Sainik Welfare officer ran petrol pump meant for ex-servicemen

Company Owned Company Operated (COCO) petrol pumps is a scheme by DGR under which retired services personnel are appointed dealers of allotted petrol pumps. The officer interested in availing such dealership should have a recommendation from the Zilla Sainik Welfare Officer (ZSWO) of the district concerned. An affidavit declaring that the applicant is not dually employed is also required. Interestingly,Col (retd) Ratansinh Naikwade secured the dealership of the petrol pump at Bargha village in Bhiwandi taluka in Thane in 2009,when he himself was the ZSWO of Satara district.

While this move — of an officer availing of the benefit — has raised eyebrows in the department,the higher authorities have allegedly never taken serious note of complaints on the issue. In 2010,the officer took over as deputy director,resettlement,an appointment right under the director,DSW. Thus,between 2009 and last month,when Naikwade surrendered the petrol pump to BPCL,the officer was dually employed. Under COCO,the dealer receives a monthly income of Rs 25,000. In this case,the officer has been drawing this income in addition to his salary which,as per the DSW website,is Rs 61,000 a month.

Col (retd) Suhas Jatkar,director,DSW,said,“I don’t know how it was allotted to him. He may have applied when he was not serving with us (DSW).” This,however,is not the case as Naikwade has been working with DSW since 2005.

Naikwade said,“I have just been providing manpower for the petrol pump. It was a mistake and I have incurred losses with the venture. We never informed the DGR about my holding the petrol pump. Nor was I asked about any affidavit declaring my employment.”