As a Major General he had commanded the 54 Infantry Division during the war that had moved from its peace time location in Secunderabad to Punjab

Lieutenant General Walter Anthony Gustavo Pinto

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 27

Lieutenant General Walter Anthony Gustavo Pinto, who had played a key role in the Indian victory in the Battle of Basantar, one of the most crucial operations in the Punjab-Jammu Sector during the 1971 war, passed away at the age of 97.

As a Major General he had commanded the 54 Infantry Division during the war that had moved from its peace time location in Secunderabad to Punjab. Tasked for offensive operations in the Shakargarh bulge, the Division crossed the border on December 6 and captured key areas. Troops from the division were conferred as many as 196 gallantry medals including two Param Vir Chakra and nine Maha Vir Chakra, while Maj Gen Pinto was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

The Indian Army won a hard-fought battle on the banks of the Basantar river from December 4 to 16 that secured this area. It was a strategically vital area for both sides as it comprised road links to Jammu from Punjab, which could be cut off by the enemy. Pakistan Army generally regards this as their most humbling defeat despite numerical superiority, next only to the Battle of Laungewala in Rajasthan.

Born in 1924 at Poona (now Pune), he was commissioned into the 13th Frontier Force Rifles in 1943. The unit moved to Burma during the Second World War, where then Second Lieutenant Pinto commanded a Medium Machine Gun Platoon.

Post Independence, he assigned to the 2nd battalion of Assam Regiment and when the Brigade of Guards was raised, he was transferred to 3 Guards. Later he commanded 4 Guards, which moved to Sikkim during the Chinese aggression. As a Brigadier, he commanded 66 Mountain Brigade in Binnaguri.

After the 1971 war, he became the Colonel of the Rajput Regiment. He also served as Director, Military Training where he also headed the Joint Training Committee, Services Sports Control Board, Army Mountaineering Federation and Army Rifle Association. He was also vice president of Indian Hockey Federation and Indian Olympic Association.

On promotion to Lieutenant General, he took over as General Officer Commanding 33 Corps in Sukhna and then moved as the Commandant, National Defence College. In July 1980, he was elevated as Army Commander and took over the Central Command in Lucknow from where he retired after a two year tenure. After hanging up his boots, he had settled in Pune.

Maj Gen Pinto’s father, Alexander Pinto, worked in the military accounts department. His elder brother Sydney Alexander was a Major General in the Corps of Engineers, while his elder sister, Phyllis Mary, served in the Women’s Auxiliary Corps in India and later in Burma. He was an alumnus of Robertson College in Jabalpur.

Exam to be held on March 28 postponed to April 25

Ludhiana (Punjab), March 27

The Army on Saturday postponed to April 25 the common entrance examination for recruiting general duty personnel in view of the surge in coronavirus cases in Punjab.

The examination to be held on March 28 has been postponed to April 25 on the advice of the district administration due to hike in coronavirus cases, officials said.

The officials at Army recruiting office Ludhiana said the candidates, who have successfully completed the physical and medical examination, were to appear for the common entrance examination.

These candidates are from Ludhiana, Moga, Rupnagar and SAS Nagar (Mohali).

The Army recruiting office Ludhiana had conducted a recruitment rally from December 7 to 27, 2020. PTI

Anandpur Sahib, March 27

The second phase of the Hola Mohalla started with an ‘ardas’ by Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh here today.

The international-level festival will conclude on March 29 with a procession by Nihang Sikhs in the town.

While political parties have decided not to hold any conference due to Covid, the local unit of the Bhartiya Kisan Mazdoor Union will organise a farmer conference over the agricultural laws today. Convener Shamsher Singh Shera said senior leaders of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha were expected to take part in the conference.https://00e0af1dbb3379c89d3e35940486cd1c.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

The devotees reaching here to pay obeisance at various gurdwaras have thrown norms to the wind. Deputy Commissioner Sonali Giri said one lakh face masks were being distributed by the administration to people reaching Anandpur Sahib. Ropar SSP Akhil Chaudhary said the police were ensuring that a majority of force deployed got vaccinated against Covid. — TNS

Lt Gen Walter Anthony Gustavo Pinto

Chandigarh, March 27

Lt Gen Walter Anthony Gustavo Pinto, who had played a key role in the Indian victory in the Battle of Basantar, one of the most crucial operations in the Punjab-Jammu sector during the 1971 War, passed away at the age of 97.

As a Major General he had commanded the 54 Infantry Division during the war that had moved from its peace time location in Secunderabad to Punjab. Tasked for offensive operations in the Shakargarh bulge, the division crossed the border on December 6 and captured key areas.

