3.98 per cent hike in defence outlay :Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd.

3.98 per cent hike in defence outlay

The Union budget increased the outlay for the defence
sectorby 3.98 per cent with a total allocation of
Rs. 1,47,344 crore as against the previous allocation of
Rs. 1,41, 703 crore.However, the outlay represents a 8.13
per cent growth over the revised estimates of Rs.1,36,264
crore for the current fiscal.Of the total outlay for
2010-11, an allocation of Rs.87,344 crore has been made
for revenue expenditure, a growth of 0.54 per cent over
the revenue allocation in the budget estimates of the
current financial year.
“Secure borders and security of life and property fosters
development…needless to say, any additional requirement
for the security of the nation will be provided for,”
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in his budget
speech.
The budget estimates for 2009-10 included the
allocation for defraying expenditure on payment of 60 per
cent arrears of pay and allowances, which had been
increased on the basis of the recommendations of the 6th
Pay Commission.
Of the three services, the manpower-intensive Army gets
the major share of the allocation at Rs.58,995.19 crore, t
he Navy Rs.9,455.03 crore and the Indian Air Force
Rs.15,803.65 crore.Significantly, the government
earmarked Rs.60,000 crore for capital expenditure against
the previous allocation of Rs.54,824 crore, of which
Rs.7,000 crore was returned unspent.The capital
expenditure which includes funds spent for modernisation
represents a growth of 9.44 per cent over 2009-10 budget
allocation.
An increased allocation of nearly 25 per cent from revised
estimates includes the big ticket deals in the pipeline.These
include the IAF’s 126 Medium Multi Role Combat Aircraft,
medium-lift helicopters, basic jet trainers, armed choppers,
the Navy’s aircraft carrier and other naval fleet acquisition
programme and the Army’s quest to procure the ultra light
howitzers.Of the major heads that could not be spent
include Rs.1,782 crore for construction, Rs. 1,969 crore for
aircraft and aero-engines and Rs.34,00 crore for other
equipment.In line with the government policy, the allocation
for the Defence Research Development Organisation
witnessed an increase of Rs.881 crore from the revised
estimate of Rs.5,260.42 crore.

Dear Veterans,
Given above is the detailed outlay for Defence in the union
budget 2010-2011 which shows a very normal increase in the
allotment which counts for modernisation of defence
equipments and rising prices of these requied items only. No
extra allocation seems to be made for giving any additional
benefit in pension to veterans
Whatever Govt. proposes to give the veterans (JCOs and
below ) is to be met from the funds allocated for this
purpose during the last budge i.e. 2009-2010.

And if the govt. skips issuing the orders for Modified Parity in
Pension for the veterans (JCOs and below),allocated funds will
lapse which the Govt.should not (R) not resort to.

Veterans should patiently wait for the orders which are likely
to be issued at any moment as per the statement of Minister
of State for Defence,Sh. Palam Raju. At the same time ,we
should be very clear that nothing like ONE RANK ONE
PENSION (as being promised to be achieved by certain big
brothers only to garner funds from the veterans ) is on the
anvil in Govt.s planning.
As such, Ex Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Association warns the
veterans (JCOs and below ) not to be caught in their net and stay
away from them