One Rank One Pension scheme for Defence Personnel

Congress Defends Budget, Says Aam Admi Is The Focus
06 Jul 2009, 06:46:30
Describing the Union budget as "progressive, inclusive, growth oriented and balanced", the Congress on Monday hoped it would give a fillip and stimulus to the current recessionary economic scenario.

"There are a lot of things for a lot of sectors for a lot of people. It is progressive, inclusive, growth oriented and balanced," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.

He said that the first budget of the new government reflects the policies and approach of the UPA with greater move towards transparency -- an equitable approach which will give a fillip and stimulus in the current economic scenario.

Referring to the key provisions of the Budget, Singhvi said it has kept 'Aam Aadmi' common man in focus with strengthening of schemes like NREGA, Rural Insurance Scheme, extension of farm loan waiver for another six months and the proposed legislation on food security for poor.

Lauding the taxation proposals of the budget, particularly extending the income tax exemption limit, he said only the UPA government has given substantial relief to the people while others BJP simply talk.

He also pointed to the other significant aspects of the budget like the one-rank-one-pension scheme for Defence personnel, increase in the funds for urban renewal, scrapping of the FBT and starting a new national literacy programme for the women.

"UPA's budgets will always harmonise Congress led UPA's conceptions and perceptions of inclusive growth and commitment to marginalised sections," Singhvi said.

Singhvi said that this was the beginning of a new mandate, new thinking, new arithmetic...which will provide a momentum to growth.
Congress Defends Budget, Says Aam Admi Is The Focus

Question: If Ex servicemen are "Aam Admi" then why the discrimination in pension for the last three decades. The Pay Commissions seem to treat the Ex- Servicemen with contempt and scant respect for the services they have rendered for safeguarding the Nation from aggression and internal dissention.

Indo- China war 1962

THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF A FIRST TIME AUTHOR CUM PUBLISHER
A cautionary note, to the prospective and budding authors of the perils of treading the path traveled by me. An Extract from the address by me on the occasion of the book release function of my Book “Letters from the Border and Other Less Told Stories”, published in 2003 and now nearly out of print

Being a first time author and also a first time publisher I was besieged by many misgivings and a plethora of problems. My advice, based on my experience, to budding authors/ publishers would be to think before leaping in to the unknown.

Speaking first about the book as author. Why I wrote this after such a long gap and where did I find material for the same? These are oft asked questions. I had always felt peeved about the fact that the official channels both Signals and Staff were, though quick to declare me missing; the AG's Branch even sent 'Pension Papers' to my wife providing her a life long support of Rs 250 per month. However, no one bothered to inform her of my safe arrival in India despite the information being available at all levels prolonging her agony till she got the news through other channels. I wanted to do some thing to redeem what she must have suffered at that time, in my small and symbolic way.
click here to read more
Brig Lakshman Singh (Retd)

IESM: Chairman's Desk- OROP not in Government's Crosshair

Date: Friday, 17 July, 2009, 10:34 PM
Dear Colleagues,
On 16 July 2009 the Government have issued an amendment to SAI/2/08 and entries at Ser 8 of the Table in Para 4 (a) (i) have been replaced by new entries. A new pay band HAG “Rs 67000 – (annual increment @ 3%) – 79000” has been created. There is a rider “The benefit of MSP, notional, in pay fixation will be given to existing Lt Generals.” Pre-2006 Lt Gens would now get a pension of Rs 33500 pm.
Two comments can be made:

It is unfortunate that the first benefit announced is for the highest rank This is jarring to the Service ethos and norms.

As expected, ‘one rank one pension’ is nowhere in the government’s crosshair. One wonders why they even made the President use this term in her address to the Parliament.
Further similar amendments should be awaited.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM