Demands of Ex Services League Punjab and Chandigarh

Monday, 28 September 2009
PATIALA: Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab & Chandigarh has sought a better deal for Havildars and Sub Majors from the Centre Government Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal, president of league in his memorandum faxed to Defence Minister, AK Antony, has asked the government to change the Pay-Band for Havildars and equivalent ranks from PB-I to PB-II and for Subedar Majors and equivalent ranks from PB-II to PB-III since the Sixth Pay Commission have degraded their ranks.

League stressed upon the government that the soldiers of the rank of Havildar form the real backbone of Defence Forces and Sub Maj acts as a Chief executor of the strategy in the war. These two ranks have been virtually crushed by the recommendations of Sixth Central Pay Commission and further demeaned by faulty implementation resulting in reduced pay and salaries. The Havildars have been virtually equated to class-IV civilians such as Peons, Chowkidars, Mali and Dhobi etc in respect of pay.

League has further asked the Minister to release immediately the orders for promised ONE RANK ONE PENSION for Junior Commissioned Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and other ranks which was announced by Finance Minister in Union Budget on 6 July 2009, and then by the Minister himself in the Parliament and finally by Prime Minister on Independence Day but the orders regarding the same has not not been issued so far.

League has also reminded the Minister that the government had also promised to give pension to soldiers up to the rank of Havildar at 70% and to JCOs at 60% of the last pay drawn to compensate for their early compulsory retirement, but to the great disappointment of the soldiers, these orders have also not seen the light so far whereas orders regarding change of Pay Band from PB-III to PB-IV for the Lt Cols have been issued long ago although these recommendations were made by the same group of ministers in the same report. With this partial treatment given to lower ranks, a great resentment is prevailing in the Defence Forces and among the veterans which is not good for nation’s security.

League has further demanded two pensions for the widows of ex-servicemen who drew two pensions during their life time. Because of early compulsory retirement, most of the soldiers have to seek employment in civil departments to compensate for their meagre pension which they draw by virtue of their service in the Defence Forces. Such veterans draw two pensions after their retirement from civil departments but their widows are not entitled for second pension as per the present pension policy.

Along with this, League has gone further to demand befitting alternate re-employment for the soldiers up to the age of 60 years like their civilian counter parts since about 90% among the soldiers are compulsory retired prior to their superannuation to keep the forces young.

League has vehemently stressed upon the government to fulfill the demands of veterans at the earliest lest they take to the streets like civilian counter parts.
Last but not the least, the league has forcefully demanded that government authorities do not use the term PBORs for Junior Commissioned Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and other ranks as they feel much humiliated and demeaned by such inglorious attributes.
VETERAN PRABHJOT SINGH CHHATWAL
THE PRESIDENT, EX-SERVICES LEAGUE, PUNJAB & CHANDIGARH
Posted By Muthukrishnan to indianexserviceman at 9/28/2009 07:48:00 PM