Dear
Veterans,
In the recent past a few
issues have come up in the blog concerning the Armed Forces Personnel and the
Veterans. A few of them are:-
1.
Non Functional Up gradation (NFU) to officers.
2. Amending the
Pension Regulations of the Armed Forces.
3.
Non-Implementation of Judgments of AFTs which is
around 2000.
4. Payment of 100% pension to the Veterans up to the
age of 60 years (age for superannuation for central Govt employees) and payment
of OROP thereafter.
5.
Separate Ministry or a Defense Board (like that
of Railway) for Armed Forces Personnel.
6. Cadre Review
(being done at every 5 years in other Departments)
7. Date of Birth (DOB) issue of Army Chief himself.
8. Difference of pension between two immediate Ranks is more
than Rs.11,000/-PM
9. With drawl
of existing Rank Pay by 6th CPC (replacing with grade pay to give additional
emoluments to civilian employees and also to create an equation between civ and
Mily.)
10. Majors with
more than 15 years of service equated with cadets and Hony Lt. (PB-3).
11. A meaningful
resettlement of Armed Forces Veterans.
The above are some of the major issues that are occupying internet mails and blogs nowadays. The blame is put on the babus of MOD and the Politicians. But one must think honestly. Are they fully responsible for these omissions. What is role of the Service HQ?
Can we give a clean chit to service HQs on these issues? Are
they not responsible for creating such a mess? Take the example of Judgments
passed by the AFTs:- It is understood nearly 2000 judgments are pending for
implementation. The Service HQs are the Nodal agency for their implementation.
So the service HQs are answerable for the non-implementation. Can we blame the
MOD for this.? If there is a problem, the service HQs should come out publicly
or inform the Ex-servicemen associations or at least inform the individual
about the factual position rather than some “goal..Mall…English” , so that he
can take further action. If some decision is needed from the Ministry, the
service HQs should put up the note and get the same in a time frame. The
service HQs should also give the present position of all judgments immediately
in the web site for the info of all.
Similarly,
Is it not the responsibility of the Service HQs to get themselves involved in
drafting the Pension Rules of men under their command? Is it possible now? When
a dept called”Ex-servicemen welfare” has been created during 2004 , outside the
Service HQs, no one has raised their voice. Even no one commented on the
instructions issued by that dept regarding welfare, re-employment and
rehabilitation of Ex-servicemen which can only be termed as an Essay on
Ex-servicemen - no seriousness about the welfare-every org even the companies
have the welfare schemes linked to their Provident Funds, whereas we depend on
the mercy of some one which is also now restricted to only war widows and
disabled which is the full responsibility of the Govt of India being the
employer, re-employments are left to the States which only remained in paper,
without any mechanism to check. How many vacancies in a year- nobody knows,
whether it commensurate with the number of retirees in a year and the
re-habilitation left to none- to the fate. There is yet another org called
re-settlement , the jawans of the great Army is put on “Chowkidar” duties in
front offices, hotels, houses for a petty 1500 to a max of 5000/- without any
other benefits and taking commission out of it. (the benefit of pension of such
person goes to the employers, if otherwise they have to pay salary like any
other employee with other benefits like leave, pension, Provident Funds, ESI
facilities etc- Take the case of the biggest employers-BSNL, Air Ports, Customs
etc and see the difference between their regular employees and the “Chowkidars”
under the re-settlement scheme- one can only feel pity!!) – No one has raised
any voice on this policy issued by the newly created “Department of
Ex-servicemen Welfare”. The service HQs felt very happy that this burden has
gone from them.- So how can you blame that Dept now, for making a Pension Reg
or any Regulation as they feel like? At least C’nt it be challenged in the
Court of Law?
Why is it not being done by the Army Chief who
has filed a case for his own benefit, Does the HONOR OF THE ARMY lie on
the honor of the Army Chief or on the Soldiers of the Army?
Where is
the pride of the Army Chief when lot many ex-servicemen are in the street with
a begging bowel after giving their youth to the Army? Is it not a matter of
Right for them to have a Meaningful resettlement? Or the Right is only for
the Army Chief to have his DOB corrected?
What I am
trying share with you all is that we are Not serious about what is happening to
the Armed Forces Personnel as a whole, we are only self centered on petty
issues. If it is a mistake on our part accept it instead putting the blame on
someone else.
Now, what is the further course of action to come out of this
self created problems? Can these be solved by creating Mails or blogs?? It can
only create awareness amongst the veterans but most of our problems were not
ever made available to Medias for a public opinion. My humble suggestions
are:-
1. Service
HQs have to do some home work very seriously. The above points have come to
light only when some of the Veterans have taken some trouble to study these
cases and put in the mail, but the service HQs are silent or they have no such
points at all.
2. Like any other department ,the Service HQs should take
full responsibility to look after their Veterans, Widows, officers , JCOs and
NCOs and their families who gave their blood and sweat to build Indian Army to
the present shape from the scratches of Chinese aggression in 1962 and those
who laid their lives . There is no point in blaming the Officers in MOD, for
our in efficiency for that matter. It is for the Service HQs, how they Work out
the strategy to accomplish this task. This is more important as there is no
trade Union functioning in the org for collective bargaining of their service
benefit which is available to all employees including the Central Govt.
3. Art 312 of the Constitution of India giving powers to Make
Rules for Service benefit to Defense Services must be evoked by putting
pressure on the Govt, the PM and the Supreme Commander. This has to be done by
the Service HQs only because we are worst suffers of all other Central
Services. If a pay or a service condition is to be changed/ modified in respect
of any Central Service, this has to be duly notified in the Gazette of India
with the approval of the Govt/ Parliament whereas it could be seen in the past
that only an Army Instruction can meet the requirement in respect of the Armed
Forces Personnel including the Service Chiefs. This has no backing of the Law
of the Land. In the early years after the Independence, the matters concerning
Armed Forces Personnel were dealt separately at the level of PM or RM but later
it has been brought under the purview of the pay commission- only erode the
dignity and reduce them to the status of mere employee. Well, then the Army Act
also needs to be amended to include the liberty for collective bargaining for
their service benefits which has not been done so far, the Service HQs should
pursue this.
4. The Service HQs should
create a high powered committee who will take up the matters concerning the
personnel matters of Armed Forces Personnel with the RM, PM, The Supreme
Commander. They should take feed -back and suggestions /complains from all corners
including the jawans direct. They should also interact regularly with other
departments, companies, consultants, Ex-servicemen Associations, Veterans etc.
and update themselves with the latest, for which a proper office with well
experienced Officers and Staff from both veterans and outsiders is set up for
function on regular basis. It is not so difficult to set right the bureaucracy
if the Service HQs have a will to firmly handle the Organizational interest,
the interest of the Armed Forces Personnel and no compromise to be made at any
point of time at any level. This should be made clear to all up to the Pl
commanders.
5. A MEANIGFUL re-settlement of all veterans should be the
full responsibility of the Govt and the Service HQ should ensure this (A suggestion
in this direction is enclosed )
6. All are requested to offer their valuable comments and
they may also take up the matter with the service HQs individually or
collectively.
7. May I request you to kindly forward this to at least 10
(Ten) veterans with your comments.
With Regards,
Major AK Dhanapalan, Veteran
Mob 092 49 87 53 42
Nice article thanks for sharing this!I like,I am the first time on this site .i like this type of articles.
ReplyDeleteStock Tips
After going through different forums/debates both in electronic and paper media, I have found that there is no shortage of suggestions related to the pay, welfare and status of armed forces officers (both serving and retired). This is one of the rare articles where serious problems of lower ranked personnel are tried to be projected along with the officers about which the general public, the media and even the Govt is very ill aware. The truth is that maximum problems related to pay and welfare of lower ranked personnel can be sorted out if the heads of the services show interest or the superiors' attitudes towards the life of the lowered rank personnel change in positive direction. An atmosphere should be created so that lowered rank personnel get faith on their superiors for projecting and sorting out their problems. It is heartening to see in different forums where JCOs/NCOs used to say that whether corrupt or cunning its ultimately the politicians who at least shows some interest to their problems and if something they get in near future, it will be at the mercy of politicians only
ReplyDeleteNice to have these inputs from Maj AK Dhanapalan.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, as veterans and serving Officers on the web have repeatedly blogged and commented on the need for clarity on calculation of rank-pay arrears, perhaps Maj Dhanapalan could consider offering his views on the matter as the manner in which his arrears were calculated could have a bearing on the matter.