ESM get Justice after decades, that too via Courts

Dear Veterans,
1. Like many cases being handled by our Ex-Servicemen Grievances Cell, Regd (NGO), Sep Charan Singh of 2 Sikh LI gets his Disability Pension (60%) after 25 Yrs, not by system's efficiency/ wisdom but through the Courts.

2. Ropar was the biggest recruiting Centre during World Wars & now full of ESM. Most ESM/ Widows are crying for proper compensation even today in Free India. They come for help to ZSBs & then to NGOs. This NGO have succeeded in helping hundreds of them but still no end to it.

3. Army HQ/ MOD have amended many rules & provisions on genuine request and much more need to be done.

4. Western Command ESM Helplines has also tried helping endless such cases, which speak volumes of Civil Administration (ZSB, RSB and KSB) failure.

5. There is a need to integrate ESM into civil Governance, MOD, Banks and CDAs/ DPDOs, so that we get some Justice & Employment/ Resettlement.
SS Col Sohi (Retd)

PM means well for the ESM: Tardy follow up action by Bureaucrats

PM Inaugurates Meeting of Kendriya Sainik Board May 19, 2007

The welfare and well being of our soldiers, ex-servicemen, widows and their dependents have always been a subject very close to my heart.

Indeed, the subject of ex-servicemen’s welfare has in fact been identified by me as a thrust area of the Government’s functioning and my Office is monitoring it regularly and very closely.

I believe that the most befitting tribute we can pay to the exemplary sacrifices that our valiant soldiers have made for the nation, is for us to look after them in the best possible manner after they retire.

I am happy about recent initiatives taken by the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare to strengthen the mechanism for prompt redressal of the grievances of Defence pensioners. These include computerization of the pension sanctioning offices and organizing regular Defence Pension Adalats in different parts of the country. In this context, I believe we need to intensify efforts to ensure that the targets set for Pension Adalats are met.

It is a matter of satisfaction that following our decision taken last year, with effect from 01.01.2006, the pensionary benefits of Personnel Below Officer Rank have improved significantly. This, I believe, has benefited about 12 lakh pensioners.

I take this opportunity to also seek your help for the families of the serving soldiers posted in far-flung locations. As the soldiers are posted far from home, it is difficult for them to attend to the needs of their families, and to deal with property related matters and other personal issues. To assist them we need a mechanism by which at the District level, the Collector, and at the State level a nominated senior officer can every quarter review the status of grievance redressals. Such grievance redressal meetings for the benefit of ex-servicemen can be organised in conjunction with the Sainik Boards in States on the lines of Pension Adalats.

State Governments could also consider introducing e-enabled services for dissemination of relevant information and guidance for the benefit of Ex-servicemen through dedicated web sites.

Last year I announced a scheme to provide scholarships for the children of ex-servicemen to pursue professional education in management studies, engineering, medicine and a variety of other disciplines. The scheme is being funded from the National Defence Fund and I believe that there is no better way to repay the debt we owe to our ex-servicemen than to provide for the education of their children. I am very happy that in the very first year of the scheme itself we have awarded scholarships to 3,915 meritorious students from the families of our ex-servicemen and paramilitary forces. This is a small recognition of the great contribution that our armed forces make to the protection of our liberties, to the strengthening of our vital borders and promotion of our vital national interests.

The Kendriya Sainik Board is an apex body which makes recommendations towards formulating policies for the welfare of ex-servicemen, war widows, disabled soldiers and their families. The various agencies of the Government, which deal with these matters, will give careful consideration to these recommendations.

I thank Hon’ble Raksha Mantriji for inviting me to this very important event and I hope that many useful suggestions and initiatives for the welfare of our soldiers and their families will emerge from this meeting. I wish you all the success in your endeavours.”
PM Inaugurates Meeting of Kendriya Sainik Board May 19, 2007

Kendriya Sainik Board: ESM Identity Cards

1. The Identity Card to the retiring Defence Services personnel is issued by concerned ZSB where the retiring Defence personnel proposes to settle down after retirement as recorded in his discharge document(s). For this purpose, all retiring Defence personnel are required to get their particulars filled in the registration form in duplicate at the Record Office at the time of their discharge. One copy of the registration form is forwarded by the Record Office to the concerned ZSB by post and the second copy by hand through the retiree himself. Thereafter, the individual is required to call on the concerned ZSB along with three copies of the stamp size photographs, discharge certificate/PPO and other relevant service documents for issue of I-Card. At the ZSB, the particulars are scrutinised and in case the individual qualifies to the status of ex-Servicemen, he will be asked to fill in an application form and I-Card will be issued to him. Formats for applying for registration by ex-Servicemen and Widows with their respective RSB/ZSBs and issue of Ex-Serviceman/Widow Identity Card are given at Appendix F.

2. Please remember, I-Card is a pre-requisite for availing the benefits of the welfare schemes instituted under the "Armed Forces Flag Day Fund" vide Government of India SRO 7E dated 13 Apr 1993.

APPENDIX 'F'(Refers Para 1 of Chapter 3) REGISTRATION FORM EX-SERVICEMEN
1 Number
2. Rank
3. Regt/Corps
4 Name
5. Father's Name
6 Educational Qualification :Civil Service
7 Decoration
8. Character
9 Address
10 Religion
11. Caste
12 Details of family (wife only dependent children upto 25 years and dependent parents)
Name
Age
Relationship
Educational Qualifications
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
13. Date of Birth
14. Date of Enrollment
15. Date of Discharge
16.Reason for Discharge
17 Amount of Pension
(a) Service Pension Rs.
(b) Disability Pension Rs.
(c) % age of Disability
18. Lump sum payment received :
(a) Gratuity Rs.
(b) Group Insurance Rs.
(c) Leave encashment Rs .
(d) Financial Assistance Rs.
19. Commuted Pension Rs.
20. Discharge Book No. and Date
21 PPO NO. and Date
22 Present occupation & monthly income
Service Rs.
Business/Industry
Agriculture Rs.
Un-employed
23. Other relevant information, if any
24. Identification Marks
26. Left Thumb Impression
DECLARATION
I hereby declare that the particulars given above are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Date :
Place :
(Signature of the Applicant)

FOR OFFICIAL USE
Status as ex-Servicemen Yes/ No
No.& Date of Identity Card Issued
Date :
Place :
(Signature of Zila Sainik Kalyan Officer/Sec.,ZSB with office stamp & date)
PROCEDURE FOR ISSUE OF IDENTITY-CARD TO RETIRING DEFENCE SERVICES PERSONNEL

Comment: One wonders how many retired Officers are in possession of the Indentity card issued by KSB. The application form itself is bureaucratic in nature. Are filling these forms relevant in the digital and networking age? As a Nation are we going forward or backward?
Photo: TOE Foundation