The much-awaited government letter on the sanction of one rank, one pension (OROP) for veterans was published before Diwali. The PM announced this as a special gift for the armed forces. It appears that he has not seen the letter or he would not have taken pride in saying what he said. A first reading of the OROP parameters brings out clearly that this is not as per the OROP approved by the two parliaments and the UPA and NDA governments. The very definition of OROP has been hit. No wonder the veterans’ agitation has picked up. The veterans treat this as their right and not a gift any more. The perception created by government spokespersons that the OROP has been granted in full and that a few greedy veterans are not satisfied is wrong.
BRIG JOGINDAR SINGH (RETD)

VASCO DA GAMA: The behaviour of ex-servicemen protesting the notification on OROP scheme is “unlike that of a soldier” and they have been misguided, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said on Tuesday, a day after the war veterans decided to return their medals.
He termed one rank, one pension (OROP) decision as his biggest achievement in the last one year and said it was the BJP government that had finalised the measure.
“This is unlike a soldier. Whoever are still protesting despite the announcement are being misguided,” he said. Parrikar said that if there are any grievances, the ex-servicemen can present their case to the judicial commission that will be set up for this purpose.
He had on Monday said that everyone has a right to make a demand in democracy but not all demands can be fulfilled.

NEW DELHI:In a Deepavali gift to 25 lakh retired defence personnel and nearly 6.5 lakh war widows, the BJP-led NDA government on Saturday fulfilled its commitment by issuing the much-awaited notification on implementation of the ‘One Rank One Pension’ scheme. The development came a day after the veterans threatened to return their medals in protest against the delay in implementing the scheme.

A statement by the Ministry of Defence late in the evening said that pension benefits of past pensioners would be re-fixed on the basis of pension of retirees of 2013 and the benefit will be applicable from July 1, 2014. Pension will be re-fixed as per average of minimum and maximum pension of personnel who retired in 2013 in the same rank and with the same length of service. Those who opt to get discharged, from now on, will not get benefits of OROP. It will be effective prospectively, the ministry added and made it clear that pension for those drawing above the average shall be protected.

The ministry also said the arrears will be paid in four equal half-yearly installments. However, all family pensioners, including those in receipt of Special/Liberalised family pension, and gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one installment. In future, the pension would be re-fixed every five years.

Major General (retd) Satbir Singh, chairman of the Indian Ex-servicemen Movement, said the OROP notification will not be acceptable to veterans in the present forma and their protest will continue. A statement issued by the United Front of Ex-servicemen Movement said, “The notification is not acceptable in its present form as it does not address the seven anomalies pointed out by UFESM. It will be studied, interpreted by our legal experts and then a response communicated on the subject.”

“Defence forces of India have a rich history and tradition of bravery and gallantry. Defence forces have not only defended our borders with exemplary courage and valour but have also performed with fearless attitude and empathy in natural calamities and other trying circumstances. Government of India recognizes and respects their contribution,” the Ministry of Defence said in its statement.

Moreover, the government has also decided to appoint a Judicial Committee to look into anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP. The Committee will submit its report in six months.

Detailed instructions along with tables indicating revised pension for each rank and category shall be issued separately for updation of pension and payment of arrears directly by Pension Disbursing Agencies, the Defence Ministry added.

Even after the government announced scheme, a section of the veterans continued their protest citing seven lacunae, including annual equalisation and 2013-14 as the base year.

The issue of One Rank One Pension was a long-standing demand. Defence forces had been demanding it for almost four decades but the issue could not be resolved.

However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a commitment to implement it for the welfare of the ex-servicemen while campaigning for 2014 elections.

The government had, after negotiations that went on for months, announced on September 5 that it would implement OROP, which ensures that armed personnel of the same rank will draw the same pension regardless of when they retired.

But due to Bihar assembly polls and Model Code, the government could not issue a notification in this regard.

Though it will cause nearly Rs 10,000 crore annual financial expenditure to the exchequer, the previous UPA government had made a budget announcement to implement the OROP and made a provision of only Rs 500 crore.

Significantly, the Koshiyari Committee had accepted the estimate of Rs 235 crore as additional financial burden to implement the OROP.

