Army Mela in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram to host Army Mela after a gap of 4 years
TNN | Oct 28, 2012, 04.45AM IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: This year's Army Mela, scheduled to be held from November 6 to 8, is expected to see greater cooperation from the state government. The Army has sought infrastructure support and tax waivers from the state government for the smooth conduct of the event.
Mela, an event organized by the Army with an aim to educate, entertain and motivate youngsters to join military service, will be held at the Central Stadium, said a top Army official. The event is coming to the city after four years. "The Army Mela is a regular fixture in the event calendar of a few states and we are hoping to do the same in Kerala," he said.
The Pangode Army station command has sought the state government's assistance for conducting the event. "While the bulk of funding for the event is borne by the Army itself, we have requested that the state government pool in its resources to make it an unforgettable event," said the official. The Army is learnt to have asked the state government for an exemption on hiring charges of the Central Stadium and assistance for erecting stalls to display weapons, and also light and sound and seating arrangements for the promotional events.
"We had also requested that state government bear any expenditure on registration and insurance charges/taxes of mobility scooters being issued by Army to disabled ex-servicemen," said the official. If everything goes by the plan, the Army also plans to distribute a few scooters to disabled ex-servicemen during the event, he said.
The Army has identified Veer Naris from Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, and is likely to invite around 100 women on the occasion. Veer Naris are widows and mothers of Army soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the nation. Army Wives Welfare Association will closely coordinate this event. The Army Mela will have an exhibition of arms and ammunition and also dare devil display by trained army men.
Thiruvananthapuram to host Army Mela after a gap of 4 years

Gallant Ex-Servicemen and Veer Naris Felicitated

'Know Your Army' draws crowd
TNN | Oct 22, 2012, 12.09PM IST
ALLAHABAD: Know Your Army, the fair to make civil population more acquainted with the Indian Army was inaugurated at the Polo Ground of the city on Saturday. The mela was inaugurated by chief justice (designate) Shiva Kirti Sinha of Allahabad High Court in presence of Major General GS Chandel, Yudh Seva Medal and General Officer Commanding of Red Eagle Division.
Know Your Army Mela, showcased the rich heritage, customs, traditions and professionalism of the Indian Army. An array of latest weaponry, guns, tanks, radars and sophisticated communication equipment were put on display for the common public. Valuable information stalls regarding various schemes initiated by the Army with respect to career opportunities and welfare of ex-servicemen were put up by the event organisers.
Detailing on the fair, the Public Relation Officer of defence, Group Captain Amit Mahajan said that the thrilling air show by helicopters, stunning equestrian and Malkhamb show, melodious band display, daring para gliding & joyous tank rides drew the crowds by the hundreds. The weapon, tanks, guns and equipment display saw the inquisitive masses trying to get a glimpse and feel about the difficult tasks that the men in uniform perform. The recruitment stall received inquires for the young who wish to join the defence services including Territorial Army.
The felicitations of gallantry Ex-Servicemen and Veer Naris made one and all nostalgic about their army tenure and daring also interacted with the ECHS staff for their medical benefits and the CDA (Pensions) for redressal of pension related issues.
The PRO further informed that the event has become the talk of the town and the number of visitors at the equipment display is likely to multiply on the concluding day on October 21, 2012.
'Know Your Army' draws crowd
State of Bihar ESM
Col Singh said the condition of ex-servicemen in Bihar is pathetic even after 50 years of Sino-India war. "Welfare work for these brave-hearts is still being denied by the Bihar government.
Plea to hand over Sainik Rest House in Danapur to Army

War Wounded Foundation Meet at OTA Chennai

Ex-Army Chief appeals for people’s contributions to War Wounded Foundation
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT CHENNAI, October 21, 2012
Former Chief of the Army Staff Gen (Retd.) S. Padmanabhan on Saturday appealed to the people to generously contribute to the War Wounded Foundation.
Speaking at a war disabled personnel meet in the Officers Training Academy here, he said the objective of the War Wounded Foundation was long-term rehabilitation of its members.
“Apart from corporate houses, individuals should also come forward to contribute to this noble cause. The foundation aims at rehabilitating the war-wounded personnel by enhancing their skills in different areas,” he said.
War Wounded Foundation president Lt. Gen (Retd.) Vijay Oberoi said the foundation was registered as a charitable NGO in 2002. There were about 10,000 war disabled personnel in the country and their financial condition was not satisfactory.
“The disability pension is not sufficient to live the life they want to … we want to enhance their skills in terms of spoken English, communication and computer applications so that they can become self-reliant and productive citizens.
Since there is no support from government agencies, funds remained a constraint for the foundation’s plans,” he said.
Mr. Oberoi said donations to the foundation were exempted from income tax. All disabled personnel of the armed forces would automatically become members of the foundation.
“This meet in Chennai marks the beginning of our activities in the southern States where there are about 500 war disabled personnel,” he added.
“Foundation aims at rehabilitating the war-wounded personnel by enhancing skills”
Ex-Army Chief appeals for people’s contributions to War Wounded Foundation

1965 War Wounded: A Day to Remember

1965: A love and war story which overcame handicaps
Arun Janardhanan, TNN | Oct 21, 2012, 03.03AM IST
CHENNAI: On a pleasant Saturday morning, Kamalam (70) held what remains of her husband K E Sherif's hand to guide him around the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. The couple joked and smiled, not showing a trace of the devastation the India-Pakistan war has had on their lives since 1965.

Sherif, then a 28-year-old jawan in love with Kamalam, lost both his arms below the elbow and both his eyes in a landmine blast while his battalion was crawling towards enemy posts near Sialkot. Incapacitated, Sherif decided not to marry, but Kamalam insisted that she would have a life only with him. On Saturday, Sherif, a father of three, was among the Army veterans brought together by the War Wounded Foundation in the city on Saturday.
"His was a miraculous escape, and I was fortunate to get him back alive," said Kamalam, "We were in love for two years. And then the war happened. Every one was against our marriage since I was a Hindu Malayalee girl and he a Tamil Muslim. But I would not leave his bedside as he was undergoing treatment." The two first met when Sherif, a friend of Kamalam's soldier brother, visited their house in Bangalore.
Despite Sherif's injury Kamalam insisted that they tie the knot.
Soon after the couple first met at the house of Kamalam's brother in Bangalore their romance bloomed. But, Sherif was called to the battlefield not too long after this. Though the 1965 war did not resolve the Kashmir conflict, Sherif proudly recalled his sacrifice for the country and appealed to the youth to join the Army.
He recalled that October night that plunged him into eternal darkness. "It was October 19. Six of us were crawling towards an enemy target in Sialkot, about 25km from Labore. Around 9pm, an air strike triggered a series of land mines near us. We were all believed to be dead. But all of us escaped, only I was severely injured," said Sherif, who lives in Coimbatore.
He was shifted to an army hospital in Jammu where doctors removed the mutilated parts of his forearms to save the rest of his body. Nothing could be done to save his eyes. As he underwent multiple surgeries for a year, Sherif knew life would never be the same again. He told Kamalam that their marriage was now not possible, but she would have none of it. Coming to know that Sherif was% recuperating in Coimbatore, she went there and convinced him to get married. They tied the knot in 1967.
Their 38-year-old son works for a soldiers' welfare board in Salem, while their two daughters are homemakers. The War Wounded Foundation brought together several such living martyrs of Independent India.Colonel (retd) T N Raman, convenor of the Tamil Nadu chapter of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement said soldiers from all major combats including the Indo-Pakistan war of 1947, 1965 and the Indo-China war of 1962 gathered for the collective.
1965: A love and war story which overcame handicaps

ESM Welfare Thiruvananthapuram

State would favourably consider issues concerning ex-servicemen and service personnel:CM
Thiruvananthapuram 05-10-2012: Inaugurating the Civil-Military Liaison Conference, CM said that the State would favourably consider issues concerning ex-servicemen and service personnel.
He added that exemption in age criterion, weightage mark, and reservation for ex-servicemen would be considered in select posts apart from strengthening the functioning of ex-servicemen’s grievance redressal cells.
The Sainik Welfare Board should take up recruitment of kin of war heroes and those incapacitated during action to civilian posts in Defence establishments including the Canteen Stores Department (CSD) said the CM.
The State would ensure land for expansion activities of Army units stationed here, including handing over of 10 acres at Muttathara or Vithura for rehabilitation of ex-servicemen.
There are no hassles in handing over 70.40 acres near the Cochin international airport at Nedumbassery for the Coast Guard Air Enclave. The Army could prepare a consolidated list of land issues it faces, to be discussed in a separate meeting led by the Chief Secretary and the Collectors concerned, the CM said.
Civil Military liaison Conference

Gen Vijay Oberoi leads the Half Marathon

Dear All,
The War Wounded Foundation had participated in the Delhi Half-Marathon on Sunday 30 September 2012. A total of three officers, 1 JCO and 12 jawans, all disabled, ran in the Great Delhi Run, as a group and completed the full race. The distance was approximately seven km. The group of war disabled personnel was lead by me.
The NDTV had covered it. Clips were shown briefly a number of times in the news segments on 01 October 12.
The Chief Minister of Delhi had met our group before the commencement of the race.
A few photographs taken during the race are as above for your viewing.
Regards.
Gen Vijay Oberoi (Retd)
Comments: The RMS team and Readers congratulate Gen Vijay Oberoi and all the War Wounded Veterans who participated in the Half Marathon Run. Other ESM Organisations should popularise such events in all Metro Cities. These media events will enhance the prestige of the Military especially the Veterans. These positive events should replace protest rallies which are a waste of time. Let us run a Marathon for "One Rank One Pension".

