Dhanapalan Ak
The President, Akhil Bharatiya Poorva Sainic Seva Parishad (Lt Gen VM Patil, PVSM, AVSM)
Dear Dir,
This is with reference to the discussion held on 26th May 18 during the 19th Annual General body meeting of Akhil Bharatiya Poorva Sainic Seva Parishad, at Sikar (Rajastan).
Firstly, I wish to bring out that matters concerning more than 35 lakhs of Ex-servicemen and around 10 lakshs of widows were NOT found any place in the Agenda of the 2 days meeting. It is highly objectionable especially when an organization like ours ignore the Armed Forces Ex-servicemen fraternity of India completely.
The delegates came to SIKAR from all parts of the country mostly at their own expenses paying even the Registration fees and spending their valuable time and taking all the risks of journey at this Hot summer with temp of 44o C, with a hope to discuss in the Highest forum of the organization on all the issues being faced by their comrades spread over the country . It was quite unfortunate that not even 5 mts could be kept earmarked for such purpose although it deserve for discussion for the whole day or more. But why was it not happened? Is it because the leaders of the org feel that there is no problem with them and nothing is to be discussed..? If so, it
need to be explained by such leaders that:-
a) Why there are too many Court Cases.. ?. And why from Sepoys to General Officers are to knock the doors of the Judiciary, if the Govt machinery as well as the org like ours are functioning properly. ?
b) And why the Govt loose all the cases giving a direct indication that their approach is NOT correct .. ?
c) But why the judgments are NOT being implemented?
d) And why, to save the face of certain crooked officials, the Govt is forced to appeal against these ex-servicemen in Supreme Court spending huge public money only to loose the cases again ? Is it NOT a conspiracy in the MOD officials to harass the poor jawans and claim huge amount towards TA/DA, engaging private advocates and other misc expenses apart from wasting office time of such officials . ?
e) Is it NOT demoralizing the Armed Forces Personnel as a whole apart from financial and social aspect being faced by them ?
Do you think that all these points do NOT merit for any discussion at all ??
Secondly, I wish to bring out that the pension of Civilian Central Govt Employees which was 30% of the basic pay prior to 1973 has been enhanced to 50% by the 3CPC , giving a hike of 20% in pension calculation. This hike of 20% should have been naturally extended to the Armed Forces Personnel also whereas the pension calculation has been brought down to 50% which was 75% up to the year 1973.
Hence there was a short fall of 45% in the pension of Jawans. Why? No reason could be given to this by any one so far. This injustice has been done when the jawans are to retire at an early age when his basic pay is very very less compared to Civilian Employees who have number of years service ahead for more promotions and more Pay Commission benefits and reach a very higher pay and get higher pension. As such how these two categories of personnel can be treated at par for pension calculation?? Is it NOT a discrimination? If at all this 50% is to be applied, justice demand that their pay also to be notionally stepped up to make at par with the civilians who retire at the age of 60 yrs. Has any one really objected to this and asked to RESTORE the deduction of 45% made in the pension calculation? No one seems to realize the tress and mental agony caused by such an early retirement and befooling them in the pension calculation. In all fairness ex-servicemen should have been given a “MEANINGFUL RESETTLEMENT PACKAGE” in addition to the pension for the sacrifices they made for the safety and integrity of the Country.
Thirdly, One Rank One Pension (OROP) was sanctioned by the Govt of India , Min of Def, Dept of EX-Servicemen Welfare Vide No.12(1)/2014/D/(Pen/Pol)-Part II dtd 7th Nov 2015. The order says which I quote “OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Defence Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement , which implies, bridging the gap between the rates of pension of current and past pensioners at periodic intervals.” Unquote. This is precisely what has done by the 7th CPC in the case of Civilian Employees, where in the method adopted is stepping up the pay notionally to bring them at par with those of 2016 employees and revise the pension, here also the intention is to bridge the gap between the current and past pensioners. In other words, both are one at the same.
However the difference is that the financial implication for implementing the OROP for Jawans after a great deal of discussion and committees for years, has come to a conclusion that it would be around Rs.8 to 10 thousand Crs . This is said to be a great burden to the Govt and after a long debate decided to pay the arrears in 4 (four) installments. Apart from that , anomalies in the order which was too many, to be referred to a committee which was required to submit its report within 6 months has not seen the light even today, after 2 years. The anomalies are still existing and the payments could not be made in full so far.
All these actions were to create an impression that much more than what is deserving have been given to the Ex-servicemen . On top of it, the statement made in public functions that “OROP has been granted at the cost of poor farmers”, is an insult to the Armed Forces Personnel.
On the contrary in the case of civilian pensioners, the same decision to bridge the gap between the current and past retires have been fully implemented , financial implication for this is estimated to be nearly Rs. One Lakh Cr and approved by the Govt with just only 15 mts discussion. The Arrears were paid in full and NOT installments.
Not only such insult and down gradation has been made, but also an attempt is being made to project the OROP as the one to restore the pension deducted during 1973.
Fourthly, there is reason to believe that the H’ble Prime Minister and the RM are being misguided to the extend that the OROP is the one which is intended to restore the pension deducted during the year 1973 and is as per the demand of the Ex-servicemen since last 40 years and most of the ex-servicemen fraternity are happy with the present OROP and only a few people with political motivation are creating problem . This is the reason that every time the leaders proudly say that OROP which was pending for the past 40 years have now been given to our jawans. This is factually NOT correct and misleading. This is a clear case of cheating similar to the “ Rank Pay” gtd in 1986, created by the MOD officials. In fact, not only the OROP (restoring the old scheme) has not been given but also The ex-servicemen as well as the General public are being fooled using wrong propaganda through the official/social media.
Fifthly, There was an unstarred Question No.2474 dt 11/3/2016 in the Lok Sabha and answer to the same is given below:-
“(a) & (b) in pursuance of the Hon’ble President’s Statement made in the ADDRESS TO THE Joint Session of the Parliament on 9th Jun 2014, regarding Govt’s decision to appoint a Veterans Commission, the National Commission for Ex-servicemen Bill, 2015 has been drafted.
(c)&(d) The comments of the Department of Legislative Affairs and Department of Administrative Reforms And Public Grievances have been obtained. The matter is under consideration of the Govt.”
Since 9th Jun 2014 , the Ex-servicemen Grievances and redressal commission is in the process of Govt consideration. The Previous RM Sri Parikker was briefed by us during our annual meeting at Anand(Gujarat) and also I could meet him at Calicut when he was very much enthusiastic in getting the same through soon. He was fully convinced of the necessity of such a commission for the Ex-servicemen who have no trade unions and for the reasons that mischievousness being played by certain officials in MOD on Govt decisions itself. But what happened to this commission?
Sixthly. The fact remains that neither the previous Govt for 40 yrs nor the present Govt for 4 yrs could do justice to the Ex-servicemen but were only fooling them wisely in this respect. The some crooked officials in the MOD is on an un-declared war against the Ex-servicemen and widows of the Indian Armed Forces. Should we take it as a challenge.? Sir, are you hearing..? Does some one in service HQs or in the Deparment of Ex-servicemen Welfare, shamelessly listening..??? We have hundreds of organizations with many Senior Veterans.. are they sleeping….???? Pension is not a mercy , it is a matter of right, but who will fight for the ex-servicemen and widows of the Armed Forces?
Seventhly and lastly,
To over come the present crisis and to keep up Morale of the troops and to win the confidence of the ex-servicemen, widows and their families, I suggest the following immediate action:-
1. Court Cases :
(a) All the cases pending in different Courts should be settled by arranging “Adalat” .
(b)All judgments should be implemented withdrawing appeals, if any.
(c) Litigations involving Armed Forces Personnel be brought to “O” level.
2. JCOs/NCOs/Ors – Pension reduced to 50% from the year 1973 should be restored for those who retire before completion of normal age for superannuation.
3. Officers- Ration may be restored .
4. OROP – (a) Report on anomalies committee on OROP should be implemented immediately. (b) “In future, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years” This should be reduced to 3yrs.
5. Defence Grievances Redressal Commission- be set up without any further delay.
Major AK Dhanapalan (Rtd)/
12/6/2018
Vice President , PSSP Kerala
08281340080
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