The fine print

■ Initially, pension would be re-fixed on the basis of pension of retirees of 2013 and benefit will be effective with effect from July 1, 2014

■ Pension would be re-fixed every 5 years

■ Personnel who opt to get discharged on their request would henceforth not get OROP benefits

■ Arrears to be paid in four equal half-yearly installments

■ Judicial Committee to look into anomalies

BRO men and machines at work on the Daulat Beg Oldi road in eastern Ladakh. Tribune Photo

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 18

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has adopted a modern technology, Cementaceous Sub Base (CTSB) — a first-of-its-kind in Asia — for the construction of the sensitive high-altitude Daulat Beg Oldi road bordering China in eastern Ladakh.

According to BRO officials, 12 km of the road is being constructed by utilising the CTSB technology.

The use of the technology is aimed at providing the military with an all-weather road access to north-eastern Ladakh and for facilitating smooth passage of armed personnel and other logistical support.

The area had seen skirmishes during the 1962 India-China conflict and also recent stand-offs. Building this section of the road is a key thrust area of the Defence Ministry for this strategic northernmost corner of India.

“This is a patented technology through which road surface is constructed in an extremely short span of time. The surface is more durable than the one obtained through the conventional method,” a senior BRO official said.

He said, “Besides being treacherous, the engineers face multiple challenges in the construction of these roads ranging from extremely high altitude extending to over 19,000 feet above the sea level resulting in acute mountain sickness to workers and rarified oxygen levels.”

Criss-crossing through the higher Himalayan ranges where temperature dips to below -50°C during the winter, the sectors offer limited window for executing the works from June to October.

“However, considering the nature of activities required to be undertaken for carving out stable roads in the high seismic zone (siesmic-4), conventional methods would take years, much beyond the timelines stipulated for the completion of the projects,” the BRO official said.

Under the CTSB technology, a dry admixture is mixed with sand and crushed stones by means of a machine known as pulveriser. First the crushed stones and sand are spread on the road. The admixture is laid ahead of the pulveriser.

The pulveriser rolls over the admixture mixing all the three components, spreading them evenly over the road surface. The surface is watered for some time. The exercise is repeated after a few days to form the second coating. Then the bitumen is laid over the surface as done in the conventional method.

Engineer in charge Feroz Ahmad said, “Through the CTSB technology, the road length will be completed within three months. The same length would have been completed in 2 to 3 years using the conventional method. The road stretch would be more tenacious to withstand harsh climatic conditions prevailing in these terrains.”

Chief Engineer, Project Himank, Brig Nitin K Sharma complimented engineers for implementing the new technology in most adverse conditions and said such techniques could be replicated in other border areas where conditions for the construction of the road network was rather impossible.

Pervin Malhotra
email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com

Q.I’m preparing for JEE along with my Class XII Boards. I’m also interested in joining the armed forces, particularly the Navy, but have not prepared for the NDA exam due to my tight schedule. Please suggest what I should I do to keep this option open. —Yashpal Saini

A. Male candidates who’ve passed their Senior Secondary or equivalent exam from any Board with at least 70 per cent aggregate in physics, chemistry & mathematics and scored at least 50 per cent in English (in class X/XII)and obtained a rank in the JEE (Main) 2020 for BE/BTech can join the Indian Navy under the 10+2 (Technical) Cadet Entry Scheme.

DoB: July 2, 2001- Jan uary 1, 2004.

Upon selection, you’ll be inducted as Cadets for the 4-year BTech course in Electronics & Communication or Mechanical Engineering at the prestigious Naval Academy, Ezhimala Kerala.

The best part is that the entire cost of training throughout, including books and reading material, will be borne by the Indian Navy. You’ll also be provided with free clothing, board and lodging.

The application window is typically open till mid-June 2020.

Do read the instruction carefully on their website: www.joinindiannavy.gov.in before applying online.

For any further Queries call on the Toll-Free no: 1800-419-2929 and press Option 7 to speak to a customer care representative.

A veritable ocean of opportunities await you: The Indian Navy is a technology-driven force with its ships, submarines and aircraft fitted with cutting edge equipment. As an Engineer Officer, you’ll get an opportunity to operate and maintain the Marine Engineering equipment on board ships /submarines/ aircrafts as well as in Repair Yards and Maintenance Units besides working in Design and Production of indigenous ships.

No other career exposes an engineer to such a wide spectrum of job profiles. As an Engineer Officer, you’ll also get ample opportunities to undergo technical courses/Post Graduation in India and abroad.

Get on the nursing course

Q.I’m a Class XII student in Jammu. I have always dreamt of a career in medicine — either practice or research. However, I belong to a conservative family who feel that I should be looking at simpler options because there are so few medical seats and they are not aware of the employment prospects. How should I convince them? — Ummaid Bakhtawar

A. As far as I know, 400 additional seats have been allotted for new medical colleges in your region, taking the number from 500 to 900 (the largest jump in any state).

