4’ which is the highest warning level

Washington, May 7

The US, which has urged its citizens not to travel to India due to an unprecedented surge in the COVID-19 cases there, on Friday encouraged those in the country to book their tickets to return home through currently available flights.

The United Airlines and Air India are continuing to operate numerous direct flights weekly from India to the US, a State Department health alert said.

Additional flight options remain available on Air France, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways via transfers in Paris, Frankfurt, and Doha.

US citizens who wish to depart India are encouraged to book tickets through the airlines, the health alert said.

It is mandatory for anyone travelling to the US (2 years and older) to take a COVID-19 test no more than 3 days before travel and show a negative result to the airline before boarding the flight, it said.

The passengers should be prepared to show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (proof of a recent positive viral test and a letter from a healthcare provider or a public health official stating clearance for travel).

Travellers are encouraged to follow post-travel guidance once in the US, it said.

The US this week reissued its travel advisory on India, urging its citizens not to travel to the country due to an unprecedented surge in the COVID-19 cases there.

“Do not travel to India due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution due to crime and terrorism,” the State Department said on Wednesday in its latest travel advisory that looked identical to the one issued on April 28.

Both the travel advisories have been marked ‘Level 4’ which is the highest warning level.

On April 28, the Department approved the voluntary departure of family members of US government employees.

On May 5, the Department approved the voluntary departure of non-emergency US government employees.

“US citizens who wish to depart India should take advantage of available commercial transportation options,” it said.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for India due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country. PTI AKJ 

New Delhi: In a move that gave Army doctors some tense moments in the national capital, the daily oxygen quota of the Base Hospital was cut by the Delhi government Monday. This forced the Army to approach the Ministry of Defence for additional allocation of oxygen and also arrange it on their own.

However, according to Army sources, there is currently no need to panic as oxygen levels are being maintained in the hospital and more arrangements are being made.

They noted that there was no issue with the Research and Referral Hospital since its oxygen requirement was less, but there were some concerns about the Base Hospital, which has been converted into a 450-bed Covid facility. The majority of its patients, including civilians, need continuous oxygen supply.

“There is no need to panic. Oxygen levels are being maintained. The Base Hospital in Delhi Cantonment has enough oxygen for the time being. The defence ministry has been approached for additional allocation and arrangements are being made,” a senior officer told ThePrint.

Also read: Nearly 15% Covid beds in select military hospitals could be made available to civilians

Base hospital’s oxygen allocation halved

According to sources familiar with the matter, the crisis began Monday when the Delhi government informed the Base Hospital that its daily allocation was being cut.

The hospital requires about about 3.4 MT of oxygen daily but the Delhi government, which is facing an acute shortage of oxygen, was able to provide only about 1 MT.

On Monday evening, the doctors were informed that this has been reduced further by nearly half.

The sources added that while the Army has systems in place to cater to their hospitals, the force finds itself stretched thin because of the civilian demand for hospital beds and oxygen.

ThePrint had earlier reported that the armed forces’ Medical Corps has been reeling under pressure because of the increasing demand from the civilian side as well as its own. The Corps has a limited number of doctors, nurses and paramedics to spare.

Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia wrote to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Monday, calling for the Army to set up 11,000 beds, including 1,000 ICU ones, in the national capital.

However, many in the defence establishment wondered where the infrastructure, including oxygen and medical staff, would come from for these additional beds.

Also read: Rajnath Singh grants emergency financial powers to armed forces to set up health facilities

Advocate Mohit D Ram says ‘my values are not in consonance with the current functioning of the EC’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 6

Advocate Mohit D Ram, who has been panel counsel for the Election Commission in the Supreme Court since 2013 — on Thursday resigned due to incompatibility of his personal values with those of the poll panel.

“It was an honour to represent the Election Commission of India (ECI). I had a cherishing milestone of my career, in the journey which began with being part of the office of Standing Counsel of ECI and progressed as one of the panel counsels of ECI (since 2013),” Ram wrote in a letter addressed to the Director, Law of the Commission.

“However, I have found that my values are not in consonance with the current functioning of the ECI; and hence I withdraw myself from the responsibilities of its panel counsel before the Supreme Court of India,” he wrote.

“I undertake to ensure smooth transition of files, NOC and vakalatnamas in all pending matters,” Ram wrote.

by Nitin A Gokhale
Indian military and intelligence sources have revealed, that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has rotated two large field formations it had deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh in 2020-21 by inducting two fresh divisions earlier this month. In 2020, China’s move towards the LAC with India after finishing the annual spring exercise in Aksai Chin was led by the 4th and the 6th Divisions. They have now been replaced by the 8th and the 11th Divisions, the latest assessments show.
Troops of the 4th and 6th Division, which had spent almost 10 months in the high altitude area and were involved in the tense standoff with Indian soldiers from May 2020 to February 2021 before disengaging in the first phase from the north and south bank of Pangong Tso, were stationed in the Chinese bases, 60-70 km from the LAC until they started going back to their permanent bases in Xinjiang for rest and recuperation over the past three weeks, sources added. This swap keeps intact the number of Chinese troops meant for deployment along the LAC at par with what it has been since last year.
Both these formations are part of the Xinjiang Military Division and are officially known as Highland Mechanised Infantry Divisions. Their replacements have also come from the same military division and more or less have the same composition of troops and equipment. The 8th and the 11th Motorised Infantry Divisions both reportedly have two motorised infantry regiments, one armoured regiment, one artillery regiment and one anti-aircraft regiment.
Indian military planners have deduced two main points from this Chinese move: One, the Chinese PLA troops also need—like Indian soldiers–frequent rotation because of the difficulties of prolonged deployment in super high-altitude areas and two, the Chinese have no intention as yet of de-inducting from the Aksai Chin area which means more discussions and negotiations are in store between Corps Commanders in the coming months.
Two rounds of Corps Commander level talks after the first phase of disengagement in February have already taken place to finalise the resolution of the standoff at Depsang, Gogra and Hot Spring areas. Very little headway has been made in the last two rounds, although both sides have officially maintained that they will remain engaged.
Indian satellites and intelligence operatives have picked up the movement of other formations from Tibet and Xinjiang to their annual exercise areas north and east of the Tibet Highway (G-219)—much farther from the LAC—in areas such as Xiadulla, Tianshuii Hui, Kanxiwar etc. Those movements are under constant watch and there is no reason to be alarmed at the moment, military decision-makers say. However, given last years’ experience, the guard is up and adequate forces have been kept in-depth on the Indian side. Many of the troops are freshly inducted in the past couple of months and have undergone extensive acclimatisation, sources say.
Like the Chinese, India has also reorganised and rotated its formations in Ladakh to ensure adequate rest to those who were deployed eyeball to eyeball last year. The 39 Division, rushed into Ladakh in May-June 2020, is gradually going back to its peacetime location in Himachal Pradesh and will continue to be the Northern Command reserve. It has been replaced by freshly arrived troops from Jammu and Kashmir. India has now inducted a Rashtriya Rifles Force (equivalent to a Division) in Eastern Ladakh. This force will be responsible for securing areas south of the Pangong Tso. The 3 Infantry Division, for long the only Division-level force under 14 Corps, has been entrusted with the security of areas north of the Pangong Tso. Additional brigades drawn from other formations are also available to 14 Corps for any contingency in Ladakh. Elsewhere too, India is beefing up its resources all along the northern borders as detailed in this piece in January.
The spring-summer months this year is likely to witness further fine-tuning of the plan to rebalance Indian military forces (both the Army and the Air Force) to the northern borders even as the western front against Pakistan remains a perpetual area to be watched. The reorientation of the Indian military in treating the northern front as the primary challenge—which began slowly almost 15 plus years back—has now well and truly gathered speed. In the long run, the Chinese would perhaps wonder if they were instrumental in quickening the pace of change in India’s ORBAT (Order of Battle), thanks to their provocations in Doklam and Eastern Ladakh.

