IESM: Press Release- Surrender of Medals slated for 13 September 2009

Dated : 22 Aug 2009
SERIOUS ANOMALIES IN PENSIONS

Dear Members of the Media
1. The next date for return of medals to the President is 13 Sep 2009 at 3 PM. Ex Servicemen have already deposited over 15000 medals with the Supreme Commander the President of India on four different occasions. This is being done due to the total apathetic attitude shown by the Govt towards our most genuine demand of One Rank One Pension. A few facts are brought to your notice.
2. There is a large gap which still exists between pre 01.01.06 retirees and post 01.01.06 retirees. As per the information available, pre 01.01.06 retiree Sepoy will get Rs 5461 where as the post 01-01-06 will get Rs 7045 with 50 percent weightage. This gap which will further increase once 70% weightage is implemented. OROP to the PBORs thus has NOT been granted as against what is being claimed by the Govt. Likewise, pre 2006 retiree Col will draw 26050 where as post 01-01-06 will get 30375.
3. A Major General pre 2006 retiree will get far less pension than a Lt Col, who is four ranks junior, who retired after 01-01-06. Likewise , other senior rank officers ie Brig, Col, Lt Col, Maj, Capt, Lt, PBORs who are pre 2006 retirees will get less pension than their counterparts who retired after 01-01-06. This is a weird situation which is also a blatant violation of Article 14 of the constitution. A senior rank officer must never get less pension than his junior rank officer irrespective of the date of retirement. The very functioning of the Army Rank structure is being adversely affected since the present serving personnel are the future retirees.
4. There is far too large a gap --- of Rs 11600 --- between Major and Lt Col. Similarly, too large a gap has been created between the pensions of Major General and Lt Gen i.e. Rs 9800/- The pensions of Lt Col, Col, Brig and Major General have been kept in a rather too narrow a range ie Rs 25700 – Rs 26700/-, a gap of only Rs 1000. The length of service and level of responsibility held have not been given due weightage. Between Col and Maj Gen, the difference in pension is only Rs 650/-. The anomaly is too glaring. There should be sufficient gap, between the pensions of successive ranks and there should be no large variations within a particular rank.

5. While implementing the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Maj Gens, the Govt has accepted the concept of granting the same pension to pre 96 and post 96 retirees, the plea made by Maj Gens when 5th Pay Commission was implemented. In the same way, the Govt should have applied the same concept in the case of pre 01 Jan 2006 and Post 01 Jan 2006 retirees.

6. Three Assured Carrier Progressions (ACP) concept has been accepted as 6th CPC award. But the same has not been applied to the past pensioners. The past pensioners should also be given the benefit of ACP by notionally applying the concept to them and their pensions fixed accordingly.

7. All ESM of India are resentful of the Govt attitude in not accepting their most genuine demands. The Indian Ex Servicemen Movement (IESM) which is an Umbrella Organisation of all ESM Organisations and ESM and has been spearheading the protest movement since 27 April 2008 to get Justice to the Defence Forces is having All India Veterans Meet at Noida on 30 August 2009 at 10.30 AM at the Arun Vihar Community Centre Sector 37 to plan events to intensify the Movement. Delegates from all the states of the country are attending the meeting. The media is requested to cover the event extensively.

8. The Medals will be collected from across the country and brought to Jantar Mantar on 13 Sep 2009 from 9 AM to 2 PM. A delegation of ESM will then proceed to the Rashtrapati Bhawan to deposit the same with the President. The media is requested to carry this news in your paper/magazine/channel and also cover the event on 13 Sep 2009 from 09 AM to 3 PM.

With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement