IESM: Chairman's Desk- ESM Unity

08 Sep 2009
Dear Colleagues,
In our campaign for OROP, need for a joint approach by all the ESM organisations has often been underscored by many veterans.
One perception, however, needs to be corrected. Invariably, whenever unity gets talked about, some well meaning colleague, not necessarily in the know of details, initiates a mail ascribing lack of unity to an ‘ego’ problem. This usually sets off a chain reaction with similar sentiments being expressed by some others. Let me state with all the emphasis that ego has never been an impediment or an issue either at the organisational or at the personal level. Cordiality continues to exist in our mutual relations. It is unfair even to imagine that anyone of us involved in the struggle will let such a frivolous sentiment come in the way of the interests of the larger community.
That the unity has not so far been achieved is not because of any lack of sincerity or of efforts. Going by the experience, we need to reconcile ourselves to the fact that unity in pursuit of OROP is unlikely to be achieved, at least in the foreseeable future. It may, therefore, be advisable to focus our energies in pursuit of the actual goal rather than chasing a chimera.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM.

What we can do?
IESM is a registered society under Indian Society Act of 1860 with present membership of about 3500 and with 15,000 supporters who have deposited gallantry awards to the president. This number is adequate to represent ESM. The Society Act makes no difference/ distinction to organisations having 3 lakh members or just 30 members. The organisations are at par as long as we have a laudable Memorandum of Association and an effective governing body who can represent and take up welfare issues with the Government of India. Therefore to imagine that unity of all ESM organisations will work miracles will only be in the figment of our imagination- literally catching the clouds. Let us rally therefore around our respective ESM leaders and work towards general welfare, dignity and honour of our Jawans. To start with let us as officers be determined not to employ Jawans in the demeaning manner as "Security Personnel" as empanelled by DGR wherein rules are flouted by Officers for their own welfare. The DGR empanelled "Security Agencies" is one of the foremost bureaucratic measures to demean our own Jawans by our own officers who have commanded them in combat during Service in the Armed Forces. The rules are so designed by DGR that are not enforceable.

OROP: Comment by a Civilian
By: Mrs.Jayanthi Frank
On: 30 Aug 2009 11:58 pm
The efforts taken by the Ex-service personnel are very reasonable. Our Government must take immediate action to release the One Rank One Pension (OROP) to all the retired defense personnel. The pension payable must be equal to all the defense pensioners as related to their rank, trade/post and years of defense service rendered by them irrespective of the date and year of their retirement. Let us recollect the sufferings sustained by our defense personnel during 1961 Goa operation, 1962 Chinese aggression, 1965 and 1971 Pakistan operation and the Kargi war. Also during the peace time, they are facing very hard living in order to safe guard the border of Our Country, Our Nation, Our Motherland and............... The amount spent for the retired defense personnel will be glorified by our God in Heaven. Hence, I request our Honourable Prime Minister to award the OROP in full to all the retired defense personnel.
Ex servicemen to return medals to the President