President to receive more medals as ex-servicemen start surrendering them
Nearly 100 ex-servicemen from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu participate in protest
They are demanding uniform pension across cadres who hold the same rank
BANGALORE: It was a wrenching moment for scores of ex-servicemen, who gathered at Mahatma Gandhi Road here on Sunday morning, to surrender their much-cherished service medals to the President of India. A total of 582 medals were surrendered, among them were service medals, Visisht Seva Medal, Ati Vishisht Seva Medal and Param Vishisht Seva Medals.
These grizzled veterans joined hundreds of others across the country who, as part of the Indian Ex-servicemen Movement, did the same recently to express their anguish at being sidelined with regard to their demands for a uniform pension across cadres who hold the same rank.
Colonel A.K.S. Dudani, who retired from the Army in 1983, said that it is truly distressing that soldiers like him, who had only obeyed orders all their life, have been reduced to staging a protest. “It is extremely difficult to part with a medal, which to every retired officer represents his honour,” he said.
Captain Hariharan Balakrishnan, who commanded Missile Frigate and INS Trishul, had tears in his eyes as he surrendered his Eastern Star. Air Marshal Keith Lewis, an ace fighter pilot of the 1965 and 1971 wars, surrendered his PVSM, AVSM and Vayu Sena Medal. Major General Nanjappa, proud recipient of two AVSMs and Yudh Seva medal, said though parting with a medal is really hard, it is necessary to do it to show the Government how important this issue is.
All over the country, retired officers are parting with their beloved service medals, including medals bestowed for gallantry. After the symbolic protest these medals will be sent to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Ex-officers from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu participated in this movement, One Rank One Pension.
Colonel Bhimaiah, who retired from the Parachute Regiment in 1987, told The Hindu that giving up the medal was like parting with a child. Holding his decoration, which bears his number and name, he pointed to the two stars which represent his service in the 1965 and 1971 wars, and three others for field service. The emotional Colonel explained that he draws a pension of Rs. 14,000, while a person of the same rank who retired post-1996 gets Rs. 26,000.
Colonel S.S. Ranjan, State Convenor of IESM, pointed out that the parliamentary standing committee on Defence had recommended in its report that “one rank, one pension” be implemented. “When this right has been granted to bureaucrats, judges and legislators... then why have soldiers, who have worked so hard for the country, been left out?” he asked.
These soldiers now fight for pension parity
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