2008 The Year of Ex- Servicemen

Allahabad, Mar 28 (ANI): Defence Minister A K Antony today said that the Government has asked the Armed Forces to send a report to the Government of shortages of personnel in the Services.
He said that he had asked the Armed Forces to “carefully study the scenario and come out with a report on the possible ways to make a career in the armed forces more attractive for the younger generation.”
Antony was inaugurating the Defence Pension Training Institute here. Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju accompanied him.
In his inaugural address at the ceremony, he asserted that the Government is committed to ensure “a life of dignity for people who have retired from the armed forces”.
“An important step in this direction would be to develop a grievance- free pension sanction and disbursal system, and the new institute has been set up to overcome the skill deficit that has been coming in the way of achieving the end,” Antony said.
He also said the Government has declared 2008 as “the year of ex- servicemen”, to ensures that all possible measures would be adopted “to make things easier for the nearly 22 lakh defence pensioners in the country”. (ANI)

2008 Year of ESM

I have reproduced the above article as two important measures for ESM has been announced by the Defence Minister AK Anthony.

Government has declared 2008 as “the year of ex- servicemen"

Grievience Free Pension Sanction and Disbursal System

What ESM expects from the Ministry of Defence?

Modernisation, automation and net linking of all Zilla Sainik Boards.

All grievance applications of ESM pending in Zilla Sainik Boards be processed within 30 days.

All welfare measures and list of ESM beneficiaries displayed prominently in Zilla Sainik Board Offices.

Home delivery of services to ESM especially the disabled, aged, sick and widows.

User friendly ECHS and CSD facilities.(Judicial use of about Rs 400 crores profits from CSD for troops welfare)

AWHO services and housing to be extended to PBOR living in rural India, as it is presently biased towards Officer Cadre and pro-metro-centric.

Work ethos
Soldiers serene silence is broken solely with the loud thunder of battle cries in defence of the nation. They are subjected to the Army Act and remain disciplined and loyal at all times. In contrast the Civilian Defence Employees enviably enjoy the freedom to mobilise and strike at will and take the organisation to ransom at their own time of choosing, as it is within their democratic rights. The Civilian Defence Employees are tasked to serve the Soldiers interests and to provide the Military wherewithal for combat in Peace and War. The mute question is whether they can deliver what they are tasked for?

See the slide show India Gate Protest. These vivid photographs are a telling proof of the quality and services the Armed Forces can expect. Can trade union system with its scant respect for "work ethos" improve our military capability or morale of the troops?

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