Besides five new nursing colleges, two new AIIMS are coming up in Awantipora (Kashmir and in Vijaypur (Jammu)

Moreover, students of Kashmir & J&K have a 3 per cent reservation in seats and jobs in government institutions across the country.

I also read somewhere that J&K ranks among the top states to implement Ayushman Bharat scheme. Dedicated medical

cities are being set up to implement the Health Investment Policy and medical facilities across health centres and hospitals have been upgraded, DNB courses have introduced in 63 specialties across 16 leading hospitals, new posts have been created and new appointments made.

So all in all, it’s a great time to be studying medicine for students like you…! And I’m sure your parents will come around, when you present them all these facts. Best of luck!

When life serves you lemons…

Q.I am 27 years old and hearing impaired for the past 10 years. While my left ear is completely deaf, I used to wear a hearing aid in the right one. Despite this I was somehow carrying on until a viral fever recently infected my head, body, nose and throat. Within 3-4 days I stopped hearing almost completely despite the hearing aid. Docs say that I’ve lost my hearing and have prescribed medication, but it’s not helping. Even using a more powerful aid doesn’t seem to work. Cochlear implant may be the solution but I can’t afford it right now. I’ve lost my job as it involved a great deal of communication. I am now feeling terribly depressed. Please tell me what options are open for me? Although I am a fighter by nature, I’m feeling very depressed.  I need someone to show me the way. I have a private school background and a diploma in computers. —Gitanjali Sood

A. Why are you depressed…! Sure, hearing loss is a disadvantage – but only a partial one. All your other faculties are intact!

The fact that you’re in this world with all its wonders and experiences and that you have the ability to see them, feel them and touch them – that’s the greatest blessing of all. For sure, your glass is more than half full.

Coming to jobs, there are so many things you can do today– all the more, since you’re computer savvy!

By your own admission, you’re a fighter. So, prove it by fighting it out. Take up the challenge.

Research suggests that the hearing impaired tend to be the least distracted, highly motivated and display a capacity for high retention that places them at par and at times, even better than their hearing counterparts.

Now there is reservation for the handicapped in all government jobs etc. Hearing impairment is a prominent condition recognised by the government.

Of course, you’ll have to sell your skills and capabilities to the employer – quite like any other candidate. Just make sure your skills are well-honed and up-to-date.

With mandated reservations for PWDs in almost all categories of jobs, I don’t think you should have a problem landing a good one with a bit of effort. If you have an entrepreneurial streak, that too is a wonderful option. Remember, the only insurmountable disability in life is a bad attitude. Best of luck!

Decoding the Canadian dream

Q. Why is it that so many Indians (and predominantly those from Punjab) are heading to Canada for work? Many of my friends are planning to go to Canada for higher studies. —  Shamsher Singh Chahal

A. There are a number of reasons. Although the US has tightened the screws on immigration, its North American neighbor has shown its readiness to cash in on the chance to attract more international talent to meet Canada’s growing need for skilled professionals.

Besides being a relatively safe, friendly and clean place, a recent survey has interestingly found that Canada is more open to welcoming Indian STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) professionals over those from China. Among Asian countries, only South Korean immigrants are more prized for highly skilled jobs than Indians.

File photo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 13

With intelligence inputs suggesting that terror elements are active in Narowal district of Pakistan, where Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara is situated, the Centre is contemplating inserting a column in application form for pilgrims to declare that their visit through the newly built corridor “will not be detrimental to India’s sovereignty”.

Sources said the column would be inserted in the form, which the pilgrims have to fill before applying for permission to visit Kartarpur Gurdwara through the corridor. 

“Concerns have been raised by security and intelligence agencies that elements in Pakistan may try to misuse the corridor by propagating anti-India narrative among visiting pilgrims,” said a senior official.

A few days ahead of the inauguration of Kartarpur corridor on November 9, intelligence agencies had alerted that “jihadi elements” were spotted hiding on the other side of border, which was very close to the Dera Baba Nanak shrine on the Indian side.

Talking to The Tribune, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel patrolling the border near Dera Baba Nanak said they had stepped up vigil with additional deployment.

In its report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, intelligence agencies had alerted that places like Muridke, Shakurgarh and Narowal, which are very close to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, had become latest hotspots for terror camps.

