RAJASTHANI VETERANS

RAJASTHANI VETERANS
RAJASTHANI VETERANS

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

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