IESM fighting for justice

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
The IESM rally report from UNA, Himachal Pradesh is reproduced below. As per the reports coming to "Report My Signal" and IESM Headquarters from various states of India, all ESM, including State Presidents and members of IESL, are whole heartedly supporting the IESM movement.

For information of members I also wish to state that All the Members of Steering Committee of IESM are also members of IESL. We all were members of IESL when we felt the urgent need to raise this federation of ESM organisations now called IESM. IESM came into existence on 13 Aug 08 at Noida, when a meeting of large number of ESM organisations and ESM gathered together. ESM came from large number of states for this meeting- from as far as Kerala and Tamil Nadu in South and Himachal and Uttrakhand in North.

The major initiative for the meeting at Noida on 13 Aug 08, was that of Col SS Rajan, currently Convener IESM Karnataka and Member Steering Committee IESM; the credit for the success of that meeting on 13 Aug 08, goes to hard work by all the present members of the Steering Committee, State Conveners and the ESM who came for that meeting with a open and positive mind.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

A report on ESM rally held at UNA (HP), on 05 Apr 2009, is sent here under. All present vigorously supported actions being taken by IESM regarding OROP. There was a general agreement that ESM should join IESM & thus support them in their vital endeavour in the interest of all retired personnel. Pictures taken at the rally will follow.
Brig Charan Singh (Retd)

REPORT ON ESM RALLY AT UNA (HP) ON 05 APRIL 2009
A rally was organized at UNA (HP) by the UNA ESM group to discuss the issue of One Rank One Pension. The rally was attended by about 150 ESMs of all ranks, senior ones being Maj Gen Bikram Singh AVSM*, VSM, Brig Charan Singh, Cols T S Jaswal, DP Vashist, Kuldip Singh, Ajmer Singh, Sat Dev Singh. Prominent among Hon Capts were D S Minhas, Bhagat Singh & quite a few more. Sqn Ldr BL Dhiman came from Hamirpur (HP) with a few companions.

First to address the gathering was Maj Gen Bikram Singh (immediate Former President IESL- previous 8 years). He very strongly emphasized the need for unity amongst all ESM organizations in the country to achieve their common goal of OROP. He strongly supported the actions being taken by IESM & urged the ESM of UNA area to join this organization in large numbers to extend support to the just cause.

Brig Charan Singh stated that it was very sad that the status of soldiers who are the protectors of country’s progress & freedom has been downgraded by the successive pay commissions for reasons known only to authorities. He mentioned that all political parties did accept the principle of OROP during elections but they cleanly forget their promise when in power. He recounted the vast disparities in pensions of various pre & post 1/1/ 2006 retiree ESM ranks which are causing great dissatisfaction amongst them & this dissatisfaction will surely spill over to the serving armed forces personnel also. He said that these disparities cannot be removed unless OROP is granted by the Government. He emphasised that the worst affected are PBOR.

CPO NA (Navy) Rajinder Sharma vigorously stated that ESM need to fight for their rightful dues in a united manner. Cols T S Jaswal & Kuldip Singh VSM also enjoined upon the gathered ESM to join IESM to give this organization required strength to fight for the cherished goal of OROP. At the end, life membership forms of IESM were distributed & the recipients were requested to return them within a week to the Army Canteen after duly completing them. After receipt, these completed forms will be sent to IESM HQ. Next rally date was fixed for 19 April 2009 in Santoshgarh (HP) constituency.

Date: Saturday, 4 April, 2009, 4:37 PM
Dear Brig Kamboj,
1. Heartiest congratulations to you ,Gen Kadyan and all members of IESM.
2. Manifesto of a National Political Party, possibly for the first time has brought out in clear terms their resolve to implement OROP.I strongly feel that this has been possible for the untiring effort on the part of you all. I was thrilled on seeing the TV news on this on 03 Apr 09. I am confident that with such sustained effort, other Political Parties and Organisations too would fall in line to pursue this very important issue.
Best regards.
Brig Pushpal De (Retd)