SCPC: ESM Protest March on 06 July 2008

Dear Friends,

Protest Plan

The event will be called “Black Flag Protest Marches”.

The event will be held in all District HQ of the country, state capitals and at New Delhi.

All Military Veterans of the District led by senior officers with Black flags, banners, wearing miniature medals, protest tabs will assemble at suitable places from the office/ residence of the District Collector/ State Governor. At Delhi all veterans will assemble at Vijay Chowk for proceeding to Rashtrapti Bhawan.

All veterans will assemble at 11 AM at the decided locations, form in threes and March towards the DC’s Residence/ Office/ Governors Res/ Office and at Delhi Rashtrapti Bhawan.

Suitable banners/ placards and black flags will be carried by the Marchers. The marches will be executed peacefully and in a dignified manner.

One reaching the Residence/ office of DCs/ Governor/ President of India, the veterans will halt and a few veterans will present the memorandum to the President to the above functionaries.

Maximum participation of officers is requested. We had over 60 Generals at the Hunger Strike location at India Gate. We would like to cross the figure of 100 Generals on 06 Jul 08. Large participation of Jawans and JCOs is essential. Organizers to give maximum publicity in the Districts, State Capital regions and the NCR specially in the villages to ensure large presence of Jawans and JCOs.

Maximum media coverage will be coordinated. We are in touch with National Dailies and large number of TV channels specially ND TV.

Draft Memorandum to the President is being prepared and will be forwarded soon.

Approved write-ups of leaflets are being sent separately. Organizers at each district/ state capital may please get one lakh leaflets printed which can be distributed suitably.

The above method of protest will ensure action at more than 600 locations in the country. Its success will depend upon the number of veterans at each location.

We also request all our former chiefs to meet the Prime Minister in a delegation and ask him to suitably address the demands of Defence Forces.

Demands of ESM

Rejection of 6th PCR.

Constitution of Separate Pay Commission or Pay Review Board with members from the Defence Services both serving and veterans.

All future commissions/ committees for Defence Services must have representation from both serving and veteran personnel.

Sanction of one rank one Pension. This demand had been recommended by the Parliamentary committee in 2004 but the same has been rejected by 6th CPC.

Assured Resettlement till 60 years of age through the Act of Parliament.

Military Service Pay (MSP) sanctioned is inadequate. As recommended by the Chiefs, MSP for Jawans and JCOs be 62.5% of basic pay and 56.5% for officers. (A minimum of (Rs 3000 pm/- for JCOs and Jawans). MSP be for all ranks and effective from 01 Jan 2006.

Status of Defence Services as per order of precedence (OOP) at the time of independence be restored. As confirmed from the MHA, there has been no amendment passed to the OOP as existed in 1947.

Year wise edge on pay package of Defence Forces personnel over other civil services be ensured.

With kind regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM
All India Military Veterans Movement