Rank Pay Arrears: Draft Implementation Order Status

06 Nov 2012.
Dear Veterans,
Jai Hind.
After clearance of the Rank Pay Case by the Ministry of Law, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has cleared the file for payment to the affected officers. MoD has asked the Services Headquarters to prepare the “Draft Implementation Order” and sent it to the Ministry of Defence.
It is reliably learnt that the Pay Cells of the tree Services had anticipated such a letter from MoD and have a draft order ready.
As already informed to you, a senior officer of the AG’s Branch Army Headquarters is/was at Pune to discuss the information that is needed by the PCDA (O), for implementation of the order. Ways and means will be found to get such information with least trouble to the affected Army Officers.
The AG’s Branch Officer now at Pune is the son of a retired Army Officer – so he very well knows all your problems.
As regards the other two Services, Navy and Air Force, their accounts offices have all the information required for implementation of the Rank Pay Case. In case of Army Officers the problem has arisen because of a major fire in the office of PCDA (O) about a decade ago. Lot of records were destroyed in that fire.
In service of Indian Military Veterans.
Chander Kamboj
SC Judgement 4th CPC
Sir,
1. It is reliably learnt that RM has cleared the file for Implementation of the Supreme Court order of 4th Sep 2012.
2. MoD has asked Service Hqs for draft implementation orders.
WBR,
President, RDOA
What the PCDA Pune webpage says
Regarding the implementation of Hon’ble Supreme Court Order dated 04/09/2012, it is reiterated that this office has not received orders from the Government. However PCDA(O), in order to prepare itself for immediate action on receipt of Government orders, decided to approach Retired Army Officers for the information, which might be required for calculation of arrears, but is not available with this office. We realize that there is little likelihood of availability of all this info with the Retired Army Officers. Therefore we are in touch with higher authorities for formulation of the alternate means of retrieving relevant information for calculation of arrears. This office is also awaiting decision of the Government on the matter.
CDA Form for Calculating Rank Pay Arrears

Rank Pay: CDA (O) twists in a New Format

Sunday, 28 October 2012 6:01 PM
PCDA (O) has changed the FORM today
Dear Friends,
Brig PT Gangadharan has been keeping a close watch on our Rank Pay case and the various requirements we are required to send down to CDA(O). This is latest from him. Do collect the necessary data from your service records ( I searched for it today and found that it contains a lot of info) Do pull yours out and see what you can lay your hands on.
Rgds
Niranjan Malik
From: ptgangadharan Date: 28 October 2012 16:04
Subject: PCDA (O) has changed the FORM today
Dear Sir,
PCDA (O) has again changed the FORM again today; fresh details wanted; if you go to the CDA website you will find.
I am enclosing the same New Format: Click here.
Till now this information is required by CDA(O) changes affected every day and once MOD letter comes something more will happen or required.
MOD Letter is still awaited.
Please collate your DATA and keep it ready. Maximum details are in Your Record of Service recd from AGs Branch after your retirement.
PS:- Most of you may not have all the required information. Hence try and give max available information. Archives will have all information. IN & IAF offrs may take similar action with their pay offices.
Regards,
ptgangadharan
New CDA (0) Format
New Format: Click here- Supreme Court Verdict regarding Rank Pay and related matters 09/10/2012)
Address New Completed Form to:
Senior AO. Pay Revision Cell (superscribed "Information: Hon'ble Supreme Court Judgement dated 04/09/2012")
PRINCIPAL CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (OFFICERS)
Golibar Maidan, Pune 411 001

Rank Pay: CDA (O) Pune Claim Application

Ref: Further to CDA (O) Pune Letter: Click here
Application to calculate Rank Pay and Pay Arrears with respect to Supreme Court Ruling

Moderator Comments
These details contained in the format be forwarded to CDA(O)Pune by concerned Officers. Along with the above details even copies of Statement of Accounts for period 1986 to 1996 in question would help in retrieving Officer Information. Till date no payment authority or instructions have been received from MOD by CDA (O) Pune. These are only advance notification for speedy tracing/ locating of information from the Archives.

OROP: Military Veterans Remain Skeptical

Published on 24 Sep 2012 by ibnlive India's nearly 23 lakh ex-military personnel have a reason to celebrate. The government has finally conceded their demand for One Rank One Pension. It means that the military personnel will draw the pensions depending on the rank at which they retired, and not the date of their retirement. http://ibnlive.com/livetv

National Commission for Ex Servicemen

New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) Stressing upon the "urgent need" to set up a national commission for ex-servicemen, a Parliamentary Committee today asked the Defence Ministry to expedite the matter.

The Standing Committee on Defence in its report said, "As there is apparent dissatisfaction among the ex-servicemen, the committee are of the strong view that there is an urgent need for setting up of a commission at the national level."

The committee also expressed "distress" that even after Defence Minister cleared the matter the Ministry has not done the needful to set up the body.

"The committee are distressed to note than even after getting clearance from Rakhsa Mantri for setting up of National Commission for ex-servicemen, the Ministry has declined to set up the Commission on the plea that number of bodies are existing to undertake the welfare schemes for ex-servicemen,"the report said.

On the issue of One Rank One Pension (OROP) for ex-servicemen, the Committee reiterated that the proposal if met would boost morale of defence personnel.

"The Committee would like to reiterate their recommendation made in earlier report to reconsider the issue of OROP, so that the demand of ex-servicemen is met which would boost the morale of the defence personnel,"the Committee said.
Par panel recommends national commission for ex-servicemen

On Ministry's rejection of proposal to provide monthly stipend to National Defence Academy (NDA) cadets, the Committee said, "extending appropriate financial support during the training would help the cadets in meeting their daily expenses and would also boost their morale."
Parliament Recommends Panel for Ex-Servicemen
What bodies are existing to undertake the welfare schemes for ex-servicemen?
Department of Ex Servicemen's Welfare: The Present Status- click links below

When the Government Becomes an Adversary of its Ex-servicemen

ESW Department becomes a Cosmetic Bureaucratic Appendage

Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, an all India federation of ex-servicemen associations, sought the setting up of a national commission for the welfare of retired military personnel.
Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, Maj Gen (Rtd) AJB Jaini, member of Governing Council of the organisation said the commission can look into issues pertaining to the welfare, pension and support of ex-servicemen.
At a press conference organised by the NRI Forum Deputy Chairman Ganesh Karnic, Jaini also urged the various state governments to utilise the expertise of 22 lakh ex-servicemen pensioners and eight lakh ex -servicemen non -pensioners in the country.
"Use expertise of ex-servicemen"

Government moots National Commission for Exservicemen
A proposal to constitute a National Commission for the Welfare of Ex-Servicemen is under the active consideration of the government. This was stated by the Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare) in the Ministry of Defence, Mrs. Deepa Jain Singh in her inaugural address to the annual conclave of the Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) (here on 30th July 2008). The measure will expedite issues of rehabilitation, welfare and help resolve grievances of retired soldiers, martyrs and their families. Nearly 60,000 personnel retire from the three wings of the armed forces every year and most of them are in the productive middle age group. There are nearly 14 lakh Ex-servicemen and over 2.5 lakh widows. When this figure is projected considering each Ex-Serviceman’s minor children, dependent parents, brothers and sisters, it could affect the livelihood of close to one crore population. In view of the vast population of Ex-Servicemen, the government last year created the post of Secretary in the Defence Ministry to deal exclusively with issues related to the Ex-Servicemen welfare. Mrs. Deepa Jain Singh, who has undertaken an exhaustive study on the welfare of Ex-Servicemen during her short four month stint as Secretary (ESW), said a capsule on the subject is soon to be introduced at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy, Mussourie. It would sensitize the young IAS probationers of the vital issues of concern related to the Ex-Servicemen Welfare before they assume responsibility of the District Magistrate posts across the country. This is a step towards fulfilling the Prime Minister’s ambitious Skill Development Mission, she added. Speaking on the occasion, the Additional Secretary Mrs Neelam Nath asked the Secretaries of the District Sainik Boards to hold meetings atleast once every month with the District Collectors to resolve grievances of Ex-Servicemen at the grassroots level. She said the DGR is about to complete a countrywide database of Ex-Servicemen at the Zila Sainik Board, Rajya Sainik Board and Kendriya Sainik Board level that would go a long way in formulating macro and micro policy for Ex-Servicemen Welfare. The Director-General Resettlement Major General SG Chatterji said his office would serve as a nodal single point interface between the retiring and retired service personnel, widows and their dependents and the outside agencies for all issues related to resettlement and welfare measures. PIB
Government moots National Commission for Exservicemen
Related Reading
Ex-servicemen's welfare is a thrust area for Government: PM 19 May 2007

IESM: Bolster strategies for Pension Parity

Dear All,
Sitting 7 seas away from homeland, I have been reading with great enthusiasm all the e-mails circulated through RMS blog as also watching the news about IESM Rally on the Times-Now TV Channel here besides reading news in The Tribune & HT e-papers. Somehow I missed the the Discussion on DD ( Not Available here ) and Times Now and thus do not know much about the various views articulated by Members taking part in the discussion, except the ones mentioned in the various e-mails circulated through blog. Though I am not well familiar with the ground realities, it is a great morale boosting news that our senior most Veteran, Marshal of The Air Arjun Singh has emphatically supported our cause, the Leader of Opposition has once again raised the issue of OROP in the Rajya Sabha and that Brig Singh Deo has assured that he will look into the insidious facts being spread by Capt Dawar & Co. It is also heartening to see & read the change in the perception of ESM, Media ad the General Public about our cause. Also it is indeed a matter of great satisfaction that our Rally was an astounding success, in spite of various handicaps like logistics problems of assembling ESM from far off places, financial constraints, lack of empathy shown by some of our estranged brethren of some splinter ESM Orgs ( who only believe in self aggrandizement ) et al. It was undoubtedly a laudable show by IESM. Needless to stress that the entire credit goes to meticulously organised & managed arrangements and the untiring efforts put in by our Core Group for organising it, especially by Gens Kadyan & Satbir and unstinted support rendered by other members of the team, notwithstanding the various ibid handicaps. Even the media did its bit this time, specifically Times-Now. All said and done, so far so good.

In retrospect, now let us bare our hearts and take a candid stock of events leading to the present state of consternation, as is obvious from indignation shown in some of the e-mails by our ESM and consider where we stand. The statement of RM in the Parliament in unequivocal /unambiguous terms that “OROP is not under consideration “ in his reply to a question in the Parliament recently, goes to show that all our efforts so far have not been able to bend the mentality of the unrepentant UPA Govt, in spite of oblique assurances by Smt Sonia Gandhi at her Rally in Chandigarh, by the President in her address to the opening joint session of the Parliament, by the PM in his address to the nation on Independence day from the ramparts of Red Fort and others. Obviously, all that was a sham. Intransigence appears to be writ large on the faces of our Netas in the Govt. Govt appears to be in a state of insomnia and our entreaties have borne negligible fruit amounting to naught. Barring half hearted limited benefits bestowed upon the JCOs (am I right?), NCOs and OR in the revised emoluments structure doled out after lot of pressure by the Chiefs and the ESM Orgs, the Govt has been adamant NOT to accept the plea for grant of OROP. So, it looks that our ostrich like mentality of sticking to our present concept of our peaceful and covert strategy has not shown tangible results, as we anticipated in the beginning. However, it will be wrong on my part to state the strategy adopted by our Core Group (i.e. Peaceful Gentlemanly sit- in Rallies, Return of Medals, writing to the President, PM & RM etc ) has been a failure. We have certainly and undoubtedly gone miles ahead in our movement and achieved some meaningful results. The mere fact that The Hon’ble President (our Supreme Cdr) was compelled to included OROP demand in her address to the Parliament, the partial improvement in the pensions of JCOs, NCOs & OR and the fact that some of the Senior Political Leaders hob-nobbling with us during the run up to last general election and highlighting our demand in various fora besides the bonhomie and awakening our Movement has created amongst ESM of all hues, is in itself a much vaunted achievement, though much less than what we had expected. But how long can we go on like this? But as it looks, I do not visualise OROP coming through in our life's time and is likely to remain indefinitely elusive like the Yeti, if we continue to adopt the present strategy.

So at the end of the day, as I feel, that we find ourselves in a predicament as regards our strategy to achieve our aim of OROP. Even repeated recommendations by “All Party Parliament Committees on Defence” and rebuke by the Supreme Court, High Courts and now by the AFTs have had no effect on the Govt as regards OROP demand and the judgements pronounced so far. For our morbid Govt it appears to have become an enigmatic issue. Also as we all know the bureaucracy is a big impediment to our cause and more or less a thorn in the welfare of ESM and hence of zilch help to us. My personal view, as I expressed in some of my e-mails in yrs 2008-09, has always been that in our country the culture of peaceful non-violent agitation does not bear fruit. Take for example the case of reservation of jobs for SCs/STs/OBCs etc, it was only when “ Mandal “ happened the successive Govts relented, started giving it a thought and became pro-active ( of course, the political parties had their own axe to grind in that also, since they wanted take advantage of vote bank by granting reservation concession to these categories ). Similarly Col Bainsla’s aggressive Movement in Rajasthan ….., Farmers aggressive Movement in UP et al could only bring in the desired results. My intention of mentioning all this is not to adopt the theory propounded by Bolsheviks & Mao but to emphasize that we have to re-consider our strategy if we wish our demand for OROP to succeed sooner. I am of the firm view that “Jab Tak Bacha Rota Nahin, Maa Usey Doodh Nahin Deti“, meaning till we literally create a kind of ruckus, the Govt is not likely to pay much heed to our demand of OROP and concede easily to benefits pronounced in Courts/ AFT judgements. The Govts at the Centre (NDA, UPA as also earlier ones) did not show humane approach to our pain and with the current lot of powers that be, our strategy which has not caused any significant dent in their mentality, ipso facto amounts to hitting our head against stone wall. Thus, we have to consider modifying our strategy to a proactive, a bit aggressive and overt agitation. By aggressive agitation, I certainly do not mean that our agitation should be rowdy or violent or use foul language in slogans or resort to vandalism or resort to undignified coercive means or our stalwarts should deliver inflammatory and provocative speeches and so on, as done by the political parties and their leaders & farmers agitations etc. We could surely design suitable placards and rig up decent but pricking slogans e.g. “Jai Jawan, Jai Hindustan“, “Ham Ne Apni Jawani Ki Desh Ke Liye Qurbaan, Ab Aap Hamara Karo Dhiyan“, etc.

I do appreciate that it is going to be long drawn and arduous Battle (or is it War?). Let us review our strategy and work out suitable aggressive and proactive methodology for future course of agitation. Few of my humble suggestions are as under:

As suggested in an earlier e-mail of mine that if all ESM orgs at Village, Block, Taluka, Tehsil , Distt Level and State level, keep a constant (and repeated) pressure on their respective elected MLAs & MPs both orally and in writing regarding OROP and other welfare measures like family pensions disparities, ECH Clinics & CSD outlets demands etc and keep on prodding them to take up these with the respective CMs, it will go a long way in achieving our goals. To help these orgs, IESM HQ may give them a suitable basic draft (both in English & Hindi or other local languages) giving glaring anomalies/ essential facts & figures (since some of them may not be aware of the exact details and may quote incorrect facts & figures), which they should include in their memorandum and present the same to these MLAs & MPs whenever they (ESM) meet them (ie MLAs/ MPs). If this has been done already, fine; but if it has not been done, it should be done now onwards. It is also suggested that whenever, they present such a memorandum, they should endorse a copy to IESM HQ. They should insist upon their MLAs /MPs to take up their representations with their respective CMs. They should also be advised to follow through their memorandum because most often, these MLAs/ MPs just consign such Memoranda to their trash baskets soon after receiving these. A follow up by these orgs and a feed back to IESM HQ, will go a long way in upward movement of out battle through state CMs to the Central Govt.

Unlike the last Rally, future Rallies should be held during fair weather ( neither rainy nor too hot or too cold) so as not to cause inconvenience either to outsiders ESMs attending the Rally at Delhi or to the organisers.

To me it looks inconceivable to arrange a massive gathering (say of about a Lakhs or above) at Delhi, obviously due not only to financial constraints but also due to logistics. One suggested way out is to gather as many ESM as possible at Delhi (the target could be in the range of at least above 10,000, inclusive of ladies) and hold simultaneous Rallies at respective State Capitals. The ESM Cells at the State Capitals could also take Delegations to the respective CMs and present Memorandum of OROP and other demand and later on follow through, keeping in mind that these Memoranda should be in conformity with the ones being preseted at Delhi by the Core Group. Depositing of Medals may, however, continue to be done centrally at Delhi.

We could highlight at future Rallies that the contention of Govt that it is not financially possible to grant OROP due to paucity of funds is incorrect. If the Govt can waive off Farmers' Loans to the tune of Rs 70,000 crores or more and enhance salaries and perks of MPs by more that 300%, there is no reason why OROP, which is likely to burden the country by comparatively a fraction of the aforesaid amount, cannot be granted.

Apparently I have made my comments a bit lengthy. So, it is desirable that I stop here.I have penned these as they came to mind and have tried to express my feelings which may appear a bit disjointed at times and some of which may not be palatable to of some of our stalwarts. Also I might appear a bit pessimistic in my views, though I personally feel I am not. If felt so, kindly pardon me.
With warm regards & best wishes for success of our Movement. God be with all of us. Amen!
Bhupal Singh, Veteran

Address issue of one rank one pension, Govt told

Ref: Address issue of one rank one pension, Govt told: Pioneer News Service | New Delhi- click here
Subject: Re: MP RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR TO PM ON OROP
Sir,
Today I saw an encouraging piece of news one on page 5 of 'The Pioneer' and the other on page 12 of hindi daily 'Amar Ujala'. In both the write- up the RM has stated in Rajya Sabha that Govt. is in agreement with OROP and is working on it which is going to cost addl 2200 Crores to exchequer. He has requested veterans to have little more patience, as the Govt proposes to tackle this issue step by step. I thought I wlll share tis news with you and others woh may have missed out on this.
-Govind
Maj Gen GS Srivastava AVSM (Retd)

Moily unveils new policy to cut down on government litigation

NEW DELHI, June 24, 2010 Moily unveils new policy to cut down on government litigation by P. Sunderarajan. The Hindu

Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily with Attorney General G. E. Vahanvati addressing a press conference on ‘National Litigation Policy’ at Shastri Bhavan in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

With the huge backlog of cases continuing to clog the wheels of justice, Union Law Minister M.Veerappa Moily on Wednesday launched a new policy initiative to ensure that government departments and agencies become more “responsible” in filing and pursuing cases.

Recognising that the departments and agencies contribute the maximum to court cases, the new ‘National Litigation Policy' enjoins on these organisations to think twice before resorting to litigations, as well as in pursuing them.

The policy statement makes it very clear that, “litigation will not be resorted to for the sake of litigating” and that “false pleas and technical points will not be taken.”

It also lays down that correct facts, all relevant documents should be placed before the court and that nothing should be suppressed or an attempt made to mislead any court or tribunal.

The policy also directs that “the Government must cease to be a compulsive litigant” and states that, “the philosophy that matters should be left to the courts for ultimate decision has to be discarded” and that “the easy approach, ‘let the court decide' must be eschewed and condemned.”

Drafted by the office of Attorney-General G.E. Vahanvati, the policy provides a set of tools for its implementation, including a provision for appointment of well-trained nodal officers, with adequate legal background and expertise by each and every department and agency for a “pro-active” management of its cases and constitution of empowered committees to monitor the implementation of the policy.

Acknowledging that frequent adjournments are resorted to by government lawyers, the policy states: “unnecessary and frequent adjournments would be frowned upon and infractions dealt with seriously.” Defaulting lawyers may even have their names removed or suspended from government panels.

The policy also provides that in service matters, no appeal would be filed in cases where the matter pertains to an individual grievance without any major repercussion or where the matter pertains to a case of pension or retirement benefits without involving any principle and without setting any precedent or financial implications.

Further, an appeal would not be filed in service matters merely because the order of the Administrative Tribunal affects a number of employees and appeals would not be filed to espouse the cause of one section of employees against another. Challenges to orders of Tribunals would be an exception rather than a matter of routine.

Mr. Moily said that in keeping with the new policy, all pending cases involving the government would be reviewed and categorised in order of priority so that they could be disposed of quickly.

Noting that the monitoring and review mechanism proposed under the policy would help prevent delay and neglect of important cases, he said, “May be, cases like the Bhopal case would not be repeated.”

Asked about the curative petition that the Group of Ministers (GoM) have recommended on the Bhopal case, Mr. Vahanvati, who was also present at the launch function, said, the Law Minister had only made a suggestion before the GoM and that it was not a considered opinion. The GoM's recommendation had to first go to the Union Cabinet for approval before any follow up measure could be taken up.

In response to a question, he acknowledged that the 1996 Supreme Court order judgment “wrong as a matter of law,” he said: “I am not criticising the judgment. [But,] I am entitled to tell you that it is wrong. I say it as a matter of law. I believe there are contradictions in the judgment and there are lot of material that have come up post that judgment.”

The Attorney-General pointed to evidence that people knew that there were some flaws in the factory and that they were not rectified as matter of economy. Moily unveils new policy to cut down on government litigation

SC relief to officers over pay anomalies: Orders arrears with 6 pc interest to all affected by Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 9, 2010
Grant of Rank Pay: When the Government Becomes an Adversary of its Ex-servicemen by Maj Gen Suman
Parawise comments on Review Petition slapped by GOI on ESM

How sincere is the GOI? The Rank Pay case has been fought in the court for 25 years and the Military Personnel have won the case. The GOI has slapped a Review Petition. What and where is the Justice for the Personnel who defend the Nation with their blood, sweat and tears? Does Law Minister Moily has any answer to another injustice heaped on the ESM! Travesty of Justice can be gauged by how the victims of Bhopal Gas Tragedy have been fooled by Bureaucrats for 25 years without matching succour for thousands of families for 25 long years. Now a GOM has speedily announced a token of about 1000 core package to alleviate the sufferings of victims. The bureaucrats have denied Rank pay for want of Rs 1600 crores for legitimate dues to Military Personnel for period from 1986 to 2006 (twenty years).

The Soldiers' 2nd Innings

Dear friends,
Truncated career is a well known deprivation which the soldiers suffer. This inherent disadvantage is further compounded by the fact that a large number of officers and men are superseded at the first selection level when they are no more than forty years old. They are then faced with a Hobson’s choice of whether to stay on in service with the ignominy of moving from one lack luster appointment to another or quit.
I began to study the post retirement lives of military veterans about fifteen years ago. Later, while serving with Ashok Leyland, I conducted some courses on “Preparation for retirement” for service officers as well as the executives of the company. I came to the conclusion that with a bit of planning and preparation, it is possible to convert military experience into civilian success. I find many of my friends having done extremely well in their second innings. I discussed this with my esteemed friend Lt Col KD Singh who migrated to the USA in 1984 and has had an illustrious career there.
We decided to record our experiences and observations in the form of a book entitled, “The Soldiers’ 2nd Innings”
The result of our labor of love has been accepted for publication by Macmillan India Ltd and is likely to be released in January 2010. The summary of its contents is given below. Our pension is inadequate as well as iniquitous. But it is somewhat unlikely that OROP will be sanctioned. But if all of us brace ourselves up, there is nothing which prevents us from augmenting our income through socially useful and productive work.
The sum and substance of this book is that the veterans must learn to make good use of their time and energy. It is not frightfully difficult to earn money. The erudite amongst the retired officers should be going to the government with a solution, and not a begging bowl. In the words of the late president Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you...”
With best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year,
Maj Gen Surjit Singh (Retd)

Table of Contents- Chapter wise
I. With No Regrets- This is a personal testimony. It traces my journey through the life; in military service and after hanging up my uniform
II. Profile of Military Service in India- In this chapter, I have given a balanced picture of the military, as a career in India, and compared it with other services III. Angry Old Soldiers- During the last two years, veterans have been protesting against the government. Their grievances are analyzed in this part.
IV. In Search of a Solution to the Problem- An attempt has been made in this chapter to solve the complex problems associated with the rising pension bill and resettlement of veterans. An ‘out of the box’ solution has been offered.
V. Time to Part Ways- There comes a time in the life of every soldier, when he is faced with this difficult question, “Should I leave or stay on?” The pros and cons of seeking pre-mature release are discussed in this chapter.
VI. SWOT Analysis and Classification of Options- And a Word of Advice to those who choose to Stay Back in Military Service. Landing the right job is like a good marriage. It must suit both the parties equally, or else there will be a conflict situation. The ‘SWOT’ analysis is a good technique to assess one’s own prowess and limitations. This chapter also contains a brief advice for those who choose to stay on in the service even after being by-passed for promotion.
VII. Writing Resume or CV- Writing one’s CV is the first step in the process of seeking a job. Most soldiers do not know how to go about it correctly. Some tips on how to prepare a good Resume are given in this chapter.
VIII. The interview for a civilian job is quite different from the kinds of interviews which the soldiers are familiar with. Some tips on how to handle this process are given in this chapter.
IX. Salary Negotiations- Salary in the military is determined by Pay Commissions. The soldier does not have to even think about his remuneration. In the civil, the rules are very flexible. The veterans have to find their own place in the new environment. The nuances of this process are discussed at some length.
X. The Culture Shock- Military service is very different from the life on the civil street. The veteran has to adjust to his new environs, and that needs a lot of emotional resilience. This chapter prepares the man for his new life.
XI. My Second Innings at Ashok Leyland- This is based on my personal experience. It is actually a story of my service in the corporate world with special emphasis on the first few months, when I was trying to settle down in the new environment.
XII. Self Employment Avenues- For those who do not wish to take a nine-to-six job, there are other options available. This also needs some planning and fore-thought. Some ideas on this subject are given here.
XIII. Management of Personal finances- At the time of severance, soldiers receive some lump sum money. Many of them are not accustomed to handling this sort of cash. Some generic dictum on money management are discussed in this part.
XIV. Social Service- For those who are endowed with the spirit of ‘social service’ with no financial gains in view, this chapter contains some hints.
XV. Hobby Writing after Retirement- The likes of me, who like to record their experiences for the benefit of posterity this chapter has been written. It contains some rules for writers.
XVI. Growing Old Gracefully- This chapter touches on ‘relationships’ since these undergo a sea change. The elderly have to accept their new position in society.
XVII. Health Care- The geriatric problems are discussed in some detail in non- medical terms.
XVIII. A General Guide to Making Your Will- There comes a time in our lives, when it is necessary to ‘pass on the baton’ to the next generation. Some tips on writing one’s will are given here. This has been written by my advocate daughter-in-law.
XIX. The Immigration Option- By Lt Col (Retd) KD Singh, now settled in the USA- Immigration to a foreign country is an option these days. Col KD Singh who has made an indomitable success in the USA has written this chapter.
XX. Service in Education Institutions By Brig (Retd) Surinder Singh- Education in India has assumed the dimensions of an industry. Scores of military officers are working in these institutions. This piece has been written by a veteran who has made a successful career in the academia.
Readers Responses to Second Career
Suggestions from Readers: Second Career for ESM

IESM: Ex-servicemen meet president, demand pension parity

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) Continuing their long-running fight for “one rank, one pension”, ex-soldiers have met President Pratibha Patil, the supreme commander of the armed forces, and reiterated their demand for pension parity. A seven-member delegation of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) submitted a memorandum in this regard to Patil late Monday evening.

“The president patiently listened to the delegation’s briefing on the demand and reasons behind it. We presented the memorandum requesting her intervention in the matter,” Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, who is vice chairman of IESM, told IANS Tuesday.

Several soldiers earlier returned their gallantry and distinguished services medals to the president to register their protest against the government’s continued apathy to their demand.

IESM is demanding that irrespective of the date on which a soldier retires, he should get equal pension at each rank for the same length of service with the amount rising every time there is a wage revision.

The ex-servicemen are upset at the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, which did not address the “one rank, one pension” issue.

The government continues to reject the demand on administrative and financial grounds.
Ex-servicemen meet president, demand pension parity

Matter of Honour: Letter to Editor

Ref: A Matter of Honour: Times of India

Date: Thursday, 26 February, 2009, 4:50 PM
Dear Editor in Chief
1. On behalf of all Defence Personnel both serving and veterans, we from Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) thank Editor-in-Chief, Times of India and his team for publishing a very relevant and focused Article, “ A Matter of Honour”, by Commodore Udhay Bhaskar (Retd) of Indian Navy on 25 Feb 2009. This will certainly serve the cause of Defence Services. The Govt and the Nation need to pay serious attention to strengthen the Armed Forces in quality and content, to face the Emerging Security Challenges to our Nation, both External and Internal.
2. In his speech to both houses of the congress, President Obama laid special emphasis to the Defence Services and need to qualitatively improve the service conditions of the Defence Personnel. There is urgent need for our Govt functionaries, specially the Prime Minister, Raksha Mantri, Finance Minister, Foreign Minister and all members of the cabinet to ponder over President Obama’s Speech to the Congress.
3. Thank you Times of India and Thank you Commodore Udhay Bhaskar. Keep at it please. Defence Services are the strongest pillar of Democracy. The Nation needs the Best Defence Services both “Man and the Machine”. There is much to be desired in this respect.

With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM

Letter from Commodore Uday Bhaskar
Date: Wednesday, 25 February, 2009, 9:52 PM
dear general satbir and brigadier kamboj,
i have recd. a number of calls and e.mails from the retired faujis....and some serving ones....in response to my article in the times of india of feb 25th. they were all very positive and i am deeply gratified and humbled......i sincerely believe that much of the praise and many of the superlatives were not warranted.
but a big thanx.....i have not been able to respond personally to all. sorry.
i have a request - and will be grateful if you can send this out on your net. the TOI has been very supportive of the OROP effort and this is borne out by their coverage of the event in their newspages....and now on the edit page. may i request those who are so inclined - to write to the TOI and commend the paper and the editor for their support...? the e.mail ID for the TOI letters section is:
mytimesmyvoice@timesgroup.com normal mail can be sent to: edit page editor TOI, bahadur shah zaffar marg, new delhi 110002.

warm rgds
uday bhaskar

SCPC: Soldiers’ pension row reaches High Court

Harish V Nair, Hindustan Times, Email Author
New Delhi, February 23, 2009
Delhi High Court will decide if the Centre is justified in denying “one rank one pension” to retired defence and government employees, numbering about 40 lakh.

After around 5,000 ex-servicemen, including decorated war veterans, returned their medals to the President at protest demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, the personnel have knocked on the doors of the court seeking justice.

Justice S Ravindra Bhat will on Tuesday hear a petition filed by a former army major and a retired central government official. They have challenged the notification that has created disparity among the pensioners by dividing them into four pay bands.

“Defence personnel of same rank and same length of service must draw same pension, irrespective of the date of retirement. As per the notification for the implementation of the recommendation of the Sixth Pay Commission, those who retired prior to January 2006 are at a very big disadvantage from those who retired after it as the government is using different formulae for computing their pension”, said lawyer Arun Maitri representing the retired personnel.

The petition says that if pension is paid for past satisfactory services rendered and to avoid destitution in old age as well as a social welfare or socio-economic justice measure, differential treatment for those retiring prior to a certain date and those retiring subsequently will amount to injustice.

With the pay commissions increasing the pay of armed forces and security personnel every 10 years, the gap between the pension received by those who retired before the implementation of the respective commissions widened.
Soldiers’ pension row reaches HC

Comment: The above seems to be mischievous case and certainly no former army major would file a court case at this juncture. Veterans certainly need to prevent such dubious cases being individually fought; and ensure the eagerness of some, does not negate our just cause of the majority. This should be withdrawn or else it could derail our legitimate fight for OROP. Many ESM cases though won in court rests deeply frozen by the Government (by counter SLP to inordinately delay the outcome). This is a catch 22 situation and all ESM need to approach the court with caution and discretion. It will be prudent always to consult reputed Maj Navdeep Singh who is an expert in legal affairs.

IESM: Ex-servicemen return medals over pension parity issue- 21 Feb 2009

For ‘one rank, one pension’Photo Courtesy- msn.comContinuing their protests against the non-implementation of the demand for "one rank, one pension" (OROP) principle in the armed forces, scores of ex-servicemen, including General rank officers, on Saturday returned their medals to the government.

Disappointed but have hopesPhoto courtesy: msn.comEarlier, on February 8, a group of ex-servicemen had returned their medals on the issue. However, as it did not yield the desired results, scores of retired generals and jawans came together under the banner of Indian Ex-servicemen Movement and surrendered their medals which will be submitted to the President, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. "For the second time with great disappointment we are returning our medals. The President has refused to meet us but her staff will collect the medals," IEM Vice Chairman Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh said.

Vote bankPhoto courtesy: msn.comThey also threatened to emerge as a "potential vote bank" to contest the elections if their demands are not fulfilled. "Jawans have got a raw deal. They serve for 15-17 years at the prime of their life in the army in inhospitable conditions," Maj Gen (retd) Bawa Bhalla said.

We fought three warsPhoto courtesy: msn.com"After fighting three wars what are we getting? I get a pension of Rs3000. We did so much for the country but who will look after us now. Therefore I have returned my medals," Lancet(Retd), Bharat Singh Negi, said.

SCPC: Family Pension correct entitlements

Dear Sir,
The revision of ordinary family pension is not done properly by the banks. As per the Govt order dated 11.11.2008 Annexure I is not beneficial and only Annexure II (in case of Officers families) and Annexure III (in case of PBOR families) are beneficial. But the banks have revised their family pension as per Annexure I.

All the Bank's Head Offices must be informed to correct the mistake, otherwise our family pensioners will be the losers. The MOD and the PCDA(P) are keeping silent in the matter.

I have worked out the details on the subject for your perusal, approval and publishing for the information of all concerned in the Blogs.

While our Fight for One Rank One Pension in on one side, let there also be our fight for a correct pension from the Banks by educating our readers through our Blogs.

I request you to kindly verify my statement if found correct, make all out efforts to force all the Banks to pay this pension to our poor family pensioners immediately.

I have come across a number of cases, that a wife of a subedar major is drawing the pension of a sepoy's wife. The Bankers do not understand our ranks and they are not interested to learn and do correctly.

Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
C Muthukrishnan (Ex Sgt)
Family Pension tables and correct entitlements: PBORS and Officers

IESM: Battling for One Rank One Pension- Bureaucrats negating the just demands

Letter to Maj Gen Satbir Singh, IESM

Respected Sir,
I am extremely happy to learn that you are taking all out efforts to get the One Rank one Pension to all the Defence Pensioners. It is 25 years dream of 20 lakh ex servicemen of this country.

I am sure, that under your leadership we will definitely get it. May God bless all the leaders of the IESM and its members with good health and spirit to enjoy the benefits by the end of next election.

This is the first time in 25 years that a large number of Senior Retired Officers coming out and together calling the PBORs also for the fight. This is a good Spirit Sir. We will succeed. I am mobilising about 500 to 1000 ex servicemen in Southern Tamilnadu within 2 months time Sir. to join IESM. My health is not good at present. Please bear with me. Give me some time, to spread the movement in TN.

Thank u very much for your regular email. This is very informative. The blog Reportmysignal.blogspot.com is also highly informative. I sincerely thank all the team members for the efforts to update the blog daily. I am sending my membership form. My Good wishes to u all.
Thanking you,
Yous sincerely,
C Muthukrishnan (Ex Sgt)
Former Gen Secy, Tirunelveli Dt ESM Welfare Assn
Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu PIN 627002.

Dear friends,
A news item from Hindustan Times New Delhi of 20 Feb 2009 is appended below. The news item says in the end: "The government has, however, said that the demand was unacceptable as it had huge administrative, financial and legal ramifications."

I distinctly remember reading in the email sent out by Gen Raj Kadyan after his meeting with Secy ESM Welfare that he was assured by the FA that funds were no problem!! AND, there was no mention of any admn or legal ramifications as apparently there were none that existed at that time!! It seems they are at their old games again.
Regards,
K K Punchhi
(Cdr KK Punchhi, Naval Aviation, 7 JSW/B Sqn, settled in Canada)

Major General Satbir Singh (retd), vice chairman, Indian Ex-servicemen Movement (IESM), said, “War veterans have been given a raw deal by the government. Hundreds of ex-servicemen have pledged to return their medals in Delhi on February 21.” Singh has also returned his Sena Medal.

Over 20 lakh armed forces pensioners argue that defence personnel of same rank and same length of service must draw same pension, irrespective of the date of retirement. Various ex-servicemen organisations have criticised the Sixth Pay Commission for creating “four classes within a class” --- pre 1996, post 1996 to December 2005, post January 2006 to September 2008 and post October 2008. Hundreds of veterans have been on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since December 16, celebrated as Vijay Diwas to mark India’s victory in the 1971 war.

All pre 2006 pensioners receive lesser pension than not only their compatriots in service but also their juniors. A havildar who retired before 1996 draws less pension than a sepoy who retired after 2006. Similarly, a lieutenant general draws less pension than a lieutenant colonel. The veterans are willing to reclaim their medals if their OROP demand is accepted. The government has, however, said that the demand was unacceptable as it had huge administrative, financial and legal ramifications.
Excerpts: More army veterans to return medals: Hindustan Times

IESM: Fast for Justice Rally- sixty fifth day

Date: Friday, 20 February, 2009, 10:42 PM
Dear Colleagues,
Bawal (Haryana) contingent retains charge of Jantar Mantar venue.
Medals
Media people have been calling us to know how many medals are likely to be deposited February 21. “Thousands” we have assured them.
The President is not available to meet our delegation tomorrow. My request for an audience has been pending since 24 November 2008. I will keep trying. I am not sure how far she can or will want to go to get us justice. However, we do not wish to let any door remain unknocked.
TV Programme
When Karan Thapar’s programme was aired at 1730 hours today, (to be repeated at 2230 hours on 23 February), I was not close to a facility and did not watch. However, many friends called up to say that we have put across our point well. Lt Gen NS Malik from NOIDA, Air Marshal Prakash Pingale from Pune, Subedar Bhagwan Singh from Sikar, Lt Gen SBS Kochar from Panchkula, Col SS Sohi from Chandigarh, Dr Shabnam Pandit from Guragaon, Maj Gen Das from Lucknow, Col RP Chaturvedi from NOIDA, Lt Gen KD Samantha from Delhi were some of the callers. My grateful thanks to them all. Not that every call was laudatory; there were critics too. For example, during the first commercial break wife Anita called up to point out that I needed to change my hair brush.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM

Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
An email received from Lt Gen Raj Kadyan, Chairman IESM, giving IESM SITREP for 20 Feb 09, is reproduced above. No doubt that the show by Gen Kadyan and Gen Surjit on CNBC 18 was excellent. No sooner the programme ended, I started receiving tele calls and emails from Veterans and some civilian friends whom I had asked to see the programme.

The first caller was Maj Gen DN Varma, who wanted me to convey his appreciation and congratulations to Gen Kadyan and Gen Surjit. Next was Lt Col MG Kapoor. I have lost the count of other phone calls. A few of the emails received early are being forwarded to you in my next email. It is not possible to reproduce all the congratulatory emails received.

On behalf of Gen Kadyan and Gen Surjit I thank all the veterans and civilian friends who called on phone and sent emails to congratulate the two IESM leaders for their excellent performance on Karan Thapar's show.

I also thank Mr Karan Thapar for his excellent conduct of the show. We also need to learn some lessons from this CNBC programme. Very composed posture of the two military veterans was really impressive. They were sounding very confident and convincing. On the other hand Shree Tiwari of Congress was so agitated all the time that his statements were not sounding convincing. We also need to make a note that Compare of a TV programme gives very little reaction time and very little time to speak. Therefore, the facts and figures must be handy and memorised to the extent possible. A guess question paper should be prepared and answers rehearsed. The sequence of points for answers to various type of questions should be carefully organised so that the essentials are covered before the Compare tells the speaker to shut up. What more could have been covered if sufficient time was given to Gen Kadyan and Gen Surjit-
On 8th Feb 09, at Jantar Mantar, Gen Kadyan during the talk given by him repeated a statement often made by the babus - "If we give OROP to Defence personnel, others will ask the same". Gen Kadyan's response to this statement was "Yes please give OROP to all those who retire before the age of 60, yes give OROP to all those who join the service with the condition that they are willing to sacrifice their lives while performing service, yes give OROP to those who have been denied the fundamental rights by the Constitution of India, yes give OROP to all those who spend major portion of their young lives away from their families and so on. It was a superb talk by Gen Kadyan. Similarly, if sufficient time was given Gen Surjit while answering a similar question he should have first stated the retirement age of Jawans in stead of officers' first. Before he could mention the retirement age of jawans, the compare cut him short. It is the retirement age of jawans which is most shocking.
Whatever it was -
IT WAS A GRAND SHOW BY KADYAN, SURJIT AND KARAN THAPAR.
Our congratulations to them.
Before finishing the programme Karan Thapar very intelligently made the Congress rep commit that they will soon find a solution to the problem of pension to Defence personnel (words to that effect).
All of you, who are likely to be called on some TV programme in future - please prepare well like Kadyan and Surjit. Anticipate questions, prepare answers in logical sequence and the points in order of importance. Rehearse the script with your friends and let them throw impromptu questions to you. I have a gut feeling that some other channels will soon have similar programmes. So prepare from today onwards.
In Service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

Dear Sirs,
I watched the program today at 1730 hrs. I was thoroughly impressed with the content and the way Karan handled it. Gen Kadyan was personification of dignity, gentlemanly behaviour, and firmness in his presentation of the case while the spokesperson for UPA presented a sorry image with his lack of knowledge of facts (genuine or otherwise), bad body language, using vocal power to compensate for his convincing abilities etc (I can go on, but cut it short). The only regret I have is that Gen Surjit did not get adequate chance to present the facts which he has gained over two decades of experience with the issue. If we get another chance to have this OROP broadcast my suggestion would be to have a rep of CDA(P) in attendance to refute the kind of data Mr Tiwary was trying to present and mislead the audience the way he tried today. Sirs, I do know I was very critical about the disappointment on the 18th for not being able to see this program. But watching it today I felt that the old saying "Safar ka pal Meeta Hota Hai" to be true here also. My Salute to the Generals and all those who were behind making this programme.
Best Regards,
Col T N Baba (Veteran)

IESM: Ex-Serviceman demanding one-rank-one-pension

Ex-servicemen deposit their gallantry medals before returning them to the President Pratibha Patil demanding the implementation of 'one-rank-one-pension' at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Sunday 08 Feb 2009. Video /RAJEEV TYAGI/ Mid-day. One minute video clip.

IESM: Reply by Shree Jaswant Singh to Maj Gen SCN Jatar

From: Jaswant Singh
To: Sudhir Jatar
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 6:34 PM
Subject: Re: Diluting valour

Dear General,
Thank you for your email of February 15 which included an article on the devaluation of gallantry awards by the former VCOAS, Gen Vijay Oberoi.
You are right: there is a need for a much greater transparency and credible yardstick through which nominations to various awards are vetted and recommendations endorsed. That some of the awards in the recent past and those of the Republic Day this year reveal a dilution on account of political expediency can be gauged by the outcry raised by the veterans, some verbally and some in well crafted prose, as has been done by General Vijay Oberoi. I share his disappointment on the multiple criteria adopted in recognition of valour.
With good wishes,
Jaswant Singh

EXTRACTS FROM THE SPEECH BY SHREE JASWANT SINGH, HON’ MEMBER RAJYA SABHA TO THE JOINT SESSION OF PARLIAMENT ON 17.02.2009...MKS-HMS/3.35/2R
SHRI JASWANT SINGH (CONTD.): … edited …
Sir, I will take the next point which relates to the Armed Forces. Raksha Senao ka jo masla hai,usme main 2-3 buniyadi bate aap se urz karooga.come to the question: why does a citizen enrol and does he agree to die? Of course, it is a complex question, and I will not attempt an answer to this complex question. This is an immensely complex question: why does a citizen agree to die? ", the factors that go amongst various others are the factors of morale, of izzat, of iqbal, of standing and the prestige of our Armed Forces, therefore, of the soldiers and sailors. Sir, there are some aspects which I have underscored; seemingly trivial, but, I think, they are profoundly important, wrongly important as it is, and much more important in consequence. Sir, the first question which the hon. Pranab Babu, again, in a Group of Ministers meeting was required, he chaired it, to address is the question of pay, pensions and emoluments. I will come to it in a minute.
The second question is of distinction, distinction and distinctiveness of uniforms, the rights and the duties of the respective security organisations of the country. Please do not confuse one with the other. The hon. Minister, Pranab Babu, handled responsibility as the Defence Minister of the country, with distinction and competence. And, no doubt, you realise, Sir, how to uniform a man, whether a General or a Field Marshal or Justice Inquiry or a Warrant Officer; izzat is of the greatest importance. The izzat that the individual gets is an account of the uniform which he wears; the uniform is of this Republic of India. If you belittle the uniform, you belittle, in a very rare sense, the Republic.
Phoz ki jo dress hai, hum dekhte hai ki yeh jo bahut badi- badi companiya hai, ishe humare distinguished friend vimal babu neb hi dekha hoga ki un companiyo ke darbano ko phoz ki dress me vahan khada kar dete hai, phir vahi medals lagate hai. Ish bare me kanoon banana chahiye.
Please do not permit the copying of military uniform by any other force, but the Military. aur usme choti choti bate aa jati hai. Phoz ka chahe rishala ho ya pultan ho, yeh choti-choti bate hai aur usme kimat dekar right equare kiya gaya hota hai. Sir, iske sath hi main yaha example nahi dena chahuga kyonki usme vakt lagega. Yeha jo down grading aapne ki hai of the Armed Forces, of their Officers, in the Warrant of Precedence, this is not acceptable. This is totally unacceptable. Please address it because this is a seemingly, quite seemingly, clearly an illogical and a destructive step that over the decades successive Governments of India have been continuing, and, perhaps, almost as if they have been deliberately doing it.
The next point, in addition to the point of Armed Forces, is about the ex-servicemen.
(Contd. by TMV/2S) -MKS-TMV-DS/2S/3.40

SHRI JASWANT SINGH (CONTD.): The ex-servicemen today number almost three million, if I am not mistaken. So, they are stung by the various anomalies that have been thrown up by the Sixth Pay Commission and their confusion has been compounded by a variety of interpretations that have been put out in the successive letters of the Controller of Defence Accounts. I have been, for several years, the victim of the vagaries of the Controller of Defence Accounts' rules. I won't go into those details. I can't simply understand how the pensions of a Lt. General, a Major General and a Brigadier are going to be exactly the same as that of a rank which is about half that service of a Lt. Colonel, except, perhaps, for a difference of a hundred rupees. On what ground? You chaired the Group of Ministers, but the discontentment remains. Precedence is very important. Pension is very important. On both you dent the standing of the Armed Forces and you expect them to deliver the best that they can. Sir, the question of one rank one pension has bedevilled the Armed Forces for a very long time. I was greatly troubled. I am greatly troubled and uniformed or officers and men who were once in uniform are compelled to take action of the kind that they have been compelled to take, either by returning their medals or by sitting in protest. Please take your own example. I didn't hear my friends. I may be wrong. But I don't think why a Member of Parliament, should get a pension, personally, because it is a very unpopular thought. I know it. I am also not at all of the view as to why we should get Rs 1 crore or Rs 2 crores for whatever we do. But there again I am a minority. So, I withdraw mine. But I don't understand, when we, as Members of Parliament, have given to ourselves what tantamounts to one rank one pension, how can you deny it to the ex-servicemen? Sir, suppose a senior colleague of mine retired from Parliament, say, in 1957 and didn't come back to the Parliament. The kind of pension that a Member of Parliament receives today, say, in 2009, is what you will give to a Member who left the Parliament in 1957. Between 1957 and 2009, there is a difference of almost half-a-century. So, you adjust the pension that you are giving to him, but you refuse to adjust it to the ex-servicemen who are out of service at the age of 38. There is a full life ahead of him with no employment or limited employment opportunities available. I have addressed this question in detail. Please don't throw it in my face—you are entitled to throw—that you also held this job and why you didn't do it. I was also a Member of a Commission appointed during late Mrs. Gandhi's days. I appeal to the Government to re-address itself to the complex question of one rank one pension and to immediately find as equitable an answer as you find for the Members of Parliament and not let the servicemen and the ex-servicemen suffer on account of differentials of precedence of pay, emoluments and pensions and of one rank and one pension. (Contd. by 2T/VK) VK/2T/3.45
SHRI JASWANT SINGH

SCPC: Armed forces form panel to resolve pay matters

Ajay Banerjee, Tribune News Service, New Delhi, February 18
Realising that the forthcoming general elections would put their pending demands on hold, the top brass of the armed forces have formed a high-powered committee to seek early resolution of the two remaining pay and status-related issues that have had the troops worried over the past six-eight months.
The committee was formed following directions from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in December last to sort out the four-core issues raised by the armed forces after the Sixth Pay Commission was implemented. While two issues had been resolved, the rest remained.
As the model code of conduct was impending, the armed forces fear that their two demands needed immediate attention, a senior officer said. One is that grade pay for all ranks of officers to be at par with the their counterparts in the civil services. Presently, the committee of secretaries that was looking into the anomalies of the Sixth Pay Commission had created difference by raising the grade pay of civil service officers. This means the salary of person on civil side, including the police, would be higher and was affecting the entire lot of officers.
The other pending issue is putting all lieutenant generals at par with director generals of police. In the previous Fifth Pay Commission, the DGPs were at par with lieutenant generals. Now, the Sixth Pay Commission has bifurcated the lieutenant generals and the equivalent ranks in the Navy and IAF into two. The GOC-in-C, their Naval and IAF equivalents and few other officers at the headquarters are in a grade that is higher than that of the DGPs while other lieutenant generals are in a grade lower than the DGPs. This anomaly is affecting about 150 officers.
Armed forces form panel to resolve pay matters

IESM: Mass surrender of gallantry awards on 21 Feb 2009

Dear Friends,
We have sent reminder to the media today for covering our Return of Medal event on 21 Feb 09 at Jantar Mantar at 12 “O” Clock (see below). We request all ESM and their relations who have any contact with media to get our event covered extensively. 08 Feb 09 Rally was well covered, however the follow up coverage was much to be desired.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement

Invitation
Return of Medals to the President by Ex Servicemen
on 21 Feb 2009 at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

Dear Members of the Media,
1. Utterly disappointed with the absence of any visible positive response from the Government for grant of One Rank One Pension (OROP) even consequent to the trauma of returning their medals on 08 Feb 2009 in a Mammoth Rally held at Jantar Mantar, many more ex servicemen across India have also decided to return their medals in large numbers to the President on 21 Feb 09. The State units of the IESM have been directed to collect medals centrally and bring these to Jantar Mantar, New Delhi from where these will be returned to the President- The Supreme Commander of Defence Forces of India.
2. The Ex Servicemen residing in NCR who have not been able to deposit the medals centrally will do so at Jantar Mantar on 21 Feb 2009 forenoon. The medals will be escorted by a delegation of IESM to the Rashtrapati Bhavan. A request has been made for the delegation carrying the medals to meet Hon’ able President to apprise her of the demand of One Rank One Pension which had been pledged in the Congress election manifesto in the last Parliamentary elections, and the pledge is being reneged now.
3. You are requested to kindly cover the event extensively.
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM

Media highlights Government's Insensitivity to Ex- Servicemen
In our democratic set up, no political party can afford to ignore ex-servicemen’
Government rejects ex-soldiers’ ‘one rank one pension’ plea