SCPC: Injustice by Pay Commissions: Press Release

Sir,

1. The IESM (Punjab) has organized a Press Conference for the Ex- Servicemen Organisations of North India at Royal Hotel Phase- 10, Mohali, on 30/9/08 at 11:30am to 12:30 Hrs. This is being attended by Maj Gen Satbir Singh SM, Vice Chairman IESM New Delhi, and heads of ESM org & prominent ESM from Punjab, Haryana, UP, HP, J&K, Rajasthan and the Tricity. We strongly support the bold decision & stand taken by our 3 brave chiefs for proper justice, Value & dignity. We express anguish against Pay Commissions & Govt's indiscriminatory attitudes towards ESM Community & Forces. Surprisingly Defence issues are being handled by unprofessionals, who know nothing of our problems & values nor they want to understand. This GOM have already been tried out many times & we have no hope from them. They do not want Defence representation in them to ensure that cleverly manipulated anomalies are not revealed in time for correction.

2. Bureaucrats have been manipulating & tampering Pay Commission reports to their advantages illegally, that too after the Government's approval. We request for CBI inquiry. For ESM Pensioners, even 4th & 5th Pay Commission reports are yet not implemented sincerely. We have been repeatedly cheated & openly told to get justice through Courts only. Our most genuine demands are over ruled without sufficient cause. Our National Security & Values is at stake, because quality intake is not joining Armed Forces. Civil administration often collapses in crises & the Army is being over used to run the Government. Still our pay, perks & status is much lower than our civil counterparts. Our Chiefs cannot speak more than this being in uniform & in a civilized society of the biggest democratic country.

3. We report with heavy heart that Govt/ Defence Ministry have not appreciated nor responded to our peaceful methods of protests against repeated injustices & neglects caused by bureaucracy & Pay Commissions to Defence Forces, Ex-servicemen & Widows. We feel Govt only responds to violent agitations of high voltage. Some how, we have been avoiding indecent agitations being disciplined & responsible citizens but this decency have not been helping us in the most corrupted & irresponsible system. We are more than 40% Defence employees in the Central Government employees, yet we have not got a separate Defence Pay Commission nor a member in CPCs.

4. Soldiers work for 24x7 days for 281 days in year but civilian who work only for 8x5 days & 165 days in a year, are being graded higher with more pay & promotions. Soldiers are unskilled workers even after handling needle to ship & rifle to Rockets and all electronic gadgets with highest degree of accountability & success rate. We have been sent home much prematurely, just to keep the forces young in the National interest. But Govt have done nothing concrete for our resettlement. We have asked for most legitimate & genuine four demands in a decent & democratic way but Govt is not responding because we have nobody in decision making bodies. That's why, our only main demands are:-

One Rank one Pension, which have been accepted by Parliament but Bureaucrats are not allowing its implementation by various designs. Whereas IAS Officers are manipulating and filling their own pockets illegally being in power.

Guaranteed Job up to 60 yrs age by lateral induction into Civil services & state Police, under Parliament Act. This will improve Civil Admn's credibility, discipline & reduce corruption in uncontrolled set- up. ESM deserve to get much needed Social & Financial Value and powers to look after the most neglected Defence Community. Soldiers will also get some incentive for early retirement after a very tough & disciplined life.

Constitute ESM Commission with statutory powers to safeguard our genuine interests, like many other weaker sections of societies. ESM Commission may be headed by retired SC Judge & only ESM members at National & State level. ESM should draft its terms & conditions with the help of Judiciary.

ESM representation in all Government Bodies Commissions & Committees where ESM Community interests are involved. Our properties, entitlements & honour are not safe & secure in our own nation.

5. Even, Voting Right to Soldiers at their place of duty have yet not been implemented to elect our own representative in Assemblies. Every community gets more than they agitate for violently. The ESM Community should no more be branded as a weak Community. Therefore, we are being forced for undignified agitations. To start with, all ESM should also observe BLACK DIWALI & put Black flag on their Vehicles & houses, till our all demands are met without conditions. We have given our best and sacrificed a lot to protect the nation at our own cost & value; hence we deserve a respectable retired life with dignity, so that next generation replaces veterans happily.

Lt Col SS Sohi (Retd)
Coordinator, Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, Punjab.