Posted on Friday, May 15th, 2015 by Online Editor – Only Kashmir New Delhi, May 15 (Only Kashmir): Four months after Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag handed over an Rs 100-crore cheque to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the flood victims of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army has denied information of any such donation.
Army General Suhag had presented the Rs 100-crore cheque, which was claimed to be raised by the soldiers and officers of 1.18 million strong army after donating their day’s salary, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Army Day reception on January 15.
However, an RTI reply from Army headquarters, has confirmed that “no such amount on account of contributions from salary of any Army personnel has yet been donated to the PM’s Relief Fund.”
Three days after the reception day function, it was reported about the army soldiers and officers, fuming over being not asked in advance by the higher officials before deducting their salaries and presenting the collected amount to the relief fund.
Apparently, media reports like these prompted Dehradun-based activist Prabhu Dandriyal to file an RTI on March 20, seeking what happened to the Rs 100 crore cheque donated to the PM’s Relief Fund by army.
Denying any such contribution for the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir, the RTI reply from Public Information Officer, Lt. Col. Rajiv Guleria on Tuesday, May 12, has added that the matter is undInterestingly, press releases with photographs of Suhag handing over the cheque of raised amount to Modi in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, continue to be hosted on the websites of Prime Minister and Press Information Bureau.
Filing his RTI petition now to the Prime Minister’s Office, Dandriyal has sought to know how the Rs 100 crore cheque was utilized.
“When by March 20, no amount of contribution was taken from the salaries, then how did the army chief submit the fund of Rs 100 crore to PM relief fund. This is why I have sought clarification from the PMO by filing another RTI,” Dandriyal said.
The RTI revelation has come in the backdrop of severe financial crises ailing Jammu and Kashmir. Reeling from the post-floods devastation, the summer capital city of Srinagar has witnessed protests, almost on daily basis, from daily wagers and government employees demanding pending salaries and arrears.
After the September 2014 floods, the J&K state government had forwarded a Rs 44,000 crore rehabilitation proposal to the central government, which has not been entertained by the centre till now.
OddPad.com The Internet Magazine
Four months after Army chief Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag handed over a Rs 100-crore cheque to Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for the flood victims of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army has denied information of any such donation.
Army General Suhag had presented the Rs 100-crore cheque, which was claimed to be raised by the soldiers and officers of 1.18 million strong army after donating their day’s salary, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Army Day reception on January 15.
However, an RTI reply from Army headquarters, has confirmed that “no such amount on account of contributions from salary of any Army personnel has yet been donated to the PM’s Relief Fund.”
Three days after the reception day function, the New Indian Express had reported about the army soldiers and officers, fuming over being not asked in advance by the higher officials before deducting their salaries and presenting the collected amount to the relief fund.
“What an irony… Our war widows struggle for their day to day living… Our jawans are not able to afford good education for their children… and here we become so large hearted to donate money to the politicians… Did the COAS take our permission before doing this…? When did he start having rights on our hard earned Money…? Has any civilian/politician ever donated his salary for us…? It is time we raise our voice and stop this nonsense before it becomes precedence. Why should we pay for their future Goals,” the TNIE report had quoted an official saying on WhatsApp.
Apparently, media reports like these prompted Dehradun-based activist Prabhu Dandriyal to file an RTI on March 20, seeking what happened to the Rs 100 crore cheque donated to the PM’s Relief Fund by army.
Denying any such contribution for the flood-affected people of Jammu and Kashmir, the RTI reply from Public Information Officer, Lt. Col. Rajiv Guleria on Tuesday, May 12, has added that the matter is under consideration.
Interestingly, press releases with photographs of Suhag handing over the cheque of raised amount to Modi in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, continue to be hosted on the websites of Prime Minister and Press Information Bureau.
