To vote for those who care for them
Anjali Singh Deswal
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, March 1
The issue of 'one rank, one pension' has been brought to the notice of the government every now and then. To highlight the isue again, a meeting of ex-servicemen organisations was organised at the Teachers' Home today. Many senior leaders of the All-India Ex-servicemen League, All-India Ex-servicemen Movement, Ex-services League, Punjab, and Ex-services War Veterans Movement, attended the meeting.
The ex-servicemen said two persons, who render same service, both in terms of quantum and qualit, should get the same pension irrespective of their date of retirement. The Sixth Pay Commission (SPC) has not bothered much for those who retired early, they said, pointing out that a sepoy who retired on December 31, 1996, would get 82 per cent less pension than a sepoy who retired after January 1, 2006. According to ex-servicemen, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, at a rally of ex-servicemen in Chandigarh in November 2002, had said that when the Congress comes to power, one rank, one pension would be granted. Unfortunately, the government said it was not possible due to financial and administrative crisis.
This decision had forced ex-servicemen to go on a relay hunger strike from December 16, 2008 and they held a huge protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on February 8. Around 300 of them returned their medals to the President of India, another lot of medals was returned on February 21 and the next lot would be returned on March 14. "Most ESMs get exploited for a meagre sum in security jobs," Lt Col S.S. Sohi said.
The ex-servicemen also added that the civilian employees get one rank, one pension. Politicians also increase their pay. The ex-servicemen also declared that they have formed themselves into a vote bank and would vote only for those who look after their interests.
Those who spoke at the meeting were Capt B.S. Bhatti, Sub Balbir Singh Sidhu, Hav Maj S. Brar, Hav Bhola Singh Maur, Sub Nand Singh, Sub Babu Singh, Capt J. Singh, Brig Harwant Singh, Col Sohi, Col Bhinder, Lt Col Daya Singh, Maj Dhillon and CPL Jaswant Kumar.
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