Addressing ex-servicemen’s issues top priority: Army Chief
Remains non-committal on ‘one rank, one pension’
Ravi Dhaliwal
Army Chief General Bikram Singh at an ex-servicemen's rally in Pathankot on Sunday. A Tribune photograph
Pathankot, July 1
Army Chief General Bikram Singh today assured ex-servicemen that the Army was sensitive to their needs and that every step would be taken to ensure that they and their families were looked after well. He was addressing a gathering of ex-servicemen at the 21 Sub Area here.
The General, accompanied by his wife Bubbles Singh, flew in from the Yol Army base, near Dharamsala, by a chopper and was accorded a warm welcome by senior Army and civil administration officers.
He said addressing the problems of ex-servicemen would his priority. He asked them to bring their grievances to his notice through their respective Sainik Welfare Boards.
Brig Kuldeep Singh (retd) read out the grievances being faced by ex-servicemen to which the Army Chief replied that he would work on a priority basis to get them resolved.
“The sacrifices made by these heroes will continue to inspire the present and future generations and would also motivate a large number of youngsters to serve our motherland,” he said.
However, the Army Chief steered away from controversial “one rank, one pension” issue. “I will try my level best to get the issue resolved at the earliest,” he said.
The organisers had set up several stalls to assist former Army personnel on issues pertaining to pension, housing, insurance and recruitment.
The Chief of the Army Staff honoured Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra awardees. Monetary assistance was also given to their families.
Bubbles Singh interacted with around 600 war widows and 500 disabled soldiers. Later, she inaugurated Asha School for differently-abled children on the premises of the Military Hospital
Army Chief General Bikram Singh at an ex-servicemen's rally
FIRSTLY: NO CHIEF WANTS TO DO ANY THING FOR VETERANS, BUT WANTS TO BE IN LIME LIGHT BY VISITING EX SERVICEMEN RALLIES.
ReplyDeleteSECONDLY: HE HAS NEITHER CONTROL OVER SAINIK BOARDS NOR COMMUNICATION SO ANY PROBLEM ADDRESSED TO SAINIK BOARD WILL NOT REACH HIM NOR WILL GO BEYOND THE DISTRICT HQ. THEN WHY A COAS SHOULD MISGUIDE IF HE CANNOT DO A THING ,THAN BETTER KEEP QUIET . IF HE IS REALLY INTERESTED THAN HE SHOULD GET FEED BACK THROUGH ESM CELL/ECHS/CANTEEN & SET UP A POSITIVE TREND. MOREOVER HE SHOULD REMEMBER AFTER TWO YEARS HE TOO WILL BE IN THE SAME BOAT OF EX SERVICEMEN.
THIRDLY; ONE RANK ONE PAY HAS BEEN REJECTED BY CS & DEFENCE MINISTER IS NOW SAYING IT IS NOT FEASIBLE TO IMPLEMENT DUE TO ADM,FINANCIAL &WORK CONTENT INVOLVED. THAN WHY COAS SHOULD MISGUIDE THAT IT IS AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL.
FOURTHLY; IF COAS IS WORTH HIS SALT THAN HE SHOULD HAVE GUTS TO ASK WHEN PM, FM, RM, LOK SABHA, RAJYA SABHA HAS APPROVED & ACCEPTED ONE RANK ONE PENSION THAN HOW CAN A CS REJECT IT. IS CS ABOVE LOK SABHA/RAJ SABHA/PM/FM/RM. HE SHOULD PUT HIS FOOT DOWN & PRESS HARD TO BRING CS TO HIS LEVEL. IT WILL BE BETTER FOR HIM ARMY / EX SERVICEMEN & NATION.
FIFTHLY :LONG JOURNEY OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION HAS BEEN COVERED & AS COAS IF HE CANNOT GET IT IMPLEMENTED ,THAN HE CAN PASS ON TIME OF COAS PERIOD LIKE A PREVIOUS COAS
SIXTHLY: The Chief of Staffs’ Committee (COSC) had strongly conveyed to the Raksha Mantri the requirement of extending NFU to the defence services. MoD where Under Secretary rejected the entire proposal‘proposal of the services cannot be agreed to’.
COL [SELECTION] HAS NOT ONLY BEEN DENIED HAG SCALE BUT ALSO NOT CONSIDERED FOR SUPER TIME SCALE. WHAT A SHAME?
[COL ARE NOT GETTING HAG SCALE]& MAKING A COWARD ,UNFIT ARMY , POOR COMMAND SET UP
1..
3. COL [SELECTION GRADE] SHOULD BE ABOVE SUPER TIME SCALE, BUT IN REALITY IT IS NOT SO. THEY ARE BEING PAID DEGRADED PAY & PENSION.[EVEN BELOW SUPER TIME SCALE]
5. Colonel has been not even been equated with Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG). The rank of a DIG who was till date between a Lt Colonel and a Colonel is now officially equal to a Brigadier. Both are now on a Grade Pay of Rs 8900.
7. WHERE IS REWARD TO COL/BRIG WHO WORKED HARD FOR PROMOTION & ORGANISATIONAL GROWTH, ALL THEIR LIFE
COL/BRIG IS IN FORE FRONT DURING PEACE/WAR AND WITH DIRECT COMMUNICATION WITH MEN.COL/BRIG IS A KING PIN BETWEEN TROOPS & HIGHER UPS.IF HIS MORALE IS LOWERED ,NO WAR CAN BE WON.
8. DIFFERENCE OF PAY SCALE OF COL[S] VS LT COL [TS/S] WIIL BE COL LTS] =59400-58090=1310- INCOME TAX @20%+CESS 3%=RS .777/
AS THERE IS HARDLY ANY DIFFERENCE IN TAKE HOME PAY OF COL [TS] & COL [SELECTION]. SO WHY BOTHER ATTITUDE WILL PREVAIL.
MOREOVER NO /ZERO DIFFERENCE IN PENSION
THAN WHY SLOG & GET KILLED OR INJURIED WHEN NO BENFITS / REWARD FOR WORKING
9. A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ARMY.BULK OF ARMY OFFICER RETIRES IN COL & BELOW RANK. FOR JUST RS 777/ WHY SLOG FOR LIFE & RISK LIFE.
CHILDREN OF ELITE FAMILIES USE TO JOIN NOW SEE QUALITY THEY ARE NOT FROM ELITE SOCIETY SO MENTAL LEVEL WILL BE LOWER. TO ADD TO IT THEY TOO ARE LEAVING HENCE SHORTAGE OF OFFICER. TO FIGHT A WAR YOU NEED INDIAN OFFICER FROM INDIAN ORIGIN. YOU CAN TAKE CONSULTANTS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES & NOT ARMY OFFICER.LOOK AFTER BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
SUPREME COURT DIRECTED MOD TO REVISE PAY SCALES OF COL/BRIG AT TIME OF 6TH CPC, BUT NO EFFECT TILL DATE.
13 IAS /1PS HAVE 3 HAG BAND [FOR ALL SELECTION GRADE] & ARMY HAS 4 GRADES ONLY FOR GENERAL & 6 GRADES FOR SELCTION OFFICER. THEY ARE EATING AWAY PAY OF COL /BRIG [SELECTION GRADE]
14.THERE IS IMMEDIATE NEED TO REVISE PAY/PENSION OF selection GRADE COL/BRIG w.e.f. 1/1/2006.THEY HAVE TO BE KEPT ABOVE SUPER TIME SCALE TO MAINTAIN THEIR FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF EQUALITY & MAINTAIN SANCTITY OF ARTICLE 14OF CONSTITUTION