Today someone asked me: “How much pay does a Defence Officer get...?”
And – I remember this delighful memoir for my wonderful early Navy Days...
WHAT IS THE PAY OF A DEFENCE OFFICER...?
“How much pay does a Army Captain get...?” a civilian gentleman asked me sometime ago.
“Why do you want to know about the pay of a Army Captain...?” I asked.
“We have a marriage proposal for our daughter from an Army Captain...” he said.
“Well an Army Captain would be in “Pay Band 3” – where the Basic Pay ranges from 15600 to 39100 – so – if he is at the centre of the pay band – he would be getting about Rupees 25,000 per month...” I said.
“That is his Basic Pay – what about DA...” he asked.
“Well – if you add 100% Basic Pay as DA – you can add another 25,000 – so that makes it around 50,000 Rupees per month...” I said.
“What about other allowances – and value of perks – I want to know the “CTC” of an Army Captain...” the civilian gentleman asked.
A Military Veteran sitting with us said:
“And now – after the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission – the Pay – and – more importantly – the “CTC” will surely become more attractive.”
The moment I heard the term “CTC” – I remembered the story of the “CTC” Lieutenant.
So – Dear Reader – let me delve deep into my “Humor in Uniform” Archives and pull out this hilarious “memoir” for you to enjoy – have a laugh – and think about.
This story happened around 39 years ago – in the late 1970’s.
Read on:
THE STORY OF THE “CTC” LIEUTENANT
Hilarious Memories of My Wonderful Navy Life
A Fictional Spoof
By
VIKRAM KARVE
THE “CTC” LIEUTENANT – a spoof by VIKRAM KARVE
“How much pay do you get...?” the man asked me.
“1100 rupees per month...” I said.
Well – this story happened around 39 years ago – in the 1970’s.
I was a newly promoted Lieutenant in the Navy (Equivalent of an Army Captain or Air Force Flight Lieutenant) – and – those days – our pay scale was Rs. 1100-50-1550
Yes – those days – Lieutenants started off with a basic pay of Rs. 1100 – with an increment of Rs. 50 every year – and – we remained Lieutenants for 8 long years.
You were promoted to the rank of Lieutenant after 3 years of service as a Naval Officer – and – after a long wait of 8 years as Lieutenant – and a total of 11 years service as an Officer – we became Lieutenant Commanders with a pay scale of Rs. 1450-50-1800
Of course – now – with the Ajai Vikram Singh (AVS) Cadre Review bonanza in 2006 – promotions are much faster – and the junior-most officer rank has been abolished.
At the time of this story – as a newly promoted Lieutenant – I had started off in the pay scale of Rupees 1100-50-1550.
The gentleman had asked me how much pay I got.
So – I told the gentleman my ‘Basic Pay’ – which was 1100 Rupees a month.
“Do you know Lieutenant ‘G’...?” the gentleman asked me.
“Of course I know Lieutenant ‘G’ – he is my course-mate – and he is serving on a ship of my squadron...” I said – and I named the ship on which Lieutenant ‘G’ was serving.
“Yes. Yes. It is the same person...” the gentleman said.
The gentleman paused for a moment – and he said to me:
“Your friend Lieutenant ‘G’ – how much pay does he get...?”
“Well – he must be getting 1100 Rupees too...” I said.
“Are you sure Lieutenant ‘G’ gets only 1100 Rupees a month...? Lieutenant ‘G’ told me that he gets much more pay that that – are you sure he doesn’t get more...?” the man asked.
“How can he get more pay than me...? Sir – I told you that Lieutenant ‘G’ is my coursemate – and like me – Lieutenant ‘G’ is also a recently promoted Lieutenant. In fact – I am two months senior to Lieutenant ‘G’ – I got promoted to the rank of Lieutenant two months earlier than him – since I gained more seniority in our Sub Lieutenant training courses – so surely – Lieutenant ‘G’ cannot get more pay than me – because he is junior to me...”
“That’s strange...” the gentleman said... “your friend Lieutenant ‘G’ told me that his pay is 5000 rupees per month...”
“5000 rupees per month...? That is just not possible...” I said, “Even an Admiral does not get that much.”
“Maybe – Lieutenant ‘G’ gets some additional pay...” the man said.
“That is not possible. He cannot get more pay than me. Like me – Lieutenant ‘G’ is in the Surface Navy. And even Aviators and Submariners don’t get the amount of pay that Lieutenant ‘G’ is saying...” I said.
“So – Lieutenant ‘G’ is telling lies...?” the man said.
“Well – I may not call it telling lies – but obviously – Lieutenant ‘G’ is exaggerating his pay quite a bit...” I said.
“He told me all lies...” the man said again, looking downcast.
I looked at the gentleman – and I asked him:
“Sir – please tell me – why are you asking me all this about Lieutenant ‘G’...?”
“There was a marriage proposal for my daughter...” he said.
“There is a marriage proposal from Lieutenant ‘G’ for your daughter...?” I asked.
“His parents approached us. Or rather – we approached his parents when someone told us about Lieutenant ‘G’ – that he was a suitable “status match” for our daughter. Well – we live “up-north” – and we really don’t know much about the Navy. There was some business work in Pune – so I decided to come myself – rather than send my Manager – well – I thought it would be a good idea to go to Pune via Mumbai – and personally have a look at the boy Lieutenant ‘G’ – before progressing matrimonial matters further...” he said.
