Press release Defence Fraternity

Over the years, the defence fraternity has been repeatedly done down by successive governments. The Sixth Central Pay Commission (6th CPC) has further harmed their interests to a very large extent. The request of the Defence Chiefs to have a separate pay commission for the defence forces was turned down. The government also rejected the request to have a representative from the defence forces on the Pay Commission. It was expected that in view of the severe and unique service conditions of the military personnel and the fact that defence personnel constitute 50 per cent of the total government servants, the government would have safeguarded the interests of both serving personnel and the veterans. Unfortunately, what has happened is exactly the opposite. The irony is that although the Commission was looking into the pay and allowances of over 50 per cent of the total government employees, it was not thought fit to post even one person on the staff of the Commission, numbering over 100!

Unlike other central government services, the defence forces can neither form unions nor associations to press their demands. Their problems can only be projected through the Service Chiefs. However, the veterans do have the right to project their problems and concerns to the authorities directly - individually or collectively. This has been done but without any positive outcome. The so-called Review Committee set up to examine the anomalies and concerns of the defence forces does not even have a member from the Services. Consequently, it will only tinker with the recommendations and achieve nothing. As a last resort and with great reluctance, we have decided to project our views to the country directly.

It is clarified that the veterans do not take part in protests, dharnas, strikes, rallies, agitations and so on. They also dislike hitting the streets in protest. This is against the ethos of the defence forces. Within this ambit, the veterans of Chandigarh and surrounding areas will mark their disenchantment with the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission by conducting a special memorial service at the Chandigarh War Memorial on 27 April 2008. Details are in the enclosed notice.

The requests of the veterans are as under:

• The recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission, as they relate to the defence forces be scrapped. A new Pay and Pension Commission, with representation from the army, navy and air force amongst others, may be set up immediately. It should be tasked to submit its recommendations within six months
• Till the new Pay Commission submits its recommendations, an ad-hoc interim relief, as a percentage of emoluments and pensions currently being drawn be granted to all serving personnel and all veterans.
• The long standing demand of “one-rank-one-pension” must be accepted immediately, as whenever pay and pension of Service personnel are enhanced, older pensioners are left out in the cold.
• There is also no constitutional mechanism for resettlement of our ex-servicemen who retire at very young ages, when their financial burdens are at a peak. A comprehensive workable plan for giving them a second career be made expeditiously.
• All anomalies of earlier Pay Commissions, which are still awaiting resolution, may also be entrusted to the new pay commission.
• The new pay commission should pay special attention to the pay structures of PBOR and middle level officers.
• Pay, allowances and pensions, especially of officers, should be made so attractive that young men and women are attracted to join the defence forces. This would reverse the present trend of continuing shortages of officers and make the defence forces stronger. There should be no dilution of standards for the selection of officers.
• Better pay and allowances and pensions for the PBOR are also needed, so that better and more educated persons join the defence forces.
• The lacunae in the Military Service Pay, as recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission, need to be removed.

The following Notice, giving details of the Memorial Service, may please be published in your newspapers, to give maximum publicity to the event.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE BY MILITARY VETERANS* AT THE CHANDIGARH WAR MEMORIAL, AT 11 AM ON 27APR 2008
[*Military Veterans: Retired Officers & personnel below officer ranks (POBR) of the Army, Navy & Air Force]

VETERANS of the Army, Navy & Air Force and their spouses are requested to assemble at the War Memorial at the Bougainvillea Garden, Sector 3, Chandigarh, at 11 AM on 27 April 2008 to pay homage to the Martyrs, by placing of wreaths and express their solidarity in drawing the attention of the Government of the Union of India for the amelioration of their problems relating to pay, pension & resettlement, by way of a silent service comprising lighting candles, wreath laying and placing of flowers at the Memorial. All VETERANS shall be suitably dressed (shirt and tie for officers) with a head gear and miniature medals. There shall be no speeches, no sloganeering and no Demonstration of Protest. The entire proceedings shall be conducted as a solemn affair with dignity & decorum, befitting VETERANS. Only the nominated spokespersons shall talk to the PRESS and MEDIA. We have no truck with any political party and the function is completely apolitical.