NEW DELHI: India is asserting itself as a major global player in a hostile geo-political scenario, amid an increase in cross-border threats, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said today.
The Union minister did not mention Pakistan or China, but stressed the need to "put together combat readiness" at a function held in the Delhi Cantonment to mark the 271st Annual Day of the Defence Accounts Department (DAD).
"Our nation is emerging, and asserting itself as a major global player, amid increased cross-border threat and hostile geo-political scenario. The need of the hour is to put together combat readiness while ensuring prudential financial management," he said.
The minister launched a new project 'Suvinay' - an online pension claim transmission and tracking system -- at the event, which was also attended by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra and Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) Veena Prasad.
Bhamre appreciated IT projects such as 'Dolphin', 'Aashrya' and 'Suvigya' executed by DAD and urged the department to invest in its human resources and to leverage technology to take on the challenges of the future.
"Live up to its (department's) illustrious legacy by undertaking knowledge and capacity building by harnessing local and global resources," he added.
The department traces its history to 1747 when the first Pay Master was appointed for paying the garrison at Fort William in Calcutta. The department, earlier called the Military Accounts Department, was re-designated the Defence Accounts Department in 1951, CGDA officials said.
He also spoke about two projects, the Defence Travel System (DTS) and the Comprehensive Pension Package for Defence Pensioners announced in the Union Budget of 2017.
The DTS is a web-based system for booking air and rail tickets for defence personnel while the second plan seeks to ensure the timely disbursement of pensions under a new set of dedicated service centres, the officials said.
On an average, 16,000 rail tickets are booked per day. Of the 10,700 defence units, 5600 units are on board the DTS.
The minister said 10.7 lakh profiles had been created on the DTS portal.
"The need is to bring all defence units onboard for which concerted efforts are required," he said.
The minister also said the department had ensured the timely payment of a total of Rs 9,231 crore to more than 20 lakh pensioners under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.
"I am also happy to note that DAD is working on different pension 'adalats' (courts) to allow a forum to address grievances, through 8-10 locations across the country. Five 'adalats' were held this year at Dimapur, Bareilly, Panaji, Hyderabad and Jaipur," he added.
Bhamre also presented the Raksha Mantri Awards for Excellence to officials of the department, selected for various outstanding projects.
The government has also sanctioned transfer of land in Pune for the National Academy of Defence Financial Management, Prasad said.
A video recording of a song, performed by Carnatic classical singers Trichur Brothers and dedicated to soldiers, was also screened on the occasion.