IESM: Jaswant takes up case of ex-armymen in RS

Mail Today, Wednesday, February 18, 2009
FEW DAYS after former soldiers, including three- star generals, returned their gallantry medals to President Pratibha Patil to press for a one rank- one pension system, the issue resurfaced in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. Speaking on the motion of thanks to the President’s address to Parliament, the leader of Opposition in the House, Jaswant Singh, said the government’s failure to meet the demand went against the izzat (honour) of the ex- servicemen. The BJP leader said it was a “complex” issue but the government should have addressed it.
“It is unfortunate a Lt Colonel retiring today gets a pension equal to a Lt General who retired a few years ago,” he said. Jaswant compared the “shortcoming” with the “equal pension system” applicable to the MPs irrespective of the term during which he was a member. Jaswant also said there was “confusion” galore because the pension system of former soldiers was open to “a variety of interpretations” by the CDA, the pay and pension disbursement authority for the armed forces. He also pointed out the misuse of the uniform by civilians, especially security agencies.
Jaswant takes up case of ex-armymen in RS

Comment: Rampant misuse of non- pattern Uniforms by Security Agencies poses an Internal security threat. Security Agencies employing ESM are exploiting them with shabby and fancy uniforms and dishonouring their status, rank with meagre wages.