Final Letter - Memorandum of Demand and suggestions From Jawan and JCO for OROP and various other problems.

F I N A L.   L E T T E R

Date:  22  Feb 2023

To,

Shri Narender Modi Ji

 Honourable Prime Minister of india

Union Govt of india

South Block

New Delhi- 110011

Sub.Memorandum of Demand and suggestions From Jawan and JCO for OROP and various other problems.

Respected Sir,

1. With due respect, I, Surender Kumar, President, South Delhi Ex serviceman Association Having its regd office at 111/9, Kishan Garh, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi - 110070 would like to  state that a day dherna demostration on 20 Feb 2023 was held at Jantar Mantar, Delhi under the banner of the South Delhi Ex Serviceman Association attended by more then 50,000 ex servicemen from all various  other states of India apart from  above mentioned 25,000  ex servicemen  were from Delhi and NCR area alone from the three wings of defence forces from  approx  50  various  PBOR Associations which are registered Delhi and NCR area and various other states in  all over in  india. The following points were raised  during dharna demostration.      

2.  Demand Memorandum  along with suggestions is enclosed for your persual please .

Point No.1. 7th CPC : During 7th pay commission the formula recommended by the defence serving /retired officers was totally bias and our Sepoy rank was recommended to pay band 1 their basic pay start from Rs. 18,000.00 with Grade Pay of Rs. 1800.00 which is equivalent to peon in civil. Like wise JCO rank was put up under pay band 2 and their basic pay also start with  Rs. 35400.00 with Grade Pay of  Rs. 4200.00 which just equivalent to Sub Inspector of Delhi Police or para military force or assistant in civil job.

Our Defence officers did not given any due regards for jawans and even for jco rank who are  the back bone of the defence service during peace and war and also in maintaing administration and decipline in the units/Ships and Establishments/Billets.

Suggestion:. It is suggested that Defence pay structure for Sepoy rank must be start from pay band two onwards (basic pay 35400.00 with grade pay 4200.00 onwards)

Point No 2: One Rank One Pension(OROP): Since Sepoy to Hony Captain and their equivalent ranks in all the three wings of Indian Defence forces are being paid nominal amount and also to remove gap of amount between all the present and past retired defence personnel it was proposed to Govt to implement OROP scheme .The basic aim of the introducing this scheme was to bring all past retired defence service personnel (PBOR) at par with the present retiring defence service pensioners. with the keeping formula that same length of service and last drawn payment of the same rank. Govt accepted scheme and asked Defence Headquarters to prepare a scheme and means and ways to implement it.  the scheme will be reviewed every after five years keeping 2014 as a base year. The first OROP revision was carried out in 2014 and second revision was in 2019 but due to some inavoidable reasons the second revision was carried out in 2022. The scheme was high jacked by retired/serving  defence officers by showing strength of JCO and Jawans and maximum benifit was diverted towards officers cadre and, the  JCO and Jawans were kept on dark that case is under consideration  in Court and in  Govt of India. After declaration it has come to notice that Sepoy  to Hony captains are hardly given any benifits. The present circular is clearily indicate many rank one Pension which totally incorrect and not acceptable.

Suggestion:  The scheme need reviewed  by taking members from retired Jawan and JCO. There should seprate table each rank wise keeping last rank achieved and length of service.

Point No. 3: Equal Military Service Pay: The MSP was implemented to all PBOR in the Indian Defence Service forces just to improve the living standard and also to motivate Personnel below officer rank because they were less paid like other foreign country defence forces but in india the command went into the hands serving/ retired officer and they have changed the entire defination of MSP and divided into three categories Officers, MNS Officers and Jawans. Amount Rs 15500.00  marked for officer rank, Rs 10800 for military nursing officers. and Rs.5200 for Sepoy to Hony Captain and its equivalent rank in Other wings. The MSP was purely ment  only for Jawans, but contribution and importance of jawans  were  negalected by the officers and they made three categories in defence forces which are not acceptable hence, it should be only for Jawan and JCO  upto hony captain rank  and not for officers rank at all since they are already enough amount of salary and parks.

Suggestion:MSP is only for Jawans, JCO  upto Honorary Captsin  ranks only,  since these PBOR ranks are not serving upto superannuation of age (60 years of age) and  retaire in early age between 35 to 45 years of their age and also very less paid comparing to others in the civil.