by Lt Gen Prakash Menon (Retd)
In December 2019, a long-pending and critical evolutionary process of structural reforms in defence was unleashed by the Narendra Modi government. It was a commendable PMO-driven initiative. It encompassed the creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff, triple hatted as military adviser to the defence minister, the permanent chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the head of the newly created Department of Military Affairs. Notably, the position has mandated the CDS to establish the Theatre/Joint Commands.
The fact that defence reforms were required to be driven by the PMO reflects the platitude that India requires a strong PMO to override narrow interests of individual central ministries and state governments in order to serve national objectives. It is never the ideal solution, but has been found to be an effective method in a diverse and complex country inhabited by a plethora of domestic power centres. Post-Kargil, the creation of the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), directly under the PMO to act as the think tank for it, has strengthened its ability for policy formulation. However, the downside is the human proclivity to pander to perceived desires of strong prime ministers. Such a possibility will be perennial. In the case of this round of defence reforms under the Modi government, national security interests seem to be the predominant driver.
The implementation of the structural reforms in the Ministry of Defence is now a central challenge and a humungous one. Reforms have to be undertaken under the shadows of deepening geopolitical threats and major constraints in financial resources. It is also bereft of political guidance from a National Security Strategy, about which the less said the better. With time and financial resources at a premium, the envisaged defence reforms cannot be left only to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to execute. It requires political oversight and patronage like never before in India’s history. Also, mere political acumen of the defence minister is insufficient to steer the reforms.
Why India Needs A Defence Minister With Military Background
Political acumen now needs sufficient understanding of military matters, preferably along with comprehension of public finances and dynamics of the defence industrial base. The reforms call for choices to be made that has major long-term consequences. Balancing the creation of continental and maritime power is a prime example. This demands knowledge of hard power and its envisaged utility towards achieving political objectives in multiple strategic contexts including the nuclear one. The manifold increase in technological complexity leaves no room for informed choices except through a knowledge base derived from military experience.
It is no coincidence that political heads of several defence ministries across the world are increasingly those who have worn uniform and gained experience in combat. Currently, the US, Russia, China and the UK, apart from several other countries, have persons with military background as defence ministers. Himmatsinhji in the first Nehru cabinet and Jaswant Singh with a very short stint in the Vajpayee cabinet have been two persons with military background who have tenanted the MoD. Both were appointed more for their political skills and not so much due to military experience.
It is perhaps time now for India to have a politician with a military background to head the Ministry of Defence. Such a move is highly desirable and there are various reasons why.
The primary reason is India’s growing security concerns. The threat from China is growing for the first time, in both continental and maritime domains. A possible collusion with Pakistan is a distinct possibility and must be factored in for defence preparations, the pace of which is being propelled and shaped by global geopolitical tensions. There is no time to waste. Preparations demand additional fiscal resources that may not easily be provided by a Covid-19-hit economy with the second wave currently running seemingly out of control. For sure, the economic impact will be tremendous. A defence minister with a military background could be extremely useful to mastermind the direction and pace of military preparations in such an environment even while steering reforms.
The primary framework of defence-related decision making in the MoD is about balancing the weight of the strategic objectives with the fiscal support and other means available. This is an art that requires a blend of the political and the military aspects in multifaceted strategic contexts. Obviously, knowledge of both sides is necessary and cannot possibly be easy for full-time politicians who have never worn a uniform. At the defence minister’s level, deciding which decision is to be left to the military and what requires a higher perspective of the defence ministry and PMO is key to formulation of actions required. The situation is admittedly worsened by sub-optimum cooperation between the Services and is also one of the major reasons necessitating the reforms. To expect, that since the political leadership has decided, it can be left to the military to take things forward without informed political oversight and patronage, would be a mistake.
A Calculated Risk
Agreeably, this can also lead to militarisation of our democracy and is not an issue that can be ignored. The lessons of pre-1962 politicisation of the military under Krishna Menon and its implications must serve as a grim reminder. The suggested predominant role of the military in the MoD must be seen as a contingent measure that is temporary and is cognisant of the dangers of military-specific thinking in statecraft. A strong PMO, if backed by an NSCS with intellectual integrity, could exercise sufficient oversight over the reform process, provide valuable strategic national-level insights and push for speedy resources provision. Such a defence minister might be a political lightweight in terms of political popularity. What would matter is the knowledge base they would bring to the discussions held at the Cabinet Committee on Security, the National Security Council, and all other forums national and international.
In any case, the defence minister would have to be politically chosen and has to be someone who enjoys the complete confidence of the PM. Being a political appointment, non-performance can be quickly penalised by depriving the holder of that portfolio. Hence, the PM’s control remains paramount. The major danger and an all-weather threat will be of the military colluding with the PMO for domestic political gains. There is no easy answer to this except that the current external and internal health situations must, for all national security purposes, be treated as sufficiently challenging, to warrant such risk-taking.
India has plenty of talent and intellectual horsepower. After ensuring careful scrutiny, finding a person who acceptably fits the defence minister’s qualifying requirements should not be difficult. But this is a major political decision that only the PM can make. The choice has to weigh, greater military effectiveness with the possible militarisation of the polity. Hopefully, the danger of militarisation will remain fettered as long as a strong PMO never uses the military to score domestic political points. If this principle is embraced and maintained, the danger of militarisation is reduced substantially. Given the security environment that is juxtaposed with the misgivings on militarisation, the decision will depend on the answer to the query, will the Indian military ever join hands with politicians to undermine democracy?
According to me – having spent 40 years in uniform – the risk can be taken. After all, the apolitical military vaccine is administered regularly through an institutional culture that the Indian military is proud of. Admittedly, one may be out of date in sensing contemporary reality, but my bet is on the military.
The time is ripe for the change and it may help better address both the major contemporary threats to India – security and health. Health poses the immediate emergency. The health minister must at least take moral responsibility for failure. The politically and administratively proven skills of the current defence minister should be deployed to face the grave and immediate health threat, and the PM can choose any suitable person with a politico-military experience for defence. This move of the ministerial dice is imperative in national interest.

