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Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Letter from Chairman IESM to Cabinet Secretary



From: Raj Kadyan <rajkadyan8@gmail.com>

Dear Colleagues,

The recent announcement about constitution of the Committee of Secretaries to look into the anomalies of pay and pension of Defence Personnel, has evoked mixed reaction among those who have aired their views. After strong pro OROP recommendations made the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee headed by Shri BS Koshyari, this may be seen as a mere delaying tactic by the government. However, as I had said earlier in a sitrep, we need to stay optimistic. The new Committee can only bring some benefits.

A letter written by me to the Cabinet Secretary, with copies endorsed to the Defence Minister and to the Secretary ESW is reproduced below:

I write this as a stakeholder and in the capacity of Chairman Indian Ex Servicemen Movement that has been spearheading the campaign for one rank one pension (OROP). 

We have read about the constitution of the Committee under your chairmanship that is tasked to look into the anomalies of pay and pension of Defence Forces personnel. It is rather disheartening that the composition does not include any serving or retired member from the affected community, a recommendation I had personally made to the Hon’ble Defence Minister. Such inclusion is relevant keeping in view the highly specialized nature of the subject under consideration. In fact a similar Committee of the Secretaries in 2010 had left out the Defence family pensions from the ambit of enhancement; subsequently accepted as an error even by senior officials in the MoD.

While interacting with MoD officials I was surprised to learn of their contention that the definition/parameters of OROP remain ambiguous. This does not fit facts on record as evidenced by reports of various related committees in the past. Following examples are cited:

1. In 2003 the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence headed by Shri Madan Lal Khurana had computed the annual cost of OROP to be Rs 613.78 Crores. The Committee could arrive at such an accurate figure only because they had a definite yardstick to work on. 

2. In 2011 the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee headed by Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari worked out Rs 1300 Crore to be annual outlay for OROP. As given in their report, the figure was based on submissions made by the Secretary Expenditure. Admittedly, the Secretary gave the figures to the committee of that stature based on a definite parameter. 

The Secretary Expenditure is now a member on your Committee. He should be able to clarify doubts if any, on this score. If OROP is again rejected by your Committee based on any assumed ambiguity of the basis/formula for its calculation, it can only be taken as a mere pretext and not a cogent reason for rejection. 

Just to reiterate, OROP is equal pension for all Defence pensioners who retire from the same rank and after equal length of total service, irrespective of the date of their retirement. As underscored by the Koshyari Committee report, this equality/parity among all pensioners is to be maintained in perpetuity.
  
Formation of a new Committee is taken as a positive sign that the government is reconsidering grant of OROP. It is also happily noted that OROP tops the Committee’s agenda for the Ex Servicemen. To avoid an impression that a Committee of bureaucrats can override a Committee of the Parliament, it would be prudent to use the supportive arguments and conclusions arrived at by the recent Koshyari Committee as the basis for your deliberations. 

It is sincerely hoped your Committee will recommend grant of OROP instead of repeating the old ‘narrowing the gap between the old and new pensions’ theme; the gap needs to be removed and not merely narrowed. Any enhancement in pensions that falls short of OROP, while being welcome, will fail to satisfy those affected. It may be known that in such an unfortunate event, the over two million Ex Servicemen will be left with no choice but to continue their struggle.   

Best regards,

Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Chairman IESM
From Toronto (Canada)

2 comments:

  1. Why are you now again pampering babus once you are unhappy with them. Now PM has him on front seat with time bound committee. Do you want to tell he is senior to PM. Why are you bent upon spoiling the case. You have done enough damage, better keep quiet leave IESM you & Vice Chairman are no good to us. PM/FM/RM/Lok Sabha/Raja Sabha/ Three Chiefs Vs MOD babus [CS/Under Secretary – who is supreme?

    Firstly: No Chief wants to do anything for veterans, but wants to be in lime light by visiting ex servicemen rallies.

    Secondly: 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 any thing, if he is really interested then he should get feed back/compalints 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. Then why COAS should misguide that it is at Ministerial level.

