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Thursday, October 4, 2012

A Cruel Joke on Armed forces Veterans (AFV)

By Maj Gen Radha Krishnan RN

This is an analysis of the loss caused by the ruling Indian Government to the Veterans of Indian Defence forces, for an extremely delayed grant of Modified Parity in their pensions, from prospective effect, instead of retrospective effect from 1.1. 2006, which they richly and justifiably deserved. What a pity? 

You have tabulated on the Spread Sheet the loss to Officers of the various ranks that has occurred due to the Government’s treachery in not accepting to correct the error (deliberate in my opinion). I have in my own way worked out the loss for the period since 01-01-2006 till 31-12-20121, by adopting the following formula:

The difference in the basic pension based on minimum of the pay in the pay band (the proposed basic pension) and the basic pension based on the minimum of the pay band (the current basic pension) multiplied by a factor of 108.96 will be the loss for the seven years. The factor 108.96 is common for all ranks.

Taking the example of Air Comomodre the loss equals 

(29,145.00-26,150.00)*108.96 =3,26,335.20

Elaborating:
a.     The Proposed Basicension     =   PBP                              =    29,145.00

b.     The Current Basic pension    =   CBP                              =    26,150.00
                                                   
c.     The loss since 01-01-2006 to 31-12-2012

                                               =(PBP-CBP)*108.96                =  3,26,335.20

The total loss for each rank (excluding the interest part) is

a.     Capt                        : Rs 1,63,440.00
b.     Major                     : Rs 4,47,280.80
c.     Lt Col                      : Rs    61,562.80
d.     Col                          : Rs 1,90,135.20
e.     Brig                         : Rs 3,26,335.20
f.     Major Gen              : Rs 3,97,704.00

How do we propose to recover this loss?

The reply to your recent attempt through RTI has spelt out clearly the Government’s stand. “Come what may; we the GOI are not going to budge an inch from our stand that the minimum of the pay band is the notional pay for the revision of the pension, as per the 6CPCR is concerned”, seems to be stand.

I am glad to notice that Veteran GH Israni chose to remember my attempt to make the Government realize the error in the interpretation and remedy it, in his recent email to Rakesh Chaturvedi. Veteran Israni says:

If I remember correctly, Maj Gen RN Radhakrishnan (Retd) vide his letter dated Jan 28, 2009 addressed to The Secretary, Dept of Ex -Servicemen Welfare had pointed out the anomaly in Revision of pension wrt Retired officers on or before 31 Dec 2005, by correct interpretation of SAI 2/S/2008. Regrettably no action was taken by The Secretary/Govt then. The Govt very cleverly have now accepted Gen Radhakrishnan's contention now. The figs of revised Pension as given in the table now are exactly the same as worked out in the table contained in the General's letter.”

The pity is not that the Government did not take my letter seriously. The pity is that our own veteran colleagues (barring a hundred odd ones) including IESL and IESM and the three Chiefs had chosen to ignore my plea to take this up in all seriousness.

Fortunately a few veterans had taken up this issue with AFT and got verdict in favour. The Civilians had taken the cue from us and convinced the CAT to accept the correct logic in accepting the minimum of the fitment table for notional pay. There are two questions:

a.     Will the orders of the Tribunals be accepted?
b.     If so, from what date shall the implementation be?

I, for one, in spite of my optimism, will not be surprised if the GOI tells the Tribunal that the pleas from the Veterans has been taken care of because of the recent graceful revision on sympathetic consideration of the miserable lot of AFV. Immediately afterwards, they will hike up the Civilian pensions of pre 2006 vintage on similar lines prospectively.

Therefore, I believe that under given present circumstances the chance of getting the correct interpretation being put into effect thereby giving us our due wef 01-01-2006 is rather bleak. I sincerely wish that I am proven wrong. However, I also believe that proactive efforts if taken from our side will change the circumstance in our favour, to some extent, provided;

a.     We get together in a serious discussion
b.     And in a post haste manner

The billion dollar question is, whether will we?

We see now Maj Gen Satbir Singh has written to the PM and all others including the three Chiefs again. We intend intensifying our rally and medal deposits, notwithstanding the indifference the Government has shown in the past. I pray and hope that his letter receives the full attention, in all sincerity. Yet, I feel that we ought to put our heads together in a very serious manner to work out our tactics, taking into account all that has happened so far.


Maj Gen Radha Krishnan RN

4 comments:

  1. These calculations do not take into account the hidden loss to pre AVS-I Maj/Lt Col retirees who had completed 26 years of service before retiring, as pointed out here .

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  2. Shrinivas Kulkarni05 October, 2012 15:46

    "Sympathetic approach or consideration does really hurt. Why sympathy? are we beggers? what we want is to treat us as more humanely. Have we ever heard of any politician mentioning the death of soldier in the parliament?

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  3. As 'sunlit' has been bringing out about those neglected and forgotten lot of substantive Maj &Lt Cols of past with service upto 26 or more yrs svc. None of these privileged lot managing esms ,ever considered the losses of the lot who did not get all those pays &perks of sel gr lot -gaining at the expense of neglected lot. unlike this approach in mil svc ,the civil svc have all the benefits of promotions and NFG .why subject these lot to promotion exams of part-A,B,C,D,annual med and physical fitness,rigours conditions of mil svc,subject of Army Act with whimsical and subjective application .on top , for having struggled ,sweated,bleeded....etc through wars of 1947/48,1962,1965 &1971.The glory is all appropriated by these sel rks and leaving others disregarded and neglected-NO REPRESENTATION ,NO CONSIDERATION AT ANY LEVEL .at least the internet interaction would bring out awakening at all levels.THE PRESENT ILLS IN AF IS DUE TO DIMINISHING NUMBERS OF UPRIGHT AND HONEST OFFICER CADRE at lower and middle levels.The top obviously want push out the upright lot ,so that field is free for pursuits.

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  4. SUNLIT has pointed very relevant and pertinent pt . conspicuous silence by RKRN ( in the past also ) and all those esms on the issues of Majs up to 26 yrs and Lt Cols above 26 yrs svc with subjective interpretation , application and disregard to their legitimate Rights and dues is visible.When sel grade Maj &Lt Col have been abolished even before 1985 where is all this distinction of sel & TL of Lt Col rk .When there is no difference in basic pay, grade pay and weightage (7) for COL SEL &TL ,how is it different for Lt Col SEL & TL above 26 yrs svc.
    ( i have struggled through this typing of comment .if this is not published -i dont have to visit or participate further.i have taken notice of my earlier comments rejected and over looked.) thank u.

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