How Retired Officers can Save Democracy UNION HOME MINISTER SHRI RAJ SINGH NOW SEEKS CONTRIBUTION & SUGGESTIONS OF OFFICIALS AND PEOPLE TO FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM BUT MY SUGGESTION NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY THEN AS PER ORIGINAL LETTER AND MAIL OF THE THEN CVC: From:nvittal To: hemraj bangia Subject: Re: How Retired Officers can Save Democracy Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 17:01:55 +0530 Dear Shri Hemraj Bangia I thank you for your email and your article on how retired officers can save democracy. Your idea is very interesting and you may pursue the matter further with the Ministry of Home Affairs. I have sent a copy of your article to Home Secretary for consideration Introduction In view of the threat of the nefarious forces, corruption in high places, hijacking and terrorists activities at work it is high time to save the democracy, which is at risk. No political party or together with the opposition parties can come to the rescue of the common man. Whichever political party may be in power there is no doubt that opposition parties do resist, desist or criticize the ruling party in one way or the other. This is because the coalition governments are at work not only in India but all over the world. When coalition government can work in other developed or developing countries, why can’t it work in India? India cannot do anything other than to accept the mandate of the people and to run coalition government. The unreeling scenes created at the epoch platforms i.e. parliament or legislation cannot be described even to the young children studying in schools what to talk about it in the streets. Time and again it is observed whichever party is in power, the other parties make mockery of the ruling party to grab the power. It is not the case in India, it is a global problem. It is disgusting to note that some of the elected representatives turn out as black sheep of the people who get them elected as their own background remained in dark to the people. People should not be blamed because people are forced to vote any one of them so they sometimes think that they have no choice and they cannot cast negative vote for any one. The alternative is nothing less than the famous Hindi saying -andhoon main kana raja kaun hai and so they elect him accordingly The Need Rampant corruption in high places cannot be stopped in view of distortion of moral values in today’s world. Innovative methods are being used in corruption, extortion, hijacking and terrorists’ activities. Only 15 % of the amount earmarked for developmental works reaches the beneficiaries for many reasons. While one of the reasons is corruption, the other one is the huge proportion of amount spent on administration of the projects. The burst of terrorist activities has completely negated our efforts of all developmental projects for the welfare of the needy. The number of nefarious forces, hijacking and terrorists’ activities is on the increase day by day. Democratic is at risk in India and it is high time to control such acts, actions and forces at large. It is once again reminded that the pillars of democracy are built on the shoulders of the people who elect their representatives to voice their feelings, aspirations and what not. Who is responsible for creating this situation? Are not all the parties responsible for selecting such of their representatives? The interesting part of the matter is that these black sheep remain mum when their misdeeds are brought to light and in due course of time when they find a big fish getting involved in similar fashion they come out in lime light and crave to punish the big fish. Perhaps they do not realize that people do not forget and history does not so easily erase such types of black happenings. It is a pity that this vicious circle goes on and on in this type of created democracy. Democracy under such situations gets tarnished beyond control. The question here is who or which party is right or wrong. People are in fact fed up of calling and recalling for casting the votes. The time has gone when illiterates were not aware of the value of their votes. The Problems The problem is that due to the poverty and situations in which people are placed that the parties take advantage of it by bribing them in one form or the other. Black sheep are found in abundance in every walk of life in one form or the other. There is no end to this endless chain. Neither the government machinery has considered its moral duty nor has it made arrangements to impart moral education to the man of tomorrow. The fear is that it is not today but tomorrow also is dark for the common man. That is why there is no justice in the three organs of democracy i.e. legislation, judiciary and executive. What type and kind of people can be of help to the Government in this hour of grief to save the democracy from erosion is the question before all of us to think and act fast? The Reasons The reasons for mobilisation and deployment of retired persons are that: * They are always alert and sleep like dogs; • they are honest, sincere and dependable; • they have been tested for their competency; • they know that the future of their children is uncertain; • they are well equipped for shouldering such responsibilities; • they have lots of experience to share for constructive and developmental works; and above all • they are prepared to be associated willingly and voluntarily for such social activities. What are their functions? They are expected to do the following simple exercises only: # to keep their eyes, ears, noses and minds wide open all the time; # to lead a normal live wherever living but act fast on noticing some thing abnormal; # to act as formal catalytic agent of information; and # to coordinate with other colleagues for sharing their experience of defusing and handling difficult situations and to avoid reoccurring of the event. The solution A number of officials retire from service every month. Presuming that 50% of the retired persons are fit and are willing to be associated with this task, the nation will have huge number of persons for deployment in this hour of crisis situation to save the democracy. It is thus a high time and is possible to make use of these ex-servicemen including civilian officials (who are getting pensions from the Consolidated Funds of India) and associate them for this task to save the democracy. Their services can be utilized very easily because the life span has increased due to maintenance of quality of life by the service class. They have also faithfully served the government to the entire satisfaction of the government. As credential to their contribution in service they have become eligible for pension. Since these ex-servicemen are spread all over the country and are also available even in the remotest villages of the country where they are to spend the rest of their life, they are the best assets of the nation to depend upon. Moreover the kind of work which is to be entrusted to them is very simple and easy to accomplish by them without any stress or strain. Rather they will feel happy to know that they are still the assets of the nation and can shoulder such responsibilities even after retirement. The Concept of the Scheme It is proposed to start this Scheme on a Pilot Project basis by the Ministry of Home Affairs by creating a Cell for Mobilisation of Retired Persons for social work. Networking of concerned Departments of the concerned Ministries is to be done accordingly with clear instructions and orders on this behalf. I am happy to know that the age of senior citizen from 65 years to 60 years has now been agreed to about which I suggested ten years ago in an identical article. It would now motivate the ex-servicemen and civil servants to come in the orbit of this Scheme very easily. These senior citizens can be deployed in the areas of their interest after identifying their aptitude, sphere and areas of interest. These senior citizens can be made use of for at least for five years to the service of the country without any obligation to the government, as they will act as watch dogs in many fields. Even common man in the street notices many irregulars but fears to be associated or involved to bring the culprit or the facts to the notice of the concerned authorities since he is not protected but he seems to be harassed. No government can function without eliciting the cooperation of the people and if such faithful servants’ interests are protected they can be an asset for the nation and get all kinds of culprits to book by informing such agencies which are already existing for the purposes. Once again the character antecedents of the willing ex-servicemen or retired civil servants may be ascertained. They may be got registered as Senior Social Welfare Officers and issued special kind of Identity Cards. Special instructions in a confidential may be supplied to them so that they may act accordingly. A network of this task force may be prepared through which they are always in communication or touch. On observing any abnormal kind of the thing they will immediately bring the facts and report the matter to the concerned authorities from the place where they are living or deployed. How to start the Scheme? Senior Social Welfare Officer may be paid a nominal pocket allowance and or honorarium to shoulder this extra responsibility. It is high time to implement the Scheme immediately to save the democracy, in this hour of crisis situation. As such recently retired officers may be informed, by a special notification, in various media, to find out who are interested to do such a kind of social work for the country. Recruitment may be made accordingly on such terms and conditions. As for the future recruitment of the ex-servicemen, a provision may be made in the conditions of service to furnish an undertaking before relief to serve the country for at least a period of two years from the date of discharge or superannuating, as the case may be. Their continuity on yearly basis for further period of three years can be considered provided they are willing and are medically found fit every year till the age of 65 years for the purpose. The job description of the ex-servicemen The job description of these ex-servicemen can be drawn to the mutual and the entire satisfaction of the ex-serviceman and the authorities, as the case may be, for administration of the responsibilities accordingly. The services of these people will be very useful in surveillance, elimination of corruption, empowerment of women, data bank for a number of activities to be undertaken by the government from time to time. Funding The yearly expenditure on this account will be negligible and can be met from the contingent expenditure which is otherwise made on the mobilised forces which are deployed by the Government at various avoidable accidents, natural calamities like flood, fire, earthquake, and the like. Conclusion A letter of commendation, appreciation and felicitation to the retired persons will also motivate these people to involve themselves in this kind of social work for the nation which is very dear to them hemraj bangia H.R. Bangia E-99 Lajpat Nagar II, Master of Public Administration Central Market, Postgraduate in Labour Law (Indian Law Institute) New Delhi – 110 024 August 21, 2001 Shri N. Vittal, I.A.S (Retd) Central Vigilance Commissioner, Satarkta Bhawan, GPO Complex, Block-A. I.N.A., New Delhi-110023 E-mail: [email protected] Subject: Article on “How Retired Officers can Save Democracy” Dear Sir,, You will kindly recall meeting with you twice at IIC last year in conferences. I wanted to talk to you over phone before sending the above article to you by e-mail but your good self was busy in an interview. I shall be happy to receive your comments on it. I have also sent one to Mr. Joginder Singh, former CBI Director, after discussion on phone. With kind regards, Yours truly, H.R.Bangia From: mnvittal | Block Address | Add to Address Book && To: hemraj bangia Subject: Re: How Retired Officers can Save Democracy Date: Thu, 23 Aug 2001 17:01:55 +0530 Dear Shri Hemraj Bangia I thank you for your email and your article on how retired officers can save democracy. Your idea is very interesting and you may pursue the matter further with the Ministry of Home Affairs. I have sent a copy of your article to Home Secretary for consideration. Meanwhile I would invite your attention to the initiative we have taken recently to launch the Council For Clean India as a virtual organization to synergise the anti corruption forces within the government like the CBI, CVC and concerned people in the civil society and NGOs. We have also brought out a Citizens Guide To Fighting Corruption, a copy of which is being sent to you by post. I hope you will get ideas about what can be done by retired officials to fight corruption even if your idea of a programme involving outgo of funds from Government of India is not finally accepted. Regards Vittal
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 05:19:22 +0000
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