Wing Commander Yubraj Singh Pal (3703) Accounts was commissioned on 4th November 1949 and since then has held several important appointments.

He was posted to Air Force Central Accounts Office in September, 1971. As Officer in-charge Officers' Pay Section he has organized the Section and streamlined its functions so well that audit objections were brought to nil by June, 1974. Through his efforts, he has made it possible for officers/ civilians retiring from service to draw their fund balance immediately after retirement from DSOP Fund and General Provident Fund accounts. He has done extensive research into the causes of delay in the finalization of non-effective accounts and has introduced certain bold and effective measure to counter them.

In the field of computerization, he has carried out detailed system studies which helped in reducing the mistakes. At the time of take over of more than a lakh provident fund accounts he was responsible for compiling a correct membership list and reconciling the subscription rate with the ledger cells.

He has been responsible for the fast, accurate and efficient implementation of the new Pay Coder. He took on himself all the burdens of refixation of pay of officer and calculation of arrears thereby relieving the units of a heavy load of work. This involved the fixation of pay of about 8500 effective and 500 non-effective accounts, reassessment of about 1,40,000 rent bills and recalculation of income tax for every officer. This work was finalized under his direction in a record time and every officer was paid his arrears by February, 1975.

In all assignments, he has worked with devotion and exceptional efficiency.

Wing Commander Subramaniam Swaminathan is on the posted strength of Air Force Central Accounts Office since Mar 86 and is working as Officer in charge Electronic Data processing wing since Sep 86.

His professional acumen and bold initiative were irrefutably evinced when he accomplished, with stupendous speed and accuracy, the seemingly insurmountable task of implementing the IV Pay Commission Recommendations both for Officers and Airmen, through computer.

His magnum opus was the computerization of Personnel Occurrence Reports and Acquittance Rolls of the Airmen and NCs (E) which has led not only to speedier and complete actioning of these two inputs but also to the rational utilization of the existing manpower, With this, the Herculean task of computerizing 1.3 Lakh Pay Records of Airmen and NCs (E), became a reality and that too, much ahead of schedule.

His exemplary leadership and objective management have knit his team of young professionals into a winning combination. The availability of trained computer personnel from within, is the result of his foresight and futuristic plans.

For his extra ordinary and multifaceted contributions to the computerization of Pay Accounting and Provident Fund records in the Indian Air Force, and services of exceptional order, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Wing Commander Subramaniam Swaminathan.

Air Commodore Sudhakar Balkrishna Pendharkar was commissioned on 01 Jun 60.

During his distinguished service of 29 years, he was put on instructional duties for six years besides serving as Accounts Officer.

Whilst at Air Force Central Accounts Office as Officer Incharge EDP system Design Team, he helped in achieving a high order of satisfaction amongst officers and airmen. As Command Accounts Officer at Eastern Air Command, he introduced and operated Centralised Investment Scheme for all NPFs under EAC, which produced rich dividends. The staff visit procedure laid down by Air Cmde Pendharkar for accounts staff visits has made it possible to effectively review the Public and Non-public fund accounts in a very short time.

For his outstanding services of the most exceptional order, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Air Commodore Sudhakar Balkrishna Pendharkar.

Gp Capt Belur Ramakrishna Srinivasa Moorthy was commissioned on 23 Dec 64 and has handled a variety of important assignments.

During his tenure at AFCAO from 198689, with sheer determination and foresight, he evolved a strategic plan to bring down the incidence of audit objections and speeded up the settlement of non-effective accounts of service personnel. With his untiring perseverance he brought down the audit objections significantly and reduced the outstanding non-effective cases of Airmen and NCs(E). In addition, he reviewed and got audited 1.3 lacs IRLA and remitted the credit balances.

In July 91, there were bills worth Rs. 60.80 crores for the period 1960-61 to 1991-92 pending for settlement by various agencies like Central Govt. Ministries, State Govts. etc., towards cost of airlift provided by IAF. A drive for collection of dues supported by MOD was initiated. For this, Gp Capt Moorthy identified the outstanding bills, against each of the 106 agencies within four days. He accomplished this task with single mindedness of purpose. He forwarded 4000 bills to the concerned agencies in shortest possible time. With his professional competence, organising ability and liaison with MOD, Dte of Ops (T&M) and audit, he could clear most of the doubts raised by the user agencies. This resulted in settlement of bills of over Rs. 51.08 crores.

For exceptional tenacity of purpose, resultoriented approach and professional acumen, the President is pleased to award Vishisht Seva Medal to Gp Capt BRS Moorthy.

Air Commodore Sudhir Kumar Srivastava (10035) Accounts has been the Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Central Accounts Office from 01 Apr 97. Commissioned in December 1965, the officer has served with distinction in a number of field and staff appointments including a deputation to the Min of Finance in 1989.

For his achievements and meritorious service, the Air Officer was commended by AOA in 1971, AOC-in-C, HQ CAC in 1976 and twice by the Chief of the Air Staff in 1981 and 1993.

