SCPC: Eliminate Anomalies

Copy of attachment to Shri Jaswant Singh's letter to the Raksha Mantri Click Here

MATTERS RAISED WITH PERMISSION OF THE CHAIR
REQUEST TO ELIMINATE ANOMALIES IN THE SIXTH PAY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS IN RESPECT OF ARMED FORCES
Neta virodhi dal (Shri Jaswant Singh):
Sadar shahab, Badi khushi ki baat hai ki seize-fire to ho gaya. Seize-fire hone ke bad, main yahan faujiyon ki jo kuch takleefe hai, ve apke samne rakhna chahata hoon. Peechle chand manhino se yahan musla chal raha hai and we have had, Sir, a demonstration of great discontent by the Armed Forces and jt. is unusual for the Chiefs to have gone to the extent of voicing that discontent in public. It was an unusual step, but it is unusual circumstances that have compelled them to do so, and, therefore, rather than elaborating what the entire situation is, may I recommend for the consideration of my good friend, the distinguished Minister for Defence, and, of course, the hon. Prime Minister, to please consider very sympathetically and attentively the questions that have been raised or the aspects that have got underscored by the Sixth Pay Commission's treatment of the Services? We have got focused particularly on the question of pension, on the question of pay relating to two ranks, namely, Lieutenant Colonel and Lieutenant General - Lieutenant General, when it comes to precedence; Lieutenant Colonel, when it comes to precedence and pay. Let me submit to you, Sir, that one of the most difficult questions to address and answer honestly is why does a soldier, a sailor or an airman agree to die. Please, believe me, Sir, that the principal motivation is izzat, and if you do not give izzat to the uniformed community, then you are robbing them of the central impulse of military morale. My recommendation for the Government, therefore, to consider please examine the question of Inflation Indexing of pensions and with that, is related the aspect which has now troubled us for some years. I have had the benefit and distinction of being a Member of a Committee established for the benefit and welfare of ex-servicemen long years back when late Mrs. Gandhi was the Prime Minister and my distinguished friend and colleague, Mr. K.P. Singh Deo, was the Chairman of that Committee. We spent many months deliberating and did make recommendations. Some of them got implemented, some have not. Number of steps-was then taken by the NDA Government, but there still remains the question, which is troubling us, of 'one rank - one pension'. May I recommend to the Government to re-examine it in all its aspects and let us all work towards its timely implementation?

There are just few other recommendations. One is to constitute a commission for the welfare of ex-servicemen and it ought to be really a statutory commission so that this periodic problem does not arise. Second is the question, and it has troubled us very greatly, of resettlement of ex-servicemen. At the rank of Sawar or Jawan,-a soldier will retire and go on pension at the age of 36. Thirty-six year old person is a young man, or a young woman, and still has full life ahead of him or her. And, it is a very great pity that this trained and talented manpower is then taken away from the nation. It is very useful national asset, Sir. A lot of recommendations have come. But lateral induction, how many can be taken, as Jobs are scarce, I recognise all that. But then, ex-servicemen are also a vital category, and it is because of all these factors that today we have a shortage -- I could be corrected on the actual figures -- of almost 18,000 personnel in the officer rank. It is a very critical shortage. This is about re­settlement.

My third recommendation is about representation of serving and retired personnel in Pay Commission. The problem arises when you constitute a Pay Commission and everyone else is represented but the Services. If you have the Services represented, there will be a representative of the services to articulate their views when the Commission is functioning.

Sir, now the Government must attend to eliminating the anomalies of the Sixth Pay Commission as far as the Services are concerned. I do not wish to take the time of the House in listing all them out. The Government is aware of what the anomalies are. Please attend to them. A Group of Ministers has got constituted. But there is so much work that the Hon. Minister of External Affairs has, he can't do it all. There is a very able Defence Minister, why not complete this under the Prime Minister's care itself?

Sir, please take on board that the prestige and precedence aspects of the Services are vital categories of honour. It is for this reason, Sir, that I have raised this issue. (Ends)
Press Statement issued by Shri Jaswant Singh Leader of the Opposition (Rajya Sabha)
Original copy of Shri Jaswant Singh's letter to the Raksha Mantri