Pranab give go ahead to 'one rank one pension' demand

OROP for PBORs Approved by Finance Minister
One Rank One Pension for Ex-Servicemen
Posted: Monday , Jul 06, 2009 at 1429 hrs IST, Indian Express
New Delhi: The Govt has decided to substantially improve the pension of defence pensioners below officer rank. Meeting a long-pending demand of over a crore defence veterans and 12 lakh serving jawans, the government substantially increased the pension of ex-servicemen.

The new, revised pension would be implemented beginning this month, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha while presenting the Budget for 2009-10. In essence, the government has accepted the recommendation of the high-level committee headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar that was set up in April to look into the defence pensioners' demands.

"Based on the recommendation of the committee headed by Cabinet Secretary on 'One Rank-One Pension' (OROP), the government has decided to substantially improve the pension of pre-January one, 2006 defence pensioners below officer rank and bring pre-October 10, 1997 pensioners on par with post- October 10, 1997 pensioners," Mukherjee said.

The pre-January one, 2006 pensioners were affected following the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations last October, while the pre- and post-October 10, 1997 pensioners were impacted by the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations. The Finance Minister also noted that the decision to increase the pensions for defence personnel would cost the exchequer over Rs 2,100 crore annually.

Mukherjee said the government had also decided to liberalise certain pension benefits being extended to war-wounded and other disabled pensioners. Ex-servicemen organisations have been demanding OROP for several years now, as they felt that there was a disparity in the amount to personnel holding the same rank and service record, but retiring at different point of time.

Following the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations in March last year, the veteran outfits have been holding protests and rallies across the country to forcefully urge the government to concede their demand.
Pranab give go ahead to 'one rank one pension' demand

Rare Honour to Indian Army by France on "Bastille Day’

July 1, 2009 by roop
Indian Military is one of the finest and most professional armed forces of the world. This is evident from the fact that all developed nations take pride in conducting joint exercises with our armed forces and are spell bound by the way the operations are conducted. Continuing the trend, France has invited our troops to participate in the France’s ‘Bastille Day’ parade in Paris; an honour bestowed to very few countries.
Deccan Herald reports that for the first time in the history of Indian Army, jawans of Maratha Light Infantry Regiment Centre (MLIRC) here, will have the honour of participating in France’s ‘Bastille Day’ parade in Paris.
The Maratha contingent will participate in the France National Day celebrations on July 13. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be the chief guest on the occasion and the contingent will participate in the parade in the prime minister’s presence and exhibit the Indian Army’s tradition.
On receipt of an invitation from the France government to the Indian Army, COAS, Gen Deepak Kapoor has chosen the contingent from Maratha Regiment comprising group leader Major Vivek Khanduri, three Junior Commissioned Officers and 144 jawans. The contingent has 70 per cent jawans, who are Marathas, 20 per cent Kannadigas and 10 per cent Tamilians, according to MLIRC sources.
The contingent had won the first prize twice at Republic Day parade in Delhi for the last two years, has continued its practice at Delhi. The contingent would leave for Paris on July 7 by France government’s special flight.
Rare honour to Indian Army by France

IESM: Chairman's Desk- Kargil Diwas

Date: Sunday, 5 July, 2009, 10:29 PM
Dear Colleagues,
As you are aware, 26 July is Kargil Diwas. This marks the day when the last hill top was recaptured ten years ago, during those 'razor edge days'.
If ONE thing stood out in the nearly three month relentless operation it was the sheer grit and valour of the Indian defence forces. Many braves live amongst us today, while many did not return.
IESM will commemorate the valour of Kargil 1999, on 26 July, through week-long participative activities. We aim to involve the citizenry at large and spread consciousness about not only what most saw in awe on the TV screens 10 years ago, but also matters military generally. Arousing awareness on what makes a fauji; what he is?
Towards this, the following activities are planned:

Blood donation drives across India. If ten years ago we fought the enemy on those icy heights, NOW we facilitate the fight against diseases like Thalassemia, which takes a forbidding toll of so many young lives. This is being done in collaboration with local blood banks. In NCR it is being done in collaboration with Rotary Club over several days.

Organ pledging activities will be organized alongside the blood donation, in collaboration with local hospitals.

Several corporates are being motivated to do whatever they wish to do, even without collaboration with us, but dedicate it to the event of Kargil Diwas e.g. tree plantation etc.

Lectures by veterans are being organised, with Kargil operations as backdrop, but underscoring traits like camaraderie, regimentation, loyalty etc, that distinguish a fauji.

Media interventions to publicise the day, are planned in consultation with both TV and radio channels. These will be in the form of discussions, quiz and interviews. Efforts are on to locate the gallantry award winners/ veterans of the period, and present them in person.

Homage ceremonies at war memorials across the country are planned between 1100 and 1300 hrs on 26 July. Blood donation/ organ pledging will be done at the same venue.

Veterans bara Khana/ lunch after homage at war memorials.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM