DSOI gives charge shock to members

CHANDIGARH: A sudden and major increase in charges for various facilities at Defence Services Officers' Institute (DSOI), Sector 36, has not gone down well with its members.
Most senior members of DSOI expressed their anguish against Western Command authorities for taking this "unilateral" decision. As per revised charges, members have to shell out Rs 25,000 for hosting a party on the lawn of the institute, instead of earlier Rs 7,500.
Similarly, subscription charge for members has also been more than doubled from Rs 1,440 to Rs 3,286. Usage charges for guest rooms has been raised from Rs 400 to Rs 800. Former chairman of DSOI, Lt Col (retd) J S Panag, said rates were increased without following proper procedure and taking the decision in general house of the club. He added that even commanding officers of different units discussed the matter of increasing mess charges with other officers, but here in the institute, that did not happen.
Another member, Lt Col (retd) S S Sohi of Mohali, said these services on subsidized rates comprised the only privilege available to retired officers and the increase was an attempt of authorities to deprive them of even that.
Authorities of Western Command did not comment on the issue. However, secretary of DSOI, Col Harjit Singh, told TOI there was nothing arbitrary in increasing the rates and members were informed well in advance. He added that usage charges of facilities were still lower than other clubs of city and this decision was taken while keeping inflation in mind. "Pension of the members have increased manifold over the years and they should not be agitating over this minor increase," he added.
DSOI has around 3,000 serving and retired officers from army, navy and air force as members. It directly comes under Western Command and is run by elected office-bearers. However, the post of chairman is held by a serving Major General from the Western Command headquarters, who is not elected.