Exemption from NHAI Toll Tax--Letter just received from MOD

Exemption from NHAI Toll Tax

Letter from MOD

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by Vijay Mayadev

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Much has been discussed on this site regarding the toll tax exemption to ESMs. Either the letters are interpreted to cast doubts on our entitlement or letters are trashed as fraud. I find it very difficult to accept that fraud letters that give privileges such as tax exemption to Servicemen would go without the entire burocracy and media pouncing on them at the first opportunity.

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It appears that some of us are trying to shoot ourselves in the foot just to prove a point, completely unmindful that they may be compromising the interest of ESMs that we aught to be striving to protect in the first place. Be that as it may.

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To my mind such episodes call for a different approach to grant of indirect privileges to ESMs or denials thereof by veterans in general and their organizations such as IESM in particular.

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The authorities that be/and their babus try to divide us by creating classes; war decorated, war wounded, war disabled, combatants/non combatants, general officers, officers- selection grade/time scale, JCOs, PBORs and what have you.

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Thankfully martial and non martial races have gone with the Brits.

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Then they limit the privileges by giving it to a particular class as suits their requirement/fancy with confidence that other classes of servicemen would do nothing to oppose such a move to divide them. This is where we slip up. We must demand that Indirect privileges such as exemptions from taxes etc aught to be given to all servicemen alike and continued post retirement as is the case with CSD etc. Otherwise disservice is being done to all uniformed men and women who selflessly put their lives on the line in discharge of their duty but do not have anything to show for it such as a gong or disability.

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If we ourselves do not believe that all of us contribute to the war effort and should be treated as one class who else will?

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If you follow the post independence actions of mai baap sarkar no doubts would be left in your minds.

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In 1947/62/65/71 all servicemen on the battlefront faced bullets, however only a few were decorated; how many then knew that their pension would be income tax free, they would get lands/grants, free railway passages etc if they were awarded.

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Imagine going to war when comrades in arms are looking for a gallantry award and all that goes with it. Perhaps frauds to obtain gallantry awards were spawned out of this mentality and have brought avoidable disrepute to the Services.

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When a fighting unit goes to battle all are expected to work as a team to achieve the mission objective. Some fall in battle, many get wounded, some get disabled, and some hoist the flag without getting a scratch. Could the ones who reached the objective without getting a bullet ever done so if the enemy fire had not been diverted to those who were hit? Without doubt the outcome of the battle depends on collective efforts of all that go into battle.

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Gallantry awards are recommended after the dust settles down and depend on various factors including luck and being at the right place at the right time, especially in view of the short duration limited wars of the day. Suffice it to say that, Whereas some brave ones get recognition many equally if not more brave fall in the also ran category.

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How is a guy who got wounded but not disabled different from one who is wounded and disabled, while the battle is raging. Disability manifests itself later and without doubt a disabled soldier needs extra care and facilities. A bullet fired in battle can kill, wound or miss for reason known only to itself.

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There are specific issues to be addressed when a soldier is killed, wounded or ready to fight another day. No doubt that issues like looking after war widows/bereaved parents, disability pension etc need to be addressed squarely, But all those who take on the enemy are part of the same effort and need to be treated equally as far as common privileges are concerned.

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How fair is it then to expect all servicemen to fight wars together but divide them in categories and extend privileges to a few while denying a majority and worst still cut even those after retirement?

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If we don't see through this divide and deny policy who will? If our organizations such as Service HQs and the likes of IESM don't take it up who will?
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Toll Tax exemption is but a tip of the iceburg.

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regards

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Vijay Mayadev

vmayadev@yahoo.com