Played key role in Battle of Basantar

Lt Gen Walter Anthony Gustavo Pinto had played a key role in the Indian victory in the Battle of Basantar, one of the most crucial operations in the Punjab-Jammu sector during the 1971 war

Troops from the division were conferred as many as 196 gallantry medals, including two Param Vir Chakra and nine Maha Vir Chakra, while Maj Gen Pinto was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. — TNS

Wheat purchase to go on till May 1

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 27

The Centre has approved Punjab Government’s request to reschedule wheat procurement in the wake of a Covid-19 surge in the state and resultant challenges and restrictions.

“The request made by Government of Punjab for rescheduling wheat procurement period during rabi marketing season (RMS) 2021-22 due to late maturity of crop and a surge in Covid-19 cases in the state has been considered and approved by Government of India,” a government statement said today. The wheat procurement period in Punjab has now been rescheduled to April 10 to May 31, 2021, in place of April 1 to May 25, 2021. Meanwhile, the SAD has condemned the Congress government for delaying procurement by 10 days, saying it must begin from April 1. Senior leaders Prem Singh Chandumajra and Daljit Singh Cheema accused the government of playing a fixed match with the Centre to teach a lesson to protesting farmers by not protesting in time against deliberate tightening of specifications for procurement of foodgrain by the FCI.

सरकारी नौकरी का मौका

Indian Army Recruitment 2021: भारतीय सेना (Indian Army) में अधिकारी बनने का सपना देख रहे युवाओं के लिए एक अच्छा मौका है. सेना (Indian Army) में तकनीकी ग्रेजुएट पाठ्यक्रम (TGC-133) भर्ती (Indian Army TGC Recruitment 2021) के लिए आवेदन करने की कल अंतिम डेट है. इसके लिए (Indian Army Recruitment 2021) आधिकारिक वेबसाइट पर एक नोटिफिकेशन भी जारी किया गया है. उम्मीदवार जो अभी तक इन पदों (Indian Army Recruitment 2021) के लिए आवेदन नहीं किए हैं, वे Indian Army की आधिकारिक वेबसाइट joinindianarmy.nic.in पर जाकर 26 मार्च तक या उससे पहले अप्लाई कर सकते हैं. Also Read – Indian Army Recruitment 2021 Rally: 8वीं, 10वीं पास के लिए भारतीय सेना में शामिल होने का सुनहरा मौका, बिना परीक्षा के मिलेगी नौकरी, जल्द करें अप्लाई

इसके अलावा उम्मीदवार सीधे इस लिंक https://joinindianarmy.nic.in/index.htm पर क्लिक करके भी इन पदों (Indian Army Recruitment 2021) के लिए आवेदन कर सकते हैं. साथ ही इस लिंक https://joinindianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/Porta के जरिए भी आधिकारिक नोटिफिकेशन भी देख सकते हैं. भारतीय सेना (Indian Army) में स्थाई कमीशन के लिए भारतीय सैन्य अकादमी (IMA), देहरादून में योग्य अविवाहित पुरुष इंजीनियरिंग ग्रेजुएट के लिए भारतीय सेना तकनीकी ग्रेजुएट पाठ्यक्रम जुलाई 2021 में शुरू होगा. ट्रेनिंग के सफल समापन के बाद सेना में शॉर्ट सर्विस कमीशन / स्थाई कमीशन के लिए लेफ्टिनेंट /अन्य सीनियर पद दिया जाएगा. इस भर्ती के तहत कुल 133 पदों को भरा जाएगा. Also Read – Indian Railway Recruitment 2021: 10वीं पास बिना परीक्षा के रेलवे में पा सकते हैं नौकरी, आवेदन प्रक्रिया शुरू, जल्द करें अप्लाई

Indian Army Recruitment 2021 के लिए महत्वपूर्ण तिथियाँ Also Read – BSCB Recruitment 2021: BSCB में इन पदों पर आवेदन करने की आज है आखिरी डेट, इस Direct Link  से करें अप्लाई, 63 हजार होगी सैलरी

ऑनलाइन आवेदन करने की शुरुआत तिथि – 25 फरवरी 2021
ऑनलाइन आवेदन करने की अंतिम तिथि – 26 मार्च 2021 दोपहर 3 बजे तक

Indian Army Recruitment 2021 के लिए रिक्ति विवरण

कुल पद – 40

सिविल / भवन निर्माण प्रौद्योगिकी – 11 पद
आर्किटेक्ट- 1 पद
इलेक्ट्रिकल / इलेक्ट्रिकल और इलेक्ट्रॉनिक्स – 4 पद
कंप्यूटर Sc & Engg / Computer Technology / Info Tech / M. Sc Computer Sc – 9 पद
सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी (आईटी) – 3 पद
इलेक्ट्रॉनिक्स और दूरसंचार – 2 पद
दूरसंचार इंजीनियरिंग – 1 पद
इलेक्ट्रॉनिक्स और कम्यूनिकेशन – 1 पद
सेटेलाइट कम्यूनिकेशन – 1 पद
एरोनॉटिकल / एयरोस्पेस / एवियोनिक्स – 3 पद
ऑटोमोबाइल इंजीनियरिंग – 1 पद
कपड़ा इंजीनियरिंग – 1 पद

Indian Army Recruitment 2021 के लिए वेतन

लेफ्टिनेंट – रु. 56,100 – 1,77,500
कैप्टन लेवल – रु.61,300-1,93,900
मेजर – रु. 69,400-2,07,200
लेफ्टिनेंट कर्नल स्तर – रु. 1,21,200-2,12,400
कर्नल स्तर – रु. 1,30,600-2,15,900
ब्रिगेडियर स्तर – रु. 1,39,600-2,17,600
मेजर जनरल लेवल – रु. 1,44,200-2,18,200
लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल एचएजी स्केल – रु.1,82,200-2,24,100
लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल एचएजी – रु. 16 2,05,400-2,24,400
VCOAS / सेना Cdr / लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल (NFSG) – रु. 2,25,000 / – (निश्चित)
COAS – रु. 2,50,000 / – (निश्चित)

Indian Army Recruitment 2021 के लिए योग्यता मानदंड

उम्मीदवार को संबंधित क्षेत्र में किसी मान्यता प्राप्त विश्वविद्यालय से BE/B.Tech होना चाहिए. साथ ही इंजीनियरिंग डिग्री कोर्स के फाइल ईयर वाले भी उम्मीदवार आवेदन करने के लिए योग्य हैं.

Indian Army Recruitment 2021 के लिए आयु सीमा

उम्मीदवारों की आयुसीमा 20 से 27 वर्ष (01 जुलाई 2021 तक) के बीच होनी चाहिए.

Indian Army Recruitment 2021 के लिए चयन प्रक्रिया

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Congress takes a swipe at PM; BJP presents Vajpayee’s citation to make a point

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the National Day programme of Bangladesh in Dhaka on March 26, 2021. — @PMOIndia/PTI

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Friday that he was part of a Satyagraha held to back the liberation of Bangladesh led to a political slugfest back home, with the Congress countering the claim and the BJP presenting a citation Bangladesh awarded to late Atal Behari Vajpayee for organising a Satyagraha outside Parliament to demand the liberation of Bangladesh.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh questioned the Satyagraha claim after historian Srinath Raghavan said on Twitter, “The claim that ANYONE did satyagraha for the freedom of Bangladesh and were arrested is too ridiculous to require refutation.”

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, however, refuted the Congress and a section of historians questioning the Satyagraha and said on Twitter, “Was Prime Minister Modi part of satyagrah organised by Jana Sangha for recognition of Bangladesh?

“Yes, he was. A citation awarded by Bangladesh to Vajpayee ji speaks of the rally. PM Modi, in a book authored in 1978, also wrote about going to Tihar during Bangladesh satyagrah!”

The citation, which Malviya shared on Twitter, is titled, “Bangladesh Liberation War Honour for Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

It reads, “A highly respected political leader and a former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, played an active role in support of the Liberation War of Bangladesh. As President of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and a Member of the Lok Sabha, he took various steps towards that end. In an editorial column of the ‘Organiser’, Shri Vajpayee welcomed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s historic declaration of Bangladesh’s independence and called upon the Government of India to recognise the Government of Bangladesh and provide necessary assistance to the freedom fighters. To press the demand for Indian Government’s expedited support to Bangladesh’s Liberation War, Jana Sangh held a Gana Satyagraha during 1-11 August and their volunteers organised a huge rally in front of the Indian Parliament House on 12 August 1971. Shri Vajpayee took a firm stand at national and international levels for the cause of Bangladesh and its striving people.”

CHANDIGARH: In a historic decision, the Cabinet has extended the benefit of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to short service commissioned officers and emergency commissioned officers (SSCOs and ECOs) as well as some other categories of ex-military personnel.

The decision would immediately benefit over 43,000 individuals, who can now avail of free medicare in ECHS polyclinics and private empanelled hospitals after paying a one-time subscription. — Photo courtesy: echs.gov.in

amansharma@tribunemail.com

Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, March 7

In a historic decision, the Cabinet has extended the benefit of Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to short service commissioned officers and emergency commissioned officers (SSCOs and ECOs) as well as some other categories of ex-military personnel.

Under regulations in vogue, only those defence personnel drawing a pension from the defence estimates are considered as “ex-servicemen” and those who do not fall under this category were not being granted certain benefits like the ECHS. They had been struggling for getting such benefits for the past several years.

The decision would immediately benefit over 43,000 individuals, who can now avail of free medicare in ECHS polyclinics and private empanelled hospitals after paying a one-time subscription, sources said.

The decision today comes in wake of directions issued by the Supreme Court in January that granted time to the government till April to act upon the issue while hearing an appeal filed by Ministry of Defence (MoD) against a judgement of the Chandigarh Bench of Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT). 

In 2011, the AFT had ordered restoration of medical facilities to non-pensioner military veterans that had been abruptly withdrawn by the Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) in late 2000s.

Medical facilities in military hospitals (MHs) were being provided to non-pensioner ex-defence personnel since 1970. Later, pension was made compulsory for availing facilities. 

In 1997, the term ‘ex-service pensioners’ was again replaced by ‘ex-servicemen’ by the MoD thereby restoring facilities to those veterans who were released with the status of ‘ex-servicemen’ but without getting any pension.

In late 2000s, the DGAFMS started refusing treatment in military hospitals to non-pensioners. The AFT, in a strongly worded order, had directed the DGAFMS to restore the “illegally” withdrawn facilities, but the order was challenged in the apex court the same year.

In 2015, a Committee of Experts constituted by the government to suggest ways for reducing litigation had also came down heavily on the DGAFMS for this action, terming it to be illegal and recording that “such persistence and exertion in pursuing such misdirected litigation should rather be used for constructive activities”. 

The panel also castigated the establishment for citing grossly exaggerated figures of affected beneficiaries in the appeal filed in SC. The committee’s recommendation for withdrawal of the appeal was accepted by the then defence minister, but his directions were not given effect which prompted the SC to direct the MoD to speed up the process.

Sources said the Cabinet decision to implement the judicial orders, which would affect thousands of past, present and future officers, not only includes non-pensioner SSCOs, ECOs and World War II veterans but also premature retirees of other categories. The fine print of other modalities of the scheme would be known in due course.

SC sets right the gender-skewed selection criteria

Photo for representational purpose only

The Supreme Court directive to reconsider giving permanent commission in the Army to Short Service Commission women officers — calling the medical grounds for their rejection as being systematically discriminatory — smoothens the path for aspiring lady officers to equal opportunity in public employment and also underscores gender equality. It is a pity that the SC’s watershed ruling of February 2020 that allowed SSC women officers’ full integration into the defence services, including in combat positions, was not being upheld in letter and spirit. The apex court has minced no words in pointing out the gender-skewed selection criteria adopted.

A pattern of evaluation of merit that is derived from an equal society — one that affords a fair work ambience and dignity to women — is needed. The one prevailing is drawn from a world created by ‘males for males’, as the SC observed, and only serves to bestow equality on a superficial or symbolic level. Ever since their entry into the tri-services was allowed, women have with tenacity met the exacting standards of the armed forces. With postings in difficult terrains and conflict zones, they have time and again proved that valour has no gender. In the last six years, their strength in the military has increased three-fold, with over 9,000 women currently serving in the Army, Navy and Air Force.

But sadly, it has been an uphill battle and they have had to petition the Supreme Court at every stage to get their rightful dues. The forces must remedy the hesitancy in providing them with greater responsibility. Removing the hurdles that are detrimental to the induction and career progression of the lady defence officers and providing the qualified women a level playing field is bound to make the armed forces better and stronger. It also assumes significance in light of the acute shortage of officers in the Army. There is a lot to learn from the armies of Israel, Germany, Australia and the USA, which have benefited from the services of their women soldiers in intensive combat roles for many years.

Beijing: The Chinese military on Thursday said the situation at eastern Ladakh has “eased distinctly” thanks to the joint efforts with India on the disengagement of troops from the Pangong Lake area but gave no indication about when the pull out will take place from the remaining areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two countries had completed withdrawal of troops and weapons from the North and South banks of Pangong Lake last month in line with an agreement on disengagement.

But the disengagement is yet to take place in remaining areas along the LAC. The Indian Army has been pitching for a faster disengagement process in areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang to bring down tension in the mountainous region.

At present, China and India have disengaged front-line troops in the Pangong Lake area and both countries have positively commented on the current moves, Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defence said at an online media briefing.

“Thanks to the joint efforts made by China and India, the situation in the border area has been eased distinctly, he said.

Both sides have agreed to maintain communication through military and diplomatic channels to promote the settlement of other issues in the west section of the China-India boundary, Ren was quoted as saying by the Chinese military-run China Military Online portal.

Ren was responding to a question on reports quoting the External Affairs Ministry spokesman asking China to complete its military withdrawal at the remaining friction points along the LAC.

China hopes the two sides can value the hard-won results, follow the important consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, maintain dialogue and communication and stabilise the situation against relapse, gradually coming to solutions that can be accepted by the two countries to jointly maintain peace in the border area, he said.

The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong Lake area and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry.

Also read: LAC disengagement done. India, China can now return to old love-hate routine