Pune Ex-servicemen urge Centre to Enhance Pensions

Ex-servicemen urge Centre to address pension issues
TNN | Oct 4, 2012, 05.57AM IST
PUNE: The Pune chapter of the All India Federation of Military Veterans' Organisation on Wednesday alleged that the Union government was not serious about implementing one rank one pension scheme for all three defence wings.
The other pending issues such as help to widows and enhancement of pension were also not addressed, the organization said.
Addressing a news conference, Ravindra Pathak, coordinator of Pune chapter, said, "Issues relating to ex-servicemen, pension and related problems were being ignored by the Union government. Besides one rank one pension, enhancement of family pension, dual family pension and family pension to mentally or physically-challenged children of servicemen are not properly addressed."
Recently, the Union government had claimed that one rank one pension scheme would benefit families of ex-servicemen. Pathak claimed it was nothing but correction of anomalies that crept in as a result of wrong implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.
Enhanced family pension is only a correction of the Union government's error. In many situations, the family does not benefit from improvements in the scheme and for many it is also not possible to pursue the matter, he added.
All ex-servicemen are going to approach the Centre to pursue their demands and improvements in various policies that are currently affecting the ex-servicemen, said Pathak.
Click here for the original post

OROP: ESM Duped

Ref: Govt enhances pensions of retired soldiers, 'one-rank, one-pension' still distant by Rajat Pandit, TNN Sep 24, 2012, 11.05PM IST
Readers' opinions

Armored Fish (NAuru) 27 Sep, 2012 08:58 AM
It is not understood why the entire English print and TV media are projecting the "One Rank One Pension" having been implemented. This is pure misinformation by the corrupt media who are always hand-inglove with the power brokers of Dilli. Further, despite the world having moved far enough with the rise of Facebook, Twitter and domain expertise , IT IS NOT YET UNDERSTOOD WHY ALL MATTERS PERTAINING TO THE ARMED FORCES OF INDIA HAVE TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY BUREAUCRATS WHOOSE ONLY CLAIM TO BEING INTELLIGENT IS HAVING PASSED A BORING ENTRANCE TEST. THE BUREAUCRATS ARE TOTALLY OUT OF SYNC WITH TODAY'S WORLD AND THEIR SKULLDUGGERY AND TOM FOOLERY WILL NOT LONGER WORK!" All over the world, experts are appointed to do a piece of work, electrical engineers do their bit of work and economics like the Chief Economic Advisor to India, Mr. Raghuraman are hired by the people of India (through the their representative "The Government of India" to handle our ecenomy better. In the HR (Human Resources) world and the Indian Armed Forces theri are domain specialists who rpecisely know the issues of "One Rank One Pension" and yet they are systematically sidetracked. All these years. Compare that with our masters who get themselves employed by the People of India (through a foggy elections of course!) and grant themesleves life-time pensions with a few days of work. Compare that to that of a soldier ( who is not less than a sandhu or a faqir who dedicates his life for a the quisling fools to get a few bread crumbs at the end of his service tenure - which is a long one - compounded by the fact that he has to leave early at a relatively young age and becomes a useless commodity to a heartless society that is India. But in this Hindoostan the Indian Armed Forces have been a gift by the Britishers and to preserve this last bastion the current crop of Chandra Gupta Mauryas and Chankyas (Kautilyas ) of Dilli have to take a stock - whether to go the road the Nandas of Magadh took or something similar to the era of of the Mauryas in Patliputra many eons back. They should read Arthashashtra ( the ancient book by Chanakya and followed as the standard read for many countries around the world and India's adversaries as well) first before attempting anything else like modern day economic juggling as a means to fool the people.

Premangsu Chowdry (Abroad part of the year) 27 Sep, 2012 08:53 AM
The response from the government on the " joke " of the recent measly sop for the old pensioners from the Services needs immediate comprehensive final decision. Sixty years ago, the Nehru government arbitrarily and drastically cut down the pay and allowances of the British days of those commisioned after the Sandhurst days in the early thirties ; the option for them to get out of the Services by anyone disssatisfied with the firman (decision) were made clear to people like this commentatotor in writing in a printed letter signed by the PM .brususquely Some chucked the Services immediaately and became well-known top executives in some of the business and industrial houses or just went back to their lands or abroad. Others hopefully felt that the next elected government would not cheat them and things would be restored. The original despicable moans of the various governments of the paucity of funds had the first beginning for the Services. The latter were in no doubt about how they would be continued to be treated in future; and " kept in their places" till kingdom come. The fiercest national spirit which burned in the Servicemen for the honour and safety of the Country and its people ,and kept them going inspite of the doubts cast on them from the examples across the Country's borders of the Military taking over the Country. Six long decades have proved to a series of governments of different hues how abysmally wrong they had been in their misplaced judgement of the only loyal element in the Country. A 92 year old retired general officer who served in many parts of the world in sensitive assignments, may leave a message in the late evening of his life for India's future rulers,. Do not continue to cheat the Services in their dues by manipulations within the politico-bureaucracy, and crying paucity of funds in the face of scams of their predecessors and worth amounts of money enough to run the Country for years. The great virtue of patience has its limits. Only the blind and those bereft of wisdom fail to understand that.

