IESM: Inequity hurts more than inadequacy

Dear friends,
I wish to place on record my appreciation of the superb press release dished out by Gen Kadyan on 14 March 2009. It is a brilliant piece, and reveals his writing prowess.

He concludes a paragraph with the words, "inequity hurts more than inadequacy". This is the crux of the matter. As I look back on the recent past, I think of the the circumstances which forced Maj Dhanapalan and the Maj Gens to go to the courts,were created by a sense of injustice,rather than insufficiency. The amounts of money for which they spent hours on end, preparing their cases and waiting for the 'honorable judges for the 'hearings' is a testimony of the kind of passions which the slight inequity had aroused in the hearts of these veterans is a testimony of our assertion.

Having to go to the courts of law in the evening of one's life is no joy. In fact it is one of the greatest curses that can befall a veteran. We are happier fighting on the battlefield, than in the courts of law, because that is what we are trained for! What our insensitive polity has done is strike at the root of our sensibilities.

During my service with Ashok Leyland, I learnt some very useful lessons about wage determination. A good system does not necessarily entail high salaries. it must ensure correct relativities. And it must be acceptable to the environment. Incidentally, if we look back, we would discover that we were not paid fancy salaries when we were commissioned fifty years ago. Our starting pay was Rs 460 out which what came to the bank was less than Rs 400 (the rest went to DSOP, room rent and Income Tax) The mess bill was about Rs 200 (including the instalment for the advance drawn for a bicycle). Most of us took a couple of years to save money needed to buy a scooter or motor cycle. But at that time, did any one complain of dearth of money? No one. In fact if you ever talked of money in the mess, you had to stand drinks to every one around!

And what of our 'veterans'? Well, my father retired soon after my commission. And many of our relations were ex-servicemen. However, I cannot remember a single incident of any one complaining on account of inadequacy of pension.

I think we must demand restoration of a sense of equity. The fight must go on until the last drop of blood. And the serving Generals must support our case, a bit more vigorously. May the Lord give more strength to their elbow!

"INEQUITY IS INIQUITOUS!"
Regards,
Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)