Army veterans to return medals over pension row

Press Trust of India
Sunday, February 08, 2009, (New Delhi)
After the government rejected the ex-servicemen's demand of 'One Rank One Pension', several retired officers and jawans have decided to return their gallantry medals to the President on Sunday.

"Over 300 general rank officers along with 10,000 officers and jawans have decided to return their medals to the Government. Why should we keep our medals with us when the establishment does not have any respect for us?" said Vice Chairman of the Indian Ex servicemen Movement (IESM) Maj (Gen retd) Satbir Singh said.

He said the protesting ex-servicemen will gather at Jantar Mantar here and pack their medals in sacks and surrender them to the President.

Since the President is not in the capital, the medals would be handed over to a senior officer at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Singh said.

Beside the mass-surrender of medals, the veterans would take out a three-kilometre-long protest march starting and terminating at Jantar Mantar.

Members of IESM has been sitting on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since December 16 last year.

During the last Parliament session, Government had stated that it was not contemplating providing 'One rank, One pension' to similarly placed officers and jawans after their retirement.

With the pay commissions increasing the pay of armed forces and security personnel every 10 years, the gap between the pension received by those who retired before the implementation of the respective commissions widened.

Similarly placed retired officers (with same ranks and number of years of service) were receiving different amounts as pension, which has been opposed by lakhs of ex-servicemen all across the country.
Army veterans to return medals over pension row: Press Trust of India
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Army veterans to surrender medals

Vox Populi
this is the most disgraced thing which can happen in the India we have known and which it is today... our protectors r so much in pain... it feels bad for them... they manage the whole of India and they are the reason for our safety...
it is because of them we have always lived without fear and have had always the free air of love and peace... and this is what the government have to give them....a real shame... what worse can happen than this... they have increased the pay manifold of the govt. officials then y not the jawans who stand on one leg and serve this country selflessly... whereas those useless, full of bribe wanters officials get more than they ever deserved... a real shame... and then the govt. says that not many young people are coming to join armed forces... what do they expect... they treat the jawans with disgrace then why shud we ever join these forces... give us one good reason and advantage comparing to the govt. officials... do they have any answers... shame...there is pay hike in all sectors then y not them...answer...is someone there???
Army veterans to return medals over pension row