For Synergetic Integration of the Forces
Two decades after India’s Peace-keeping-turned-Peace Enforcement sojourn in Sri Lanka, Centre for Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS) organised a two-day seminar on ‘Indian Experience in Force Projection’ this month. The main focus was to draw relevant lessons for future in employing national power in a synergetic and integrated manner.

Inaugurating the two-day seminar, defence minister A. K. Antony said, “The term 'Force projection' provides an interesting context to the role of all the three wings of the Armed Forces in furtherance of national aims.”

He said that India and Indians were increasingly becoming drivers of the global change and prosperity. “Our exposure to external world trade has tripled in the last few years, as have our investments abroad. The Indian Diaspora who lives and works abroad has also grown significantly. We find there is a new interest on the part of many countries in partnering India on security cooperation,” the minister added.

The seminar saw the participation of retired bureaucrats of RAW, as well as some retired and in-service officers who were involved in the operations. The panellists discussed issues related to politico-military decision making for despatch of IPKF, naval, air besides logistic and intelligence operations, among others. Set up as a think tank under the aegis of Integrated Defence Staff, the centre’s aim is to promote synergy among the three services.

DG EME Lt Gen. A.K.S. Chandele Awarded ‘Eminent Engineer 2008’ Award
Lt Gen. A.K.S. Chandele, the director general of Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers and the colonel commandant was conferred the prestigious ‘Eminent Engineer Award 2008’ by the Institution of Engineers (India) on the occasion of 41st Engineers Day on 15 Sep 2008. The ceremony saw an attendance of eminent engineers from railways, defence and other public and private sector enterprises. The keynote address was delivered by Padmashri A.S. Arya on the theme of the day, ‘Planet Earth’.

The scroll of honour was presented by Mangat Ram Singhal, minister for industry, labour, employment, election, land and building, Government of NCT of Delhi. Speaking on the occasion, Lt Gen. A.K.S. Chandele stated that Army has made immense contribution in the preservation of environment. He further stated that the Corps of EME has been nominated as nodal agency to monitor phasing out of Ozone Depleting Systems being used in the Army.