Filing his RTI petition now to the Prime Minister’s Office, Dandriyal has sought to know how the Rs 100 crore cheque was utilized. Source: Live Mint
“When by March 20, no amount of contribution was taken from the salaries, then how did the army chief submit the fund of Rs 100 crore to PM relief fund. This is why I have sought clarification from the PMO by filing another RTI,” Dandriyal said.
The RTI revelation has come in the backdrop of severe financial crises ailing Jammu and Kashmir. Reeling from the post-floods devastation, the summer capital city of Srinagar has witnessed protests, almost on daily basis, from daily wagers and government employees demanding pending salaries and arrears.
After the September 2014 floods, the J&K state government had forwarded a Rs 44,000 crore rehabilitation proposal to the central government, which has not been entertained by the centre till now.
India TV News Desk [ Updated 13 Mar 2015, 12:22:05 New Delhi: One of India’s senior nuclear scientists, Pashupati Rao, who works at Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC) run by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is now facing wrath for sending suggestions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a critical national project.
On 28 September, 2014, Rao had sent his suggestions including sensitive matters on the new nuclear complex to PM’s official portal (pmindia.gov.in), which PMO had further sent to Rao’s employer, DAE, marking them as ‘grievance’ and sent out another mail to Rao on January 21 this year, saying his ‘grievance’ has been disposed.
The PMO, in its communication to DAE, had revealed Rao’s name and designation, thus making his full identity known to his superiors.
Following this, DAE persistently started following up with Rao asking for explanations while the latter desperately continued to explain himself.
As published in Economic Times, some DAE officials on condition of anonymity even said that Rao may face serious consequences.
Prominent whistleblower Prabhu Dandriyal, who some years ago had claimed to have exposed corruption in Defence Research & Development Organization, filed a Right to Information application on January 27 this year with the PMO on Rao’s matter.
Dandriyal, in his RTI application demanded to know the guidelines followed by PMO while dealing with sensitive matters. He told that the PMO reply that came a month later, on February 27, said the request is being processed, and details are being collected.
In the Rao’s suggestions to the Prime Minister, he had proposed that an independent team be appointed to review the project and he also mentioned technical details on cutting costs in it.
However, the PMO having sent his suggestions as ‘grievance’ to DAE has put the top nuclear scientist in a bureaucratic nightmare.
The communication that happened with PMO was with NFC, Hyderabad, where Rao worked.
His matter was turned into a staff grievance. Although the scientist tried hard to explain his stand however, nothing worked in his favor.
In one of the communications to the Grievance Redressal Committee, Rao wrote, “I am a successful officer and I have been awarded with DAE group achievement award for indigenization associated work. My feedback given to the PMO which is converted as my grievance is not aimed at any individual.”
However, DAE has not relented and on February 10, it had sent out a letter to Rao reminding him that his job was limited to helping him in maintenance of NFC.
“As an organization, we will follow the process. As he is a staff member, it is being treated as a staff grievance and is being looked into,” S Goverdhan Rao, deputy chief executive of NFC, told ET.
Meanwhile, Dandriyal is still awaiting a full reply from the PMO. He says, “It will be very difficult for people from the system to come out and expose corruption and inefficiency if there is no mechanism to protect them.”
Lands in hot water with DAE bosses for writing to PM
He wrote to the prime minister, tried to do good for a critical national project, and now he’s in trouble.
One of India’s senior nuclear scientists, Pashupati Rao, who works at Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), run by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is now battling his employer for having written to the prime minister offering suggestions on streamlining the setting up of a new nuclear facility at Kota, Rajasthan. DAE comes under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
ET has reviewed the relevant correspondence between the PMO, DAE and the scientist. The PMO didn’t respond to ET’s queries on this matter.Rao did not participate in this story.DAE responded to ET’s questions. On September 28, 2014, Rao sent his suggestions to PM’s official portal (pmindia.gov.in), which invites citizens to share ideas as well as to write to the Prime Minister.