The Deccan Queen started its climb up the Western Ghats – and soon we reached Lonavala – where I got off the train.
(I was travelling in my Navy Uniform since I had rushed from my ship to catch the Deccan Queen which departs from Mumbai at 1710 (5:10 PM) to go on a last-minute Temporary Duty. Maybe – the gentlemen had started the conversation about Lieutenant ‘G’ – since I was in spotless white Naval Uniform)
A few days later I ran into Lieutenant ‘G’ at an official party.
“So – I believe that you are planning to get married...?” I asked him.
“Not really – why...?” he said.
“Well – I met your prospective father-in-law...” I said.
And – and I told Lieutenant ‘G’ about the gentleman I had met on the Deccan Queen.
“Oh, that...? It’s just in the first stages. I will see the girl when I go home on leave next month...” Lieutenant ‘G’ said.
“Why did you tell him that your pay was 5000 rupees a month...?” I asked.
“He told you that...?” Lieutenant ‘G’ asked me.
“Yes.”
“And what did you say...?” asked Lieutenant ‘G’ – with an anxious look on his face.
“Well – the gentleman asked me my pay – so – I told him it was 1100 rupees a month...” I said.
“Are you crazy...?” Lieutenant ‘G’ exclaimed.
“Why...? Isn’t our pay 1100 rupees an month...?” I said.
“1100 rupees is our bloody basic pay. That’s the problem with you Maharashtrians – you guys always “undersell” yourselves...” he said.
“But – how can you say that your pay is 5000 Rupees...? Even if you add the Dearness Allowance (DA) – and all other allowances – your pay will not be more than 1500 Rupees – isn’t it...?” I said.
“What about the monetary value of all the other benefits and perks we get...?” Lieutenant ‘G’ said.
“Other benefits and perks...?” I asked.
Lieutenant ‘G’ looked at me and said:
“We get so many things as perks. Let’s take married accommodation – do you know the market rent of the houses we get in prime localities...? And what actual rent do we pay...?”
“So – you added the difference between “Market Value of Rent” and the “Actual Rent” we are charged – while calculating your total pay...?” I asked.
“Of course...” Lieutenant ‘G’ said, “and there are so many perks and facilities that we get – CSD Canteen, LTC, Medical Treatment, Membership of Messes and Clubs, Duty Free Liquor…”
“What...? Duty Free Liquor...? Booze...? But – you are a bloody Teetotaller – you never drink Liquor. Don’t tell me you included the Difference in the Cost of Booze between Navy Rates and Civil Rates...?” I asked, feeling aghast.
“Of course I did – the differential between “market value” and “what you actually pay” is tantamount to “notional salary” – isn’t it...?” he said matter-of-factly.
“So – you have included the so-called money value of each and every thing when you calculated your salary as 5000 rupees a month...?” I asked Lieutenant ‘G’.
Lieutenant ‘G’ looked at me – and he said to me:
“Obviously I did that. I considered the “notional value” of all benefits, perks, facilities, subsidies – everything – and – I came to a figure of 5000 rupees a month. You see – 1100 rupees may be our “Basic Pay” – but 5000 rupees is our “Notional Pay”...”
I wanted to have the parting shot – so I said to Lieutenant ‘G’:
“Since you are so money-minded – instead of the Navy – you should have joined the Army...”
“Army...? Why...? Why should I have joined the Army instead of Navy...?” Lieutenant ‘G’ asked me.
“In the Army – you would have got the additional perk of a Batman – a Sahayak – and – you could have added the “Notional Cost” of the Sahayak to your pay. Tell me – what is the pay plus the perks – the “notional value” of a soldier – 1000 Rupees...? 2000 Rupees...? Just imagine – of you were in the Army – you could have told your prospective father-in-law that your pay was 7000 rupees – instead of 5000 rupees...!!!”
“You have a point. How come I never thought of that...?” Lieutenant ‘G’ said, looking thoughtful.
“And – unlike in the Navy – where you have to use your own vehicle – in the Army – you get free transport. Think of the cost of the petrol...” I said.
“That is true too...” Lieutenant ‘G’ mumbled.
As I walked away – I noticed a curious expression on his face.
It seemed that Lieutenant ‘G’ was busy calculating something in his mind.
Maybe – Lieutenant ‘G’ realized – that – with the Army giving so many extra perks – like “Sahayaks” – Transport – et al – he would have been better off as an Army Officer – rather than a Naval Officer.
I was sure that Lieutenant ‘G’ was regretting – that he had joined the Navy – instead of the Army.
EPILOGUE
It was much later while I was doing my Management Course – that I learnt of the concept of “CTC” or “Cost-to-Company”.
It was only then – that I understood what Lieutenant ‘G’ was talking about – many years ago.
Yes – Lieutenant ‘G’ was way ahead of his times.
Later – in his illustrious Naval career – Lieutenant ‘G’ distinguished himself as a successful “Businessman” in Uniform.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
1. If you share this post, please give due credit to the author Vikram Karve
2. Please DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. Please DO NOT Cut/Copy/Paste this post
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Disclaimer:
1. This story is a fictional spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
2. All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright Notice:
No part of this Blog may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Blog Author Vikram Karve who holds the copyright.
Copyright © Vikram Karve (all rights reserved)
I had first posted this hilarious Naval Yarn on my Blog almost 4 years ago in September 2013.
This is a THE “COST TO COMPANY” (CTC) LIEUTENANT
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