Jammu, July 12

Western Command General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Lt Gen KJ Singh today visited the border areas in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts to review the security situation.The Army Commander had a detailed interaction with the rank and file wherein he lauded their role in maintaining a high state of vigil against enemy designs, braving the odds of terrain and weather.General KJ Singh was accompanied by military commanders from the Rising Star Corps. The Army is maintaining the second line of defence on the international border and plays an important role in action against infiltrators. — TNS

The military was justifiably unhappy when the initial recommendations of the pay commission panel was released in November 2015. However being a disciplined force the bickering remained in-house and on social media. It was the veterans’ community and well-wishers who raised their voice in defence of the serving, who are bound by silence. The grievances and anomalies were such that it compelled the service chiefs to jointly meet the defence minister. Subsequently, a committee of secretaries under the cabinet secretary was nominated to study the report and forward recommendations. As before there was no military representative on the committee. The military was given an opportunity to present its views to the committee. However, most anomalies remain even to this day. The fight is not about a higher pay packet for the military, but about equality in status and allowances, being a central government organization. T

he statement in the initial pay commission about higher allowances for Guwahati than Siachen was absurd. The logic that if allowances are low no bureaucrat would be willing to serve is laughable. Till date no bureaucrat has faced a bullet in the region. He is secure while the military battles on. They also form a part of the government and therefore should be willing to serve where ordered. If the military is bound by law to serve anywhere on land, sea or air, why not other services. If they cannot serve, they should resign. I wonder if the pay commission was aiming to prove that Guwahati or the North East is not a part of India?

The government has logically maintained status quo on allowances for the present, while having them reassessed by a committee under the finance secretary. One major anomaly has been the pay matrix, where the military has twenty-four pay bands as compared to the rest, which have forty. Therefore the military loses out in both pay and pensions. Further, the status of a government employee would now be determined by his pay matrix. This lowers the standing of the military versus others.

The military serves alongside members of other central services in many locations, most being trouble spots or in aid to civil authority. When the military’s pay matrix is lowered, the working environment fails and egos rise to the fore. Even central service officer of a lower rank would refuse to function under military directions as his pay matrix is higher. This results in each service functioning separately and independently. The end result – Pampore type incidents or disjointed efforts in aid to civil authorities. Difficulties also arise in semi-military organizations. Military personnel are on deputation with Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Quality Assurance, Ordnance factories etc. Similarly, civilian members of the Military Engineering Service (MES), Defence Estates and Military Farms work alongside the military. Their pay matrix is not governed by military conditions but by their own service, which creates an imbalance in seniority. In simple terms, while civil services gain in seniority, the military comes down.

Functioning at every level becomes difficult and nobody seems to care. The battle for OROP was based on a simple logic. All organizations retire their staff at sixty. Therefore, the longer you serve, the more increments you obtain, hence more pension you draw. Maximum responsibilities of an individual are between the age of thirty-five to fifty. Responsibilities include growing children and ageing parents. In the military, 92 per cent retire between the ages of 35 and 45, at the peak of their financial responsibilities. They have served for a period of only 17 to 25 years as compared to 30 to 40 years prior to retirement in other services, thus earn lesser pension. With no second career option, they only have their pension to survive on.

Therefore, logically, till the third pay commission, military pensions were 70 per cent and when reduced to 50 per cent, OROP was promised. For those retiring at 60, there is genuinely no requirement of OROP. This is why only the military was affected. Ideally the government should reconsider this additional expenditure of granting it to other central services also. The military has the steepest pyramid. Only .01 per cent rise to the senior level, while it is almost 100 per cent for the IAS and fairly high in others. Thus the military was fighting for the Non Functional Upgradation (NFU), already given to every other service. It would benefit over 99 per cent who cannot proceed up the ladder due to steepness of the pyramid. It was rejected. It may be under re-consideration at present, however unless voices are raised, it would as usual be denied.

The battle for supremacy between the bureaucracy and the military has been going on since independence. At every opportunity, the status of the military has been systematically eroded. The seventh pay commission has taken the cake, relegating it to the level of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF). This affects joint functioning, when forces operate together as in J and K and the North East. The defence minister also admitted his failure when he stated, “Some of their demands have been accepted, some haven’t”. In times of crises while other government services have failed, the military has been the saviour. The recent Jat agitation and subsequent Prakash Singh committee report bear testimony. It is the bureaucracy which has fuelled the fear of a coup into the minds of politicians hence delayed and diluted the possible appointment of a much needed Chief of Defence Staff (CDS). There is always a tinge of jealousy which a non-uniformed civil servant has towards a uniformed one. The military earns more respect from the public than a bureaucrat or the police.

A military man stands out by his behaviour and gait and is easily distinguished. Hence, jealousy has reason and creates a desire to downgrade. It is for the national leadership to understand this shortcoming and set issues right, before it boils over and becomes an embarrassment. Therefore, military resentment is justified and should be expressed in every forum, by veterans and its wellwishers, till the government rectifies its follies.
Read more at http://www.thestatesman.com/news/opinion/military-s-unhappiness-over-pay-is-justified/153685.html#EJbkHchdpRjgFbSp.99

Man who won right for Sikhs to wear turbans in Canadian legions dies

A prominent figure in the Sikh-Canadian community who fought and won a high profile battle to allow Sikhs wearing turbans into Royal Canadian Legions, has died.

95-year-old Lt.-Col. Pritam Singh Jauhal passed away peacefully in Surrey over the weekend.

Jauhal fought for the British Empire in World War II, but on Remembrance Day in 1993 he was denied entrance to the Newton Legion in Surrey because of his turban and legion rules forbidding the wearing of hats and headgear.

“They had tried to explain that as soldiers they had fought with their turbans on so this was not something that was unknown to soldiers who had fought in World War II,” said Satwinder Bains, director for the centre for Indo-Canadian studies at the University of the Fraser Valley. “But the legion was adamant that they take them off at the door.”

“[Jauhal] didn’t understand that in the Commonwealth countries, how Canada could even think that people of the Sikh faith, who had fought in wars alongside Canadians and Europeans and people all over the world, could be not allowed into a legion,” said Bains.

Jauhal’s belief in religious freedom also led him to speak out against the Conservative government’s ban on Muslim women covering their faces during citizenship ceremonies.

Jauhal’s memoir, A Soldier Remembers, was published in 2013.

Bains says Jauhal will be remembered as a kind man who stood up for what he believed in.

“He had that in him, that gentle nature and yet that steel will and determination. This was who he was,” said Bains.

WSO Statement On Passing Of Lt. Col. Pritam Singh Jauhal

—The World Sikh Organization of Canada offers its tributes to Lt. Col. Pritam Singh Jauhal who passed away on Sunday at the age of 95.  Lt. Col Jauhal led the struggle to wear turbans in Royal Canadian Legion halls in the early 1990s.

In 1993 Lt. Col Jauhal, a World War II veteran and other Sikhs were barred from entering the Royal Canadian Legion in Surrey because of their turbans after the annual Remembrance Day parade.  The WSO had supported Lt. Col. Jauhal in his attempts to have the Legion permit the wearing of the turban.  The national organization eventually changed its policy after a national debate.

WSO Senior Policy Advisor Gian Singh Sandhu said today, “the WSO had the privilege of working with Lt. Col. Jauhal in his struggle to have the turban accommodated at Royal Canadian Legion halls.  We will remember him for his courage and determination. His unwavering commitment to justice and human rights is an inspiration.  Our sincerest condolences are with his family.”

WSO President Mukhbir Singh said, “Lt. Col. Jauhal is a Canadian Sikh icon and he is an example for the next generation of Canadian Sikhs that equity and human rights are worth struggling for.  He displayed that same commitment to human rights most recently when he opposed laws limiting the freedoms of Muslim women who wear the niqab.  Lt. Col. Jauhal’s contributions to the Canadian Sikh community will be fondly remembered.”

Pravin Sawhney
The NSG, for the US, is fundamentally about non-proliferation. Unfortunately, the UPA sold the 2008 agreement as necessary for electricity needs. The Modi government is now selling the NSG as the pathway to great-power status. Both have been less than truthful.

MISPLACED ANGER: Members of Swadeshi Jagaran Manch protest outside the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi after China did not support India’s bid for NSG membership. PTI

While there are many reasons why India’s strong pitch led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group was doomed to fail, two most important ones have not received attention.In the bid to salvage the bruised image of the Prime Minister, efforts are on to convey all is not lost. An unnamed US senior official has been quoted as saying that India’s case for membership is strong and should happen with some more push by December. Similarly, the outgoing chairperson of the NSG, Argentinian diplomat Rafael Grossi, has said that some way would be found to get India inside the NSG conclave. The key question remains whether India would get benefits as NSG member befitting a nuclear-weapon state?The first reason why this will not happen is that the US, and not China, had dashed all hopes of India doing trade in nuclear technologies with NSG members. In 2007, when President George Bush was pushing India’s case for exemption from the global restrictive regimes and in the US Congress as agreed in the 2005 Indo-US framework document, the US, under its global commitment, was also urging the NSG to review its export control rules to check proliferation. Thus, in July 2011, the NSG announced its new export norms: only those nations which had signed the NPT would be eligible for reprocessing and enrichment (ENR) technologies. This came as a bombshell for India. While allowed to trade for fuel with the NSG, India would be denied ENR technologies needed for utilisation of closed fuel cycle because it had not signed the NPT.In simple terms, while India could buy nuclear fuel from the world, it could not use it fully as without ENR technologies it would be unable to use the nuclear waste for energy production. This was when Indian scientists protested that they had own limited reprocessing capabilities and were not entirely bereft of them.The second reason is that Modi’s India has displeased Beijing no end by pitting itself as a leading power in Asia, rivalling China, which it is not. It has forgotten that China had rejected the US’ G-2 (Group of Two) proposal for global power sharing and had instead sought the new major power relationship, a move that moved the US pivot to Asia since it signalled the race for global supremacy. The G2 system was informally proposed in January 2009. It was soon endorsed by the Obama administration.However, China was not impressed as it had other plans. During Obama’s China visit in November 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told him that China preferred a multipolar world. What he did not say was that China aimed to displace the US as the global power in the 21st century. This task was left for Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who, heading its fifth-generation leadership, sought the new major power relationship with the US in December 2012.Also little understood is that Pakistan is no longer China’s lackey. Since Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2013 announcement of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as the flagship of his ambitious Belt and Road project (the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road), Pakistan has emerged as China’s critical partner on the global chessboard. China believes that success of the CPEC would convince the world to jump on the Belt and Road bandwagon to help Beijing create alternative security architecture in Asia, the gateway to a new global order.Given this, China can hardly be blamed for India’s short-sightedness and little understanding of strategic imperatives. Beijing opposed Delhi’s inclusion as NSG member not because it wants India to remain boxed in South Asia, but because it has reason to pull Pakistan out of South Asia as well. If this truism had been grasped by the Modi dispensation, it would have realised that the NSG is not the high table it should seek (that remains the elusive membership of the UN Security Council).Just like the 2008 Indo-US civil nuclear agreement, the NSG, from US’ perspective, was and remains fundamentally about non-proliferation. Unfortunately, the Manmohan Singh government sold the 2008 agreement as necessary for providing round-the-clock electricity to the people of India. The Modi government is now selling the NSG as the pathway to great power status. Both governments have been less than truthful. Regarding India’s quest for membership of the NSG — the club which works on consensus principle — China had in July 2015 made it clear that signing of the NPT would be essential for new member states. What China had left unsaid was that India could become NSG member only if it signed the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon state.To understand the implications of India joining the NSG, it would be instructive to revisit the 2008 Indo-US agreement. According to it, India was to place certain numbers of its nuclear reactors under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. In return, the US promised to end India’s nuclear apartheid by acknowledging it as a nuclear weapons power, agreed to India getting access to high and dual-use technologies, and offered to cooperate on civilian nuclear energy to meet India’s energy demands.It seemed that India would get the moon: it would become a nuclear weapons power (with freedom to maintain its credible minimum deterrence); be free to decide on more indigenous nuclear reactors for strategic purposes; be part of the global restricted technology cartels, namely, the NSG, Missile Technology Control Regime, Australia Group, and Wassenaar Arrangement (all led by the US but working by consensus); maintain strategic autonomy, implying independent foreign policy; not be clubbed with Pakistan; be free to buy nuclear fuel (uranium); run the nuclear closed fuel cycle (including reprocessing and subsequently the indigenous three-stage thorium cycle), and purchase state-of-the-art ENR technologies for its energy needs. It appeared to be a win-win situation for India.In reality, from the US perspective, the deal was about non-proliferation by coercing India to identify maximum numbers of its reactors for civilian use, getting India to de facto sign the CTBT even when the US Senate had rejected it, getting India’s foreign policy closely aligned with that of the US, doing commerce in civil nuclear reactors and defence (through a 10-year Defence Framework signed separately but highlighted in the July 18, 2005, framework document), and eventually having India as a junior strategic partner if not junior ally in the Asia-Pacific region.Against this backdrop, hypothetically speaking, if India becomes a member of the NSG, what would it get? It would certainly not get the ENR technologies that it desires from NSG member states. In any case, this is a bilateral issue. For example, China, an NSG member, continues to unabashedly give ENR technologies to Pakistan without even a mild protest from other NSG members, including the US.On China, Indian diplomats incorrectly compare 2008 with 2016. At that time, China agreed to the US’ call to support India for two reasons: a strictly one-time waiver had been sought for India from the NSG to do nuclear commerce. And, China had yet not disclosed its grand China Dream with the Belt and Road as its manifestation to challenge US’ global supremacy. But China is now willing to discuss India’s entry into the NSG, provided Pakistan’s is also considered.The reasons for India and Pakistan seeking to join the NSG are different. Pakistan’s quest for the NSG membership is not about nuclear technologies trade but about maintaining strategic balance with India. India, on the other hand, wants to be in the proverbial NSG tent to be able to participate in its policy-making. Considering the NSG was created as the consequence of India’s 1974 nuclear test, it is unrealistic to expect the conclave to alter its NPT imperative to allow nuclear technologies trade with India.The writer is editor, FORCE newsmagazine

Martyr Captain Rupinder Singh Garcha (extreme right) with his family members

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 30

Rupi was to come home on leave just days before the fateful incident. However, he could not make it as another officer from his unit had to extend his leave due to his father’s ailment. All that came back to us was a ‘box’ filled with the memories of his last days, shared Col Joginder Singh Garcha, father of the martyr, Roopinder Singh Garcha, putting up a brave face as he spoke to The Tribune at his residence here at Ravinder Nagar.While the whole district administration along with senior Army officials gathered on Thursday to lay wreath at his status on his 16th martyrdom day at the Urban Estate Phase II market, his father Col Joginder due to his ailing health could not attend the event and silently paid tribute to his brave heart at his home .“He seems to have been destined for the job as he had an inclination towards Army since childhood. He used to play ‘battalion’ games at home and even made us participate in those games as Army men. Within a short span of two years service, ‘Rupi’ was almost done with four crucial courses of the Army. His flourishing career was cut short by his sudden death,” said the proud father.The family still remembers the fateful day. “Rupi just had his lunch when he was called by the 2IC. As he was the only officer who had done the commando course in his unit during that time, he was asked to clear Ghatlokam village in Pulwama district situated nearby which was taken over by terrorists,” shared Col Garcha. Roopinder along with another officer took a vehicle and left immediately for the spot and instructed his 80 men to come in other vehicles. “Just before entering the village, Rupi stopped his jeep and was about to step down to plan the attack with his men when an Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) planted under his seat went off blowing up his body up to 23 ft. We still could not understand as to how the device was planted under his seat,” said Col Garcha. While remembering his commando days, Rupi’s mother Harminder Kaur shared he never wanted to do the commando course as not being in the infantry, the course was not mandatory for him. Roopinder even planned to leave the course in between. “However, it was only me who convinced him to continue by saying that he will be called a coward who ran away from the course,” said Kaur. She shared an instance when Rupinder was doing his commando training and came to his sister’s home at New Delhi. “His feet were swollen and were covered with blisters. When asked as to how he is managing his morning run every day, he said that he can do it easily by wearing four to five pairs of socks,” said his mother. 

Even though it’s been 16 years since Rupi has gone, the proud mother even remembers the taste of tea which Rupi used to make whenever he would come on leave. “He was a very caring child and always concerned about my health. Whenever he was at home during leave, he would send our house maid on long leave. He made me do all the household chores. When I used to finish my work, he used to make two cups of tea along with some snacks and then we both used to sit on the floor and enjoy it,” said the proud mother as she prevented her tears from falling. While calling the recent provision of One Rank One Pension as ‘half baked’, Col Garcha slammed the Centre for overlooking the concerns of the armed forces. “Army has made huge sacrifices whenever the national security was put under threat by external forces. However, it is unfortunate that the politicians do not recognise their value and hold bureaucracy supreme than the men in olive greens,” said Col Garcha adding that politicians were not interested in sending their own children to Army. Also, raising concern of the city residents for forgetting the war heroes, Col Garcha said the city too had paid heavily during times of need. He said in the Kargil war, the city alone lost seven officers. In rural areas, the number could have gone manifolds. “People are insensitive towards these heroes.  Despite requesting so many times, the banks established inside Capt Roopinder Singh Garcha’s shopping complex do not use his name and instead write their address as the Urban Estate Phase II market,” said Col Garcha. He also informed that though he had started Garcha Trust an year after his son’s martyrdom to support children from poor families who would like to join Army, but could not find anyone till date who could match the spark that was there in his brave son. “I have lost the most precious gem of my life and I will remember the harsh fact till my last breath,” said the aggrieved father. 

16th martyrdom day observed at Urban Estate Phase II

• The city on Thursday observed the 16th martyrdom day of Capt Roopinder Singh Garcha. Former District Welfare Officer Col Manmohan Singh organised an event to commemorate the occasion at Capt Roopinder SinghGarcha Commercial Complex in Urban Estate Phase II.
• An impressive guard of honour was given by the Army men. As many as 323 Air Defence regiment had specially come from Pune to pay tribute to the officer. Also, schoolchildren presented a patriotic cultural show to remember the sacrifice of the braveheart wholaid down his life at the age of 23.
• While remembering Capt Garcha, chief guest Major General Sanjeev Bajaj, GOC 91 sub area, lauded his father for guiding his son to the path of patriotism. Gen Bajaj also presented a cheque of Rs 25,000 to Captain Garcha Trust.
• Also present on the occasion were Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav,Col Manmohan Singh and Deependra Singh, brother of Capt Garcha.

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 28

In the last 13 years, the security forces have recovered nearly one million AK bullets and over 6,800 kg of the RDX explosive material from the possession of the militants and their hideouts during anti-insurgency operations.The government forces have also confiscated over 11,000 AK rifles and pistols from the militants operating in different parts of the state.Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who holds charge of the Home also, gave these details in a written reply to a question raised by MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta in the Legislative Council.Gupta had sought details about the arms and ammunition recovered from the militants during operations and from the hideouts by the police and other security agencies from January 2002 to December 31, 2015. He had also sought the numbers of first information reports (FIRs) registered in these incidents and also the number of accused arrested and challenged in the court throughout the state.According to the details furnished by the Home Department, the police and security agencies had recovered 8,146 AK 47, AK 56 and AK 74 rifles during anti-militancy operations from different parts of the state.During this period, the security agencies had also seized 2,877 pistols and revolvers from the militants and during raids at their hideouts, the official data revealed.It also said that from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2015, the security agencies also recovered 76 sniper rifles from the militants besides 20,158 hand grenades and 6,871.6 kg of highly explosive RDX material from them.The recoveries during this period also include 9.938 lakh AK 47/56/74 rounds besides 38,688 pistol/revolver bullets. In addition, the security agencies have also recovered 24,372 magazines of AK 47/56/74 rifles and 2,899 pistol/revolver magazines.“The arms and ammunition recovered by the police are kept in ‘Mal Khanas’ of the courts or district police lines and concerned police stations as case property,” the government stated in the written reply, adding that during this period 17,607 cases were also registered by the police, in which 6,330 persons were arrested.

NEW DELHI: Central government employees can look forward to fatter salary cheques as the Union cabinet is likely to take up the 7th Pay Commission recommendations on Wednesday.

The commission has recommended an average 23.55% increase in their salary, allowances and pension, a move that will benefit 4.8 million staffers and 5.5 million pensioners.

The commission headed by justice (retired) AK Mathur had presented its 900-page report to finance minister Arun Jaitley in November 2015.

In January, the government had set up an empowered committee of secretaries headed by cabinet secretary PK Sinha to examine the panel’s suggestions. A secretariat has also been set up within the finance ministry to oversee the panel’s recommendations. The cabinet is expected to discuss on Wednesday the Sinha committee’s report on implementation of the pay panel’s recommendations.

The salary hikes will be effective from January 1, 2016.

More cash in hand is likely to result in higher consumption by the government’s massive employee base, which accounts for a large segment of the Indian middle-class. More demand could boost the economy through higher spending on assets such as cars and housing.

The government usually accepts the broad proposals for pay revision — due every 10 years and state governments usually respond with their own hikes.

The Centre’s total salary and allowances bill for 2016-17 has been pegged at `1.84 lakh crore, which is `65,687 crore or 55% higher than last year’s `1.18 lakh crore. The higher wage bill for this year partly factors in the anticipated increase in employee remuneration.

The pay commission’s recommendations say a fresh IAS recruit will get a basic salary of `56,000 a month against `23,000 currently. A sepoy in the Indian Army will earn `21,700 a month from `8,460 at present. In addition, employees are paid dearness allowance and house rent among many other allowances.

If accepted, the new proposals will set `18,000 as the minimum pay of an employee on the central government’s rolls. At present, the minimum salary is `7,000.

The total emoluments of a general helper — the lowestranked employee — amount to `22,579, more than double that of his counterpart in the private sector, a study commissioned by the panel found.

The commission has proposed a change in the salary structure by doing away with the system of pay bands and grade pay and recommended “pay matrix”. It has also called for scrapping overtime allowance and interest-free loans to buy motor vehicles.

23% hike likely in 7th pay panel; decision tomorrow

New Delhi, June 27

The government is likely to soon announce the implementation of 7th Pay Commission that would hike the salaries and allowances for over 1 crore government employees and pensioners by at least 23.5 per cent.A committee of secretaries headed by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha has submitted its report on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission which may be accepted, a financial ministry official said.Based on the panel’s report, the Finance Ministry is preparing a Cabinet note and the issue may come up for approval by the Cabinet as early as June 29. “The Committee of Secretaries (CoS) has finalised its report on Pay Commission recommendations…We will soon (file) draft Cabinet note based on the report,” Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa said today.The government had in January set up a high-powered panel headed by the Cabinet Secretary to process the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, which will have bearing on the remuneration of nearly 50 lakh central government employees and 58 lakh pensioners.The Pay Commission had recommended 23.55 per cent overall hike in salaries, allowances and pension involving an additional burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore or nearly 0.7 per cent of the GDP.The panel recommended a 14.27 per cent increase in basic pay, the lowest in 70 years. The previous 6th Pay Commission had recommended a 20 per cent hike which the government doubled while implementing it in 2008.The 23.55 per cent increase includes hike in allowances. The entry level pay has been recommended to be raised to Rs 18,000 per month from current Rs 7,000 while the maximum pay, drawn by the Cabinet Secretary, has been fixed at Rs 2.5 lakh per month from current Rs 90,000.Sources said the secretaries’ panel may have recommended higher pay increase, with minimum entry level pay at Rs 23,500 a month and maximum salary of Rs 3.25 lakh.While the Budget for 2016-17 fiscal did not provide an explicit provision for implementation of the 7th Pay Commission, the government had said the once-in-a-decade pay hike for government employees has been built in as interim allocation for different ministries. Around Rs 70,000 crore has been provisioned for it, officials said. Lavasa said the 7th Pay Commission report would be effective from January 1. — PTI

Recommendations

• 23.55% Overall hike in salaries, allowances and pension
• 14.27% increase in basic pay, lowest in 70 years
• Rs 18,000/month Entry-level pay (up from current Rs 7,000)
• Rs 2.5 lakh/month Maximum pay, drawn by the Cabinet Secretary (up from current Rs 90,000)

NEW DELHI: The ministry of defence on Saturday cleared India’s biggest artillery gun purchase since the Bofors deal three decades ago. It will import 145 ultra-light howitzer artillery guns from BAE Systems at an approximate cost of $750 million (`5,100 crore) for the newly-raised Mountain Strike Corps.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which met after a gap of three months and discussed 19 proposals, among them new schemes worth `28,000 crore, a top source in the DAC said.

The proposals cleared by the DAC are a balancing act between fast-tracking delayed procurement of defence equipment and the government’s flagship programme ‘Make In India’ that aims at giving a fillip to indigenous production.

The first batch of 25 guns will be delivered by the US-based BAE Systems in ready-to-use condition within six months of signing a contract. The remaining 125 will come in a knock-down condition for which a facility for “assembly, integration and testing has been set up in India,” a ministry official said.

At the same time, the Dhanush, an indigenous replacement for the 155 mm Bofors artillery gun, will go into production soon after three guns are handed over for testing sometime next week. “Three guns will be handed over by June 30 for user exploitation and three more by the end of September,” a senior ministry official said. He added the government has given bulk production clearance (BPC) for producing 18 more Dhanush guns. The Ordnance Factories Board will decide on where these will be produced, based on trials. “The DAC noted that the Dhanush had made satisfactory progress,” he said.

Former Army chief Gen VP Malik (retd) said the decision to procure ultra-light guns and start producing the Dhanush will “fill a major deficiency” in the artillery arsenal. “These are important steps. They have taken a long time. Let’s hope there are no further delays,” he told HT from Panchkula.