Give us our due, say ex-servicemen

17 Jan 2009, 2122 hrs IST, TNN
KANPUR: “A servicemen is always a serviceman- today, tomorrow and forever, this spirit was palpable at the Cavalry Ground of Kanpur, where ex-servicemen had assembled and took out a rally. Demanding dignity, love and adequate support from the society, a rally of ex-servicemen, ESM Rally -2009, was organized in city on Saturday.

Under the shamiyaana, ex-servicemen, widows of soldiers and dependents of retired army personnel came from several districts of UP, and told moving tales of troubles and ignominies they face in lives.

The biggest concern of these men was the humiliation they immediately confront after retirement. A soldier said, "We retire at a very young age. And who will like to serve as security-guards and who wants to fill petrol in vehicles after leading such a privileged life. But we are forced to do so to run our lives."

Each one had his tale to tell. A son of an ex-serviceman who served Indian Army during the Second World War said that her two sister aged 35 and 40 remain unmarried due to lack of funds.

A widow's words whose husband died while serving in Arunachal Pradesh made the eyes moist of those present. She said, "The pension I get is too less to fulfil the daily needs of me and my three children. For past three years, in-laws are forcing me to commit suicide and trying to declare me a mentally-disturbed person to get rid of my family."

The other prominent concerns discussed in the meet were problem in railway reservation, lack of medical facilities and rude treatment at the hand of policemen. Handling of 'Jila Sainik Board' who looks after the needs of retired army personnel in each district by civilian officers, who are uninterested about the concerns of service personnel, was discussed.

Replying to the queries and concerns, senior officers said that a helpline has been in operation from 2007 which has been very effective in solving their problems. A reservation counter will soon function in Cantt to avoid troubles at railway counters. Treatment will be provided to servicemen in Cantt hospitals for initial 48 to 72 hours.

Adding weightage to the concerns of army-personnel, Brigadier PC Roy said, "Army personnel retire at much younger age compared to other civilian job-working force. So they have right to ask for facilities. And after giving their best to the nation by serving in remotest of places in world and putting your life at stake, one deserves it."

He also added that it feels bad that DM who is head of ex-servicemen board and other civil officials, who were given invitation to attend the function, did not turn up at function.
Give us our due, say ex-servicemen
Comment: Everywhere the same state of Affairs "woes of ESM remain unaddressed". The Zilla Sainik Board is an extension of Bureaucracy- Red Tape. What can one expect from a corruption riddled MOD Sainik Boards, employing civilians to benefit themselves! The ESM is degraded all the time and projected as a shabbily clad security guard. All ESM welfare organisations must fight against this malaise of falsely projecting a Jawan as a lowly paid security guard. A Jawan is a specialist and his salary must be in consonance/ commensurate with his expertise and not equate him with a sundry sentinel with a peanut pay packet!