Point No. 4: Equal disability pension:Again there is huge gap in the awarding disability pension between officers and Jawans. When Jawans and officers are fighting together on the border for safe guarding of nation's security and if any  untoward incident took place during war or peace which is attributable to the defence service, this is beyond any doubt how there could is a big difference taken place in awarding disability pension. A Jawan get few thousand of rupees whereas for an officer received lacs of rupees per month as a disability pension benefited for same disability. This disperity must be removed  should   be equal to both the categories.

Suggestion: Since body parts are equal  of the officers and Jawans and functioning for same cause while on duty whether it is peace or war. There should no difference in  recommending or awarding disability pension to maintain the murale of Jawans during war and peace.

Point No. 5: Grade pay: This is for your information that all Jawans starting from Sepoy to Subedar Major are being paid  at rate of Rs.2000.00 and Rs.6000.00  for  officers which is also part of pay,  which also define the status and equivalent in the civil service.  Grade pay for Sepoy rank  to Hony Captain must be start from Rs. 4200.00 onwards to mark the status of Jawans in civil. it will also improve the financial back ground of military personnel and murale of service personnel.

Suggestion: Grade pay for  Sepoy rank must start from Rs. 4200.00 onwards.  It will improve the financial back ground,social status in civil and boost the murale of service personnel in the defence force.

Point No. 6: Difference between word Superannuation Pre mature retirement (PMR) / Voluntarily retirement from Service(VRS) and terms of engagement: This is for your kind information that Jawans are inducted into Indian Defence forces under terms of Engagement depending upon the defence wing which is called a pensionable service.  On completion of 1st terms of engagement all jawans are again re-engaged for further service depending upon their medical fitness,good conduct, correcter and requirement of the forces which may be ranging between three to six years. That means it is quite clear that the Jawans are not inducted into defence for, till they attain their superannuation age. Like para military forces, state police and Civilian staff, whereas their initial joining it self for superannuation age. It is quite clear that even if Jawans wants to remain in the defence service till they attain the superannuation age. They will be re-enganged every after gap of time but jawans can not stay in the service at its own and it is totally on the will and wish of the Officers. No jawan is taking pre mature retirement or VRS its own , but due to service policy Jawans are forced live defence force before attaining superannuation age. Whereas in case officers, once an officer is inducted into defence forces he can remain and complete his superannuation age service even being in low medical category just to receive his all service benifits. Therefore , the word premature retirement or VRS in defence force is not applicable for PBOR. Hence all Jawans are to be given all types of benefits in OROP keeping word premature retirement and VRS aside. In civil a Multi Task Staff (MTS)  is recruited and can reached upto the level of under secretary in his superannuation of age even being in low medical category.

Suggestion: Since jawans are recruited initially for 15 years which is pensionable period of  service only. Jawans are further re-engaged for period of  three to six years of service depending upon their medical fitness, corrector and requirement of service. whereas in case of officer their are two type of commission Permanent Commission (PC) and Short service commission(SSC). whereas PC officers are secured till  58 to 60 years  of their age and SSC  officers on getting permanent commission (PC) , they also can serve upto  58 to 60 years of their age. Hence, no jawan or JCOs are coming under PMR or VRS categories.

Point No.7:Equal allowances as per situation. This is  again for  your kind  information that all Officers and Jawans whenever they go for any types of operation may be in war or in peace, they are facing/ living in the same environment and  in the same atmosphere than why there is difference between allowances, the amount should be fixed and equal for all Jawans and Officers who are working/ Living  in that same situation and atmosphere.

Suggestion: Since Officers and Jawans are living the same condition , and in the same environment, therefore, their should not any differences in allowances. it be equal for both categories till they stay there.

Point No 8: Revision in the widow pension for Jawans: After demise of any Jawan his wife become entitled for family pension which is reduced to 30% of the service pension.  In fact the responsibility increased on widow and she require more financial support after her husband demised.After implementation of multiple factors in 7th CPC and OROP an officer' widow gets a good and handsome amount to run her house and to meet her requirement but in case of Jawans it is reduced to 30%, in other words and at this stage she require more financial support to maintain and to meet her house requirement. Our request is that after demise of Jawan her widow should get same service pension which her husband was getting to avoid inconvenience.

Suggestion: After demise of pensioner, the entire responsibilty of family like food, clothes,tuition fees of school/college and other house hold automatically  shift  to widow and on top of the family pension also decreased to 30%. Therefore, all widows are finding very difficulties to run the house expenses. therefore,  it is suggested that family  pension given to widows should not be decrease to 30% and continue to draw same pension which het hanband was drawing.