His methodical approach and professional competence were discerned in his efforts to find lasting and viable solutions to numerous complex problems concerning Public and Non-Public funds both in field formations of HQ WAC and the whole of Air Force.

As a consequence of his relentless efforts, the difficult task of computerisation of 1.7 lac accounts of airmen/NCs (E) and civilians, which at one stage looked almost impossible, was achieved with remarkable speed and accuracy.

He has been instrumental in the upgradation of the old computer system in AFCAO, into a new generation computer system. The new systems had become functional well in time to take on the commitments of the Vth Pay Commission. Under his guidance, History modules have also been developed for approximately 1.8 lacs serving and retired personnel to ensure instant generation of Pay Commission arrears to all personnel.

For his distinguished service of a high order, the President is pleased to award "Vishisht Seva Medal" to Air Commodore Sudhir Kumar Srivastava.

Air Commodore Gautam Sengupta (12743) Accts was commissioned on 26 Jun 1971. For his high professional competence, he was commended by AOC-in-C, Western Air Command, IAF in 1978, by AOC-in-C, Maintenance Command, IAF in 1989 and by the Chief of Air Staff in 1993.

On taking over as Command Accounts officer on 20 Oct 1997 this officer identified vital areas which could enhance the quality of life for not only serving personnel but retired personnel too. With his zeal and drive he was able to computerise the Accounts Section in HQ Central Air Command (CAC) and all other Station Accounts Sections of this Command. This effect was not restricted only to Public Fund. The Non Public Funds also benefited immensely. The CSD Canteen of HQ CAC has been completely computerised which has resulted in accurate provisioning, sales and accounting and has reduced the customers waiting at the counter considerably. This had led to enormous improvement in customer satisfaction. With his innovative ideas, and constant persuasion he was able to convince HQ State Bank of India to open a Model Bank of UP area at this HQ. The Bank underwent a total transformation at a record time of six months with modern building, online computer services with Automated Teller Machine (ATM) facilities. All service personnel and civilian employees have been benefited by this modernisation. With the implementation of Fifth Pay Commission the pension orders issued by Controller of Defence Accounts (CDA) were required to be revised for all pensioners. With his personal involvement, keen interest and a good rapport with CDA, Air Cmde Sengupta was able to complete this Herculean task in time bound manner. He was made the nodal point by Air HQ to settle numerous outstanding pension cases for retired officers, airmen and family pension for widows.

His excellent knowledge, thoroughness and foresight in Public Fund Operation, Non Public Fund management and growth, Budgetary Control, Settlement of Audit Objections and judicious utilisation of funds ensured maximum benefit to all the Stations. Because of his personal involvement, constant monitoring and check, there was no case of loss or misappropriation in any of the Non Public Funds in CAC in the last three years.

For his sincere and single-minded devotion to service interest, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Air Commodore Gautam Sengupta.

Group Captain Ratan Bir Kalra (13690) Accounts was commissioned in the Accounts Branch of the IAF on 13 Jul 1974. During his 28 years of service, he has held several important and key appointments which include O i/c Electronic Data Processing (EDP) Wing at Air Force Central Accounts Office (AFCAO), Director Non-Public Fund (NPF), Directing Staff (DS) at College of Defence Management. For his outstanding achievements the officer was commended by the AOC-in-C in Jun 1992 and by the CAS in Oct 1995.

As Oi/c EDP Wing, AFCAO, the Officer has not only pioneered in overcoming the serious problems of Y2K bug well before the start of new millennium, but also played a key role in planning and coordinating the automation activities of EDP Wing. This included the development of software for creation of centralised digital Personnel Occurrence Report data bank and very informative-cum-user friendly Touch Screen giving valuable inputs to the IAF personnel and civilians on their pay and allowances, income tax planning and retirement benefits.

During his tenure as Director NPF, the Officer has ensured cent-percent conversion of entire EDP activity from Foxpro to Oracle and has also ensured integration cum auto mation of various manual activities, which have not only led to significant improvement in work culture, but also reduced human effort. He has successfully managed the conduct of Annual Managing Council And General Body Meetings of Indian Air Force Benevolent Association during 2001 and 2002.

The Officer's vision and timely advice have ensured longevity of the popular and unique rehabilitation scheme for widows of AF personnel. His dedicated and unstinted efforts in dealing with Non Performing Assets has not only helped in reducing the long outstanding bad debts of Indian Air Force Benevolent Association (IAFBA) by Rs. 14.00 Crores, but also reduced the bad debts of Air Force Group Insurance Scheme (AFGIS) and Air Force Naval Housing Board (AFNHB) by Rs. 3.50 Crores by ensuring recovery from defaulting private companies. In addition, the timely action on part of the Officer helped in saving the potential bad debts to the tune of Rs. 7.00 crores to IAFBA. These efforts helped in securing the precious welfare funds.

For his distinguished service of high order, the Hon'ble President is pleased to award 'Vishisht Seva Medal' to Group Captain Ratan Bir Kalra.