IESM: March for Justice Jantar Mantar 22 Aug 2010

DEPOSITING OF MEDALS AND SUBMISSION OF MEMORANDUM SIGNED IN BLOOD BY THE ESM TO THE SUPREME COMMANDER ON 22 AUG 2010 FROM 11 AM TO 3 PM AT JANTAR MANTAR NEW DELHI
Dear Friends,
1. The gross injustice, apathy negative attitude and indifference of the Govt and the bureaucracy have crossed all levels of tolerance and acceptance. There are two options, one, to accept the status quo, live the life as it unfolds and melt away. The second option is to get up and fight for Justice. As a soldier, the have learnt to follow the second option.
2. I wish to quote a few instances of Govt apathy and injustices:-

All Party parliamentary Committee is supposed to be one of the most powerful committee. This committee headed by a congress MP Shri Satpal Ji Maharaj while tabling its report in the Parliament on 07 May 2010 had recommended the grant of OROP to the Defence Personnel. Three months have passed, the Govt has not taken the decision on this recommendation. Why the Govt has kept this committee report under the carpet is not understood? This was the chance before the Govt to undo the damage already inflicted on Defence Forces.

The Govt has not implemented any of the judgements recently passed favouring the Defence Personnel:
i. SC judgement in Rank Pay case. Instead of accepting its fault and implementing the judgement, it has appealed to the SC to recall its orders.
ii. In the case of pre 96 Maj Gens (Maj Gen Vains Vs Union of India), the Govt continues to ignore the implementation of judgement fully. Instead of giving the same pensions to similarly placed pre 96 Maj Gen as per Para 31 of the SC judgement, it has fixed arbitrarily the pension of pre 96 Maj Gen by increasing it by Rs 500 pm ie Rs 10000/-instead of Rs 11450 being given to similarly placed post 96 Maj Gens.
iii. In the case of Pre 2006 Maj Gen, the Govt has not implemented the judgement of AFT Chandigarh dated 03 Mar 2010 where in the Govt was to implement the judgement within 3 months. The execution proceedings have been filed by the Maj Gens and the hearing is on the 10 Aug 2010.
iv. In the case of Babu Ram Dhiman and Sohan Singh Vs Union of India, AFT Chandigarh judgement on OROP dated 08 Mar 2010 which was to be implemented within 4 months, has not been implemented.

The widows of JCOs and Jawans who need the maximum assistance, care and compassion have been left out from the recent enhancement in pension of JCOs and Jawans. Here, also instead of giving the enhancement with effect from 01 Jan 2006, it has been sanctioned with effect from 01 Jul 2009.

The 6th Pay Commission had granted three Assured Career Progressions (ACP). Strangely the ACP has not been applied notionally while fixing the pensions of Pre 01 Jan 2006 retirees. Even for Post 01 Jan 2006 retiree defence personnel, only two ACPs have been granted. Why the third has not been granted to a Sepoy who has been compulsorily retired from service after 17 years of service?

There is a large gap of Rs 11600 in pension of pre 2006 retiree Maj and Lt Col while the gap in their pay in the 5th Pay Commission was only Rs 1000/-. Similarly the pension gap between pre 2006 retiree Maj Gen and Lt Gen is Rs 9800/- while the difference in their pay prior to 2006 was only Rs 1200. Why this grave injustice?

The President has not granted the audience to the delegation of IESM depositing medals with the President.
3. The Govt indifferent attitude has irked the veterans severely who have decided to intensify the stir. The next event for deposit of medals and submission of Blood Signed Memorandum to the Supreme Commander will be held on 22 Aug 2010 at Jantar Mantar New Delhi from 11 AM to 2 PM. IESM delegation will leave for Rashtrapati Bhawan at 2.15 PM to deposit the medals and memorandum at 3 PM to the President. Chairman IESM Gen Raj Kadyan has written to the President:
Quote
“It is earnestly hoped that the Supreme Commander would relent and receive the delegation in person. However, should that unfortunately not happen, as already intimated vide ibid letter dated 08 June 2010, the delegation would return without depositing the medals and the memorandum”
Unquote
4. All conveners are requested to put in their best effort to motivate the ESM across the country to deposit their medals and sign/ thumb impression the memorandum in Blood voluntarily for the above event. We hope that in the country specially the Northern States where large number of ESM reside are able to reach the target of 5000 Blood Signatures and medals each district. These can either be sent to IESM HQ at 543 Sector 23 Gurgaon or brought to Jantar Mantar on 22 Aug 2010 by 11 AM. Conveners are requested to get maximum ESM at Jantar Mantar. Part payment of transport charges will be made from the IESM funds, Tea, water and lunch packets are being arranged for the ESM attending the event.
5. Logistic Instructions for the event will be issued by the General Secretary separately.
6. We are also, putting efforts to get support from all segments of society including all political parties, MPs, MLAs, CMs.
7. Please circulate these contents to maximum ESM across the country.
“To struggle for the Just Cause is the right of every person. Let us together join in the efforts to get Justice to the Defence Forces”.
With Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement

ON 08 AUG 2010- TV PROGRAMME ON ISSUES OF EX- SERVICEMEN
Dear Friends,
A Door Darshan Programme on issues of Ex Servicemen Titled. “Defence Watch” will be telecast at 10.30PM Today i.e. 08 Aug 10 at “DD News”. The programme will be repeated at 3.30 PM as Wednesday 11Aug 10.
This programme has Gen Ashok Mehta as the anchor with Air Marshal Roy (ECHS expert), Brig Gulia (President IESL) and self as participants.
You are requested to watch the programme. Pass on the info to as many ESM as possible.
With Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement

Jawans at borders get stale food: CAG Report

Wed, Aug 4 04:49 AM
The Indian Army soldiers posted at some of the most difficult locations in the world along the China and Pakistan border are getting food that is unfit for human consumption and at times is more than two years beyond the expiry date, a latest government report on supply of rations in the armed forces has revealed.

The audit report says the Army has violated its own norms and has been supplying troops with food items, including rice, sugar and wheat, which are way past their expiry date. Most of the cases, the report reveals, pertain to the Northern Command, the largest Army formation in the country that has troops along the Pakistan and China border as well as the Siachen glacier.

"It was found that atta, sugar, rice, tea, dal, edible oil and raisins were consumed six to 28 months after the expiry of their normal storage life," the report says, adding that the food items were given illegal life extensions by a Jammu-based lab that were against the standing rules of the Army.

While soldiers have been complaining about the bad quality of food served at forward locations, this is the first official report of a large-scale violation of norms across the Northern Command.

The report also suggests a large-scale rigging of prices by revealing that 36 per cent of cases of procurement of fresh rations were based only on single quotations, taking away any scope of competitiveness. Not only that, raising suspicions of corruption, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report has found that rations worth almost Rs 2 crore, meant for soldiers in high altitude areas, remain untraceable in the Northern Command. A majority of these rations, the report says, were issued during 2005-06, during which former Army Chief General Deepak Kapoor was heading the Northern Command.

The report also quotes an internal Army study that reveals only one per cent of soldiers in units across the country find the quality of rations they receive as excellent. A majority of the jawans have graded their rations as satisfactory or below.

While the armed forces have been trying to improve rations, the damning report has come as a shocker. The ministry is currently working on a long term plan to improve the quality of food as well as storage locations and is likely to come up with a new set of regulations soon.
Jawans at borders get stale food: CAG Report

ECHS: Reducing travails of Veterans seeking health care

It is indeed sad that the ESM have to go through a lot of hardship while trying to get treatment at the empanelled hospitals. The reason is very simple. Instead of accrediting all the well known and established hospitals we have created a monopoly set up of a few. Since these hospitals have to MANAGE to get on the panel they act like they have been allotted a gas agency or a petrol pump and must get their pound of flesh. You have no other options but to go to them.

If all the good hospitals/ specialists were allowed to treat the ESM as per the rates fixed for empanelled hospitals, then all of them will not only woo them but would like to get them to add to their capacity utilisation they will also do their bit to show their gratitude to the veterans .The ESM will then be more than welcome as respected clients instead of being called ECHS PATIENTS awaiting documentation.

This will be more than welcomed by the big corporate owners of the hospital chains running world class hospitals across the country who want to do some service to the Nation and the veterans and utilise the super class equipment installed by them.

We have to ensure that we simplify the health care availability to all the veterans in cities big and small with due respect and comfort.
Major Mehandru