Amar Prasad (Pune) 26 Sep, 2012 12:33 PM
There is no doubt that all the politicians of all hues are rascals and particularly congressmen. They form an unanimity whenever they want to increase their own salary, perks and pelf but soldier who sacrifice prime of their life for the sake of the nation has to beg for his rightful every now and then. WHY? because by giving them their dues these rascals can not have their cut from the allocation as they get in other relief works like flood and drought. Even SPHINX, who becomes furious when names are called can not explain her aloofness from this issue which is related to not only dignity of soldiers but their home and hearth too. She is doing everything to foist YUVRAJ as the PM of country at public expenses. How else she will explain her communal publicity through media. Who has stopped them to uplift the social and health standard of people who need them the most. The answer is simple our own JAICHANDS (The congressmen). Had soldiering been so inconsequential not many youth of the country would have joined Armed Forces to protect the nation. Getting protection and full belly at public expenses is not he birth right of politicians and soldiers are left in lurch. This government of SPHINX has ample money to spend for NREGA and ill conceived Food Security Bill and such many more stupid schemes which does not benefit the intended lot but politicians and their henchmen. Either this government should meet the genuine demands of veterans or should deny them with conclusive reasoning. If expenses are same for the person whether he retires now or fifteen years back then why there should be any disparity in pension. Have the people, who retired early have committed any sin and new retirees are some thing special species. In fact, this is not at all the case of new versus old, but equality which our venerable constitution guarantees to us. Then this is totally incomprehensible solution (Govt version of OROP) and reprehensible the decision of this bold again MMS. MMS is 80 and he himself gets hefty pension from world agencies and understands its need, but he is not bold enough to accede the rightful OROP. STILL HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU PMji!!

Ramesh Kumar (Panchkula (Haryana)) 25 Sep, 2012 09:58 PM
Ex-Servicemen are Men who have devoted their prime part of life for serving the country without looking after their families specially Other Ranks because they don't have sufficient family accommodations even at peace stations, and they also not allowed outliving due to nature of duties. While there are field postings where family accommodation is not available or families not allowed and they also don't have enough salary for shifting them at cities. Interesting thing is that proposal for Other Ranks Salaries given in 1996 so low that government wanted to give more benefits to other ranks (Honorable Defense Minister Sh. Mulayam Singh Yadav disclosed it at Interview with BBC). Other Ranks remain under so much stress because they know what is future of their families. When they retire at 30-40 years of age they are counted as unskilled person and their prime part of life also had gone. Now they have study of their children, Shelter and Marriages (Main Expenses of their life). After considering all above why these soldiers who have wasted prime time of their lives and counted as unskilled and used as a watchmen by the security agencies at very low salaries and 12 * 7 days duty. Why any one of our officers who took our duties and led us during the period which worst our families has not proposed for confirmed job at Home Ministry at the same district or State. Why ? Soldiers who retire during early age (30-40 yrs) should be enrolled direct into the armed police/ other such type of duties where they can earn their livelihood till the completion of 58 or 60 years of age so that they can cast their social responsibility at the later end. Their families, who always felt social insecurity due to residing far from their Husbands and Fathers. They can feel economically at the level of others. But unfortunately, decision making and proposal placing authorities are given to officers only, they never raised these points. Can you tell me why ? Why we have to go to security agencies and have to do as a watchman with less than minimum salaries at 7 * 12 hours duty why no one thinking who are beneficiaries of these innocent ex-servicemen (ORs). Govt enhances pensions of retired soldiers, 'one-rank, one-pension' still distant.

War Disabled Marathon Run

Vijay Oberoi
WAR DISABLED PERSONNEL WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE DELHI HALF-MARATHON ON SUNDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 2012
Twenty war disabled personnel of the War Wounded Foundation would be participating in the Half Marathon being organised at New Delhi on Sunday 30 September 2012. The War Wounded Foundation is a registered charitable organisation, set up in 2002, with the intention of creating long - term avenues for the financial independence of all war disabled personnel of the army, navy and air force.
Participation in the Half-Marathon is not for winning medals, but to display the resolve of the war disabled personnel to be part of the mainstream of our society and to emphasise that the fervour of the soldiers does not get diminished because of their disabilities. The war-disabled veterans want to project the reality that their disabilities do not come in the way of continuing to be useful members of the society and creating an honourable niche for themselves.
The war disabled personnel hope that their example would be emulated by the citizens of our great nation, particularly the youth, who need to be motivated to assist in the growth and well-being of the nation.
The team of the Foundation would be lead by its President - Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, former Vice Chief of Army Staff and would comprise two other officers, two JCO’S and 15 Other Ranks, all of whom are associated with the War Wounded Foundation.
War disabled personnel of the War Wounded Foundation have participated in the Mumbai Marathon twice in the past. Photographs are given below.
Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, PVSM, AVSM, VSM , President; Maj Gen Ian Cardozo, AVSM, SM,Vice President; Lt Col Gulshan Kumar, Executive Officer; and seven war disabled members of the War Wounded Foundation, ran in the Mumbai Marathon on 16 January 2011, despite their disabilities.
Maj Gen Ian Cardozo, AVSM, SM, Vice President; Brig Veer Pratap Executive Director; Lt Col. Gulshan Kumar, Executive Officer; and seven war disabled members of the War Wounded Foundation, ran in the Mumbai Marathon on 15 January 2012.

OROP hype Sepoys pension hiked by Rs 550 (peanuts or gratis?)

Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Army Pension Hike: Jawans to get Rs 550-800, Officers 570-3750
Against the backdrop of criticism by retired military personnel, Defence Ministry today said the recent pension package of Rs 2,300 crore for the ex-servicemen was a step towards achieving the goal of one rank-one pension (OROP) in future. The exact calculation of the amount of money by which the retired personnel would benefit is expected to be done within next two days, they said.
The sources said after the recent announcements, the pension of jawans will increase by Rs 550 to 800 whereas the pension of officers would register a hike between Rs 570 to Rs 3750.
The hike in pension of personnel below office rank (PBOR) will be between 9.7 to 13 per cent whereas for officers it would be between 10 to 28 per cent.
Ex-servicemen had expressed their unhappiness with the pension hike announced by the government on Monday, saying it amounted to "wrong and deceitful" treatment of their long- pending 'one rank-one pension' demand and vowed to continue struggle for their rights.
The sources said this was the third time that the government has hiked the pension of the retired defence forces since the award of Sixth Central Pay Commission in 2008. They said a total of 13 lakh jawans would benefit from the government's announcements at a cost of Rs 1,400 crore per annum. The government announced the decision to address the pensionary issues of ex-servicemen on Monday.
"The gap in pension of pre-and post-January 2006 retiree jawans will be bridged by determining the pension of pre- January 2006 pensioners on basis of notional maximum for ranks and groups across three Services as in case of post-January 2006 retirees," it had said.
(With inputs from Business Standard)
Army Pension Hike : Jawans to get Rs 550-800, Officers 570-3750

War disabled event at OTA Chennai on 20 Oct 2012

From: Vijay Oberoi
WAR DISABLED EVENT AT CHENNAI
As you may be aware, I head the War Wounded Foundation, an NGO that is working for the long term rehabilitation of war disabled personnel of the three services. We are now about 10 years old. Till now, our work covered only the northern states. In our first expansion, we have decided to expand our activities by covering the four southern states viz. Andhra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, in addition to our continuing efforts in the north.
With the above in view, our Foundation is scheduling an event at Chennai, as the ‘curtain raiser’ for our entry in to Southern India. The event has a number of aims, like giving visibility to the Foundation and the war disabled personnel; to honour the war disabled personnel of the four southern states; to apprise the war disabled about our future plans; and raise funds if possible. The event is scheduled on 20 October 2012 and the COAS has kindly consented to be the Chief Guest. The event would include collecting a cross-section of war disabled personnel from the four southern states and honouring them. There would also be a Karate Display by a local organization as part of the event. We would also note down any legitimate grievances of the war disabled and project them to the concerned authorities.
The venue for the event is the Auditorium of OTA at Chennai. The function will commence at 1130 hours on Saturday 20 October 2012 and will end at about 1315 hours. This includes a tea break of 30 minutes in which the war disabled and others will get a chance to interact with the COAS over a cup of tea. Attendance would be by invitation.
Our Foundation has already sent letters to the war disabled personnel residing in the four southern states, asking them to get in touch with us, to enable us to select personnel from all the four states to attend the event. However, our address lists may not be comprehensive or updated. We do need to mobilize sufficient war disabled personnel from the southern states for attending the event at Chennai on 20 Oct 12. The need is to get in touch with them and motivate them to come to Chennai on 19 Oct, attend the event on the forenoon of 20 Oct 2012 and return home the same evening or the next day. All war disabled personnel get concessions/no payment on buses and trains. The balance cost of fares, if any would be paid by us. We would also make arrangements for their stay at Chennai in a local unit.
I am now requesting Brig Chander Kamboj to put this on his very well read blog - REPORT MY SIGNAL, so that the message goes to everyone. I would like to request you to spread the word so that maximum war disabled personnel come to know about the event. They could be informed about the function and requested to get in touch with our office at Delhi and not only let us know whether they would be able to attend, but also to be in touch with our Foundation so that they can benefit by joining our future programmes. Details of our office are as under:

Address – War Wounded Foundation; Flat No. 313, Ground Floor (LIG); Pocket 1, Sector-23; Dwarka, New Delhi-110077.

Executive Officer – Lt Col Gulshan Kumar; Mobile – 9810989524. 011 45604116.

E-mail – warwounded(at)rediffmail(dot)com.
I would also request various veteran groups to circulate this amongst their groups, so that maximum personnel come to know about our Foundation as well as the proposed event.
Regards.
Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi
President
War Wounded Foundation

Indian Army launches campaign for ex-servicemen

Indian Army launches campaign for ex-servicemen
Lucknow: The Indian Army on Tuesday launched a campaign aimed at deepening its respect for aged and retired soldiers.

The army's Central Command launched the "Year of the Veteran" campaign in the presence of several ex-army men and serving officers.
They were drawn from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, an army official said. Lt Gen Anil Chait opened the event.
With over 300,000 ex-servicemen, the officer said two pilot projects had been taken up.
So far 911 complaints regarding issues like housing and pension have been registered with the army.
In the first phase, an officer said that army teams had fanned out in villages to obtain data about the problems faced by ex-servicemen.
Indian Army launches campaign for ex-servicemen

Cabinet Committee to Fix Pay and Pension of Military Personnel

Govt constitutes Committee to look into pay and pension related issues of defence services personnel and ex-servicemen
by ADMIN on JULY 13, 2012
The Government has decided to constitute a Committee, under the chairpersonship of Cabinet Secretary, to look into pay and pension related issues of relevance to defence services personnel and ex-servicemen. The other members of the Committee will be:
(i) Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister
(ii) Defence Secretary
(iii) Secretary, D/o Expenditure
(iv) Secretary, D/o Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare
(v) Secretary, D/o Personnel and Training
The Committee’s ‘terms of reference’ will be to look into the following issues relating to:
(i) Defence services personnel:
• Common pay-scale for in-service JCOs/ORs
• Initial pay-fixation of Lt. Col/Colonel and Brigadier/equivalent • Review and enhancement of grade pay
• Placing of all Lts General in HAG+ scale
• Grant of non-functional upgradation (NFU) to armed forces personnel
(ii) Ex-servicemen:
• One-rank one-pension
• Enhancement of family pension
• Dual family pension
• Family pension to mentally/physically challenged children of armed forces personnel on marriage
The Department of Expenditure will service the Committee. The Committee may co-opt any other member. The Committee will finalize its recommendations and submit its report to the Prime Minister by 8th August, 2012. PIB
Govt constitutes Committee to look into pay and pension related issues of defence services personnel and ex-servicemen
Related post in 2009
2009 Cabinet Secretary's Committee mutilates OROP out of shape- Screw Up click here
Comment: The Arithmetic and Cooperation of Committee Members
When you're adding up committees there's a useful rule of thumb: that talents make a difference, and follies make a sum. More committees the more merry making to milk the Military. The Cabinet Committee and the Anomaly Committee are same in scope- a smoke screen!

Does the Indian Army have a monitoring system for the war wounded and disabled?

Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
08-December, 2011 18:17 IST
Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)
Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), undertakes standardization, regulation and monitoring of the training of professionals in the field of rehabilitation and special education, promotes research, maintains register of rehabilitation professionals, prescribes code of conduct and ethics for these professionals etc.
RCI has developed training courses, organize Seminar/Workshop/Conference to update the knowledge of professionals dealing with the persons with disabilities. RCI has also recognized different courses through distance mode. The details of budget provided and the actual expenditure made is as under:
(Rs. in lakh)- Year/ Budget Provided (Grant)/ Actual Expenditure
2006-07- 317.19/ 334.07
2007-08- 332.30/ 270.40
2008-09- 417.00/ 352.20
2009-10- 410.00/ 445.82
2010-11- 404.00/ 512.85
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri D. Napoleon in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. (Release ID :78335)
Rehabilitation Council of India

Lt Gen A K Choudhary lauds NGO working for ex servicemen

Lt Gen A K Choudhary lauded NGO working for ex servicemen
Report by Arvind Sharma; Dharamsala:
Counting with its policy of “Army Cares for its veterans”, GOC of the Rising Star Corps Lt Gen A K Choudhary, AVSM,SM,VSM, in a simple ceremony at Yol Cantt near here, presented a large No of gifts to a NGO “Himachal Pradesh Poorav Sainik Sahayta Sangathan”. These gifts were given to enhance functional efficiency on the NGO, were received by NGO Chairman Col (Retd) S C Sharma.
Addressing the large gathering Lt Gen Choudhary said “ Sangathan is doing yeoman’s services by helping fellow soldiers which is exemplary emulation for worthy and noble cause. I would like more people to come forward to help the ex servicemen by ex-servicemen contributory health scheme polyclinics and also establishing ex servicemen helplines at all station headquarters to assist them.
“Himachal Pradesh Poorav Sainik Sahayta Sangathan “ was established in 2001 at Sidhwari in Dharamsala. Since then the sangathan has taken a lot of steps and initiatives at the grass root level to address the problems of Ex servicemen and their families if the remote areas of Himachal Pradesh. NGO is helping in so many problems from pension of ex servicemen to preparing youth for army recruitments. It also helps war widows to rebuild their future.
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Ex-Servicemen's rally held at Imphal

Ex-Servicemen's rally for veterans of NE states held
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 15 2011: An Ex-Servicemen (Veterans) Rally and Seminar was organised at Likabali Military Station, Dhemaji, Assam on October 14 on behalf of the Spear Corp as the Year for Disabled Soldiers 2011. The seminar was organised with an aim to create awareness in the environment regarding the benefits being made available to the disabled soldiers, psychological rehabilitation of the disabled soldiers, the veterans and their families, stated a press release of PIB (Defence Wing).
Singing the National Anthem and observance of two minutes silence in remembrance of the valiant martyrs who had sacrificed their lives in the service of the nation marked the inauguration of the occasion.
The Station Commander, Likabali Military Station, addressing to veterans, disabled veterans (at about 2,500), war widows (Veer Naaris) and widows of veterans, senior officers from army and civil dignitaries, said that the soldiers who risked their lives and limbs in the highest call of duty are the real heroes.
Various stalls were set up at the venue of the Ex-Servicemen Rally by the Zila Sainik Welfare Board, to provide information for the disabled soldiers including pension benefits, re-settlement issues, vocational training, rehabilitation, employment and health/Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).
A medical camp was also organised by the army wherein the services of various medical specialists were made available to the veterans and their families.
The army authorities had made elaborate and extensive arrangements for the event. A sumptuous lunch followed the grand event.
Retired Colonel PK Deori, on behalf of the veterans, thanked to the Chief of Army Staff, for initiating such a thoughtful and noble gesture towards the betterment of the disabled and other veterans.

Ex-Servicemen's rally for veterans of NE states held

Armed Forces Tribunal to be armed with contempt powers

15 September 2011 Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 15
The Armed Forces Tribunal will get more teeth as it is expected to be armed with powers of contempt. This would give the Tribunal the much-needed authority to get its judgments and orders implemented by the executing agencies.

At present, the tribunal does not have the powers of civil contempt, under which it can initiate action like the High Court against erring parties if its directives are not implemented. This was perceived as a serious handicap in its functioning. Tribunal’s chairman Justice AK Mathur had, during a visit to Chandigarh some time ago, termed the tribunal as a “toothless” body as a large number of its orders were not being implemented by the defence establishments. Similar views were also expressed recently by Justice Ghanshyam Prashad, a senior judicial member of the Chandigarh Bench.

Sources revealed that the proposal to empower the tribunal with contempt powers has already been approved by the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Ministry of Law has given its opinion and recommendations on it. The file is now reportedly back with the Ministry of Defence and would be sent to the Cabinet after being cleared by the Defence Minister.

While the Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007 conferred powers of criminal contempt, where action can be initiated against anyone for misconduct, obstructing the functioning of the tribunal or showing disrespect to the bench, the provisions relating to civil contempt are ambiguous.

Earlier this year, a judgment of the Kerala High Court, while interpreting the provisions of the Act, brought out that the tribunal has full powers to initiate contempt proceedings if its orders are not implemented. Sources said there is also a proposal to increase the upper age limit for the tribunal’s judicial members.

The tribunal’s bench comprises a judicial member, who should have been a judge of the High Court, and an administrative member, who should have served in the rank of Major General and equivalent for at least three years.
Armed Forces Tribunal to be armed with contempt powers

Saluting the Disabled Soldier of India

Wed, 09/14/2011 By Sarita Brara
New Delhi, Sept 14, 2011 (Washington Bangla Radio / PIB India) It was year 1999. A young army officer from one of the North Eastern states lay on a bed in one of the wards of the army hospital in Delhi. His leg had been amputated after he hit a land mine during the Kargil conflict. He was one of the over 1500 personnel who had been injured in the conflict.
“How are you?” I asked the young officer.
“I feel one and half Kg lighter!” he said with a smile that lit up his whole face. Brave words indeed!. How could a man in a situation like this have the courage to make light of his grievous injury? I managed to smile back but in the heart of hearts I saluted the spirit of the young man.
Twelve years later I met Lt Col Shoban Singh Danu again. This time for a story on the year of the disabled soldier. I remember that Shoban Singh Danu’s leg had to be amputated after he stepped on mine planted by the militants in the Poonch- Rajouri sector. After his artificial limb fitment he insisted on going back to the same battalion. Why? He says he wanted to boost the morale of his men as three others in the battalion had also lost their limbs in the land mine blast.
Retired Subedar LD Sharma too lost his limb in a land mine blast. Had he not been hit by a mine land blast he would have retired two ranks higher. But he has no regrets. “I did this for my country!” he says with his head held high. “I am ready to serve my country any time I am called to do so.”
These men as they defend our borders, battle against insurgents and take part in other operations, many a time suffer spinal injuries rendering them paraplegics and tetraplegics. Major Mahesh Bisht suffered spinal injury in one of the operations but today he is looking after the administration at the Kirkee (Khadki) Paraplegic Rehab Centre and is a source of inspiration for the paraplegics living there.
Rifleman Latif was on VIP protection duty in Jammu and Kashmir where after an IED blast his vehicle met with an accident and he suffered a spinal injury. He may have been depressed initially but today he is completely transformed. Last year he won three gold medals in national paralympics in Wheel Chair Race, Discuss Throw and Javelin. Latif who belongs to Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir is now staying at the paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre at Mohali with his family.
Gunner Ajit Kumar Shukla had suffered bullet injuries. When he came to the Kirkee Paraplegic Rehab Centre he was very depressed. Today, leaving behind his pain, he too has not only won medals in the sporting events but also worked on contract basis as data operator with one of the government schools in Chandigarh.

Promises made and Broken- Valiant Heros reduced to a Zero!

Deccan Herald- OF PROMISES MADE AND BROKEN Bonanzas go bust By Gayathri Nivas Saturday 25 June 2011
The power of the executive to bestow largesse on its favourites is legion. But more often than not these ‘gifts’ never materialise.
There’s many a slip twixt the cup and the lip, goes the old English proverb and it aptly applies to our World Cup winning Indian cricketers and their coach Gary Kirsten, who missed the chance of making Bangalore their future home just like a missed catch in a game of cricket. Or should we compare the missed opportunity to the 100th international century that eluded Sachin Tendulkar in the same World Cup final match last Saturday? Either way, Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s quixotic decision to confer residential sites in Bangalore on not just Team India but also their South African coach, denied the haloed 16 this most elusive gift. Quixotic because Yeddyurappa declared the players would be housed in an exclusive layout, the location of which would be made known within a fortnight, but then changed his mind just as quickly as he had announced it soon after the Cup win. A third announcement, replacing the offer of sites with cash gifts of Rs 25 lakh each, followed as swiftly as the previous two decisions.

Perhaps the chief minister was well advised to change the land offer because getting government approved and allotted sites in Bangalore has proved as much, or more, elusive than winning the World Cup for India since 1983 — a reality that lakhs of site applicants-in-waiting would swear by in this burgeoning city whose galloping population (set to hit the one-crore mark) and worsening infrastructure have done nothing to blot its escutcheon of epithets such as the silicon valley of India, pensioners’ paradise, garden city and so on and so forth.