 Point No 9: Issue of Colour Identity Cards to All Jco and equivalent in the defence services are  under gazetted rank issued under the seal,  and signature of supreme commander of  defence forces like in the case of officers. we are in the view of that all JCO and their equivalent in the all the three forces are to be given a colour service identity cards at the time on their retirement to mark of respect in the civil life.

Suggestion: Since all JCO are also a gazetted rank in defence service which is signed and stamped by supreme commander of Indian defence Forces like in case officer. It is therefore, suggested that all JCO are to be given good quality of colour identity card to mark respect in the civil.

Point No. 10. Appointment in KSB/DSB/OIC ECHS and CSD/INCS : It is seen that only  commissioned officers are being inducted into all above mentioned orgnisations or departments after their retirement from the defence services. For your kind information officers are inducted into defence through NDA on completion of their 12th class standard and on completion of their four years training in various defence establishment they become officers and called NDA graduate, their basic  civil education qualification is just 12th pass only. Today even Jawans are joining defence forces after completing their graduation and post graduation from civil school/colleges/universities, they are having much and better educational back ground then the defence trained officers, since due to poor back ground and limited resources these are recruited as a Jawans. Apart from civil education all jawans and JCO are given enough chances and responsibilities of maintaining discipline,administration and various other activities while they are in active service.

Suggestion:  All these post must be filled up from all the  rank and files of ex serviceman on the basis of a written test conducted by the UPSC or SSC.  All such appointments  should not be ear marked merely for commissioned officer.  It is seen that there are many officers simplly get these because they are holding a commission rank in the service but pratically they are incapable of holding these post.  

Point No.11. Abolishing of terminology word ORs (Other ranks)

It is seen that officers have changed the rank defination in the defences forces. four types of rank categories in Indian Defence Forces namely. Non Commissioned Officers, Junior Commissioned officers ,commissioned and short service commissioned officers. we do not know from where the word ORs is taken out by the officers. it shows their poor mentality and create disrespect to NCO/JCOs in armed forces which must be stopped forthwith.

Suggestion: This word OR must be abolished from defence force.

Point No. 12: ECHS: In defence services  hospitals , there are different type of medical wards  used while being admitted in the service hospitals. After retirement from active forces, a  fixed medical allowance (FMA) of rupees 1000/- (rupees one thousand only is paid monthly to officers and Jawans. We feel that after retirement all officers and Jawans are only ex serviceman and there is no service priority for any one but in  civil they are being given VVIP treatments in  pvt ward in civil empanelled hospitals. there should be an option that if any jawans are willing to pay extra amount for change in categories of wards from Semi Pvt and General wards  may be permitted on ECHS rates and not on matket rates. Here govt is not loosing or not paying extra.

Suggestion: First of all such type of ill treatment must stopped. After retirement every one is an ex serviceman .Govt is hereby requested to issue instructions for  any change of category can take place after paying difference of charge  specified at ECHS rate by any individual ex servicemen and not at market rate.

Point No. 13.Induction of Agniveer scheme: it is a very good scheme inducted in defence service where maximum youths in India will be given chance to serve the nation may be for a short duration only. My question is that why this scheme is not implemented for Officers entry. Next point that retaining  of 25%  agniveers in defence force is not understood  and   it create  reasonable doubts on the policy. The basic motive to keep these agniveers is for their personal use only.  It will create Chamchagiri in force and officers will recommend and keep only Chamcha/pupets and not effficient  or usefull.  The officers will utilized them for  their personal work and will recommend only those  are very closed to them. 

Remainong 75%  agniveers will again come to road in search of civil job.  Therefore,  we propose our recommendation that all Agniveers on completion of their initial engagement , must be transferred or inducted into para military forces or state police force without taking any medical and written test to the complete their superannuation of age.

Suggestion:Govt is requested to issue instructions that a written test will be conducted by the SSC or DSSSB for all agniveers inducted into defence force on completion of their initial specified period of service.

 For retaining 25%  of agniveers in the defence forces and for remaining balance 75% agniveers to join in civil like State police and para military forces on the basis of mark obtain/percentage and educational qualifications. This written test conducted by civil agencies will remove CHAMCHAGIRI from defence forces. Otherwise, there will be heavy recommendations from the senior officers and also increase in the chamchagiri in the defence force.

Induction of these 75% of agniveers to para military forces and state police will reduced training period ,load , medical and other expenses of Govt. All youth will get chance to join defence force as well as para military foces and state police.

Point No. 14: Enhancement of additional service pension :It seen that civilian or para military personnel who retired from service after attaining superannuation of age (60 years),  20% service pension is enhanced after completing 20 years of age (on attaining 80 years of age) of their retirement from service .

Now question arrise that all defence Jawans are retired from defence service between 35 to 45 years of age and 1st enhancement of additional pension take place only when Jawans  attain 80 years of his age, which is applicable for all civilian and para military forces. which is totally wrong procedure. Therefore, the 1st enhancement in basic service pension in the case of all defence pensioner must take place after retirement of 20 years from defence service or from his date of retirement and subsequently  increase every after five years like in the  case of civilian and other pensioner. 

Suggestion:  Since all central/state civil employees are retiring on completion of their superannuation of age(60 years) and their  20% pension is inhanced  after attaining age of 80 years. whereas Jawans and JCOs are retiring between 35 to 45 years of there age. therefore  it is strongly proposed that 20% pension is  must be increased after adding 20 years  in their retirement age or suitable percentage in the slab on the enterval of every five years. 

Point No. 15:. Purchasing of CAR from CSD . All defence personnel are authorised to purchase car through CSD as per existing policy. 

a)  A Jawan upto the rank of Hav and their equivalent rank, retired Jawans and their widows are allowed to purchase one Car costing upto six Rs. lacs while being in active service and one Car after retirement from the defence service. The purchasing Gap between two car should be eight years.

b). JCO and Hony Captain and their equivalent rank, retired JCOs and their widows can  purchase one Car costing upto Rs. Seven Lacs while being in active service and one Car after their retirement from the service.  One additional car be purchased after their promotion  from NCO to JCO rank but the Gap between all purchased car should be eight years.

c) Whereas, defence  serving officers , defence civilian officers paid from defence estimate and retired  officers and their widows can purchase car costing upto Rs. 15 Lacs after every eight years.

Suggedtion: The policy is totally baseless and not acceptable by the Jawans and JCO and their widows and veernaries. 

Reason is very simple as per Govt policy the life of a petrol car is 15 years and diesel car 10 years from date of purchased.

Another factor you can not buy a good and powerfull  car in  range of fixed amount between six to seven lacs for all Jawans and JCOs, Widows and Veer Naries.

Therefore, it is strongly recommended that there should not be any BAR or Cap on amount fixed for puchasing  Car from  CSD for all Jawans, JCOs, Widows and Veer Naries. All can puchase any type , make and CC( Power) of car available in CSD.

In any case CSD is not looser and CSD is charging 1% processing fee from all puchasing carried out through CSD. 

It is also seen hardly there is any officer who keep their car for a long duration , they keep changing very frequently. The entire benifit is being taken by the officers on the names of defence personnel. 

At last , it suggested that there should be one policy for all defence personnel for serving aa well as retired and their widows.

3. Seeing the  genuine demands of JAWAN and JCO, it is submitted  that  please give one hour time  from  your buiest  schedule   or direct concerned staff for discussion on any day as per your convenience.

4.  All ex serviceman have shown full confidence in your favour at Rewari and now  looking for a favourable response .  I will assure that same kind of response will given in forthcoming election all over in India. 

5 In view of above, it is  further reminded  that in case if your Govt did call or fail to give time to  resolve all these above mentioned anomalies / problems being faced by the ex seviceman fertinity , we will be forced to go for indifinate dherna demostration  till the Govt reach to a soluation in favour of PBOR ex serviceman. It is further requested that if Govt is not taking any steps for its remedial measures, the entire ex servicemen fertinity will vote against your party in coming general election in all the states.

Thanks and regards

Yours truly

(KP Singh)

General Secretary

South Delhi ex service Association

Copy to:

The Honourable President of India - for info please

Supreme Commander of Defence forces

South block

New Delhi- 110011

Shri Raj Nath Singh ji

Honourable Union Defence Minister of India

South Block

New Delhi - 110011

The Combined Defence of Staff

South Block,

New Delhi- 110011

COAS

CO Air Staff

CNS

Shri Vijay Kumar Singh Ji, I.A.S.

Secretary

Defence Ex service man welfare

Govt of India, South Block

New Delhi - 110011