IESM Movement Against Injustices to Defence Services:
Relay Hunger Strike from 20 Oct 08 at 10 AM onwards
Dear Friends
1. As you are aware that Govt has not yet notified 6th CPC award in respect of Pension benefits of Veteran Defence Personnel. None of our demands has yet been met. As per our earlier decision announced in the Press Conference held at Press Club India New Delhi on 03 Oct 2008, Defence Veterans across country will go on Relay Hunger Strike from 10 AM 20 Oct 08 onwards to protest against the Injustice done to the Defence Forces Personnel.
2. The Relay Hunger Strike will be held at all districts and cities of the country. In NCR, the Relay Hunger Strike will be held at India Gate Lawns (Same location where Hunger Strike on 27 May was held) starting at 10 AM on 20 Oct 08 onwards. All Defence Veterans of NCR are requested to join in the IESM Movement and take part in the Relay Hunger Strike in large numbers.
3. It is the bounded Duty of every veteran to give wide publicity to this information and encourage maximum ex- servicemen to reach India Gate Lawns at 10 AM on 20 Oct 08. Defence Veteran organizations PAN India are requested to organize Relay Hunger Strike in their respective cities and Districts to demand Justice for Defence Personnel. After action reports may please be sent. Maximum media coverage may please be arranged. NDTV, Headlines Today, Ajtak, Times Now have confirmed their coverage of the event. Movement representatives are requested to get in touch with local representatives of the above TV Channels. Other local TV Channels may also be encouraged to cover the event.
DEMANDS OF MILITARY VETERANS
To lead their retired life in peace with Honour, Dignity & Izzat- the hall marks of a Soldier; the MILITARY VETERANS request:
1. "One Rank, One Pension" (OROP) be sanctioned IMMEDIATELY. This is a long pending demand aimed at protecting the interests of older pensioners; and the issue has become very emotive with the Ex- Servicemen. OROP has been the stated policy of all mainstream political parties. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has been asking the Govt. time & again to implement 'One Rank, One Pension'. Para 99 of the Report of Standing Committee on Defence (2003) clearly states: "The Committee has been recommending grant of `One Rank One Pension' to the armed forces personnel time and again. The Committee observes that successive Governments and Pay Commissions have made improvements in the pension structure keeping in view the cost of living index. This has accentuated the disparity of pension benefits between pensioners of the same rank. The older pensioners who have become infirm in ability and capability and burdened with a larger social obligation receive pension calculated at the rate of pay at the time of their retirement in 1950s or 1960s or 1970s, which is quite paltry and the Dearness Relief quite inconsequential in today's context of inflation and shrinking purchasing value of money. The nation must repay its debt to those defenders of the motherland with gratitude and humility. We should, instead of, looking for precedents in this regard, create precedents for the others to emulate. Any amount paid in this regard would be small token of our gratitude to them. The Committee, therefore, once again reiterates their earlier recommendation for providing `One Rank One Pension' to the armed forces personnel". *[For purposes of 'Pension' the term MILITARY VETERANS includes widows/ parents /next of kin of soldiers who were killed in battle and also those who died in peace time, and in receipt of pension from Defence Dept].
2. Resettlement of Military Veterans by way of:
(a) Legislation of an Act by Parliament, for lateral induction of Service Officers, JCOs & Jawans and their equivalents in the Navy & Air Force, into Central & State Services and PSUs, at appropriate levels, so that MILITARY VETERANS too have just, fair & equal opportunities to upgrade themselves and retire at the age of 60 years, at higher levels & appointments.
(b) Legislation of an Act by Parliament, making it mandatory for all Corporates and Industries related to supply of equipment, materials & stores to the Armed Forces, for employment of MILITARY VETERANS to the extent of 10 % of their work force.
3. Constituting an Ex- Servicemen Commission with necessary statutory powers at the national level to look after all the welfare measures of the Ex- Servicemen community. As is the practice in the case of other similar commissions, the Ex- Servicemen Commission be headed by a retired Chief of the Army/ Navy/ Air Force and should have Military Veterans from the three Defence services, as its members; and also suitable members from Military Veterans fraternity representing War Widows and the War wounded.
4. Representation of the Ex- Servicemen on all committees and other such bodies constituted for the purpose of looking into matters affecting the interests of the Ex-Servicemen.
5. Let us all join hands and take part in the Relay Hunger Strike in large numbers. At NCR MUST Reach India Gate Lawn at 10 AM on 20 Oct 08.
Jai Hind
With Kind Regards,
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement (IESM)
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