The corridor, which connects Dera Baba Nanak Sahib in Gurdaspur district of Punjab with Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Narowal district of Pakistan’s Punjab, became operational for Indian pilgrims after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it on November 9.

Harbans Singh met his childhood friend when he visited his ancestral village in Pakistan. Photo courtesy: Urdu News

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, November 12

It was a poignant moment when a nonagenarian man from India went to his ancestral village in Pakistan to meet his childhood friends as he visited the country to celebrate the 550^th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Harbans Singh, 90, was 17 years old when he had to leave his ancestral home in Pakistan’s Jaranwala city during the Partition.

Urdu News posted videos capturing the heart-wrenching moment when Harbans visited his village accompanied by his daughter and son-in-law, who all came from America.

Harbans’ wish to meet his childhood friend Muhamad Sharif got stronger after opening of the Kartarpur Corridor between India and Pakistan.

After reaching his village Lathianwala, an emotional Harbans asked “is this my village? This has changed so much.”

A white-bearded elder man grabs him by the side and replies, “Yes, Sardar ji, this is your village. This is Sukhan da Lathianwala. Welcome!”

The market was soon filled with beaming people and the scene looked like the one when meeting a relative after many years.

Harbans was asking about his home the entire time. He further added that their ‘haveli’ was one of the biggest houses in the village.

But Harbans Singh was surprised to find that his haveli was now replaced by a magnificent two-story building owned by local proprietors.

This 90-year-old American Harbans Singh who left Pakistan in 1947 -when the country was carved out of India-is waiting to see his childhood friend Mohammad Sharif in #Pakistan, will he meet him ever?? #KartarpurCorridor

And the emotional re-union of Harbans Singh with family of his childhood friends in Pakistani Punjab.

26 people are talking about this

However, Harbans’ wish to meet his childhood friend remained unfulfilled as Muhammad Sharif’s grandson Khushi Mohammed informed him that their grandfather died about 10 years ago.

After saying that, he also hugged Harbans. The locals gave clothes to Harbans and his family as gifts.

“It is a great pleasure to be back here. Looking at my home felt like I was born again today. The wish that had been suppressed for 72 years has come true today. I am very happy with the love I received,” an emotional Harbans said.

He rebelled against the focus on ritual, terming it vacuous if not accompanied with a pure life and chanting of God’s name

Shashi Uban Tripathi

Guru Nanak has invariably been considered with the Bhakti poets and is often described as one of the leading voices of the Bhakti movement. This perception is reinforced by his emphasis on love and devotion to God, the one Creator — Ek Onkar — who is the Truth, who is without fear and without enmity, who is eternal and immortal, who is self-created and who is revealed by the grace of Guru.

This is how Guru Nanak has been perceived in the general consciousness down the ages. But a study of his life and teachings makes it quite apparent that he was a rebel with a cause. In today’s parlance, he would have been described as a social activist. He rebelled against the overwhelming focus of the day on ritual — terming it vacuous and meaningless if not accompanied with a good, pure life and the chanting of God’s name. He asked the Pandit who had come to perform his Yagnopavit ceremony to give him a thread woven of the cotton of compassion, knotted with contentment and truth and one which will neither break nor get burnt or dirty. Blessed would be the one who wore such a sacred thread, he said. If you have such a thread, give it to me, he told the non-plussed priest.

On seeing the evening worship, the aarti, being performed at the Jagannath temple in Puri, Guru Nanak thought it would be a pity to have such a small aarti for the Lord of the Universe: Let the sky be the salver, the sun and moon the lamps, and the myriads of stars the offering of pearls; let fragrant nature be the incense, and flowers of all hues deck the salver. Such an aarti is worthy of that Dispeller of all Fears, the Ultimate Reality. This poem is said to have had tremendous impact on Guru Rabindranath Tagore, who penned similar ideas in a poem in Gitanjali.

One of his most revolutionary concepts was denouncing the theory of sanyas as the means of salvation. Nanak taught that a householder who earned a living through hard work, who shared his earnings with the family and community and who managed to chant the Lord’s name, would attain salvation much faster than a mendicant or a renunciate. To live amidst temptation and yet be untouched by it was the greatest form of austerity.

After travelling the known world (including Mecca and Medina) for close to 30 years, Baba Nanak settled down in Kartarpur to the life of a simple farmer. Here he started the tradition of langar. This was later institutionalised by the second Guru, Angad Dev, and sanctified by the third Guru, Amar Das.

The idea behind langar was not just food security or feeding the poor. It went much beyond that to embrace equality of all human beings — rich and poor, Hindu and Muslim, Brahmin and Shudra. Men and women were expected to sit together on the floor and partake of the same simple meal. When one thinks of those times when untouchability was rife and Hindus and Muslims would not drink water from the same tap, let alone eat from the same kitchen, the mind is stunned at how audacious this idea was.

No less revolutionary was Guru Nanak’s defence of women. Very few people understood a young Nanak and his great mission. Of the two who did was his elder sister, Bebe Nanaki (the other being Rai Bular, the ruler of Rai Bhoi di Talwandi, where Nanak was born). It is possible that this relationship with his elder sister coloured his view and respect for women. At a time when women’s status had been seriously eroded, he raised his voice against the denunciation of women, asking why women are bad-mouthed when they are central to life and living.

Man is born of woman, nourished and nurtured by her. In youth, he befriends a woman, marries her and brings her home. When she dies, he brings another. Why then is she who gives birth to rulers and kings, abused and called bad, he asks. The only one beyond the pale of a woman’s influence is that One Cosmic Reality who embodies the Truth. Such a spirited defence of women is hard to find among the leaders and savants of the 15th century, 550 years ago.

To categorise Guru Nanak as a mere Bhakti poet is to limit the tremendous sweep of his revolutionary ideas and practices.

— The writer is a former ambassador

Jammu, November 8

A soldier was killed in a gunbattle with terrorists who, aided by cover fire by the Pakistan army, tried to cross the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Friday, a defence spokesman said.

The Indian Army observed suspicious movement of terrorists in the Krishna Ghati Sector of Poonch district around 2.30 am, he said.

In the exchange of fire, sepoy Rahul Bhairu Sulagekar sustained gunshot wounds and was evacuated to the nearest medical aid centre, where he succumbed to his injuries. “The Pakistan Army violated ceasefire and abetted terrorists who were involved in suspicious movement in the Krishna Ghati sector in Poonch district around 2.30 am,” the defence spokesman said.

Sulagekar, 21, belonged to Uchagaon village in Belgavi district of Karnataka. He is survived by his mother.

“He was a brave, highly motivated and sincere soldier. The nation will always remain indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty,” the spokesman said.

According to reports, the terrorists were part of the BAT team, who had infiltrated into this side of the LoC to attack an Army listening post. — TNS

Two Army men killed in Kupwara road mishap

Srinagar, November 7

Two Army jawans died in a road accident in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.

An Army vehicle met with an accident in the Langate area of Kupwara on Wednesday night due to poor visibility caused by heavy snowfall, an Army official said.

Rifleman Bhim Bahadur Pun and Gunner Akhilesh Kumar died in the accident, the official said.

A wreath-laying ceremony was held here to pay tributes to the deceased jawans, the official added. — PTI

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Dera Baba Nanak, November 5

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is yet to respond to Pakistan government’s proposal of waiving the requirement of a passport for Sikh pilgrims to travel through the corridor to Kartarpur shrine, following which confusion reigns supreme.

Five days after Pakistan PM Imran Khan tweeted about the waiver, the online portal established by India still asks for a copy of the passport to be uploaded.

Officials claim Khan’s tweet holds no relevance till the MEA comes up with clear-cut instructions. The government has also yet to make it clear the nature of the ID card to be carried by pilgrims if at all a passport is not required. Khan’s so-called waiver, meanwhile, has evoked strong reactions.

Dubai-based businessman SPS Oberoi, who is making liberal donations, said it was beyond the jurisdiction of the Pakistan PM to announce the passport waiver.

“It is a matter to be sorted out between two countries,” he said. “He can waive off the $20 fee. However, on that count he is maintaining silence. Let both countries talk and settle the passport issue while Khan should waive off the service tax fee not only on November 9 and 12 as envisaged by him but on all days,” said Oberoi.

Officials, not willing to be named, said the Pakistan PM was “politicising and communalising” the corridor opening by announcing waivers for just Sikhs.

“Perhaps Khan is unaware that thousands of Hindus, both in India and abroad, follow the teachings of Guru Nanak and regularly visit gurdwaras,” added Oberoi.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani government has announced that devotees can cross over from 7 am till 11.30 am and will have to return between 12.30 pm and 5 pm. Pilgrims will have to complete all the formalities at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) in Dera Baba Nanak before they can proceed to the Pakistan ICP, 600 m away.