RAJASTHANI VETERANS

RAJASTHANI VETERANS
RAJASTHANI VETERANS

Thursday 4 December 2014

Unending wait for one rank, one pension

Lt Gen Harwant Singh (retd), Hindustan Times   Chandigarh, December 04, 2014

The government’s dilly-dallying on the grant of One Rank One Pension (OROP) continues to agitate the veterans. Koshyari Committee of Parliament has defined what OROP is and recommended its implementation. Demand for OROP was first raised in mid-eighties and a hunger strike by veterans was undertaken at Red Fort. Thereafter, this demand has been raised at every forum, including the dharna at Jantar Mantar, and veterans returning thousands of their war medals to the President and collecting signatures in blood.

Defence forces have been persistently wronged by successive Central Pay Commissions (CPCs). Around 99.5% of the defence personnel retire before the age of 60: age at which all central government employees retire. Nearly 80% of IAS officers manage re-employment for five years and the more manipulative can get this extended up to as much as 20 years and more!
Early retirement
Soldiers retire at 35-37 years. Early retirement with inadequate monetary compensation shortens the life span of veterans. Life expectancy of civil employees (IARM report) is 77, of railway employees it is 78 while that of army officers it is 67, of junior commissioned officers 72 and in case of soldiers it is 59 to 64. Early retirement with much less pension, increasing family commitments and financial worries take their toll. Even though, at retirement, they are physically fitter than their counterparts in the civil.
Truncated careers, extremely limited and delayed promotions, hard living conditions in uncongenial environments, risk to life and limb, recognised the world over and termed as X factor and fully compensated, is simply overlooked in India.
Taking the existing pay, etc, and assuming there being no increase for the next two and a half decades for civil employees, a soldier retiring at 35-37 years would get approximately Rs. 37 lakh less compared to his equivalent in the civil, by the time both reach the age of 60: age at which a civil employee will retire. Thereafter, a civil employee gets much more pension than a soldier. In the case of officers, the financial loss due to early retirement and limited and delayed promotions and subsequently lesser pension, is far greater. When increases by subsequent CPC are taken into account, disparity for defence personnel increases exponentially.
The 6th CPC, with an IAS officer on it, (a permanent feature on every CPC) granted to IAS officers and all AIS (All India Services) and Group A services (nearly 4 dozen of them) what is called Non-Functional Up-gradation (NFU), a sort of ‘pay promotion’ unrelated to job content and performance parameters, etc, but the same was denied to defence services officers, thus consigning to the dustbin the traditional pay parity between the commissioned officers and the AIS.
NFU to AIS means that they can circumvent the pyramidal cadre structure and earn pay advancement right up to HAG level (additional secretary – Lt-Gen) without going through any selection process or availability of posts, etc. This in a nutshell resulted in all officers of these civil services rising one level below the apex (secretary) level. Whereas 99.5% armed forces officers (major generals and below) stagnate in Pay band 3 and 4. This largesse was to meet the aspirations of civil services. Apparently and by implication the denial of NFU to defence services officers meant that they have no aspirations! NFU is simply a plunder of the exchequer.
Change after mid-50s
Up to mid-fifties, a brigadier drew more pension than a chief secretary of a state and soldiers and others 75% of the last pay drawn as pension. A major-general drew more pension than secretary to the government of India. This was to compensate for early retirement and extremely limited and delayed promotions, beside the then acknowledged X factor. 
The condition of 33 years’ service to earn full pension works only against defence services personnel because majority of them are compulsorily retired much before completing that length of service. Of the three career progression benefits available to all central service personnel, nearly 80% of defence personnel have to contend with just one, due to retirement, before second and third come into play.
Losing attraction
Military service has become so unattractive that few suitable candidates are coming forward to join the officer cadre. (The deficiency is around 12,000.) Same is the case of soldiers. From 2001 to 2004, 2,000 army officers applied for release from service, which included two lieutenant-generals, 10 major-generals, 84 brigadiers and the rest colonels and below. This is a glaring case of acute dissatisfaction in the service. How many from the civil services opt to leave!


Since the mid-fifties defence services have been relentlessly downgraded. Perhaps the bureaucracy has been frightening the political class, with the mirage of a military takeover and thereby creating a bias against the services.

The higher echelon in the defence services are not affected except for delayed promotions, so it has been a silent spectator to this onslaught on their officers. Policy of divide and rule of the government was first applied in the case of King Commissioned Officers (KCIOs) and the rest and later to higher echelon and the remaining officer corps of the defence services. Both the KCIOs and later higher echelon has been easy prey to these machinations of the politico-babu combine.
The PM, on more than one occasion, has committed that OROP would be granted. While defence services have full faith in the word of the PM, the then, part-time defence minister (Arun Jaitley) let out a missive. To a delegation of veterans he told that they better lower the demand. Obviously, Jaitley is not on the same page as his PM. He wanted to refer the case to a tribunal.
Attempts to flummox the political executive are afoot in that for one, the implementation of OROP is complicated, and two, it would open a Pandora’s box because all others would agitate for the same. The argument is totally untenable. Let civil services adopt the same service conditions, that is, same age for retirement and similar scope for promotions with attendant delay (leaving aside the X-factor) to qualify for adoption of the OROP concept.
The great injustice done to defence services needs early correction and the PM would do well to personally and urgently look into this. 
(The writer, a former deputy chief of army staff, is a commentator on defence and security issues. The views expressed are personal.)
(Source- Hindustan Times)

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Friday 28 November 2014

A former JAG officer writes to Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, asking him to ensure 'Indian Military Veterans like me command respect and dignity in my own country too, just as we do, ironically, in other democracies'.
Dear Shri Manohar Parrikar,
I write to you today after attending Veterans Day celebrations in Washington DC on November 11, 2014, as a former Indian Army Veteran. I would rather prefer calling ex-servicemen as ‘Veterans’ without giving them a feeling of gender bias or being left out as the term ‘ex’ conveys.
Having served the Indian Army, given my youth to the nation and being a third-generation Army officer I am proud to say that the qualities of ‘guts and glory’ run in my blood.
With this open letter, I intend highlighting the fact as to how Veterans are respected and revered in the United States of America, which I never witnessed back home in my own country. This, I say with conviction after having a first-hand experience at various events, which reflect the honor meted out to the Veterans of the Armed Forces. The country and its citizens do not give any differential treatment to non-US Veterans like me. Rather the kind of attention and respect I have received here as a Veteran is applaudable.
The Veterans Day Celebrations made me feel how American citizens (including civilians) were proud of their soldiers who defend their borders. Each person who knew that I had served my nation came to appreciate my role and hugged me. I wonder why our Indian civilian population would not pay attention to the soldiers who have sacrificed their youth for India. The root cause for all this is that we do not glorify the important role of our Armed Forces in the World Wars and respective wars in the annals of history in the curriculum taught at school level.
Are our men and women in uniform only to be remembered for a short attention span? They are called only on occasions such as Republic Day and when in dire straits especially during natural calamities like floods, cyclones and earthquake for relief work. Not to mention the ‘aid to civil authority’ in times of domestic turmoil just because the local police and administrative authorities (the so called babus) could not handle the situation.
I would like to emphasize that USA has special programs and scholarships (yellow ribbon program) to encourage veterans to continue their higher studies. Please note that this scheme is alike for officers and troops. One such example is yours truly.
I am presently pursuing my Masters of Laws in a top ranking US Law School and the University has awarded me at par scholarship as a foreign veteran. There are various networking events and recruiting workshops that are conducted only for the veterans.
The US Veterans face the same myths of ‘irrelevant experience’ and ‘rigidity in thought and action’ while moving to the civilian world however the US government and its policies make the transition simpler. The US Department of Veterans Affairs and other authorities as well as universities make the Veterans’ ride smooth to move from the battlefield to the boardroom. US Companies receive tax benefits on hiring Veterans. It is pertinent to mention that US troops (not just officers) have been making a mark in the corporate arena by displaying their leadership qualities.
My concern at this point in time is that why our Armed Forces personnel are not glorified for their heroic acts. Our soldiers have been fighting in the toughest terrains possible in this world.
Why are the Veterans treated like a ‘burden’ by the serving officers and the Ministry of Defense? Why does a Veteran have to struggle to get his paltry sum of disability pension by resorting to long drawn and expensive litigation doing rounds of Armed Forces Tribunal and higher Courts? Why are the majority of appeals filed by the Ministry of Defense in the Supreme Court against their own disabled soldiers and old pensioners? Why are you- the decision makers, shielded and insulated from the real problems suffered by the veteran stakeholders and made to sign on the dotted line wherever the military or civilian bureaucracy wants resulting in unilateral decisions which are forcibly imposed?
Why do you not directly get to hear the authentic voice of the Veterans and the problems that they are facing? Why is the status of military personnel on a constant decline in the official pecking order? Why are there not enough continuing legal programs for our soldiers except the antiquated vocational courses of Director General of Resettlement? Why is the Kendriya Sainik Board not being pro-active on policies on Veterans? Is showing an agenda on paper enough?
I say this not as a disgruntled Veteran but as a responsible former officer of Judge Advocate General’s Department who has served in the Integrated Headquarters of Ministry of Defense and worked with these institutions closely.
May I also remind you that your party in its manifesto had promised minimizing appeals against soldiers with respect to the rulings rendered in their favor by judicial bodies, an issue which was also strongly raised by Ms Smriti Irani when she was in opposition, however sadly nothing seems to have moved in that direction, there being not even an iota of change in the attitude of the Ministry in the said regard.
I request you, as the new Defense Minister, to implement progressive policies for all Armed Forces personnel (not just officers but also the troops) and Veterans of the three Forces.
As for the Indian citizens to look up in awe towards the Indian soldier and appreciate the role of Armed Forces at all times, this change in attitude and thought has to be instilled in the minds of the younger generation by highlighting the glory of the Forces. This is also the reason for the low rate of selections in the Armed Forces in the past few years at the Commissioned Officer level.
My country has the third largest Army and an equally capable Air Force and Navy, that craves for attention and respect for the valor it has shown over the ages.
It is for you to take a call on this Raksha Mantri Ji, it is for you to ensure that Indian Military Veterans like me command respect and dignity in my own country too, just as we do, ironically, in other democracies.
Sincerely,
Loveleen Kaur Mann
Former Captain,
Judge Advocate General’s Department
Indian Army

