IESM/Medals/2011
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman
17 March 2011
Excellency,
You would be aware that we have made five trips to Rashtrapati Bhavan with a view to depositing medals directly with the Supreme Commander. Each time we have had to bring these back as Her Excellency was pre-occupied on other engagements and was not able to receive these personally. Consequently, vide our letter of even number dated 2 February 2011 (copy attached), we requested that a date and time convenient and suitable to the Supreme Commander may kindly be intimated so that we can recast our programme accordingly. Reply from Rashtrapati Bhavan to this request is still awaited. May I request that your availability/convenience be conveyed to us at an early date?
In the mean time do allow me to apprise you that the disenchantment of veterans with the government for not acceding to their basic demand of ‘one rank one pension’ as well as for not implementing several judgments taken by the Supreme Court, is further growing and spreading. Admittedly, this kind of negative sentiment taking root among the most loyal and dedicated section of the society cannot be said to be a healthy development.
With best regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman. IESM
Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Hon’ble President of India & Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi – 110 004
Copy to:
Dr Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Prime Minister
Shri AK Antony, Hon’ble Defence Minister
सुप्रीम कमांडर को पत्र
IESM/Medals/2011
लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल राज कादयान, पीवीएसएम, एवीएसएम, वीएसएम
अध्यक्ष
17 मार्च 2011
महामहिम,
तुम्हें पता होना चाहिए कि हम पदक सुप्रीम कमांडर के साथ सीधे जमा करने के उद्देश्य से राष्ट्रपति भवन से पांच यात्राएं बना दिया जाएगा. हर बार हम पड़ा है इन वापस लाने के लिए के रूप में उनकी महामहिम पूर्व अन्य कार्यों पर कब्जा कर लिया था और इन व्यक्तिगत रूप से प्राप्त करने में सक्षम नहीं था. नतीजतन, भी 2 फ़रवरी 2011 (संलग्न प्रतिलिपि) दिनांक संख्या के बारे में हमारी पत्र देखिये, हम अनुरोध किया है कि एक तारीख और सुविधाजनक और सुप्रीम कमांडर के लिए उपयुक्त समय कृपया सूचित इतना है कि हम अपने कार्यक्रम के अनुसार मरम्मत कर सकते हैं हो सकता है. राष्ट्रपति भवन से इस अनुरोध के जवाब अभी भी इंतजार है. क्या मैं आपसे अनुरोध है कि अपनी उपलब्धता / सुविधा एक प्रारंभिक तिथि पर हमें अवगत करा दिया हो?
मतलब समय में मैं आपको बतलाना करने की अनुमति है कि सरकार के साथ दिग्गजों के साथ ही कई को लागू करने के सुप्रीम कोर्ट द्वारा लिया गया निर्णय नहीं करने के लिए के रूप में उनकी 'एक रैंक एक पेंशन' की मांग के बुनियादी acceding नहीं करने के लिए, मोहभंग आगे बढ़ रहा है और करना फैल गया. बेशक, नकारात्मक भावना के इस तरह के समाज के सबसे वफादार और समर्पित अनुभाग में रूट लेने के लिए एक स्वस्थ विकास नहीं कहा जा सकता है.
के साथ सबसे अच्छा संबंध है,
सादर
लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल राज कादयान, पीवीएसएम, एवीएसएम, वीएसएम
अध्यक्ष. IESM
श्रीमती. राष्ट्रपति श्रीमती प्रतिभा देवीसिंह पाटिल, भारत और सशस्त्र बलों, राष्ट्रपति भवन, के सुप्रीम कमांडर के माननीय राष्ट्रपति नई दिल्ली - 110 004
पर प्रतिलिपि बनाएँ:
डा. मनमोहन सिंह, माननीय प्रधानमंत्री
श्री ए के एंटनी, माननीय रक्षा मंत्री
Showing posts with label Medals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medals. Show all posts
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Monday, August 23, 2010
Ex-servicemen submit memo to President on One Rank, One Pension
THE HINDU, NEW DELHI, August 22, 2010
Ex-servicemen submit memo to President on One Rank, One Pension
‘Grant of unequal pay in the same rank is a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution'
Highlighting the plight of ex-servicemen, especially wives of deceased personnel, several hundreds former soldiers and officers on Sunday collected medals and submitted a memorandum to the President seeking ‘One Rank, One Pension (OROP)'.
Under the Chairmanship of Lt. Gen. (retd.) Raj Kadyan of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM), former soldiers and over 300 women assembled at Jantar Mantar here in support of the demand.
“Some 6,000 medals have been collected to be returned to the President of India, the supreme commander of the Armed Forces, and we submitted a memorandum containing 1.25 lakh signatures in blood at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday,” IESM vice-chairman Major General (retd.) Satbir Singh told The Hindu.
Plight of women
Expressing anguish over the plight of wives of deceased jawans who have not got the benefits of an earlier raise given by the government, he asked how a woman can take care of the needs of a family with a pension of Rs.3,500.
He said the IESM Chairman had sought personal audience from the President to meet a delegation on Sunday; but since that did not happen, it was decided to hand over the memorandum at the Rashtrapati Bhavan and not the boxes of medals.
Gen. Satbir Singh said the ex-servicemen are also hurt that despite the recommendation by the Parliamentary Defence Standing Committee in May 2010, asking the government to consider afresh the OROP issue, nothing has been done.
On the other hand, he said, reports suggest the government is considering raising further the salaries and allowances of Members of Parliament in the light of recommendations of a Joint Parliamentary Committee, all in a matter of few days.
Congress MP from Punjab Pratap Singh Bajwa told The Hindu that he had raised the issue in the Lok Sabha last week stating that unequal pension exists even after the “so-called parity” in pension to Personnel Below Officers Rank.
Inequality
He said a soldier who retired before December 31, 2005, with parity in pension with effect from January 1, 2006 gets Rs.5,523 a month while a solider who retired after January 1, 2006 with same length of service gets Rs.8,700 a month.
Citing the Babu Ram Dhiman versus Union of India case, he said the Chandigarh bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal ruled that the grant of unequal pay in the same rank was a violation of Article 14 of the Constitution and that the State cannot lay down different criteria for grant of pension for same rank of officers on the basis of the cut-off date of retirement.
He urged the Defence Minister to reconsider the OROP issue and not compare them to civilian counterparts since their terms of service and risk the armed forces personnel face, in discharge of their duties with pride and honour, are different.
Ex-servicemen submit memo to President on One Rank, One Pension
Sunday, August 22, 2010
IESM: Fortune Favours the Brave
22 August 2010 06:53Subject: JANTAR MANTAR 22 AUG 10
I had planned this opening line as I answered queries from some veterans and some civil sympathizers on Saturday, as to whether the medal deposit scheduled for Sunday 22nd was STILL ON, despite the heavy downpour that the NCR had been expecting. Intuition told me it won't rain Sunday forenoon, as even God would be looking down appreciatively at the IESM event.
Sure. It did not. Cloudy. Nearly there. But not really. It was a pleasant day... some poetic sorts even sang 'kitna haseen hai mausam' as part of their speech. Rally commenced bang on at 1100, preceded by some warm up speeches by early arrivals.
Attended by 1500-1800 veterans from Punjab, Haryana, HP and Delhi, A total of 30 speakers addressed the rally in addition to the Chairman and Vice Chairman. Their angst at the insensitivity of the GOI and the President- the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces was all too visible and audible. Also the disgust,about the GOI on the one hand manipulating a three fold increase in the legislators salaries in three days of parliamentary disruptions, and on the other offering paucity of funds as an excuse against granting OROP. Yes, disgusting indeed.
Approximately 100 veterans signed up as members during the rally. Other interesting developments are- The IESL Yamuna Nagar joining IESM enmasse with 3500 members has joined IESM. The All India ESM Association JCO/OR led by Hav Pyara Singh, with 15000 members has joined IESM. Eleven Hundred Signatures in Blood were taken on site. Such signatures also came from other parts of the country, including one lac from Punjab. A total of 1.25 lac signatures in blood were thus available to take to the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
The event was covered by media. TV Today has covered the event well. Including 500 medals collected during the rally, and the medals carried forward since last rally, 6000 medals were taken to the Rashtrapati Bhavan by a delegation led by the Chairman Gen Raj Kadyan, and including the Vice Chairman Gen Satbir Singh. Disappointingly, the President once again did not grant an audience.
It is surprising that while tenets of leadership, even in corporate demand of leaders that they maintain a contact with their team/ subordinates/ people dependent on them for support, such empathy and leadership is unfortunately not displayed in the highest office in the country.
Not one to take it JUST lying down, the Vice Chairman gave out his mind to the (poor) SO Mr Jai Ram, in attendance at the President's office. I wonder how much of that the latter could convey to Madam Prez, even after sugar coating.
Due to vendor problem we had a situation that Lunch packets were not available for attendees, at reasonable cost till Saturday morning. With a crisis brewing, Mrs Satbir Singh organized the cooking and provisioning personally from home. Those of us who can visualize 1500 packets, each of six poories and sabzi, would gasp in appreciation. And tasty ones. We all loved the food. Thanks Maa'm.
With Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi (Retd)
(Member IESM Governing Body)
Thursday, October 22, 2009
IESM: OROP is live and kicking- gets PM's attention
Dear Colleagues,
Some news reports indicate that the Hon’ble PM has assured that he would take personal interest in resolving the OROP issue. If correct, it is a good development. We owe gratitude to the entire ESM community for their efforts leading to a situation where the PM himself has reportedly decided to get personally involved.
The reports further state that the PM has directed defence ministry to hold fresh meetings with ex-servicemen to deal with this demand.
While the above are encouraging signs, in real terms these reports indicate nothing more what could be gathered from the Hon’ble President’s speech to the joint session of Parliament and the subsequent statements by the Hon’ble Ministers. Nowhere is there any hint that OROP would actually be granted. Only thing that can be said with reasonable certainty is that the OROP issue is still not dead and buried.
Under such a scenario it may not be advisable to relax in our pursuit of OROP. We should continue our efforts, including depositing of medals, which has been the single most effective form of struggle so far.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM,
Chairman IESM
Some news reports indicate that the Hon’ble PM has assured that he would take personal interest in resolving the OROP issue. If correct, it is a good development. We owe gratitude to the entire ESM community for their efforts leading to a situation where the PM himself has reportedly decided to get personally involved.
The reports further state that the PM has directed defence ministry to hold fresh meetings with ex-servicemen to deal with this demand.
While the above are encouraging signs, in real terms these reports indicate nothing more what could be gathered from the Hon’ble President’s speech to the joint session of Parliament and the subsequent statements by the Hon’ble Ministers. Nowhere is there any hint that OROP would actually be granted. Only thing that can be said with reasonable certainty is that the OROP issue is still not dead and buried.
Under such a scenario it may not be advisable to relax in our pursuit of OROP. We should continue our efforts, including depositing of medals, which has been the single most effective form of struggle so far.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM,
Chairman IESM
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
IESM: Return of Service Medals
Former Navy Chief Admiral Jayant G Nadkarni said that when uniform pension is applicable in other sectors then how can one expect a service personnel to live with the same amount of pension in the present times?
On the basis of what has come out, there is definitely disappointment as for long there was a demand that disparity in pension of personnel retiring at different points of time be removed. But, the government attempt is more or less to bridge the gap between former and present pensioners, which is not of much significance, said Lt Gen (Retd) Ashok Joshi.
Air Marshal (Retd) B N Gokhale said that although the government decision to implement the OROP is a good move but there seems to be a confusion on implementation aspect particularly for officers.
ESM hail improved pension
Related reading
Ex-servicemen to return more medals: August 29th, 2009 PTI
IESM: Chairman's Desk- Service Medals
Monday, 14 September, 2009 11:40:35 PM
Dear Colleagues,
In consonance with the decision taken in this regard, another tranche of medals was deposited with the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 13 Sep 2009. All credit to the Steering Committee members who through their deep personal commitment made the event a grand success. 5000 medals were deposited by the delegation of ten led by Gen PK Renjen, which included Sqn Ldr Dhiman, WO Balakrishnan, WO KS Rohil, Sub Phool Singh Samoda, Sub DS Yadav, Sub Hari Singh, Hony Capt Dhir Singh, Sub Maj Sardara Singh and Hav Pritam Singh.
As per plan only medals were called for from various regions and it was not a rally in the traditional sense. Hence only approx 300 ESM representatives came from across the country for the event. Jatha of 40 ESM led by Sub Maj Sardara Singh came from Sangrur (Pb), 10 ESM came from Garhshankar, Sub DS Yadav from Farukhabad brought 258 medals. Col Mahabir Dhankar from Rohtak along with number of JCOs and Jawans also attended. Veterans Maha Singh, Ramsarup, Dhir Singh, Manphool, Lt Pandey, W/O Bala, W/O KS Rohil, Hony Capt Krishan Kumar Yadav, COPO Awasthi, MCPO Chauhan, Sub Hari Singh and Hav Pritam Singh were also among the participants.
That the government was/is concerned became evident though actions of the IESL leaflet, as well as through the mail from Capt Praveen Davar, the latter on the very eve of the event.
Many colleagues have commented on Capt Praveen’s email. Some, presuming that he is not aware of the nuances of OROP, have tried to give him the benefit of doubt. I have known Praveen and hold him in high personal regard and would have gladly contributed to giving him the alibi. However, in this case the facts do not support his perceived lack of understanding of OROP. We have been together during presentations to various political leaders, including one to the PM where including Brig KP Singhdeo, we were the only three. OROP was clearly explained on these occasions. Besides, BRIG KP Singhdeo is the originator of the OROP concept and heading the AICC ESM Welfare Cell of which Praveen is the Secretary/Coordinator. It is beyond doubt that whatever might have been his motivation or compulsion in circulating that mail, his lack of understanding the concept, was not it. We can rightly conclude that this is how the government wanted the message spread. And in that lies the success of the action.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM.
OROP: More Responses to Praveen
Blog Post of Praveen's letter
Dear Colleagues,
In consonance with the decision taken in this regard, another tranche of medals was deposited with the Rashtrapati Bhawan on 13 Sep 2009. All credit to the Steering Committee members who through their deep personal commitment made the event a grand success. 5000 medals were deposited by the delegation of ten led by Gen PK Renjen, which included Sqn Ldr Dhiman, WO Balakrishnan, WO KS Rohil, Sub Phool Singh Samoda, Sub DS Yadav, Sub Hari Singh, Hony Capt Dhir Singh, Sub Maj Sardara Singh and Hav Pritam Singh.
As per plan only medals were called for from various regions and it was not a rally in the traditional sense. Hence only approx 300 ESM representatives came from across the country for the event. Jatha of 40 ESM led by Sub Maj Sardara Singh came from Sangrur (Pb), 10 ESM came from Garhshankar, Sub DS Yadav from Farukhabad brought 258 medals. Col Mahabir Dhankar from Rohtak along with number of JCOs and Jawans also attended. Veterans Maha Singh, Ramsarup, Dhir Singh, Manphool, Lt Pandey, W/O Bala, W/O KS Rohil, Hony Capt Krishan Kumar Yadav, COPO Awasthi, MCPO Chauhan, Sub Hari Singh and Hav Pritam Singh were also among the participants.
That the government was/is concerned became evident though actions of the IESL leaflet, as well as through the mail from Capt Praveen Davar, the latter on the very eve of the event.
Many colleagues have commented on Capt Praveen’s email. Some, presuming that he is not aware of the nuances of OROP, have tried to give him the benefit of doubt. I have known Praveen and hold him in high personal regard and would have gladly contributed to giving him the alibi. However, in this case the facts do not support his perceived lack of understanding of OROP. We have been together during presentations to various political leaders, including one to the PM where including Brig KP Singhdeo, we were the only three. OROP was clearly explained on these occasions. Besides, BRIG KP Singhdeo is the originator of the OROP concept and heading the AICC ESM Welfare Cell of which Praveen is the Secretary/Coordinator. It is beyond doubt that whatever might have been his motivation or compulsion in circulating that mail, his lack of understanding the concept, was not it. We can rightly conclude that this is how the government wanted the message spread. And in that lies the success of the action.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM.
OROP: More Responses to Praveen
Blog Post of Praveen's letter
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
IESM: Pension Anomalies- March for Justice
Date: Friday, 14 August, 2009, 4:04 PM
SERIOUS ANOMALIES IN PENSIONS AND DEPOSITING OF MEDAL
Dear Friends
1. The next date for return of medals to the President is 09 Sep 2009 at 3.00 PM. This is being done due to the total apathetic attitude shown by the Govt towards our most genuine demand of One Rank One Pension. A few facts are brought to your notice.
PBOR
There is a large gap which still exists between pre 01.01.06 retirees and post 01.01.06 retirees. Pre 01-01-06 Sepoy will get Rs 5461 where as the post 01-01-06 will get Rs 7045 with 50 percent weightage. This gap which will further increase once 70% weightage is implemented. OROP to the PBORs thus has not been granted as against what is being claimed by the Government.
Officers
A Major General pre 2006 retiree will get far less pension than his four ranks junior ie Lt Col who retired after 01-01-06. Likewise other senior rank officers ie Brig, Col, Lt Col, Maj, Capt, Lt, JCO's who are pre 2006 retirees will get less pension than their counterparts who retired after 01-01-06. This is a weird situation which is also a blatant violation of article 14 of the constitution. A senior rank officer must never get less pension than his junior rank officer irrespective of the date of retirement. The very functioning of the Army Rank structure is being adversely affected. The table below illustrates the point.
Pre 2006/ Post 2006 (01.01.06)
Major 14100/ 22135
Lt Col 25700/ 28695
Col 26050/ 30375
Brig 26150/ 31170
Maj Gen 26700/ 33925
Lt Gen 36500/ 39500
Likewise pre 2006 retiree Col will draw 26050 where as post 01-01-06 will get 30375. A large a gap of Rs 11600 exists between pensions of Major and Lt Col. Similarly large gap has been created between the pensions of Major General and Lt Gen i.e Rs 9800/-. The pension variation/ differential of Lt Col, Col, Brig and Major General have been kept in a narrow a range ie Rs 25700– Rs 26700/- gap of only Rs 1000. Between Col and Maj Gen the difference in pension is only Rs 650/-. The anomaly is too glaring. There should be adequate diffential between the pensions of successive rank and there should be no large variations within a particular rank.
While implementing the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Maj Gens, the Govt has accepted the concept of granting the same pension to pre 96 and post 96 retirees the plea made by Maj Gens when 5th Pay Commission was implemented. In the same way the Govt should have applied the same concept in the case of pre 01 Jan 2006 and Post 01 Jan 2006 retirees. Three Assured Carrier Progressions (ACP) concept has been accepted as 6th CPC award. But the same has not been applied to the past pensioners. The past pensioners should also be given the benefit of ACP by notionally applying the concept to them and their pensions fixed accordingly.
2. Friends, we need to prepare ourselves to be a one united whole of ESM to resolve all our issues to get due justice with an aim of establishing healthy environment of functioning of Defence Forces in a democracy. As you are aware the IESM has already been registered as a federation of all ESM organizations. Organization membership system has been put in place besides the individual membership. The IESM has had one year’s experience of its functioning. Besides pressing for our major demands, we have also started ECHS and Pension Cells to improve the satisfaction levels of ESM. This is the right time that all ESM organizations in the country should join the IESM as part of the Federation to make it an umbrella organization of the ESM of India. State convenors are requested to launch a concerted drive in this regard.
3. Medals deposit being our next event, all out efforts be made to collect maximum medals and send these through couriers or by hand to IESM HQ Office at 543 Sector 23 Gurgaon (Haryana) 122017. Representatives attending the meeting on 30 Aug 2009 at Noida may kindly bring the collected medals from their respective area with them. The state convenors are also requested to nominate their districts, city, tehsil and block committees of IESM if not already done and forward their details to the HQ IESM at the above address at the earliest.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
SERIOUS ANOMALIES IN PENSIONS AND DEPOSITING OF MEDAL
Dear Friends
1. The next date for return of medals to the President is 09 Sep 2009 at 3.00 PM. This is being done due to the total apathetic attitude shown by the Govt towards our most genuine demand of One Rank One Pension. A few facts are brought to your notice.
PBOR
There is a large gap which still exists between pre 01.01.06 retirees and post 01.01.06 retirees. Pre 01-01-06 Sepoy will get Rs 5461 where as the post 01-01-06 will get Rs 7045 with 50 percent weightage. This gap which will further increase once 70% weightage is implemented. OROP to the PBORs thus has not been granted as against what is being claimed by the Government.
Officers
A Major General pre 2006 retiree will get far less pension than his four ranks junior ie Lt Col who retired after 01-01-06. Likewise other senior rank officers ie Brig, Col, Lt Col, Maj, Capt, Lt, JCO's who are pre 2006 retirees will get less pension than their counterparts who retired after 01-01-06. This is a weird situation which is also a blatant violation of article 14 of the constitution. A senior rank officer must never get less pension than his junior rank officer irrespective of the date of retirement. The very functioning of the Army Rank structure is being adversely affected. The table below illustrates the point.
Pre 2006/ Post 2006 (01.01.06)
Major 14100/ 22135
Lt Col 25700/ 28695
Col 26050/ 30375
Brig 26150/ 31170
Maj Gen 26700/ 33925
Lt Gen 36500/ 39500
Likewise pre 2006 retiree Col will draw 26050 where as post 01-01-06 will get 30375. A large a gap of Rs 11600 exists between pensions of Major and Lt Col. Similarly large gap has been created between the pensions of Major General and Lt Gen i.e Rs 9800/-. The pension variation/ differential of Lt Col, Col, Brig and Major General have been kept in a narrow a range ie Rs 25700– Rs 26700/- gap of only Rs 1000. Between Col and Maj Gen the difference in pension is only Rs 650/-. The anomaly is too glaring. There should be adequate diffential between the pensions of successive rank and there should be no large variations within a particular rank.
While implementing the Supreme Court judgment in the case of Maj Gens, the Govt has accepted the concept of granting the same pension to pre 96 and post 96 retirees the plea made by Maj Gens when 5th Pay Commission was implemented. In the same way the Govt should have applied the same concept in the case of pre 01 Jan 2006 and Post 01 Jan 2006 retirees. Three Assured Carrier Progressions (ACP) concept has been accepted as 6th CPC award. But the same has not been applied to the past pensioners. The past pensioners should also be given the benefit of ACP by notionally applying the concept to them and their pensions fixed accordingly.
2. Friends, we need to prepare ourselves to be a one united whole of ESM to resolve all our issues to get due justice with an aim of establishing healthy environment of functioning of Defence Forces in a democracy. As you are aware the IESM has already been registered as a federation of all ESM organizations. Organization membership system has been put in place besides the individual membership. The IESM has had one year’s experience of its functioning. Besides pressing for our major demands, we have also started ECHS and Pension Cells to improve the satisfaction levels of ESM. This is the right time that all ESM organizations in the country should join the IESM as part of the Federation to make it an umbrella organization of the ESM of India. State convenors are requested to launch a concerted drive in this regard.
3. Medals deposit being our next event, all out efforts be made to collect maximum medals and send these through couriers or by hand to IESM HQ Office at 543 Sector 23 Gurgaon (Haryana) 122017. Representatives attending the meeting on 30 Aug 2009 at Noida may kindly bring the collected medals from their respective area with them. The state convenors are also requested to nominate their districts, city, tehsil and block committees of IESM if not already done and forward their details to the HQ IESM at the above address at the earliest.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Friday, April 3, 2009
IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- hundred and seventh day
Date: Thursday, 2 April, 2009, 9:13 PM
Dear Colleagues,
The Jantar Mantar continues to remain active.
Maha Rally on 12 Apr 2009
It is again clarified that, irrespective of the IESL keeping away, the planned Maha rally will be held at Jantar Mantar from 1100 to 1430 hours on Sunday, 12 April 2009. At the end of the rally, as before, a party will proceed to deposit the medals at the Rashtra Pathi Bhawan. It is still to be known whether the Supreme Commander herself would be in station.
It is also clarified that the medals are only being deposited. We intend taking these back once our demand for OROP is met. In this connection a scanned copy of a letter written by Rashtra Pathi Bhawan to the Ministry of Defence is attached, which clarifies our position.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
दिनांक: गुरुवार, 2 अप्रैल, 2009, 9:13
प्रिय साथियों,
इस Jantar Mantar सक्रिय रहने के लिए जारी है.
महा रैली 12 अप्रैल 2009 पर
फिर यह है कि, भले ही इस IESL से दूर, इस योजना बनाई महा रैली Jantar Mantar में 1100 से 1430 घंटों से रविवार, 12 अप्रैल 2009 को आयोजित किया जाएगा रख स्पष्ट किया है. रैली के अंत, के रूप में से पहले में, एक पार्टी को राष्ट्र Pathi भवन में पदक जमा करने के लिए आगे बढ़ना होगा. यह अभी भी है कि सुप्रीम कमांडर ने खुद को थाने में किया जाएगा ज्ञात किया जाता है.
यह भी कहा कि पदक ही जमा किया जा रहा है स्पष्ट किया है. एक बार OROP के लिए हमारी मांग को पूरा किया जाता है हम इन वापस लेने का इरादा रखते हैं. एक पत्र राष्ट्र Pathi भवन ने रक्षा मंत्रालय को लिखा का एक स्कैन कॉपी है, जो हमारी स्थिति स्पष्ट संलग्न है इस संबंध में.
सादर,
लेफ्टिनेंट जनरल (Emeritus) राज Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
IESM: Surrender of Medals- Bureaucracy shrouded in mystery and secrecy
Having been one of the three people who had done the job of putting addresses and name slips in the plastic bags, bagging the medals being returned and logging the name and address of the veteran in a register, I was asked to be one of the eight persons asked to escort the Medals Carton to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
We loaded the carton in a Police Gypsy and the eight of us nominated to escort the carton got in the two Gypsies that were to take us there, unfortunately, one Veteran – name unknown, but who had identified himself as being ex-Bombay Sappers – also got into the Gypsy when his name was not there! It took a considerable amount of cajoling, requesting and persuasion to convince him that only those so nominated would be allowed inside the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Once that was sorted out, we proceeded to Gate No 2 of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. After the carton had been removed from the Gypsy, we were told that it would need to be Security checked and cleared. We informed the Security people there that it was, obviously, full of metals since all the medals were there! So, they promptly summoned a 'sniffer' who carried a rather sophisticated looking sensing machine on his shoulder. The gentleman rubbed a small round piece of paper on the sides of the carton and then offered it for a 'sniff' to the machine. Almost instantly, he declared that the carton was 'safe' and did not carry any explosives. My mutter "Just some explosive emotions" did not elicit a smile, unfortunately!
We then trooped into the Reception, where we were duly met by the Deputy Secretary to the President, Mr Rana, his assistant and the person Incharge of Security. We requested this latter gentleman permission to take a photograph or two of the handing over of the medals. This was firmly refused. I then requested that we be allowed to take a picture of the eight escorts with the carton outside the reception, at least. This permission too was refused, with the Security gent unwittingly telling me that he has clear instructions to not let that happen. We then requested them to kindly call their in-house security cleared photographer so that we could request him for a picture or two. At this, we were informed that as today was a Sunday, there was no photographer available. Mind you, this when there were at the very least about fifteen other Rashtrapati Bhavan staff floating about!
We were then offered a cup of tea and some snacks – which we courteously refused to partake, informing Mr Rana that this was not a moment of celebration for us Veterans but rather a very solemn and unhappy moment, akin to us being at the Nigambodh Ghats for our last rites as that is how much these medals mean to a Veteran or a serving person!
We all sipped a glass of water that was then offered to us and after making a detailed list of the eight escorts, we were ferried back to the Jantar Mantar site by the Police Gypsies. The people who escorted the Medals Carton were:
1. Mrs Shiksha Bhardwaj, mother of Shaheed Capt Umang Bhardwaj, Shaurya Chakra
2. Col Kirit Joshi
3. Wg Cdr CK Sharma
4. Col Kanwar Bhardwaj, SM
5. Lt Col AK Saxena, Vice President IESM
6. Capt Om Prakash
7. CPO RS Chauhan
8. Cpl Jaswant Singh Kumbra
Warm Regards
CK Sharma
Wg Cdr CK Sharma, Member Steering Committee, IESM
We loaded the carton in a Police Gypsy and the eight of us nominated to escort the carton got in the two Gypsies that were to take us there, unfortunately, one Veteran – name unknown, but who had identified himself as being ex-Bombay Sappers – also got into the Gypsy when his name was not there! It took a considerable amount of cajoling, requesting and persuasion to convince him that only those so nominated would be allowed inside the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Once that was sorted out, we proceeded to Gate No 2 of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. After the carton had been removed from the Gypsy, we were told that it would need to be Security checked and cleared. We informed the Security people there that it was, obviously, full of metals since all the medals were there! So, they promptly summoned a 'sniffer' who carried a rather sophisticated looking sensing machine on his shoulder. The gentleman rubbed a small round piece of paper on the sides of the carton and then offered it for a 'sniff' to the machine. Almost instantly, he declared that the carton was 'safe' and did not carry any explosives. My mutter "Just some explosive emotions" did not elicit a smile, unfortunately!
We then trooped into the Reception, where we were duly met by the Deputy Secretary to the President, Mr Rana, his assistant and the person Incharge of Security. We requested this latter gentleman permission to take a photograph or two of the handing over of the medals. This was firmly refused. I then requested that we be allowed to take a picture of the eight escorts with the carton outside the reception, at least. This permission too was refused, with the Security gent unwittingly telling me that he has clear instructions to not let that happen. We then requested them to kindly call their in-house security cleared photographer so that we could request him for a picture or two. At this, we were informed that as today was a Sunday, there was no photographer available. Mind you, this when there were at the very least about fifteen other Rashtrapati Bhavan staff floating about!
We were then offered a cup of tea and some snacks – which we courteously refused to partake, informing Mr Rana that this was not a moment of celebration for us Veterans but rather a very solemn and unhappy moment, akin to us being at the Nigambodh Ghats for our last rites as that is how much these medals mean to a Veteran or a serving person!
We all sipped a glass of water that was then offered to us and after making a detailed list of the eight escorts, we were ferried back to the Jantar Mantar site by the Police Gypsies. The people who escorted the Medals Carton were:
1. Mrs Shiksha Bhardwaj, mother of Shaheed Capt Umang Bhardwaj, Shaurya Chakra
2. Col Kirit Joshi
3. Wg Cdr CK Sharma
4. Col Kanwar Bhardwaj, SM
5. Lt Col AK Saxena, Vice President IESM
6. Capt Om Prakash
7. CPO RS Chauhan
8. Cpl Jaswant Singh Kumbra
Warm Regards
CK Sharma
Wg Cdr CK Sharma, Member Steering Committee, IESM
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