Thoughts on Future Course for Veterans

Thoughts on Future Course for Veterans
My view is that unless the veterans prepare the ground (shaping the battlefield in military parlance), no attempt be made to re-start a confrontational approach. Once the ground work has been laid, a concerted plan must be put into effect. What does preparing the ground entail? In my view it includes the following:

Unity amongst the various veteran groups. In this, the first step may well be unity of purpose, as even this seems to be lacking at present.

The overall focus should be on the long term and not trying to get issues resolved in a hurry. The veterans have woken up after decades; to hope that they will be able to resolve their problems overnight is not possible.

Convincing the people of the justness of the veteran’s case.

A more broad-based objective, covering various facets of problems of the veterans and not focusing exclusively on OROP.

The present perception that the veterans are only seeking more money needs to be changed. The way to do it is to project lowering of status and not lowering of pay/pension. The latter would automatically follow.

Close interaction with the serving community, as it is the only way to get maximum synergy. We need to disabuse the notion that the actions of the veterans will embarrass the serving community. Such notions have little basis, in my view. It is the veterans who have to make such overtures and not the other way around. The serving have the option to go along covertly or overtly or even back out, but this must not deter the veterans.

Building up the various veteran organizations by major membership drives.

Personal reaching out to the rural-based veterans and weaning them away from their present exclusive focus on the different types of elections.

Periodic interaction with the Department of Ex Servicemen Welfare and the personnel directorates of the services headquarters, as also with the Ministers.
Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi (Retd)
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Thoughts on Future Course for Veterans