Wednesday 12 November 2014

EX-SERVICEMEN CHEATED ONCE AGAIN EX-SERVICEMEN DECIDE TO RESUME AGITATION FOR ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

05 Nov 2014

Politics of the India is forcing normally well-disciplined and patient ex-servicemen to resume their agitation for OROP. 

OROP is more than 30 year old demand of ex-servicemen. This demand became necessary when rank wise pension of ex-servicemen was discontinued and armed forces of India were clubbed with central Government employees in 1973 and their pensions were reduced to bring at par with central Government employees. Ex-servicemen had been demanding OROP since then. Central Government did not agree to this most genuine demand despite OROP being recommended by Parliamentary Committee on Defence on more than one occasion.

Realizing the neglect by Politicians/bureaucrat combine, Ex-servicemen decided to form a movement to press home their demands. INDIAN EX-SERVICEMEN MOVEMENT (IESM) was formed on 13 Aug 2008 to put across their demands and agitate (much against their precedents and training) for acceptance of their demands. In-fact politicians forced the normally peaceful and silent force to agitate for their genuine demands because of their willful neglect Ex-servicemen.

IESM agitated for their demands, OROP being one of the most important demands. IESM gave memorandums to Government listing four demands. Government did not pay attention to these peaceful memorandums. IESM was then forced to escalate the agitation and deposited 22000 Gallantry medals to the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces the President of India to convey their disappointment with ex-servicemen policies of the Government. Memorandums signed in their own blood were given to President of India, ex-servicemen sat on relay hunger strikes and rallies were organized all over India to press for approval of OROP and other demands. Agitation/Rallies were supported by more than 25000 live members of IESM and lacs of associate members. More than 50 ESM organizations joined hands with IESM and supported the rallies/agitation planned by IESM.

UPA 2 Government finally approved OROP in the budget presented on 17 Feb 14 and allotted Rs 500/ crores for OROP. On 24 Feb 14 then Defence Minister Sh AK Anthony presided over a meeting and ordered MOD and CDA to issue instructions and ensure payment as per the approved definition of OROP given below 

 “OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement, and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This implies bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners, and also future enhancements in the rate of pension, to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners”. 

Despite clear instructions from Defence Minister, MOD did not issue notification for payment of OROP. 

During the election campaign, BJP leaders also promised OROP for ex-servicemen as soon as BJP Government would be formed at center. It is very important to note that BJP PM designate Sh Narendra Modi started his campaign on 15 Sept 13 (Precisely one day after being nominated as PM designate) in an ex-servicemen rally at Rewari. He roared to say that Congress Government has done nothing for ex-servicemen. He further questioned congress government and demanded a white paper on their sincerity for grant of OROP. He had also assured ex-servicemen that had BJP party been in Government, OROP would have been reality by now. Ex-servicemen accepted these promises made by BJP politicians on their face value and voted en-bloc for BJP. 

Finance cum Defence Minister Sh Arun Jaitley, in his first budget on 10 June, put a stamp of approval on OROP (already approved by UPA Govt) for ex-servicemen and allotted further Rs 1000/ crores for OROP, and promised more funds as per requirement. Honorable Prime Minister has confirmed at more than three occasions that OROP for ex-servicemen is his commitment to Armed Forces and ex-servicemen and sufficient funds have been catered for OROP in the budget for 2014-15.

Seven months have passed since approval of OROP and notification of OROP has still not been issued. Ex-servicemen are exasperated and losing confidence in politicians/bureaucrats. OROP is commitment of Prime Minister, approved by two Parliaments and agreed by all political parties of India but it has still not become reality and is still a mirage. Ex-servicemen are where they were! Most disappointing situation, but true!Disappointed with the step motherly treatment meted out to them by the Government, IESM has decided to resume agitations and has planned to deposit more of Gallantry medals to convey their disappointment with Government. 

IESM plans to start relay hunger strike from 3rd December 14 at Jantar Mantar (start of Indo Pak war in 1971). A jatha of ex-servicemen will sit on hunger strike every day till 16 December 14 (surrender of Pakistan army to Indian Army in 1971, glorious day in the history of Indian Armed Forces). A mega rally will be organized on 7th December Sunday at Jantar Mantar. A tranche of medals will be returned to the President of India on 16 Dec. 

IESM REQUESTS ALL EX-SERVICEMEN TO
  1. JOIN AGITATION FOR OROP IN LARGE NUMBERS.

  1. IESM STATE UNITS ARE URGED TO SEND JATHAS OF 15 MEN EVERYDAY FOR SITTING ON RELAY HUNGER STRIKE FROM 3 DEC TO 16 DEC 2014.

  1. ATTEND MEGA RALLY IN LARGE NUMBERS ON 7 DECEMBER 2014 SUNDAY. RALLY WILL START AT 1000H AT JANTAR MANTAR NEW DELHI

  1. RETURN THEIR GALLANTRY MEDALS TO BE DEPOSITED WITH THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA ON 16 DECEMBER FOR SAFE CUSTODY.                                                                                                                          Ex-servicemen are requested to resolve their local problems and join the agitation in VERY LARGE NUMBERS. 
DEAR EX-SERVICEMEN DELHI ELECTIONS ARE DUE SOON AND YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL PARTIES. PLEASE USE YOUR VOTE JUDICIOUSLY AND FORCE POLITICAL PARTIES TO LISTEN TO YOUR DEMANDS.

IESM THANKS ALL MEMBERS FOR GRACIOUSLY DONATING FOR FLOODS VICTIMS IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR. FUNDS, RECEIVED AS DONATION, HAVE BEEN DULY PASSED ON TO J & K FLOOD VICTIMS. 

DONATIONS FROM MEMBERS TO SUPPORT AGITATION FOR OROP WILL BE APPRECIATED BY IESM.


ALL ESM ORGANISATIONS ARE REQUESTED TO JOIN THE AGITATION AND UNITE FOR OROP AND SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO GOVERNMENT. 

Regards

Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM
L - 48, Sector - 25,
NOIDA. 201301
Tele no 01204313951
Mobile   09810541222

Pls see IESM latest NEWS on http://www.iesm.in

OROP is our right. Dilution in OROP will NOT be accepted.

(Source- BC Vasundhara blog)

PM launches Jeevan Pramaan – Digital Life Certificate for Pensioners

Monday, November 10, 2014


PM launches Jeevan Pramaan – Digital Life Certificate for Pensioners

Huge relief for senior citizens who have to produce Life Certificates each year to continue receiving pension

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched “Jeevan Pramaan” – an “Aadhar-based Digital Life Certificate” for pensioners, in a move that could eventually benefit over a crore pensioners. The Prime Minister said that after the push towards self-certification, this digital life certificate was another enabling mechanism which would benefit the common man.


The proposed digital certification will do away with the requirement of a pensioner having to submit a physical Life Certificate in November each year, in order to ensure continuity of pension being credited into his account. The Department of Electronics and IT has developed a software application which will enable the recording of the pensioner`s Aadhar number and biometric details from his mobile device or computer, by plugging in a biometric reading device. Key details of the pensioner, including date, time, and biometric information will be uploaded to a central database on real-time basis, ultimately enabling the Pension Disbursing Agency to access a Digital Life Certificate. This will conclusively establish that the pensioner was alive at the time of authentication.

The earlier requirement entailed that a pensioner either personally presents himself before the Pension Disbursing Agency, or submits a Life Certificate issued by authorities specified by the Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO).

At present, 50 lakh individuals draw pension from the Central Government alone. A similar number draw pension from State and Union Territory Governments. Several PSUs also provide pension benefits. Over 25 lakh retired personnel draw pension from the Armed Forces. The Aadhar-Based Digital Life Certificate will go a long way in reducing hardship which so many senior citizens have to go through to produce a Life Certificate every year.

The software application system will be made available to pensioners and other stakeholders on a large scale at no extra cost. It can be operated on a personal computer or a smartphone, along with an inexpensive biometric reading device. This facility will also be made available at Common Service Centres being operated under the National e-Governance Plan, for the benefit of pensioners residing in remote and inaccessible areas.

Source: PIB News

Friday 24 October 2014

A lIE CAN NEVER BECOME TRUTH EVEN IF IT IS FROM THE HIGHIST OFFICE OF PRIME MINISTER'S


PM's surprise visit to Siachen; celebrates Diwali with officers and jawans of the Indian Armed Forces

PM to jawans: I come to celebrate my first Diwali as PM with you. Happy to be among my own.

PM to jawans: You make it possible for 125 crore Indians to celebrate Diwali happily.

"Your dreams and responsibilities are the responsibility of us all. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with you."


The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today made a surprise visit to Siachen. Addressing officers and jawans of the Indian Armed Forces at Siachen Base Camp at a height of over 12,000 feet, he praised their valour and courage, saying that 125 crore Indians could celebrate Diwali today, and go about their lives in comfort, because the jawans stood guard at the borders, prepared to make every sacrifice for the nation. The nation is proud of all three wings of the armed forces, the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister said he had come unannounced, and the jawans may be surprised, but one does not need to announce arrival when coming to one's own (family).

The Prime Minister said the jawans at Siachen worked in one of the remotest places in the world. It is a rare opportunity to be called upon to defend the country in such difficult conditions, he said.

Shri Narendra Modi said that he comes to Siachen as a representative of the family members of the jawans who are busy serving Mother India on the borders.

He said he is privileged that his first Diwali as Prime Minister will be spent partly with the jawans of Siachen, and partly with those affected by the floods in Srinagar.

The Prime Minister said the Indian Armed Forces were unique - because while they spelt trouble for the enemy on the battlefield, they spelt life for all the countrymen affected by disasters or natural calamities. He recalled the immense contribution made by the Armed Forces during the recent floods in Srinagar.

The Prime Minister also appreciated the fact that women too were now contributing to the Indian Armed Forces in a significant way.

Sharing the pain and anguish of those who lose their loved ones in these difficult conditions, the Prime Minister said sometimes a body is found years later, and many still wait. He said one has to witness first-hand, the conditions at Siachen to appreciate the hardship that the jawans go through.

The Prime Minister assured the jawans that wherever they are, and serving or retired, the country stands shoulder to shoulder with them. He said their dreams and responsibilities are the entire country's responsibility. He said he would do his utmost to ensure a life of dignity for them. The Prime Minister said the promise of One Rank, One Pension had been fulfilled, and preparations were being made for a National War Memorial, that we could all be proud of. The Prime Minister wished the entire country "Happy Diwali" from the icy heights of Siachen, adding that as countrymen light diyas today, they should recall that the warmth of the earthen lamps has been fuelled by the sweat and toil of the jawans of the Indian Armed Forces. Let those jawans inspire the rest of the country to work towards achieving the dreams and aspirations of the common man, he added.

The Prime Minister later handed over a cheque for Rs. 5 lakh for the welfare of the jawans, and personally offered sweets to the jawans. He wrote in the visitors' book, saying that the soldiers in uniform who guarded the nation's frontiers in such difficult conditions were no less than 'rishis' and sages. The Prime Minister was at Siachen Base Camp for over an hour.http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=110773

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Saturday 11 October 2014

सेना मे अफ़सर जवानो का शोषण कर रहे है , उनका घरेलू नोकर की तरह इस्तेमाल किया जा रहा है क्या जवान सेना मे  अफसरो को मदिरा पिलाने के लिए भर्ती होते है ? http://t.co/0C56YshvtT
भोजन करते समय टीवी और अन्या उप्कर्नो का प्रयोग ना करें और सफ़र करते समय भी भोजन ना लें. यदि आपका मन किसी अन्य काम मे व्यस्त है तो तो आप अपनी जीरणा शक्ति या भूक से अधिक मात्रा मे भोजन करते हैं.

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