‘You can put your head in sand like an ostrich, we will not,’ says court

Delhi Civil Defence volunteers near mini oxygen plant set up at the Covid Care Centre at CWG Village, in New Delhi, Tuesday, May 4, 2021. PTI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 4

Piqued over shortage of oxygen in the national capital, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to explain why contempt proceedings shouldn’t be initiated against it for failing to comply with the order to supply 700 MT oxygen daily to hospitals for treating COVID19 patients.

Coming down heavily on the Centre over inadequate oxygen supply to Delhi, a Bench of Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rekha Palli said, “You (Centre) can put your head in sand like an ostrich, we will not…Are you living in ivory towers?”

It ordered two senior central government officers to remain present before it on Wednesday to respond to the contempt notice.

The Bench rejected Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma’s submission that the top court had not directed supply of 700 MT of oxygen per day to Delhi.

As Sharma said a compliance affidavit of April 30 order will be filed in the Supreme Court by Wednesday morning, the Bench said, “We fail to understand what good a compliance affidavit will do when as a matter of fact 700 MT of oxygen is not delivered to Delhi? Even the earlier allocated 490 MT and revised 590 MT is not delivered even for a single day.”

The HC said, “It pains us that the aspect of supply of oxygen for treatment of COVID-19 patients in Delhi should be viewed in the way it has been done by the Centre.”

The April 30 order of the Supreme Court contained a direction to the Centre to provide 700 MT of oxygen per day to Delhi, not just 490 MT, it pointed out.

“We had told you contempt is the last thing in our mind but it is certainly in our mind and doesn’t drive us to that last point. We mean business now. Enough is enough. Be clear on this. We are not going to take a no for an answer. There is no way you won’t supply 700 MT…We would not hear anything except compliance,” the Bench told Sharma.

“We see grim reality everyday of people not able to secure oxygen or ICU beds in hospitals” which have reduced beds due to gas shortage, it noted.

Taking note of 12 deaths at Batra Hospital in the national capital due to lack of oxygen supply, the Delhi High Court had on May 1 directed the Centre to supply 490 MT of allocated oxygen to Delhi during the day itself by whatever means or face contempt of court action.

“Water has gone over our head. Now we mean business. Enough is enough,” a visibly upset Bench had said.

Rangers deny intrusion, refuse to take back body

Ferozepur, May 3

The BSF have shot a Pakistan national in the Khalra area of Tarn Taran district along the International Border.

Sources in the BSF said on the intervening night of May 2 and 3, personnel of the 103 Battalion observed some suspicious movement inside the Indian territory.

The BSF troops challenged the intruder but he failed to respond and was subsequently shot. On search, some Pakistan currency was recovered from the spot, said BSF officials.

Later, the BSF officials approached the Pakistan Rangers, asking them to take back the body. However, the Rangers denied any such intrusion and refused to take back the body. Later, the body was handed over to the police at Khalra for legal formalities. — OC