    Fourthly; if COAS is worth his salt then he should have guts to ask when PM, FM, RM, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha has approved & accepted One Rank One Pension then 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, then he can pass on time of COAS period like a previous CsOAS.

    Sixthly: strongly conveyed to the RM the requirement of extending NFU. Under Secretary rejected the entire proposal in two short paragraphs ‘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? All Group-A Civil Officers are retiring with the pay and pension of a Lt Gen.

    By COL LAMBA

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  2. My Parawise comments are given below:

    1. Comment No 1: There is need to correct rejection by superior committee no one wants to go to jail like Raja 2G scam.

    2. Comment No 2: This is the reason PM has given time bound by 12 Aug,2012 & hopefully announce on 15 Aug,2012.

    3. Comment No 3: Terms & reference is clear direction for work, you can take as ack.

    4. Comment No 4 : Kindly do not give foolish idea if you are friend of OROP. Do you know pension is dependent on pay scale. If pay scales are wrong then its correction is first then pension is to be corrected accordingly. AFT has given revision of pay of Hon offr, Capt & Maj. Govt has accepted anomaly in pay scales of Lt Col/Col/Brig. Selection grade officers Col [selection] & Brig are to be placed in HAG scale, Maj Gen to be placed in present Lt Gen scale, Lt Gen to be moved to HAG+ scale so that Col [ selection], Brig, Maj Gen can be suitably placed in HAG scale. So far which rank pension OROP you are asking for. Once pay is revised by committee only than the OROP can be sanctioned. So kindly withdraw your letter & do not create problems for all.

    5. (a) Non functional up gradation.

    Comments No 5(a): air force & navy was willing for it,but army short sighted general rejected it. So how rm is to be blamed for your bad doing.

    (b) Comment No 5(b): yes financial matters require supportive action. So this committee will do. It is not like a bania ledger or regimental account. It is a public account.

    (c) comments 5(c): there is a need to correct rejection by superior committee no one wants to go to jail like Raja 2G scam.

    (d) enhancement of family pension. Comments 5(d):Yes, financial matters require supportive action. So this committee will do. It is not like a bania ledger or regimental account. It is a public account.

    (e) enhancement of grade pay of Lt Col/Col/Brig and comments 6(e):yes financial matters require supportive action. So this committee will do. It is not like a bania ledger or regimental account. It is a public account.

    6. Comment No 6: Yes pm knows better than you there by time bound work so that he can announce on 15 Aug 2012.

    7. Comments No 7: Do you or member suggested by you know that their pension is wrong. I can assure you none knows & proof is no one cried for it. Moreover the Rank Pay + grade Pay + MSP extra are wrong. You do not know till date. So what worth you all be in pay commission. I had made various cases from last six months & given to Army, Air Force, Navy, MOD, RM, FM etc. The committee’s outcome is due to this concrete action, so kindly do not spoil case once you do not know in depth & you do not have any nack for it, so kindly do not give foolish ideas if you are friend of OROP. Do you know pension is dependent on pay scale. If pay scales are wrong then its correction is first then pension is to be corrected accordingly. AFT has given revision of pay of Hony Offrs, Capt & Maj. Govt has accepted anomaly in pay scales of Lt Col/Col/Brig. Lt Gen to be moved to HAG+ scale so that Col [selection], Brig, Maj Gen can be suitably placed in HAG scale.

    So, for which rank pension OROP you are asking for. Once pay is revised by committee only then OROP can be sanctioned. So kindly withdraw letter & do not create problems for all. Better keep quite.

    (a) Chairman - one of the retired chiefs (Gen VP Malik, (recommended by SC for Armed Forces Grievance Redressal Commission (AFGRC))

    (b) Members :- (i) One serving Vice Chief (From Army/Navy/Air Force) (ii) One ESM Gen Officer - Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi, (recommended by SC for Armed Forces Grievance Redressal Commission (AFGRC)) do you or member suggested by you know that their pension is wrong.

    I can assure that none one knows & proof is no one cried for it. Moreover the Rank Pay + Grade Pay + MSP etc are wrong. You do not know till date. So what worth you all be in pay commission?

    By Col Lamba

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