But although Rao had communicated sensitive matters on the new nuclear complex, the PMO had sent them to Rao’s employer, DAE, marking them as `grievance’, and it sent a mail to Rao on January 21 this year, saying his `grievance’ has been disposed. The PMO’s communication to Rao’s employers had also given the name and designation of the scientist, thus making his full identity known to his superiors.
This started a process of DAE relentlessly asking for explanations from the scientist and the latter desperately seeking to explain himself. Some DAE officials who did not want to be identified told ET that Rao may face serious consequences.
Prominent whistleblower Prabhu Dandriyal, who some years ago had claimed to have exposed corruption in Defence Research & Development Organisation, filed a Right to Information application on January 27 this year with the PMO on Rao’s matter.
Dandriyal had asked what guidelines the PMO follows when dealing with `sensitive’ communication from government officials. He said the PMO reply that came a month later, on February 27, said the request is being processed, and de tails are being collected.
Rao’s suggestions sent to the prime minister on the Kota project contained, apart from technical details on cutting costs, a proposal that an independent team be appointed to review the project.
BUREAUCRATIC NIGHTMARE
But the PMO sending his suggestions as `grievance’ to DAE has put the top nuclear scientist in a bureaucratic nightmare.The PMO’s communications were sent to NFC, Hyderabad, where Rao worked, and his superiors have turned the matter into `staff grievance’ and have been seeking explanations from Rao.
In a series of communications, Rao tried to explain that he did not have any personal grievance.
“I am a successful officer and I have been awarded with DAE group achievement award for indigenisation associated work. My feedback given to the PMO which is converted as my grievance is not aimed at any individual,“ the scientist wrote in one of his attempts to explain himself. However, DAE has not relented and on February 10, Rao received a letter from the Grievance Redressal Committee that reminded him his job was limited to helping in the maintenance of NFC.
“As an organisation, we will follow the process. As he is a staff member, it is being treated as a staff grievance and is being looked into,“ S Goverdhan Rao, deputy chief executive of NFC, told ET.
Dandriyal, who’s still awaiting a full reply from PMO, said, “It will be very difficult for people from the system to come out and expose corruption and inefficiency if there is no mechanism to protect them.“
By ET Bureau | 13 Mar, 2015, 04.00AM IST By Manu Pubby
NEW DELHI: He wrote to the prime minister, tried to do good for a critical national project, and now he’s in trouble. One of India’s senior nuclear scientists, Pashupati Rao, who works at Nuclear Fuel Complex (NFC), run by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is now battling his employer for having written to the prime minister offering suggestions on streamlining the setting up of a new nuclear facility at Kota, Rajasthan. DAE comes under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
ET has reviewed the relevant correspondence between the PMO, DAE and the scientist. The PMO didn’t respond to ET’s queries on this matter. Rao did not participate in this story. DAE responded to ET’s questions.
On September 28, 2014, Rao sent his suggestions to PM’s official portal (pmindia. gov.in), which invites citizens to share ideas as well as to write to the Prime Minister.
But although Rao had communicated sensitive matters on the new nuclear complex, the PMO had sent them to Rao’s employer, DAE, marking them as ‘grievance’, and it sent a mail to Rao on January 21 this year, saying his ‘grievance’ has been disposed.
The PMO’s communication to Rao’s employers had also given the name and designation of the scientist, thus making his full identity known to his superiors. This started a process of DAE relentlessly asking for explanations from the scientist and the latter desperately seeking to explain himself. Some DAE officials who did not want to be identified told ET that Rao may face serious consequences.
Prominent whistleblower Prabhu Dandriyal, who some years ago had claimed to have exposed corruption in Defence Research & Development Organisation, filed a Right to Information application on January 27 this year with the PMO on Rao’s matter.
Dandriyal had asked what guidelines the PMO follows when dealing with ‘sensitive’ communication from government officials. He said the PMO reply that came a month later, on February 27, said the request is being processed, and details are being collected. Rao’s suggestions sent to the prime minister on the Kota project contained, apart from technical details on cutting costs, a proposal that an independent team be appointed to review the project.
BUREAUCRATIC NIGHTMARE
But the PMO sending his suggestions as ‘grievance’ to DAE has put the top nuclear scientist in a bureaucratic nightmare.
The PMO’s communications were sent to NFC, Hyderabad, where Rao worked, and his superiors have turned the matter into staff grievance’ and have been seeking explanations from Rao. In a series of communications, Rao tried to explain that he did not have any personal grievance.
“I am a successful officer and I have been awarded with DAE group achievement award for indigenisation associated work. My feedback given to the PMO which is converted as my grievance is not aimed at any individual,” the scientist wrote in one of his attempts to explain himself. However, DAE has not relented and on February 10, Rao received a letter from the Grievance Redressal Committee that reminded him his job was limited to helping in the maintenance of NFC.
“As an organisation, we will follow the process. As he is a staff member, it is being treated as a staff grievance and is being looked into,” S Goverdhan Rao, deputy chief executive of NFC, told ET.
Dandriyal, who’s still awaiting a full reply from PMO, said, “It will be very difficult for people from the system to come out and expose corruption and inefficiency if there is no mechanism to protect them.”
Our Ministers are now very efficient the life of common man of India will certainly going to be improve day by day,
Acknowledgement Mail of Dr Harsh Vardhan on subject matter Dr Harsh Vardhan <drharshvardhanoffice@gmail.com>to: Prabhu Dandriyal <prabhudoon@gmail.com>date: Sat, Sep 6, 2014 at 5:41 PMsubject: Re: Kidney transplant case of Dr. Manoj Gupta Sc ‘G’ HEMRL, DRDO, Pune in Colombomailed-by: gmail.com
Dear mr Dandriyal,
Thanks for sharing this very important concern with me. I shall consider the necessary action.
SFCIANS, SF COMPLEX, DRDO, JAGDALPUR – DOP, DRDO IS DEAF & DUMB
The reply of my RTI related to SFCian issue was denied by DRDO Hqrs under the shelter of Schedule- II of RTI Act 2005.
As per section 19 of RTI Act 2005 I have appealed to DRDO Hqrs appellate authority and as you very well know that he is deaf & dumb for humanity issues and only act fast on personal issues in which he has some personal interest. So reply is known but we will take this issue up to supreme authorities.
Hope for best……………………
My RTI Request –
To 19 September 2011 CPIO & Addl Director, DRDO HQ Room No. 314A DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg New Delhi – 110105
Hello,
Kindly provide me with the following information requested under the purview of the Right to Information Act, 2005 in respect SF Complex, JAGDALPUR
1) The official address of SF Complex (one of the labs/Establishment of DRDO), JAGDALPUR?
2) Copy of D O part order or any other order regarding the place of reporting duty at Plant Girola Village which is 40 Kms away from Jagdalpur.
3) Copy of D O part order any other order in which the employees posted at SF complex first they report to duty at SF Complex then report for duty at Girola Plant Site.
4) The copies of movement order of transports which carries the employees daily to Girola plant site from SF Complex from 1/7/2011 to 15/07/2011
5) The copy of fitness certificates of those vehicles which carries the employees daily to Girola plant site from SF Complex from competent authority.
Find the application fee for the request attached with this application. If you feel that above requested information does not pertain to your department then please follow the provisions of Section 6(3) of the RTI Act, 2005/Also as per the provisions of the RTI Act, 2005 please provide the details (Name and Designation) of the first appellate authority w.r.t to your department with the reply to the above request., where I may if required file my first appeal.
I do hereby declare that I am a citizen of India. Kindly provide me with the information at the address mentioned with the application. I request you to ensure that the information is provided before the expiry of the 30 day period after you have received the application.
Note: above required information is directly related to corruption and human right not come under schedule -II – why because it is noticed that without proper movement orders and without proper maintained vehicles the employees of SF complex are going daily at Girola plant. Earlier in one accident case it is heard that the movement order was made by SF Complex administration in back date to give financial benefits to the deceased family.
First Appeal to Appellate Authority of DRDO 12th September 2011
The Right to Information Act, 2005
First Appeal for Central Govt.
I.D. No_________ Date: _________ [For office use]
To
Dr Arun Kumar OS & Director, Directorate of PersonalRoom No.-217, DRDO Bhawan , Rajaji Marg New Delhi – 110105
Sir,
As I am aggrieved by decision/no decision of Central Public Information Officer, I hereby file this appeal for your kind decision.
The reply of CPIO, DRDO, is completely confusing, misleading, incorrect, unjustified and willful not give any information, does not following the spirit of RTI Act 2005.
The information asked about SF Complex Jagdalpur is not come any norms of secrecy. I am not asking about any work or project information of SF Jagdalpur Unit. 1. Details of appellant
1.1 Full Name: Prabhu Dayal Dandriyal
1.2. Full Address: 21-Sunderwala, Raipur, Dehradun-248008
1.3 Phone/Cell No. 0135-2787750 / 919411114879
1.4 Email ID: prabhu@dandriyal.com
2. Details of CPIO:
2.1 Name/Designation: Dr A K Tyagi, CPIO, Head RTI Cell, Scientist ‘F’
2.2 Full Address : Room No 314 A, DRDO Bhawan, Rajaji Marg, New Delhi -110105
2.3 Name of Public Authority: DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India
3. Details of RTI application to CPIO:
Date of Application : 19th July 2011
Mailed on: 19th July 2011
by speed post
4. Particulars of payment of filing fee:
Paid Rs.10/- by Postal Order No. 90E 611227
5. Details of information sought:
1) The official address of SF Complex (one of the labs/Establishment of DRDO), JAGDALPUR?
2) Copy of D O part order or any other order regarding the place of reporting duty at Plant Girola Village which is 40 Kms away from Jagdalpur.
3) Copy of D O part order any other order in which the employees posted at SF complex
first they report to duty at SF Complex then report for duty at Girola Plant Site.
4) The copies of movement order of transports which carries the employees daily to Girola plant site from SF Complex from 1/7/2011 to 15/07/2011
5) The copy of fitness certificates of those vehicles which carries the employees daily to Girola plant site from SF Complex from competent authority.
Note: above required information is directly related to corruption and human right not come under schedule -II – why because it is noticed that without proper movement orders and without proper maintained vehicles the employees of SF complex are going daily at Girola plant. Earlier in one accident case it is heard that the movement order was made by SF Complex administration in back date to give financial benefits to the deceased family.
6. Particulars of Decision of CPIO:
Date of CPIO’s Decision:9th August 2011
Date of receipt of decision by the appellant:12th August 2011
7. Brief facts of the case:
The official address of SF Complex is “SF COMPLEX, AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING, JAGDALPUR-494001”. SFC Employees are given appointment letters with above address as reporting place. But, all are forced to report at the above address as well as at its work centre located at Girola village, Bakawand block, Bastar district. This location is completely out of 40 Kms away from municipality (Jagdalpur) of the official address.
As per rule they should report at the place of posting as per the appointment letter. But it is not so. Is it (forcing to report at other place) not violation of an employee’s right to report at the posting place? The management says that reporting place is at Girola and same time management says Airport terminal building, Jagdalpur. It is clear cut case of harassment of employees of SF Complex.
One example: one of the scientists, named Shri Kushal Sahoo, was killed in an accident near Bakawand last year while returning from the Girola site to Jagdalpur in Bolero vehicle. Bakawand police station filed FIR and accident report (can refer the same with the police station). When settling the case the DRDO HQs asked the official movement order to consider it as death while performing duty. As the movement order was not issued actually for him and few more travelling in the same vehicle they were also injured, management of SF Complex made a statement of case stating that “Kusahl Sahoo is travelling for the purpose of meeting at Airport Terminal Building, Jagdalpur office”.
If the travelling from Jagdalpur to Girola and back is official and as per the rule and the rule position should be clear for all for management, employees and the general public. After this accident all the staff of SF Complex Jagdalpur took a decision and reported at posting place only. This happened for two days and later management has interfered and threatened to them for report at Girola and told them if they will not report at Girola, will get termination letter. Employees were forced to report at Girola. It is a violation of Human Right? Reporting at posting place is not correct? Then why appointment letters were given like that? DRDO has to duty to provide them proper necessary papers as per rule position of Central Government.
The requested information is not come under 8(1) (a) and 24 (1) of the RTI Act at all because the information asked not in the nature of secrecy like The copy of fitness certificates of those vehicles which carries the employees daily to Girola plant site from SF Complex from competent authority. This the major concern of family and friends of employees of SF complex for their safety and well beings. For mere few thousand Rupees from contractors as bribe the Top DRDO officials playing with the life of SF Complex Employees.
The required information is fall under corruption and as well as violation human right and therefore in any means it is not come under schedule –II exemption of RTI Act 2005.
“RTI is a key instrument for imposing democratic values, accountability and transparency in our public administration,” Dr.Shah Faisal (IAS topper 2010 & RTI activist of J&K RTI Movement NGO) told Sakàl Times
8. Reasons/grounds for this appeal: i) To know the sensitiveness and work environment of DRDO ii) To expose the corrupt practices prevailing in DRDO
9. Any other information in support of appeal: 10. Prayer/relief sought for:
It is requested that please provide me correct information as per request of my RTI dated 19th July 2011 in larger public interest, because it is directly related to corruption and violation of Human rights. 11. Enclosures:
i) My RTI request dated 19th July 2011 ii) Denial of CPIO, DRDO Hqrs dated 09 August 201112. Declaration:
I hereby state that the information and particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief. I also declare that this matter is not previously filed with any information commission nor is pending with any Court or tribunal or authority.
To 11th September 2011
The Defence Minister
Room No -104, South Block
New Delhi – 110011
Reference: a) Your letter No 1409-VIP/RM/2011 dated 21st March 2011
b) Your letter No 1409-VIP/RM/2236 dated 20th May 2011
The bomb blast at gate No -5 of High Court, Delhi has once again proved that we are helpless. The government is helpless, Prime Minister is helpless, Home Minister is helpless that is all agencies responsible for protection of common man is helpless. Right hand does not know what left hand is doing.
Through this website I raised many issues of DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India and found that no concrete action has been taken because Defence Minister is also helpless.
Accountability is missing in each and every level in the DRDO machinery. Accountability is missing therefore unaccountable assets are growing in individuals bank accounts and benami properties etc.
In DRDO there is no accountability at all; SA to RM is holding four posts simultaneously like SA to RM, DG (R&D), Secretary DRDO, Program Coordinator / Chairman Brahmos aerospace Private Limited etc. He is enjoys the unaccountable money with the help of Dr Vasudeva of SPIC and many more means but not accountable to national security. In Kargil like scenario SA may say that I am helpless because my past predecessors have not fixed the track of development and 30000 strong scientific/technical force whom I am leading does not listen to me, no where it has been written that DRDO is responsible to develop concurrent technology useful for national defence or DRDO is not responsible for developing a system which can go for batch production.
DRDO is using simply the word like (a) Mission Mode (b) Technology Development (c) Science and Technology basic research. These words have been borrowed simply to justify the annual expenditure which is forcefully granted by defence ministry.
I am not accountable and none my director is are accountable, SA’s punch lines which is maintained by in all labs meticulously. This the vision of DRDO labs for accountability, this culture is followed every effort is made
Directors are free to misuse the government funds as they have to match the exorbitant projected funds for a particular year.
How DRDO is helping the wasting the government funds is narrated by Sh S Ravind, PD, LLR, LRDE Bangalore to CVC, New Delhi.