Bungalows for the asking
A few of Yeddyurappa’s predecessors too, like Ramakrishna Hegde, and even former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda have demonstrated the power of the executive to bestow largesse on their favourites. Hegde invited former president of India, the late Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, to settle down in Bangalore once he demitted office. Reddy subsequently retired to his home turf Illur in Andhra Pradesh.

Deve Gowda apparently believed in winning friends by distributing state favours. First, he allotted a palatial bungalow on Safdarjung Road in Delhi to former president, the late Ramaswamy Venkataraman, who decided to live in the capital after the DMK’s return to power in Tamil Nadu.

Venkataraman lived in a state-owned bungalow in Chennai while two of his houses in Delhi were rented out, much to the DMK’s chagrin.

Deve Gowda then allotted a type-V bungalow to Sanjeeva Reddy’s widow, who had expressed a desire to stay in Bangalore. The Karnataka government was instructed to allot the bungalow to Nagaratnamma Reddy. The Centre was to exchange with the Karnataka government two smaller houses in lieu of the large bungalow for Nagaratnamma Reddy.

The Deve Gowda government also decided to allot type-V bungalows to the surviving spouses of former presidents, vice-presidents and prime ministers. The widows of former presidents Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Giani Zail Singh, and former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Rajiv Gandhi became beneficiaries of government bungalows in the capital.

On the contrary, not just in Bangalore, across Karnataka, award winners, victims of natural calamities awaiting rehabilitation after losing home and hearth, and poor beneficiaries of government-sponsored housing schemes have had to wait alike to receive the “gift of kindness”.

Quite often than not the ‘gift’ never materialises. The state government’s constant refrain is that there is no land left to distribute. Scores of genuine causes and investment proposals, such as research facilities and premier educational institutions, have been shelved for want of land. An eyecare institution seeking to establish a state-of-the-art laboratory to facilitate pathbreaking research for the benefit of the visually impaired is still waiting with no land in sight.

Stars vs Heroes (Ironically reduced to a Zero!)
While hailing the World Cup win, an Army colonel, in an open letter, has urged some introspection as to how the country views its war heroes and what the government/ state offers them for sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. Here are some excerpts: “The team partied at the same Taj Hotel, which was the battle ground on 26/11 and witness to many a soldier giving up his life. Major Unnikrishnan who died while fighting the terrorists is yet to receive his complete NOK entitlements. He gave his today for the tomorrow of others so that they can party all night without any threat. The world Cup finals at Mumbai was held under safe environment with the army, navy, coast guard, NSG and what not to ensure the conduct of the match without a hitch. Remove the men in uniform and see if the events pass smoothly, be it CWG games or cricket match. The Kargil War has still its shadows on the number of officers/ jawans who laid down their lives to protect the nation and its territorial integrity. What the recipients of Param Vir Chakras/Mahavir and Vir Chakras got in comparison to the cricket boys is known to all (peanuts). What the families of the dead go through can only be experienced by them.

The railways is not prepared to honour the percentage concession given to the war heroes in stark comparison to a lifetime First AC free pass throughout the country along with an aide to the cricket stars. Let us not forget the Kabul blast in which a Brigadier was also blown up with a bureaucrat. The babu got all the cake and the icing, the Brig was treated as a casualty. The PM went and paid homage to the babu and his family, the Brig got the traditional ‘Shok Shashtra’.”
Deccan Herald: OF PROMISES MADE AND BROKEN- Bonanzas go bust By Gayathri Nivas

Relief given to Ex Servicemen and War Widows

The Hindu Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 01, 2011 Staff Reporter

Rs. 34,250 disbursed as relief during grievance day meeting

Forty one petitions reviewed by Collector

30 petitions came in requesting change of name

Small relief: Collector V. Arun Roy (second left) distributing welfare assistance during the grievance day meeting for ex-servicemen at the Collectorate on Tuesday. C. Prakasam, District Revenue Officer (left), and M. Muthuram, Assistant Director, Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Krishnagiri (right), are also seen.

KRISHNAGIRI: District Collector V. Arun Roy disbursed a sum of Rs. 34,250 as assistance to ex-servicemen and war widows at a grievances day meeting held here on Tuesday.

Presiding over the meeting, Mr. Roy reviewed 41 petitions received prior to the meeting from ex-servicemen, war widows and others in the presence of district officials.

He also received 30 petitions requesting change of name in documents such as patta, pathway to the lands, allotment of house sites, pre-employment training for aspiring candidates joining in security forces, etc.

Mr. Roy gave directions to the officials concerned to take quick action on the petitions as per the rules and regulations of the government.

Aid break-up
Nine persons were given Rs. 3,000 each for cremation relief, two persons were given Rs. 3,500 as monthly dole, and four people were given Rs. 3750 as military incentive subsidy by the district administration. As many as fifteen persons got the benefit from the district administration.

C. Prakasam, District Revenue Officer, M. Muthuram, assistant director of District Ex-servicemen Welfare Board, and Ms. Anitha, Deputy Collector (training), were among those who participated in the meeting.
Assistance given to 15 ex-servicemen, war widows