IESM: One Rank One Pension

A skilfully crafted statement of the Union Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, on the long-standing demand of the defence forces for one rank, one pension has created a wholly erroneous impression that the demand has finally been granted by the government. In fact, the available information indicates that the issue has not been even remotely addressed.

By bringing pre-1996 pensioners on a par with the post-1996 pensioners, the Finance Minister has only removed a 13-year-old anomaly, which should have been done long ago. Revised pensions announced after the Sixth Pay Commission had created three distinct classes of pensioners. As a result, similar personnel in each class received widely differing pensions. Equity and natural justice demanded that these artificial distinctions should have been removed whenever pensions were revised. Importantly, the distinction between pre-and post-2006 pensioners remains un-addressed. It needs reminding that the demand of the defence forces and defence pensioners for one rank, one pension was, in fact, only for the removal of this distinction. Such indifference of the government for the defence forces and veterans is galling.
Maj Gen SATBIR SINGH (Retd), Vice-Chairman, Indian ESM Movement
One rank, one pension: Tribune India

The A to Z Pay Groups: MOD Marathon
Date: Saturday, 11 July, 2009, 11:44 AM
The MOD is really smart. Oct 1997 was till when the 5th CPC recommended A B C D pay groups were effective. Immediately thereafter the Group of Officers accepted our original proposal of revising pay based on educational qualifications and the X Y Z came into being. Since some PBORs had retired on the old ABCD scales, they were given pension on the scales of these groups.

A case was taken up with MOD to bring these retirees on par with XYZ retirees. It is understood that the case was approved in 2004 but before implementation the 6th CPC was announced. Now the Govt accepts and announces this parity and scores points.
Regards
Vice Admiral Barin Ghose (Retired)
Member Core Group IESM

Additional Secretary, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare
Sunday, July 12, 2009 10:38 PM
Shekhar Agarwal presently Financial Adviser (Acquisition) & Member (Defence Procurement Board) and Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence has been appointed as Additional Secretary, Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence in the vacancy of Ms. Neelam Nath. He is 1977 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.
With Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi (Retd)