National Commission for Ex Servicemen

The purpose and desirability of a National Ex-servicemen Commission is not to have an extended arm of the government to rehabilitate and placate some pleasing judges and pliable bureaucrats. The need is to serve the genuine interests of over two million veterans of the Armed Forces of the country.

Therefore there is no question of accepting in its composition anyone who has not served and experienced the unique conditions of service and hazards. We have precedence where Commissions are constituted wholly of the people of eminence from the very community or group they are supposed to serve. Here are the live examples how other similar Commissions are composed:

1. National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission:
It is headed by a sitting or retired Judge of the Supreme Court of India. National Commission is presently headed by Hon'ble Mr. Justice M.B. Shah, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India as President and having eight Members, viz. Mrs. Rajyalakshmi Rao, Mr. B.K. Taimni, Hon'ble Mr. Justice K. S. Gupta, Hon'ble Mr. Justice S.N. Kapoor, Dr. P.D. Shenoy, Mr. Anupam Dasgupta, Mr. S.K. Naik & Hon'ble Justice R.C. Jain.
2. National Commission for Scheduled Castes:
Chairman- Shri Buta Singh
Vice Chairman- Prof NM Kamble
Members (4- all from affected Castes/Class; no judge, no bureaucrat)
3. National Commission for Women:
Chairperson- Dr Girija Vyas
Members (3- all women)
Member Secretary (All Women; no judge, no bureaucrat.)
4. National Commission for Backward Castes:
Chairperson- Justice (Retd.) S Ratnavel Pandian
Member-Secretary- Shri Lakshmi Chand
Member- Dr. Subba Somu
Member-Shri Ram Awadhesh Singh
Member- Shri. Abdul Ali Azizi
(All from affected Castes; no judge, no bureaucrat.)
5. National Commission for Scheduled Tribes:
Chairperson- Smt. Urmila Singh
Vice Chairperson- Shri Maurice Kujur
Member- Shri Tsering Samphel
Member- Shri Oris Syiem Myriaw
Member-(Vacant)
(All from affected tribes; no judge, no bureaucrat)

The following composition of for ESM welfare is but one suggestion that comes to mind after surveying other Commissions:
(a) Chairman- One of the retired Chiefs of Staff (Army, Navy, or Air Force).
(b) President/ Chairman of an ESM Organisation registered and representing the ESM community at National level, eg: IESL or any other Org with widest acceptance/ representative nature.
(c) A highly decorated, war veteran Sub Maj from Infantry, Armd Corps, Arty or Engrs.
(d) A senior representative each from veterans of Navy and IAF.
(e) A war widow (preferably wife of the highest decorated martyr).
(f) AG or DGR (as Member Secretary).
Total: 7
Member Secretary's role can also be assigned to the serial (b) if AG/ DGR not available/ acceptable.
Arbitrary composition imposed by the Government not giving total representation to the ESM community must be rejected by one and all because such body will turn out to be yet another white elephant rehabilitating some babus and judges at the cost of ESM like the department of 'Welfare' that exists for itself and not for the soldiers/ ESM.
Col Karan Kharb (Retd)