AFVOA Newletters of Year 2007

Page 33 of 68 to make our dreams come true. Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery. Dr Joyce Brothers From the President’s Desk 2007: The Year of Placement for ESM In commemoration of the above resolve of the Government of India a National Seminar organised by the Director General Resettlement (DGR) at Chennai on 11 July 2007 addressed issues relating to Ex-Servicemen (ESM), about 60000 of whom become available year after year currently, as a national pool of retirees with varying fields and levels of expertise over different age groups, all underscored by their voluntarism to the national cause and to professionalism achieved through rigorous training and experience. Avowed to service built around a credo of discipline, ethics and loyalty, ever striving to meeting upto objectives in a time bound manner has been their forte. The need to harness such valuable resources for meeting upto the challenges of current National Development especially in overcoming social and sectoral imbalances, this committed resource with its roots spread across the nation becoming available needs to be absorbed into the various sectors of our National economy. The Seminar inaugurated by His Excellency Shri S.S. Bamala, Governor of Tamilnadu opened with a short film "Journey of the Veteran- daring towards new challenges " and a theme address by Maj Gen Harwant Krishnan, DGR. Leaders from Industry such as Shri N. Ramachandran, India Cements, Shri Arun Bewoor, Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Shri L.K. Tripathy, Chief Secretary, Tamilnadu highlighted recognition of many of the attributes and qualties of the ESM of intimate relevance to Industry. However, certain level of awareness on aspects relating to Business Analysis and Development, legal regulations, and functionality in an environment governed primarily by horizontal control structures need to be bridged. Lt Gen (Retd) S.Pattabhiraman, former VCOAS and currently Adviser, DRDO dispelled notions of functional challenges to the ESM outside of the Defence Sector for reasons of unfamiliarity. On the aspect relating to financial discipline, the stringent audit to ensure the bottom line of "more buck for money" is very much ingrained in the ESM in their routine functions at all levels. The recent pronouncements at the highest levels on Social Responsibilities of the Corporate Sector should also be a guideline to harnessing such a perennial resource for National Growth. Maj Gen E.J. Kochekkan, GOC, ATNK &K Area, who assumed charge earlier in the morning, drew attention to significant responses from State Governments as Bihar (Special Security forces) and Transport Industry as Deccan Airways (pilots, technicians, managerial) who have recognized ESM resources for their rapid build up. In the Business Session addresses by Veterans from the Defence Sector who have made notable inroads into industry, human resource development in the private sector and by other Chief Executives dealing with resource management including HR who would be the potential creators of opportunities for ESM's, discussed the strategies for the partnership for effective management of the resources. Brig T.M. Sridharan (Hinduja Group) advocated more appropriate orientation for ESM aspirants to match up to the needs of Industry and seek choice and locations for jobs and an urge to demonstrate professional abilities not mindful of even