We are very proud that India today is well on its way to progress. As a country we have already begun to be counted in the various world forums. Our rapid progress in the economic field where there has been massive infusion of the foreign funds, has been possible mainly because the country is secure and the foreign investors feel confident to park their assets here. Major contributors for this security are the Indian defence forces. Apart from their main task of defending the country against external threats the defence forces are also involved in a major way in tackling internal disturbances. In addition they are always in the forefront in providing aid during natural calamities like floods, cyclone, earthquakes etc.
The soldiers spend major part of their service in far flung inhospitable areas living under extremely difficult, hazardous and dangerous conditions. A soldier's life can only be experienced, it can never be explained. Their service conditions where they work on a 24X7 work cycle can and should never be compared to other government employees who work on a nine-to-five, work schedule, five days a week. In view of the criticality of their role, it is in national interest that the defence forces are kept in a high state of morale and motivation and their material needs are well looked after. The recent controversy where the genuine demands of the defence services vis-à-vis the 6th Pay Commission report have been overlooked by the committee of bureaucrats has been a very unfortunate and avoidable development. It is hoped that the recently constituted committee of three senior cabinet ministers will remove the anomalies and sanction the emoluments as requested by the defence forces.
As part of their service conditions, majority of military personnel are compulsorily retired when they are still in their thirties and when their financial commitments are at their peek. They get a pittance as pension, which is grossly inadequate for them to sustain themselves. There is no guarantee or even a provision to give them an alternative employment till they reach the age of 60 years. If that cannot be provided, they need to be given enhanced pension till the age of sixty.
Also, with every pay commission the older pensioners get left out and get lower pensions than those who retire after the pay commission implementation. Equity demands that all retirees who have served the country for equal length of service and have attained the same rank should be given the same pension irrespective of their date of retirement. There should thus be 'one-rank-one-pension' for all defence pensioners. This concept of equating pensions of old and new retirees is already prevalent in the case of judges and legislators.
The four demands of the Ex-Servicemen are:
The Indian Ex-Servicemen comprising all retired defence officers, JCOs and men have been expressing their disenchantment with the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations ever since the report was submitted to the government on 24 March 2008. After projecting the above demands to the various decision makers in the country, and not getting any assurance, as a last resort they took their case to the public. The have formed a pan India Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) to project their demands jointly. They first held a rally on 27 April 2008 that covered 61 cities all over India. Next they observed a token hunger strike on 27 May where a synchronised action was carried out over 300 cities in the country. This was followed by yet another rally on 6 July 2008, which too was held all over India. A relay hunger strike is planned from 20 October 2008 onwards if the main demand of one-rank-one-pension is not accepted by the government before that date.
Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman
Indian Ex Servicemen Movement
JUSTICE FOR DEFENCE SERVICES PERSONNEL: QUESTIONNAIRE FOR MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENT
01. Why One Rank One Pension (OROP) which was earlier recommended to be sanctioned by the Parliamentary Committee in 2004 not been accepted?
02. Defence Personnel are compulsorily retired at the age of 35-45 years. Why not an assured Second Career till the age of 60 years as in the case of other Govt employees is granted to them through the Act of Parliament?
03. Why Defence Personnel are not given the last pay drawn till the age of 60 years to compensate compulsory retirement at the ages 35-45 years.
04. Why the youth no longer is opting for a career in the Defence Services?
05. Why a Civil Servant (IAS) with 14 years of service gets almost double the salary than a Defence Officer of 14 years of service?
06. Why representation of Defence Services on 6th Pay Commission and Review Committee were denied? As per the then Chairman COSC Admiral Arun Parkash, in Apr 2006, the then Raksha Mantri Shri Pranab Mukherjee had agreed in principle to the nomination of service representative on the 6th Pay Commission. Why this decision was later reversed?
07. Why your Jawan gets Rs 950 less than even the Police Constable? Why a Subedar Major will get Rs 25 lacs less than a CRPF Inspector? Why a Defence Officer in 30 years span of service gets Rs 30 lacs less than his counter part in the civil?
08. Why the year wise edge in emoluments of Defence Service personnel is not ensured over other civil services?
09. Why anomalies of 4th & 5th Pay Commission have not been addressed by the 6th Pay Commission?
10.Why Ex-Servicemen Commission with legal powers consisting of members only from ESM & ESM widows has not been constituted?
11.Why the Defence Services "Order of Precedence" been lowered as compared to other services? Why should it not be restored what existed on 26 Jan 1950?
12. The information received that RTI reveals that while the Pay & Allowances of IAS, IPS, IFS were increased after the 4th Pay Commission recommendations, the pay & allowances of Defence Services were not increased. Why a CBI inquiry or GOM committee not be constituted to probe the facts of the whole case and the anomalies addressed?
13. The concept of civilian control over the Defence Forces implies the control by the elected representations and not by the bureaucracy. Why is the Govt dealing with the Military through the bureaucracy which in any case is biased towards it and not directly?
14. Do we have realistic assessment of morale and motivation of our Defence Forces?
15. Are we as a Nation heading to pre- 1962 disaster situation?
Date Press Release: : 03 Oct 2008
Dear Members of the Press,
We are thankful to the members of the Press for attending the Press Conference at Press Club of India on 03 Oct 2008 at 11 AM in large numbers.
We are attaching the Press Release and Questionnaire for the Hon'ble members of the Parliament regarding the Injustices done to the Defence Services personnel both serving and the veterans. Through the press, we appeal to the Hon'ble Members of Parliament to raise these questions in the Parliament in the coming session. The issues of Defence Forces personnel are of great National importance and needs to discussed at the highest National Body, that is, our Parliament & remedial measures taken on priority to address all the issues disturbing the Armed Forces.
May we request you to kindly suitably cover the Press Release in your esteemed News Paper/ TV channel.
Jai Hind
With regards,
Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairnman
Indian Ex Servicemen Movement
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