SCPC: Defence Pensioners Betrayed

Dear Veterans,

1. The pension orders issued by MOD are nowhere near our expectations. Instead of bringing cheer to the Defence pensioners these orders have brought in a sense of despondency and frustration which is bound to have serious implications. Keeping in mind the prevalent conditions in the country, we can ill afford to have approximately fifteen million ex servicemen and their immediate family members who are feeling aggrieved, anguished and dissatisfied. If, the present recommendations are accepted, Pre 1996 & Pre 2006 pensioners will get 70% & 37% less pension respectively than the post 2006 pensioners. A Havildar will get less pension than a Sepoy & Lt Gen will get less pension than a Colonel. This alarming situation needs immediate rectification. The quixotic approach of the Govt as far as the Defence Personnel are concerned is beyond comprehension. There appears to be a deliberate attempt by some elements in the government who are hell bent on downsizing the Defence Forces at all costs. While the govt has not hesitated in allowing the heads of PSUs to decide on their pay rise, it is nitpicking and throwing crumbs as far as the Defence Forces are concerned. Most of the present day pensioners are living in penury and facing tremendous hardships, keeping in mind the present economic crises and galloping inflation. The effect of this does not remain confined to the pensioners only; its has a terrible impact on the psyche of the serving soldier who can visualize his own status when he reaches that stage. Realization of such a clumsy treatment meted out to his predecessors is bound to have a devastating effect on his morale and his fighting spirit. Any right thinking person in the Govt associated with the Defence of the country should realise the gravity of the situation and take appropriate remedial measures to obviate the plight of the pensioners and provide them succour by removing all the anomalies as have been brought to the Notice of the Govt. An aggrieved serving soldier is at best a liability as he still is bound by the discipline of the Army, but retired soldiers who are aggrieved can be dangerous as they can become susceptible to being lured by dubious elements. Many anomalies have been added to the already existing anomalies of 4th & 5th pay commissions. Instead of granting our most genuine demands of One Rank One Pension (OROP), the Govt has further confounded the confusion by introducing "One Rank Many Pensions". The past pensioners are living in today's environment; then how does the Govt expect them to lead the life in a particular status today? Why the Govt is doing this Injustice, is not understood. Three million pensioners are getting restless, anguished and let down. How long can such a large mass of people hold their patience, is not known. Certainly what is visible & indicated, their patience is running out?

2. We are also aware, that it is not as much due to the politicians as the scheming bureaucracy who had been hell bent to do the Defence Forces down. The magnanimity of the senior Defence officers accepting the lower emoluments in 1947 (form Rs 1300 to Rs 770 for a Major as brought out by Lt Gen S K Sinha) has been misused by the bureaucracy. By putting fears in the minds of the political bosses of the misplaced thought of a possible coup by the Defence Forces, they have continuously brought down their status & emoluments. The Defence Forces of India are totally patriotic, well disciplined with high integrity, loyalty & commitment to the Nation, which is unmatched in the whole world. On the contrary, it has been proved many times over that when all other pillars of democracy have failed, Defence Services have been the saving grace. When IAS, IFS & IPS fail to cope with the situation, they hand it over to the Military who come to the rescue of the Nation and bring the situation under control. The question here needs to be asked from those who do the military bashing; "Is it not then the Military Commanders and their enlightened soldiers who possess higher faculties and higher calibre than their counter parts in the bureaucracy. Then why have the bureaucracy given themselves Higher Status and Higher emoluments. Defence Services deserve to be acknowledged as the superior most service of the country. The best men and women must be attracted to join this profession. If our country has to progress at the desired pace to become a major world power, all central services personnel must do at least three years attachment with the Armed Forces before joining their respective professions. The nation will be greatly benefited.

3. Another issue which needs to be brought to the notice of the people of India is regarding hiding the information from/ misleading/ misrepresenting the facts to the political bosses by the bureaucracy. We were rather surprised to know that senior politicians and ministers did not know the arrest of Ex Servicemen including senior Generals and ladies on 20 Oct 08 by the police when they were sitting on Fast For Justice in the Lawns of India Gate to protest against the Injustice to Defence Personnel. Likewise, it has come to our notice from the information received through RTI regarding the 4th Pay Commission that the MOD & Finance Ministry in Jan 1987 did not represent the case of Defence Personnel properly. The Pay scale of IPS officers were raised for the second time on 20 Jan 1987, during the Union Cabinet meeting. It also empowered the Group of Ministers to consider the alternative formula fitment in the new scales in the context of running scales of the Armed Forces and decide the matter in a week and submit its recommendation to the PM for final approval. The MOD never referred any case to the Group of Ministers within 7 days of the said Union Cabinet Meeting. Thus the IPS DIG got a clear edge over the pay in 18th year of service ie Rs 5100-150-5400-150-6150 (Rs 5400 in 18th year service as against Armed Forces officers getting Rs 4850/-).

4. The recent controversy of similar nature came to light where MOD & Finance Military misrepresented the facts resulting in further adding to the anomalies in 6th CPC award to Defence Personnel. The Govt needs to act fast and correct all the anomalies in the 6th CPC award in respect of Defence Forces. The delay is causing anguish to the Defence Personnel both serving and retired.

With kind regards,
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM

Maj Gen Satbir Singh is the Former Senior Fellow and Security Analyst of Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA). Examiner of PhD thesis in Defence & Security Studies. Ex Commandant Services Selection Centre & President SSB, besides being Instructor at four premier institutions of the Army. Presently he is a Vice Chairman Indian Ex- Servicemen Movement (IESM).