IESM: PBOR's view point

Date: Saturday, 2 May, 2009, 2:59 PM
Dear Gen Kadyan Sir,
Introducing myself to this panel of distinguished veterans, am Ex-Sgt MR Sunil Rao, presently accepted as the Convener of IESM, Mysore. The points mentioned in these reports by the panel were very informative and suggestions put forth, looked highly debatable. As a veteran and from PBOR's collective point of view, these suggestions mentioned below could be of immense motivating factor in help building up the IESM at all levels throughout the country.

Aligning with any political party for the sake of pursuing our vision
Suggestion: We feel it is a futile exercise, as we have experienced ourselves in the garb of IESL, in the past decade. The following aspects must be persued:

a list of our demands could be redrafted in brief without going into full details, and submitted to all political parties (because a voluminous memorandum would never be assimilated nor understood by them), the three service chiefs (all of whom would be veterans shortly), before the election results are declared, and a goal has to be projected to the them in terms of days or months. This should be implemented in the manifestos of any front which heads the government.

after the election results, the government in power has to be pressurised through a collective representation at all levels of IESM, throughout the country. HQ, IESM can draft a common memorandum and circulate to all members of IESM, a date could be fixed throughout the country, media could be apprised of the event and then the memorandum along with local issues if any, could be handed over to the Deputy commissioners or the local heads of all districts, and most importantly, the elected MP of the constituency BY HAND. Places where IESM is yet to be formed, a copy of the draft could be sent to all District HQ'S and all the 534 MP's by name from HQ, IESM. All MP's, irrespective of political parties, they are affiliated to, would then be accountable to this noble cause.

PBOR's in IESM Governing Body
PBOR's, with whom I have widely networked with, mostly apolitical ones, throughout the country are a bit dissappointed seeing the names of only officers in the Governing body of IESM. Suggestions:

Veterans from distinguished PBOR's and Widows could be nominated on the board, so as to give the esteemed IESM, the required Representative impetus and motivation. During all these days of its formation and media appraisal, the PBOR's were feeling a bit used up, in furthering the cause of just PB4 and income tax issues, and OROP was taking a back seat and loosing its priority. There are also a number of issues w.r.t disparity in pension concerning different levels of PBOR's which are totally neither highlighted, educated nor projected at all.

Sainik Boards at all levels should be revamped and made accountable throughout the country.

Bureaucratic functioning
Veterans of all ranks are totally disgusted at the bureaucratic way of functioning, and the same lame excuses of blaming the higher formations in not responding to any positive suggestions or complaints. Suggestion:

HQ,IESM could play a major role with the central Government, highlight the present system and revamp the whole structure and organisation of the sainik board, which has now become defunct, w.r.t pursuing the policies laid down. They have to made more accountable at all levels of their organisation. IESM running the organisation could also be thought of as a future vision, on a partnership basis.

The root of the problem visible to me is that Veterans are being appointed as sainik board officials, and feel very sorry to say that these same people are trained during service years to only think inside the box and never give any thought to change their attitude of looking outside the box, after coming out of defense services. As a paradigm shift, maybe the services of educated wives of veterans could possibly be the right answer to this vexed problem.

Hope these points and suggestions could be an eye opener in pursuit of IESM becoming more effective, lest it dilutes it goals after hopefully the OROP is achieved.
Regards,
Ex Sgt Sunil Rao

Dear Sudhir,
All officer ESM are thinkers and have their own opinion, which is only expected of us. I generally desist from commenting on views from individual members. But allow me to clarify:
1. We are not aligned with any political party in the sense implied in your mail. We are only aligned with OROP. Any Party that committed itself to giving OROP would have got our support. You may like to read the sitrep dated 8 Feb 2009. The extract: "If the current government sanctions the OROP, we will fully support it during the elections".
2. No IESM funds are being spent on the activity as apprehended by you. I wonder what led you to this inference.
3. I have not addressed the serving persons ever. However, dispassionately speaking, the defence forces are part of the democratic society and if the serving are allowed to vote, it is but natural that vote seekers would try to influence them. We are mixing up between being politically aware and being politicised.
4. You, me and our ilk have always been concerned about the reputation of the Fauz. But it matters much less to the PBOR pensioners who are hardest hit. Should we not also stand for them?
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM