Pune Ex-servicemen urge Centre to Enhance Pensions

Ex-servicemen urge Centre to address pension issues
TNN | Oct 4, 2012, 05.57AM IST
PUNE: The Pune chapter of the All India Federation of Military Veterans' Organisation on Wednesday alleged that the Union government was not serious about implementing one rank one pension scheme for all three defence wings.
The other pending issues such as help to widows and enhancement of pension were also not addressed, the organization said.
Addressing a news conference, Ravindra Pathak, coordinator of Pune chapter, said, "Issues relating to ex-servicemen, pension and related problems were being ignored by the Union government. Besides one rank one pension, enhancement of family pension, dual family pension and family pension to mentally or physically-challenged children of servicemen are not properly addressed."
Recently, the Union government had claimed that one rank one pension scheme would benefit families of ex-servicemen. Pathak claimed it was nothing but correction of anomalies that crept in as a result of wrong implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.
Enhanced family pension is only a correction of the Union government's error. In many situations, the family does not benefit from improvements in the scheme and for many it is also not possible to pursue the matter, he added.
All ex-servicemen are going to approach the Centre to pursue their demands and improvements in various policies that are currently affecting the ex-servicemen, said Pathak.
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Antony reveals War Memorial at India Gate

Antony reveals War Memorial at India Gate finally on anvil
By ANI | ANI – Fri 17 Aug, 2012
New Delhi, Aug.17 (ANI) Defence minister A K Antony on Friday said that most of the hurdles coming in the way of the construction of the national war memorial next to India Gate have been cleared.
Talking to media persons after attending a function to felicitate London Olympic silver medalist Subedar Major Vijay Kumar here, Antony said:"Most hurdles are over now."
Sources in the Ministry of Defence confirmed that the war memorial will be constructed near India Gate only, as that is the place demanded by the three services.
After a proposed meeting on the issue on August 21 of the Group of Ministers (GoM), a final meeting shall take place and and then cabinet approval will be sought, they added.
The armed forces had submitted a proposal three years ago to construct a war memorial within the India Gate complex, but after the initial rejection of their proposal by the Government recently, they are now looking at new locations for it. The government had earlier decided against the proposal after certain objections were raised by the Urban Development Ministry.
The military's demand for a national war memorial to honour the 20,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen who have sacrificed their lives while defending independent India has been a longstanding one. A broad section of the urban public echoes this plea. The demand is for a prominent memorial on New Delhi's Central Vista, which can be visited freely by the Indian public, and where wreathes can be offered by national leaders on occasions like the Republic Day, and by visiting foreign dignitaries who choose to do so.
The current memorial, the Amar Jawan Jyoti, is merely an add-on to the India Gate, an imposing 42-metre high British structure, built in 1921, to honour the 90,000 Indian soldiers who died in the First World War and the third Anglo-Afghan War. India finds it bothersome to suitably commemorate those who fell in service of the republic.
Anyone who has travelled along India's borders with China and Pakistan cannot have missed the lonely memorials at the places where Indian troops fought and died. Amongst them, is the stark monument to Major Shaitan Singh and his 111 Kumaoni soldiers who battled to the last, holding up a major Chinese advance on the desolate, windswept plateau of Chushul.
Major Shaitan Singh is a winner of the Param Vir Chakra, and is honoured only in that unvisited war memorial near Chushul. No national memorial is inscribed with the name of Major Shaitan Singh.
According to an article written by former army officer-turned journalist Ajai Shukla a couple of years ago, the proposal for a National War Memorial predates independent India.
According to Shukla, a confidential memo, issued on March 3, 1945, from the War Department in New Delhi (in File No. 110-C/45, entitled "Indian National War Memorial", in the Governor's Secretariat, Confidential Branch) declares that the Government of India (GoI) has been examining "the question of the form that an Indian National War Memorial should take".
The memo orders that "the establishment of a Military Academy on the lines of the United States Military Academy at West Point for the education and basic training together of future officers of the Royal Indian Navy, the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force would be the most suitable form for the memorial to take". In short, according to Shukla, New Delhi proposed that what was to become the famous National Defence Academy (NDA), which is still the bedrock of Indian officer training, would also serve as India's National War Memorial.
Till date, India does not have a memorial for post-independence martyrs.(ANI)
Antony reveals War Memorial at India Gate finally on anvil
Related Reading
For those who gave their today by J.F.R. Jacob : Fri Sep 14 2012, 03:38 hrs

Adarsh Scam: Evidence Destroyed- Sabotage Suspected?

Adarsh scam files destroyed in Mantralaya fire?
Thursday, June 21, 2012, 18:35  4   Zeenews Bureau
Mumbai: A massive fire, which broke out in Maharashtra's State Secretariat or the Mantralaya building in south Mumbai on Thursday, has given triggered a bitter controversy with reports claiming a sabotage angle in the incident.
Media reports claimed that the fire which started on the fourth floor of the building and later spread to the sixth floor, which houses Chief Minister’s Office, has destroyed several important documents related to the Adarsh Housing society scam, in which several Ministers in the Maharashtra government are facing inquiry.
Sources have also confirmed that files related to the Kargil war have also been damaged in the incident. When quizzed by the reporters, Maharashtra Chief Minmister Prithviraj Chavan said, “Our concern right now is to save people. Issues such as destruction of important files will be discussed later.”
Suspecting a conspiracy in the Mantralaya fire incident, the main opposition BJP has sought an explanation from the Maharashtra government regarding the safety of Adarsh scam related documents.
However, the CBI has categorically denied reports that Adarsh scam related files have been destroyed in the fire.
 
The central probe agency gave an assurance by saying, “All the files relevant to the Adarsh housing society scam are safe with the courts and have not been damaged as a result of the Mantralaya fire.”
The fire - supposedly caused by a short-circuit- started on the fourth floor and later spread to the sixth floor, which houses the Chief Minister’s Office; luckily Chavan was not in his office.
Indian Navy commandoes were pressed into the rescue operation. Specialist Marine Commandos also arrived with specialist equipment.
The fire reportedly started from the cabin of Maharashtra Tribal Affairs Minister Babanrao Pachpute located on the 4th floor at around 3 pm. Pachupate is from the NCP.
The Mantralaya is the State Secretariat and houses the offices of all ministers of the Maharashtra government. From the fourth floor - which houses urban development and education departments – the fire then spread to fifth and sixth floors of the building.
The landmark Mantralaya Building is located in the heart of South Mumbai very near to the Mumbai High Court.
No casualties have been reported so far as the building was evacuated soon after fire was noticed.
The police have cordoned off the area and are in control of the situation
http://zeenews.india.com/news/maharashtra/adarsh-scam-files-destroyed-in-mantralaya-fire_783139.html

Appeal to President not to annexe war widows land for her retirement home

Anna takes up Khadki land issue
By: Vivek Sabnis Date: 2011-12-06 Place: Pune
Activist promises to join fight to get back land for those injured in war or jawans' widows; ex-servicemen say issue will reach logical conclusion soon
Being an ex-serviceman himself, anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare yesterday promised the ex-servicemen that he would join the fight to get back the Khadki land, which has been allotted to President Pratibha Patil for her retirement home.

For a cause: Lt Col Suresh Patil hands over the information about
Khadki land to Anna Hazare in Ralegansiddhi. Pic/Krunal Gosavi

Lt Col Suresh Patil (Retd), managing trustee of Green Thumb Environmental Group, had long discussions with Hazare at Ralegansiddhi yesterday morning. Patil told Hazare about their agitation since September 2011.
Patil said, "Anna has completely agreed with the cause and is officially backing us." He added that the land should be given either to the war casualties or widows of the jawans. Patil was accompanied by the state head of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement Commander Ravi Pathak, trustee of Green Thumb Environmental Group Jahangir Mulla and a member of Justice for Jawans Prakash Sawant.
Patil said that Hazare had agreed that over 60,000 ex-servicemen in the district were living in bad conditions, while many were living in slums. "Being the head of all defence services of the country, President Patil should set an example by not using the land for her personal benefit. Anna has agreed to these points and is wholeheartedly backing this cause," Patil added.
According to Patil, Hazare is one of the trustees of Green Thumb Environmental Group and was attending some of its programs since the past 20 years. "Anna's support has given us a morale boost and the fight to get back the Khadki land shall reach to its logical conclusion, soon he added.
Anna Hazare on Saturday had said that the 75 per cent of the taxpayers' money was being spent on a purchasing new cars and sophisticated air-conditioning equipment. "This is a total waste and government should stop the misuse of the tax-payers money," he had added.
Referring to Hazare's statement, Sawant said, "If the same is happening with the President's post, we demand that the post come under the jurisdiction of the Lokpal Bill. We are not against the President madam or her wish to possess a retiring home. In fact, the state government should give her land at any hill station in Lonawala, Khandala, Mahableshwar or Matheran."
Appeal to President
The Green Thumb Environmental Group submitted a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil on December 2, appealing to donate the Khadki land to the army widows or the Jawans injured in the war. "I am expecting an invitation from the President to discuss the issue in Delhi," Lt Col Patil said.
click here to read Mid Day Report

Armed Forces Tribunal clarifies Liberal Family Pension

Armed Forces Tribunal orders pension to mother of jawan who died in Siachen Karthika Gopalakrishnan, TNN | Sep 22, 2011, 01.10AM IST

CHENNAI: A woman, whose 27-year-old armyman son died after contracting a fatal illness while serving at the Siachen Glacier, is still awaiting his pension. Pointing out that she is fully entitled to the benefits, the regional bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal in the city has directed the authorities to speed up the process. A bench of Justice A C Arumugaperumal Adityan, member (judicial), and Lt Gen (retd) S Pattabhiraman, member (administrative) passed orders.

Hellan Sagayamony from Nilgiris district had moved the tribunal when she did not get any relief even three years after her son's death. Her son A Stalin had enrolled as a sepoy in the Madras Regiment on January 28, 2002 and posted to high-altitude regions, including Siachen Glacier, between October and December 2007. While serving at the international border and the Line of Control, he developed breathing problems due to the extreme cold.

Though Stalin was given medical treatment by the doctor at the post, he was later evacuated to the field hospital where he was diagnosed with 'High-Altitude Cerebral Edema' (HACE) and placed on the "dangerously ill" list. He was transferred to the Command Hospital, Chandimandir in Haryana and then to the Army Hospital (Research & Referral), New Delhi on January 24, 2008. He died the next day due to spontaneous intra-cerebral hemorrhage.

With his death classified as "battle casualty", claims for liberalised family pension (LFP) and ex-gratia payment were made to the principal controller of defence accounts (Pension), Allahabad, but both were rejected on the ground that death was due to stress and strain and not due to climatic conditions.

LFP can be claimed when death takes place during action in a war, war-like operations, border skirmishes, operation against terrorists and other such actions. However, Stalin's dependents were sanctioned a special family pension, which is given when the cause of death is attributable to military service. The pension is lower than the LFP. An ex-gratia payment is made for death occurring due to accidents in the course of performing duties.

Passing orders, the bench referred to a government order (GO) issued by the ministry of defence on January 31, 2001 which said that disease contracted because of continued exposure to a hostile work environment was a condition under which one could claim LFP. Another GO issued on October 21, 1998 added that the ex-gratia amount had been enhanced from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.

Relying on both GOs: The bench ruled that Hellan Sagayamony was entitled to both allowances and directed authorities to expedite the relief within three months. Failing which, she would be entitled to 9% interest per annum on the arrears.
Liberal Family Pension

Related Reading: Non-pensioners entitled to MH facilities: AFT

Resolve Ex-Servicemen Pension Grievances Quickly

Antony’s Message to Defence Accounts on Annual Day
The Defence Minister Shri AK Antony today asked senior Defence Finance officials of his Ministry to consider the satisfaction level of Ex-Servicemen (ESM) pensioners as the benchmark of their performance. Addressing the 264th Annual Day Celebration of the Defence Accounts Department (DAD) here today, Shri Antony pointed out that his office still continues to receive several pension settlement related grievances.
“True, most of these cases were a baggage from the past as a consequence of Pay Commission recommendations and Cabinet decision on pay and pension hike, yet these needed to be addressed at the shortest possible time,” Shri Antony said. “Ultimately, the taste of the pudding lies in its eating,” he quipped adding that “the veterans deserved their due as they had sacrificed the prime of their life safeguarding our borders.”
The Defence Minister hoped that the two IT projects ‘Sangam’, for pension payment, and ‘Dolphin’ related to monthly pay system for the Other Ranks (OR) in Army, will facilitate quick disbursal of dues to the serving ORs and ESM. “You must strive to provide enhanced customer satisfaction through hassle-free service and prompt and accurate payment of dues to the soldiers and their dependents.” Project ‘Sangham’ has fulfilled a long-pending demand of our ESM.
Commending the DAD for launching of its two IT projects – ‘Vishwak’ and ‘Bhawan’, Shri Antony said, “You should strive to utilise this advantage to assist the Services in achieving their goals.” Underlining the need for transparency in accounting procedures, the Defence Minister observed, “In today’s era of globalisation, accountability has acquired new connotations. Accountability is no longer restricted to quantitative techniques and financial inputs and outputs. It has become an integral part of good governance, with several aspects like integrity, transparency, responsiveness and sustainability becoming a part and parcel.”
On the occasion, the Shri Antony also presented the Raksha Mantri’s Awards for Excellence for the year 2011. The Excellence Award for Software Development was bagged by CGDA (IT Wing Team) headed by Shri S Murali Krishnan, which has developed Project ‘Suvigya’ (Pension inquiry system), Project ‘Aashraya (pension disbursement system) and Project ‘Darpan’ (Defence Accounts Receipts and Payments Analyses). CDA Secunderabad, Secunderabad team headed by Shri Y Rajareddy was awarded the Excellence Award for Project ‘Dophin’, an online PBOR Monthly Pay System. PCDA (Central Command) team headed by Shri HH Mishra also bagged the Excellence Award for launching of Monthly Pay System and its implementation on all Pay Accounts Offices.
Secretary, Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Shrimati Neelam Nath, Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) Shri Nand Kishore and Additional CGDA Ms UG Antony were among the dignitaries present at the function.
Resolve Ex-Servicemen Pension Grievances Quickly

Widows Pension is related to the deceased!

Dear Colleagues,
I have received a reply this month from the Defence Minister to my query as to why the widows have been kept out of the pension-enhancement of 2010. The response unfortunately is a mere repetition of the earlier communications from the government on this subject. It again states that since the pension is related to the last pay drawn, it cannot apply to the deceased. That is incomprehensible. The enhancement covered the pre-2006 retiree pensioners. The enhanced pension sanctioned for them after the Cabinet Secretary’s Committee recommendations, also has no relation to their last pay drawn. But then these are the ways of the bureaucracy!
The Civil Services aspirants these days have to take a filter written test before they can qualify for the competitive examination; this is apparently to cut down the number of applicants. In one of the mock question papers for this examination held in June 2011, there was a question on ‘one rank one pension’. OROP has acquired visibility.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

Floral tributes paid to martyrs at the Veer Smriti war memorial

Friday, September 16, 2011, Chandigarh, India
Western Command marks 64th Raising Day
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 15
A solemn wreath-laying ceremony marked the Western Command’s 64th Raising Day at its headquarters in Chandimandir today.

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen SR Ghosh and Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, the Command’s former GOC-in-C, paid floral tributes to
martyrs at the Veer Smriti war memorial.

A ceremonial guard reversed arms as a mark of respect to the martyrs, while buglers sounded the Last Post. A two-minute silence was also observed. Senior officers were also present on the occasion. Inmates from the Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Mohali, also attended the ceremony as the Army is observing 2011 as the ‘Year of Disabled Soldiers’.

Raised in 1947 as the Delhi and East Punjab Command, with headquarters at Delhi, it was mandated to control formations with an operational role in the territorial areas of the present Western and Northern Commands. It was redesignated as the Western Command in January 1948. In 1954, the headquarters of the command moved to Shimla. After the Indo-Pak Conflict of 1971, the Northern Command, with its Headquarters at Udhampur, was carved out of the Western Command to assume operational responsibility of Jammu and Kashmir. Later headquarters of the Western Command moved to Chandimandir in 1985.

The Western Command was instrumental in effectively blunting the Pakistani aggression in 1947, 1965 and 1971, and subsequently carrying the battle into enemy territory. Its troops, formations and units have always distinguished themselves, winning a large number of gallantry awards, including 11 Param Vir Chakras.
martyrs at the Veer Smriti war memorial

Veteran issues takes centerstage inspite of recession

US Budget Cuts and Veteran's Pensions/ B​enefits- commentry by Lt Gen Harhajan Signh
Friends,
I saw a 40 minutes TV program in USA about the US Budget cuts and Veteran's Pensions/benefits. In this program Pentagon correspondent of a newspaper was the expert and a number of veterans (mostly below officer rank) from US Army/Navy/Air Force/Marine Corps expressed their views and put up suggestions via telephone calls.
There is a debate going on in USA whether in view of the existing financial problems and likely Defence Budget cuts, so called high expenditure on Veteran's pensions/benefits should be reduced and how.
The following points got high lighted during the program-
1. The existing system is some what different in the four Defence Services.
2. The US Navy and the Air Force have requirement for more technical personnel and it is difficult to replace them. They need to be retained for longer periods and incentives for them to continue longer built in.
3. The System of Pensions in the Army and Marine Corps (probably) is that in case an officer/soldier serves for 20 years, he/she gets 50% of his basic salary at retirement as pension for life. If the service is 30 years or more the percentage of pension vis a vis
basic pay goes up to 75%.
4. For service less than 20 years there is no pension.
5. In addition the veterans get life long medical facilities.
6. All participants high lighted that the existing system has been in vogue for a number of years and it will be very difficult to change it, considering the sentiments of the veterans.
7. THE SERVICE CONDITIONS OF THE MILITARY JUST CANNOT BE COMPARED WITH THOSE IN CIVIL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS OR IN BUSINESS.The harsh and dangerous service conditions of especially those in combat arms; the casualties suffered, injuries sustained and psychological trauma experienced require special consideration.

Useful Pension Information, Orders and Instructions

Authorization of Pvt Ltd Banks for Disbursement of Pension to Defence Pensioner
In pursuance of Reserve Bank of India's decision on the subject, the following private Sector Banks have been authorised for disbursement of disbursement of pension to Defence pensioners:- (a)HDFC Bank Ltd
(b)UTI Bank Ltd
(c)IDBI Bank Ltd
(d)ICICI Bank Ltd

Exemption of Income Tax on iberalised Family Pension
A case was initiated by PS Dte for exemption of income tax on Liberalised Family Pension in the year 2002. After concerned efforts a Gazette Notification has been issued wef 09 Feb 2005 for exemption of Liberalised Family Pension from the income for purposes of exemption of income tax if death of the member of armed forces (including Para Military Forces) has occurred under following circumstances in the course of the military operation and duties. (a)Acts if violence or kidnapping or attacks by terrorists or anti-social elements.
(b)Action against extremists or anti-social elements
(c)Enemy action in international war
(d)Action during deployment with a peace keeping mission abroad
(e)Border skirmishes
(f)Laying or clearance of mines including enemy mines as also mine sweeping operation
(g)Explosions of mines while laying operationally oriented mine-fields or lifting ornegotiation of mine-field laid by the enemy or own forces in operational areas nearinternational borders or the line of control
(h)In the aid of civil power in dealing with natural calamities and rescue operations
(j)In the aid of civil power in quelling agitation or riots or revolts by demonstrators

NRI Pension- Not to be Stopped on Change of Nationality
A large number of representations were being received from Ex-servicemen Association/ NRIs regarding stoppage of pension of Ex-Servicemen on their acquiring foreign nationality. However, in case of civil pensioners change in citizenship by any NRI pensioners did not affect their entitlement. A case was taken up with the office of PCDA(P), Allahabad and office of CGDA, New Delhi in 2003 for bringing the Armed Forces pensioner at par with civilian pensioners. Govt letter has been issued providing that even in the case of Armed Forces Pensioners the entitlement of pension will remain unaffected on the change of nationality and pension will continue to be paid by his/her pension disbursing agency. However, the pensioner should intimate the change of nationality as per the provision to the Pension Disbursing Agency as well as to the PCDA (Pension), Allahabad for updation of their records.

Eligibility of Unmarried Daughters of Armed Forces Personnel for Grant of Family Pension beyond 25 years of age
The Ministry of Defence vide their letter No. 1(3)2007/-D(Pen/Policy) dated 25 Oct 2007 have issued instructions regarding grant of family pension to unmarried daughters beyond the age of 25 years at par with widowed/divorced daughters subject to their income from all sources not exceeding Rs 2550/-pm.
Col H N Handa (Retd)
President Diwave
Disabled war Veterans
Click here to read more Useful information for the Veterans

IESL confirms Majors and Widows Pension Grounded by MoD

Sent: 10 August 2011 15:52
To: President IESL
Subject: Pension and other related matters
Dear all,
Please see the attachment above.
Regards!
Col Sukhbir Singh
Secretary General IESL

Tailpiece
This is how politicians treat the martyrs. MERA DESH MAHAN? It is shameful. God saves this country.
Sqn Ldr Ian Steele Loughran,
Indian Air Force Association UK
Alcohol or Army?
Do you remember Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, the Malayali army commando officer who sacrificed his life to save Mumbai from the terrorist attacks ? His bravery will remain unsurpassed. The Kerala Govt., headed by Shri VS Achuthanandan awarded Rs 3 lakhs to the family of Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan. The same govt headed by the same Chief Minister, donated Rs 5 lakhs to the victims of the recent Malappuram Liquor tragedy. Now you decide- what should a youngster do? To join Army & die for the Nation?... or die by consuming illicit liquor?

Kargil Divas: Report from Mangalore

KARGIL VIJAYA DIWAS - 26 JUL 2011
My dear Brig,
I am submitting a brief account of activities of AFVs of Mangalore, on, Kargil Diwas, with a request to publish the same, in RMS.
We held a press briefing at the Press Club, Mangalore, on 25 Jul 11.
On 26 Jul 11, Radio "Mirchi"( 98.3 MHz ), organised a real time live Radio broadcast, from 0830 - 1100 hrs, where in, three AFVs, my self from Army, W O Radhakrishna Shetty from IA, P O Joachim D' Souza from IN, were interviewed. Two telephone interviews were also conducted with Brig I N Rai, SIKH LI, and Col Prem Kumar Shetty , JAK Rifles. It was well received by the public.
In the evening, at 1700 hrs, four Veterans were honoured at a public function. at the Don Bosco Hall, Mangalore. The AFVs were : Brig I N Rai, Col N S Bhandary, Wg Cdr D R Belle,and Cdr G P Mascarenhas.

Wing Commander D R Belle, Brigadier I N Rai, Colonel N S Bhandari and Lt Commander G P Mascarenhas were felicitated by Mangalore City Corporation Commissioner Dr K N Vijayprakash on the commemoration of Kargil Vijay Divas.
At 2000 hrs, AFVs gathered at the War Memorial, at Kadri Hills, Mangalore. A large number of people including civilians and LIONS club members, attended. LIONS district Governor, Ln J K Rao, graced the occasion.
We all lit a candle each and placed a flower next to it.
It was a solemn and graceful function. There after, LIONS club, hosted a dinner for us.
With good wishes and warm regards,
Your's sincerely,
Col Nitteguthu Sharath Bhandary (Retd)

Ex servicemen observe Kargil Vijay Diwas on Kadri Hills
Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 27, 2011 :The 12th anniversary of the Kargil victory was celebrated as Kargil Vijay Diwas on July 26 Tuesday by the DK District Ex Servicemen Association and Lions Club Mangalore on Kadri Hills, during which the soldiers who had laid down their lives while on duty were honored.
The dignitaries and eminent personalities present offered floral tributes to the martyrs at the war memorial. Candles were lit and a minutes silence was observed.
Kargil Vijay Diwas was held in commemoration of India’s victory over Pakistan in 1999. The two-month war, which commenced in May 1999 ended at the end of July when the Pakistani army retreated. The Indian Army lost 543 soldiers during the war, and these soldiers were honored after their death.
Ex servicemen observe Kargil Vijay Diwas on Kadri Hills

OROP: Veterans demand Justice from elected representatives

The medals don’t count. Justice is what soldiers seek
Finally, a committee of the Rajya Sabha will look into the three-decade-old demand of ex-servicemen for One Rank One Pension. Will parity still be elusive? Brijesh Pandey reports

Getting a raw deal War veterans take part in a march in Delhi for One Rank One Pension Photos: Tarun Sehrawat

FOR MILLIONS of Indians raised on stories of valour of their armed forces, it was indeed a shame to see thousands of war veterans marching to Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, returning medals won through great personal sacrifice.

Their demand was simple: pension parity or One Rank One Pension (OROP). This means servicemen of the same rank and same years of service must get equal pension irrespective of the date of superannuation. Though in principle the government agrees the demand is just, there seems no political will to back it.

After the Fifth and Sixth Pay Commissions, a big difference in pensions has been created, depending on when a serviceman retired. An officer with 35 years experience who retired before 1996 will get less pension than one with less years in service who retires after 2006. As Major General (retd) Satbir Singh points out, “A Lt Col superwho retires today would have looked after 100-120 personnel whereas at my level, one would look after 20,000 people and a much larger land area.” Though some correction has been made for commissioned officers and other ranks, the anomaly remains.

That’s not all. Armed forces veterans (AFV) have a major grouse about the administrative stranglehold on issues dear to them and the brushing aside of their problems by an apathetic bureaucracy.

Till the Third Pay Commission, pensions for armed forces personnel were based on rank and length of service in that rank. AFV got 75 percent of their last pay drawn as pension, while the administrative side got 33 percent. The Third Pay Commission, which covered the defence services for the first time, much against the will of the forces, decreased the pension of the force to 50 percent while increasing the pension of its civilian counterpart from 33 percent to 50 percent, with riders on getting full pension after 33 years of service. The advantage they had earlier was taken away in this manner.

Dignified protest A widow and a veteran display the medals given for the supreme sacrifice

“Rather than compensating for the harsh conditions of service and forced early retirement of around 85 percent of our forces, the sole beneficiary of this pension equalisation was the civil service,” points out Air Vice Marshal (retd) RP Mishra. “In the 1960s, pension of civil employees was limited to a maximum of Rs 416 per month whereas pension of a Major was Rs 475 per month and that of Chiefs was Rs 1,000 per month. In the Sixth Pay Commission, maximum pension of civil employees is Rs 45,000 per month which is the same as pension of Chiefs. Pension of Majors is just Rs 14,464 per month. Is it justified?“ asks Mishra.

This change had millions of AFV protesting. They pointed out that from 1960 to 2006, the pension of the highest ranking officers has increased 45 times, while that of the highest civilian ranking officers has increased 108 times.

“In today’s context, pension is no longer dependent on rank. Instead, it depends on years of service and emoluments,” adds Mishra. “This means that even a low-ranking individual can draw higher pension than a high-ranking one.” Satbir adds, “If one compares a soldier to a police constable, there is a difference of over Rs 45 lakh in their lifetime earnings due to early retirement and restricted promotions.”

Brigadier RKS Gulia says a question the government always raises in discussions about OROP is: what if government officers raise a similar demand? “I pointed out that 85 percent of armed forces personnel retire at 37-42 years. Another 5-12 percent retire at 44-52. Only 0.35 percent retire at the age of 60. In the civil services, they all serve up to the age of 60, get all three assured career progressions and consequently not only draw increasing pay but end up with much higher pension.”

Other than these pension anomalies, what AFV finds disturbing is the fact that there is no effort on the part of the government to improve the lot of widows of armed forces personnel, numbering close to 3.5-4 lakh. “Everybody has got something except these widows,” says Gulia. “This is the biggest worry for us because they need it more than us.”

SATBIR SINGH too is livid at the neglect of these widows, pointing out that pensions for Junior Commissioned Officers and below were raised but not for widows. This is in spite of the fact that a letter was sent to the prime minister about this discrepancy. “A bureaucratic reply stated that pension of widows was not enhanced as it had not been mentioned in the report of Committee of Secretaries. What should they do? With a meagre Rs 3,500 per month to look after herself, who knows what all she must be undergoing? Is the country being governed by our elected representatives or bureaucrats?”

From 1960 to 2006, the pension of the senior-most officers increased 45 times, while that of top civilian officers went up 108 times

What riles AFV most is political indifference, be it the defence ministry or the President of India. “We sought time from President Pratibha Patil’s office on three occasions but she has refused to meet us,” says a visibly agitated Satbir Singh, “She has time for everybody except us. And she is our Supreme Commander.”

Even the prime minister has been misled by the bureaucracy about OROP, claims AFV. “On 10 March 2008, in reply to a question in Parliament, the PM said we have accepted all the demands,” says Satbir Singh. “I immediately rang up the Opposition that the PM is misleading the country — he had accepted all the demands but the Rs 2,200 crore allocated in the budget of 2009 was never released. Within three days, the PM ordered it to be released.”

So are they hopeful that this meeting with the Rajya Sabha Appointments Committee will have a positive outcome?

“It may just be a formality,” says Gulia, “When we said so many committees have been formed and made their recommendations, nothing has happened so far, their response was that their mandate is limited. That’s why it seems to me to be more of a formality.”

While the armed forces continue to defend the borders, sometimes with the supreme sacrifice, they find they have to fight new battles when they retire. As Satbir Singh put it, “The bureaucracy and the government are treating us like chala hua kartoos (spent cartridges). The worst thing is, they are not even ashamed of it. They forget what Calvin Coleridge said: The nation that forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.”
Brijesh Pandey is a Special Correspondent with Tehelka.
brijesh@tehelka.com
The medals don’t count. Justice is what soldiers seek

Kargil Vijay Diwas

Respected Sir/Ma'am,
The following report -- released by the United News of India news agency on July 16, 2011 -- is for your kind perusal.
With regards
Abhi

DEFENCE-KARGIL-IESM ACTIVITIES (ATTN SRINAGAR) Kargil anniv: Veterans' activities to start on July 20
Bhopal, July 16 (UNI) Pride and grief form a heart-rending cocktail as veterans of the Indian Armed Forces prepare for a bouquet of programmes as tribute to the indomitable courage of the nation's military officers and men who made the supreme sacrifice during the Kargil conflict whose 12th anniversary will be observed on July 26.

The Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) commemorates the valour of these brave-hearts on that day each year through countrywide activities. This time round the activities start in the week preceding Kargil Vijay Diwas.
"Amongst all military actions since Independence, Operation Vijay was not only the longest but the ferociousness brought about heavy casualties. As many as 527 personnel were martyred and 1,363 severely wounded. Four Param Vir Chakras (PVCs) were awarded, two posthumously and nine Maha Vir Chakras were awarded, six posthumously besides 55 Vir Chakras," narrated IESM Vice-Chairman Major-General (Retd) Satbir Singh, Sena Medal.
The tenacity with which Indian Army units precariously negotiated the razor-edged mountain ridges in darkness -- for daylight spelt doom from the machine-gun-swept mountain slopes bereft of vegetation -- is testimony to the leadership, training and professionalism of the best Army in the world.
heir officers -- two of whom deserve special mention -- led the valiant soldiers from the front in true Indian Army ethos.
Captain Vikram Batra (IC-57556) of the 13 JAK Rif (the 13th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles Regiment) was martyred while dragging injured Lieutenant Naveen towards cover. Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey (IC-56959) of the 1/11 Gorkha Rifles said "Na chhornu" (Do not leave them) to his jawans before succumbing to wounds caused while leading his platoon through a hail of gunfire during the capture of Khalubar. Both officers were decorated with PVCs posthumously.

DEFENCE-KARGIL-IESM ACTIVITIES BHOPAL
"The years since Independence have seen an ever-declining interest in matters military. Kargil happened just a decade plus back and was confined to history within 365 days! Our forces entering Dhaka in December '71 and the heroes of the Kargil conflict are oft forgotten," alleged IESM Member Colonel (Retd) Rakesh Prasad Chaturvedi.
Rather than being confined to cantonment commemorations, IESM feels that participation by the citizenry would spread awareness a lot better. Starting on Wednesday, veterans will give lectures in schools. Taking the conflict as the backdrop, they will talk on inculcation of intrinsic qualities like values and camaraderie that characterise the Armed Forces fraternity.
On July 24, homage will be paid from 1100-1300 hrs to martyrs at the Shaheed Smarak in Sector 29, New Okhla Industrial Development Authority Area. Blood donation and organ-pledging are planned on site for those who volunteer. Over 500 persons are expected.
Several households -- both military and non-military ones -- have appreciatively adopted the poignant ceremony of lighting candles at home in the past two years. At 2000 hrs on Kargil Vijay Diwas, citizens across India are requested to light a candle each at their residences' entrances and lay a marigold each by its side after saying a prayer for those who did not come back. This may additionally be done at offices.
A university students' group will conduct a theatrical poetry performance at the Vivekananda International Foundation, Chanakyapuri, Delhi. IESM appeals to media and the people of India to join in commemorating Kargil Vijay Diwas in a befitting manner to generate the spirit of Bharat. UNI AC 0832

Widows of Military Personnel Continue to be Discriminated

Dear Colleagues,
In the recent past our efforts have been concentrated towards convincing the members of the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee of the justification and genuineness of OROP for the Defence Forces. Realising that the government reluctance to give us OROP might be based on their apprehension of it provoking a similar demand from other non-Defence employees, we laid adequate emphasis in driving home our uniqueness in the national matrix. From the trend of discussion, questions asked by Committee members and from various other indications, we are very hopeful that the recommendations of the Committee will be favourable to our demand.
We now await the report of the Petitions Committee finding its way to the government and being discussed in the Parliament. In the meantime, veterans with a flair for writing are requested to get OROP related articles published in the media so as the keep the issue on the radar screen and to keep the tempo going.
A letter/reminder sent to Mrs Sonia Gandhi on 07 June 2011 regarding the Service widows’ request to meet her is given below.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

07 June 2011
Dear Madam Party President,
I write to renew my request sent vide our letter dated 30 April 2011 (copy attached). The widows of Service personnel continue to suffer the discrimination in not being covered by the pension enhancement announced by the Government as a follow-up of the recommendations made by the Cabinet Secretary’s Committee. You are once again requested to consider giving date and time for receiving the widows’ delegation.
In view of high sensitivity attached to the issue, may I request you to kindly accord priority to it?
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Smt Sonia Gandhi
Copy to:
Dr Manmohan Singh
Shri AK Antony

30 April 2011
I write this to draw your kind attention to the problem of pension being faced by the widows of Ex Servicemen. As you might be aware, the Cabinet Secretary’s Committee was constituted in 2009 to specifically examine the issue of ‘one rank one pension’ (OROP) for military veterans. While not backing the demand for OROP, the Committee had recommended some enhancement of pensions for personnel other than commissioned officers. This recommendation has since been implemented vide Government of India Ministry of Defence letter No PC 10(1)/2009-D (Pen/Policy) dated 08 March 2010. For some reason the family pension remained uncovered by the above enhancement. This beats logic as all family pensions are to be based on notional pay fixed for Ex Servicemen pensioners from time to time.
This discrimination against the families came as a great shock to the entire community of Ex Servicemen as the neediest segment of pensioners was deprived of even this partial enhancement. I wrote to the Hon’ble PM twice but the family pension has yet not been enhanced. The reply from the government spoke of widows not being covered because the Cabinet Secretary’s Committee had not recommended their inclusion. This amounts to government admitting that they are helpless and cannot overrule recommendations of a subordinate committee that the government itself had constituted.
Singling out the hapless widows has been very unfortunate and betrays lack of sensitivity on the part of the government. It has also caused consternation among the veterans and has become a highly emotive issue. Disenchanted, the widows are looking for empathy from you. They want to come in a delegation to plead their case and present a memorandum to you at 10, Janpath. You are requested to kindly intimate your availability to receive them.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Smt Sonia Gandhi
Copy to: Dr Manmohan Singh and Shri AK Antony

OROP IESM Presentation to Parliamentary Committee

IESM: OROP: Presentation to Petition Committee
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
Please read the link above and email reproduced below.
I am sure this will give you lot of confidence in the efforts being put in by your humble supporters IESM, who are spending sleepless nights to get justice to YOU ALL INDIAN MILITARY VETERANS.
होंगे कामयाब हम एक दिन - एक दिनIt is time for all of us to support IESM.
Would you please–
Become member of IESM and give them whole hearted support.
You know and we all know – you cannot get very rich by saving those few hundred rupees, which are required to support IESM.
More support you can gather – better are chances of success of IESM.
We need much more momentum to move the political leaders away from the clutches of the Babus, who are bent upon cheating the Defence Services Veterans.
Please help and support IESM.
Vande Matram
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.

CONGRATULATIONS ON AN OUTSTANDING PRESENTATION.
Dear Gen Kadyan,
I am still recovering from the awe-effect of the presentation you made yesterday. To say that it was an outstanding presentation that you made in front of the petition committee would be a huge understatement. IESM is both lucky and proud to have you as our Chairman and I feel privileged to be able to work closely with you. Even the chairman and the other members of the petition committee had no option but to appreciate your presentation. The effect that the presentation had on the committee can be gauged by the remark that they made, "we would like to meet you again during the course of finalization of the committee recommendations." On behalf of our team and as an 'eye-witness' I would like to congratulate you on a remarkable presentation yesterday.
The beauty of presentation lay in the fact that all our claims, our points and our apprehensions were backed by solid, water-tight facts and figures. What was even more outstanding was that these were issues mostly related to war widows, JCOs, NCOs and other ranks - something that was missing from most of the other presentations made before the committee. It was, thus, proven one more time that Gen Kadyan follows the 'subordinates first' rule which so many senior veterans have forgotten.
Some points of the presentation that I want to highlight that Gen Kadyan stressed on:

The main focus of the presentation was, of course, on One Rank One Pension, its need and its justification.

Intended and subtle pun on the cunning efforts of bureaucrats for the planned and tactical down-gradation of the military.

Loved this quote, "mera qatil hi mera munsif hai, kya mere haq mein faisla dega..." which was delivered in an extremely emotional way by Gen Satbir which moved everyone sitting in the room.

I salute the herculean effort put in by Gen Satbir as well as Col R P Chaturvedi who worked behind the scenes tirelessly which made this presentation a grand success that it was. We must also thank to Hav Devi Lal sahib who is always in the thick of every IESM activity. Hav Devi Lal sahib is an asset for IESM.
Finally, I apologize for taking the microphone without your permission to support the points of Shri SS Ramachandran. The chairman, Mr Koshiyari, tried to interrupt him but I was in full agreement with the point raised by Mr SS Ramachandran, that the young lot of firearms trained soldiers, if left dissatisfied, can be misguided by anti national elements and that can be mighty dangerous.
The question before us, therefore, is whether these committees have any vested powers or are they merely an eye-wash and a governments gimmick to buy more time and further delay the issue. A member of the committee was saying that we are here to give you a hearing and that there are many committees above them that might or might not listen to their recommendations. What, then, is the use of all this lao-lashkar? And what should be our course of action?
I once again appreciate the collective efforts of IESM as a unit because of which such presentations and meetings are suddenly happening and everybody is talking about ESM and OROP. What is notable is the fact that IESM was called separately for making the presentation! That said,
लड़ाई लम्बी है. हमें शांति, धीरज और हिम्मत से आगे बढ़ाना है.
Thank you.
Yours truly,
Kameshwar Pandey
Sub/Maj Hony Lt (Veteran)
Governing Body Member Indian ESM Movement

IESM Presentation of OROP to Petition Committee

MOD Committee to stall the issue!
A CONCEPT PAPER ON BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN PRE AND POST 01 JAN 2006
ARMED FORCES PENSIONERS By Ex-Servicemen Members of the Committee Appointed by MoD

Disabled War Veterans - A Forgotten Tribe

Status of War Wounded and Widows a year ago!
02 Apr 2010 8ak: As the supreme court severely criticised the government for a 'beggarly' Rs 1,000 per month pension for a soldier disabled while on duty (read Sify article) 8ak spoke to Col H.N Handa from DIWAVE about the plight of our brave soldiers disabled in the line-of-duty.

Col H.N. Handa: War creates families of dead soldiers normally associated as War Widows. However it also causes immense life long suffering to those wounded as a consequence. Wounded within a few years of joining the forces, generally in the age group 17-24, in the prime of their youth. These wounded can be classified as orthopedically wounded (a majority), blinded or paralyzed.

A soldier sacrifices his life or limbs without rancor for many reasons - national honor, pride in his regime, a high level of motivation and above all, the understanding that the nation will look after his next of kin if he meets his death on the battlefield or is disabled. He goes out fearlessly to fight aggression of any type, as he is trained to, self-assured and confident. Without this knowledge, a soldier would not be able to render his best.

Sadly, at present he sees that the care is seriously lacking for the war disabled or families of those killed in action. It is unbelievable that the Ministry of Defence has no record or database of the existing Disabled War Veteran - their names, degree of disability or their whereabouts. The reason advanced for this is that welfare of ex-servicemen is a state subject. This indifferent approach has made it difficult to adopt fresh welfare measures for the Disabled War Veterans, many of whom badly need immediate care, but are unable to receive it. Caring for the war disabled by the Central Government will reassure the soldiers of a secure future while going about their stressful duties. The number of such war disabled is rather small, estimated by the Ministry of Defence as a mere 10,000 out of which 97% are Persons Below Officers Rank (PBOR).

First praised sky high and showered with promises ‘…then subjected to indifference and boarded out'…finally made to suffer callous negligence. That precisely sums up the lives of our brave soldiers and officers who were wounded in action, defending the country and its people in numerous wars and army actions prior to Kargil from 1962, 1965, 1971. Para military forces receive ex-gratia grants in addition but none for these War Disabled.

Assurances were given as is evident from the MOD letter 200847/71/Pen-C dated 24 Feb 1972 indicating that service element of pension of an invalided out war veteran will be equal in amount to the normal retiring pension including-Death-Cum-Retirement gratuity to which an individual would have been entitled on the basis of his emoluments and DA for maximum service of the rank at time of disablement. War disabled would be deemed to have served his full service of the rank of disability. This has been whittled down over the years.

War Injury Element/ Disability Element of the pension is a monetary compensation for the physical and mental suffering undergone and continued to be undergone by the War Injured/ Disabled Ex-servicemen. Justice and fair play warrants equal compensation, irrespective of the date of injury/ invalidment, as has been done in the case of Constant Attendance Allowance.

A Disabled War Veteran needs, above all, to live with dignity and pride which can only be achieved if he has financial security.

To assist the Disabled War Veterans, whose very strength is unknown due to lack of a database, the Disabled War Veterans India, (DIWAVE) a voluntary organization working to rehabilitate the war wounded, was founded in 1978 by Capt N.K. Mahajan, Major Vijay Kumar, Major Ahluwalia of Everest fame and many others. It is a registered organization under the Registration of Societies Act and recognized by Ministry of Defence, Government of India. A non-political, not-for-profit, democratic, secular and voluntary body of committed people. It is solely dependent on the subscription of its members (kept deliberately low) and donations to sustain itself. The present President, Capt N.K. Mahajan, himself is 100% disabled of the 1971 war, pulled out of a heap of dead bodies as someone saw his arm twitching. The Senior Vice President is Col H.N. Handa, 75% War Disabled of 1965 War and currently the oldest war wounded.

For the war disabled ex-servicemen, the 6th CPC has recommended that the War Injury element of the War Injury Pension be linked with reckonable emoluments. MOD has accordingly sanctioned 100% of reckonable emoluments for 100% disability. However, this benefit has been restricted to post-2006 war disabled ex-servicemen only. Pre-2006 have been given only marginal fixed increase over the amount sanctioned. Civilian government employees continue to receive disability element based on percentage but this disparity has been accorded defence personnel only.

The CPC, while recommending the percentage-wise linkage between the reckonable emoluments and disability/war injury element of the pension, has nowhere stated that it should apply to future disabled ex-servicemen only. In the case of service pension, the 6th CPC clearly stated that for pre-2006 pensioners, modified parity would apply. However such a stipulation does not exist for Disability/War injury pension, with the implication that the new formula of percentage linkage with last drawn pay would equally apply to all Disabled War Veterans, including pre-2006. It is noteworthy that while implementing the 5th CPC recommendations on the disability element, no discrimination was done between pre-1996 and post-1996 disabled ex-servicemen.

The 5th Pay Commission subsequently stipulated that the War Injury Pension comprising service element plus disability element should not exceed the basic pay of the rank at the time of injury thereby denying the disabled their entitlement to the extent of up to 50%. Sensibly, the Government has recently recommended the removal of this restriction.

A further discrimination was introduced in broad-banding of disability percentage into 3 slabs - 50%, 75% and 100%. MOD had done this for post-1996 disability cases, denying similar benefit to all pre-1996 cases, creating thereby another situation of denial of OROP. This relates to persons with same amount of disability receiving different percentages of disability element. As a result of DIWAVE’s representation , the Government has decided to eliminate this disparity. The government orders are still awaited.

One very important aspect is the supply of modern, light and durable prosthesis to Disabled War Veterans, -An issue which even the 6th Pay Commission has taken cognisance of - near their place of residence. Currently, all prosthetic fittings for war-disabled are provided by the Artificial Limb Centre, Pune, which provides archaic limbs with outdated technology to the disabled. Also, ALC takes unduly long for limb-fitting. Disabled ex-servicemen often have to travel long distances to reach Pune and have to remain in hospital for several weeks.

The situation can be remedied by empanelling private prosthetic centres that provide modern prostheses like Ottobock, Endolite etc. in metropolitan cities and state capitals on the same lines as for other major ailments. This would result in better quality limbs with less waiting period, without entailing long travels and cost of hospitalisation etc. The arrangement is likely to be overall cost effective, ensuring better user satisfaction. Needless to add, fitting of good prosthesis helps the disabled to accept his disability better.

Ailments such as angiography, angioplasty, hip and knee replacements, cancer treatment etc are undertaken for the retired and serving government employees by empanelled private hospitals. However, a properly fitting modern prosthesis has so far been denied to the Disabled war Veterans.

There is also a need to issue Special Identity Cards for Disabled War Veterans, clearly identifying them as such. This would enable the MOD to develop the correct databank thereby make it possible to provide better welfare measures and facilities to them. Special attention and courtesies extended to the Disabled War Veterans in government offices, official dealings etc. at district and lower levels in particular, would help in enhancing their self-esteem and dignity and would also act as a morale-booster to serving soldiers.
Disabled War Veterans - A Forgotten Tribe!
8ak stands for "8 Arms of Knowledge" and comes from the 'spider' that was written to trawl the net for news. 8ak also publishes an e-newspaper for the Defence (Defense) Sector and produces specific reports to cover all military/ armed forces issues relevant to India.
... click here to read Gen Vijay Oberoi's article on war wounded

Indian National Congress promises Department for Ex Servicemen Welfare

The Congress Agenda Promises Defence
Safeguarding India’s territorial integrity and unity against overt or covert external aggression is the supreme responsibility of the Government. Fashioning clear defense policies with precise consensus in priorities is required for the purpose. Keeping the nation’s armed forces fully prepared, backed up by necessary resources is important.
The Congress, if elected to power, will:
1. Speedily implement the recommendations made for the reforms and reconstructing of defense organizations and the armed forces of the country.
2. Congress will integrate the Defense Military with the Headquarters of the three services (Army, Navy, and the Air Force) with uniformed officers being given a participatory role in the formulation of defence policies and the higher management of national defence.
3. The Congress will allocate necessary financial resources for the defence of the country. Including special allocations for research and development and modernization of defence technology for the country. The functioning of the DRDO will be reviewed so as to impart a new element of dynamism.
4. The Congress will take steps to develop and deploy human resources for national defence.
5. The Congress will take necessary steps to fine tune the higher command for India’s nuclear and missile capacities.
6. The Congress will safeguard and maintain these capacities at appropriate level in the context of changing security environments, particularly in the Asian region.
7. The Congress will improve the terms of service and serving conditions of the armed forces personnel.
8. The Congress will also give special attention to the re-settlement and welfare of retired personnel from the armed forces of the country and their families. A separate Department of Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare will be established in the Ministry of Defence and cooperatives of ex-servicemen will be mobilized extensively in tasks of nation-building like afforestation, literacy, management of ration shops, etc.
9. The Congress will attend to organizational problems, which have for long affected the armed forces, and will take purposive action to resolve these problems in terms of recruitment, ensuring of appropriate levels in the armed forces establishments.
10. The Congress will rationalize the salary and pension payments to the armed forces with the objective of maximum benefit to armed forces personnel, responsive to the higher responsibilities of national defence which they discharge.
Indian National Congress Agenda- Defence

Status of the Department of Ex Servicemen's Welfare (with Ref ser 8 click links below)

When the Government Becomes an Adversary of its Ex-servicemen

ESW Department becomes a Cosmetic Bureaucratic Appendage

Punjab enhances welfare funds for Veterans

3-fold hike in Sainik welfare Budget- Non-plan expenses up 11 pc by Vijay Mohan
Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 14
Though no new welfare schemes have been announced, a three-fold increase in the planned expenditure by the Department of Defence Services Welfare has been proposed in the state Budget for 2011-12, while the department’s non-planned Budget is earmarked to rise by about 11 per cent.

The non-planned Budget, which relates to establishment-oriented expenditure and recurring expenses, has been pegged at Rs 23.5 crore for the coming fiscal as compared to Rs 21.1 crore for 2010-11.

Similarly, the planned expenditure, which relates to various welfare schemes and other projects introduced or approved by the state government from time to time, is set to rise to Rs 13 crore from Rs 4.1 crore.

The combined expenditure for this department for 2011-12 is pegged at Rs 36.5 crore vis-à-vis Rs 25.2 crore for 2010-11, representing an overall increase of over Rs 11 crore or close to 45 per cent. Punjab has 2.87 lakh ex-servicemen and 53,000 widows.

For the next fiscal, Rs 2 crore has been proposed to meet the expenditure relating to grant of Rs 5 lakh to next of kin of battle casualties in lieu of a plot. Last year the Budget on this account was Rs 4 crore. Departmental sources said that as of now there were no pending cases in the state on this account and payments would be made as and when fresh cases came in. However, the cases for grant of land to 28 war widows of the 1971 Indo-Pak war have still not been resolved.

The planned segment proposed today also includes Rs 6 crore for the construction of Sainik Rest House and Maharaja Ranjit Singh War Museum at Ludhiana. Coaching classes for entry into service academies, training of wards of ex-servicemen, grant to Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre and ex-gratia to families of martyrs are among schemes falling in this segment. The increase in the Budget also caters to 40 per cent hike in the allowances of gallantry award winners introduced in December 2010 and grant of Rs 1 lakh announced last year to every candidate who enters a service academy for training as an officer.
3-fold hike in Sainik welfare Budget

Pension cases of ex-servicemen pile up in banks

Seema Sharma Tribune News Service Dehradun, March 14, 2011
Cases related to the pension and arrears of ex-servicemen continue to pile up in nationalised banks as the backlog has still not been cleared after it got blocked due to the fresh recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission in 2008.

Another reason doled out by bank personnel for the stuck-up matters is the highly complex and complicated detailing with regard to the positions of the officers and other ranks and other appendages that have to be taken into account to streamline the collective financial package to be given to them at the end of the month.

Representative of the Centralised Pension Processing Centre (CPPC) of the SBI said, “The problems of ex-servicemen’s pension cases crop up for two reasons. One was the sudden change in the entire pension and arrear packages due to the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission. The entire package of each one was reworked keeping the minutest details in view. The second was the convergence of all the cases regarding pension and arrears of Central Government employees and ex-servicemen of the whole country to the CPPC, Chandni Chowk. The system was bound to slow down”.

In view of the high number of ex-servicemen living in the state, a separate section was created in the SBI branch at Garhi Cantt that is manned by officer Manoj Sharma.

As per the figures provided by the District Soldier Board, Uttarakhand has 23,000 registered ex-servicemen, 2,998 widows, 123 war veterans, 104 widows of war veterans and 23 World War veterans.

“It took me a lot of time to really become conversant with the intricate tables of the pension and arrears of ex-servicemen. I have to keep track of the details other than their ranks and positions, such as of gallantary awards, war veterans, disability factor, widows, who are further categorised into war widows or World War widows, their age etc. Having mastered the trick now, I am able to deal with the complaints that I receive from ex-servicemen and at times solve them at my level only,” said Sharma.

He also asserted that a backlog was smoothly being cleared up with the system now finally falling into place.

However, Manager, Punjab National Bank, Sunita Diwan, who handles other banking transactions, along with salaries of the serving and pension cases of the ex-servicemen said, “Dealing with the salary or pension cases of defence personnel is quite intricate for someone who has nothing to do with these services. Therefore, for any query, if I contact the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension), Allahabad, who is responsible for the release of any government order/corrigendum related to any change in salary/pensions of ex-servicemen, it is not responsive or accessible to the extent it should be”.

“The department does not give any contact numbers despite repeated requests, nor do they reply to the written queries before three to four months. If only they launch a helpline or give us their contact numbers, many queries can be sorted out within 5 minutes,” she added. Notably, the banks are paid just Rs 45 for each case to look after the cases of the ex-servicemen.
Pension cases of ex-servicemen pile up in banks
Comment: Slew of MOD instructions to speed up payment of entitled Pensions by Banks proves futile and negated. Pension delivery to the most deserving is scuttled due unintelligible/ undecipherable Pension Tables!