From: Satbir [mailto:satbirsm@gmail.com]
Sent: 13 August 2013 15:20
To: DELETED
Subject: Fwd: A letter to President Political parties of India From IESM
A letter to President Political parties of India From IESM
Dear Veterans Dated 13 Aug 2013
Letter to the Presidents of all Political Parties of India and three Chiefs dated 12 Aug 2013 is enclosed herewith for your information and widest circulation please.
With Regards,
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Mobile: 9312404269, 0124-4110570
Email: satbirsm@gmail.com
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Dated: 12 Aug 2013
Presidents Political Party
1. The time for electing a new Government at the Centre is coming nearer and which may be scheduled sometimes in late 2013 or 2014. Indian citizens will be using their right to elect a suitable Government to govern India for next five years. This vast population of India includes 10 crores veterans, serving soldiers their families and friends, who will also be using their franchise to elect a Government of their choice. This large population of veterans is concentrated mostly in seven states of our beloved country namely Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttara Khand, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. These states together send about 350 members to the Parliament. The population of veterans and their sympathizers is located in such a way that if they vote en block they would influence the result of at-least 150 parliamentary constituencies. Similarly, they would be able to influence the result of at-least 450 MsLA for the state Governments which will also be going to polls from Oct 2013 onwards. Your research team will confirm this data.
2. The contribution of veterans and Indian Armed Forces does not need any explanation. Suffice to say that India is safe and intact today because of bravery, valour and sacrifices of men and women of Indian armed forces and veterans. Citizens of India are getting sound sleep, unmindful of any dangers on the Indian borders, is because of constant vigil by Indian armed forces of today and veterans of yester years.
3. You are fully aware that veterans and soldiers are not happy with the treatment being meted out to them by the Governments – the political leaders and administration. Their unhappiness and disappointment with the present system has been raised by various MsP of all parties, including your party in Parliament at various occasions. The plight of military veterans has been recorded in various Parliamentary Committees on Defence who have steadfastly recommended One Rank One Pension (OROP) for the Defence Forces of India. Even a Parliamentary Committee headed by Sh Bhagat Singh Koshiari strongly recommended OROP for Defence Forces of India. Despite the strong recommendations of many committees, Defence Forces are miles away from their main demand of OROP.
4. One Rank One Pension means equal pension for equal service for same rank. The latter in their context is length of service combined with the rank on retirement. So it is ‘same rank, same service, and same pension’.
5. In many decisions, Honorable Supreme Court has also maintained that Government cannot arbitrarily decide on a cutoff date for pensions and create a separate group in pensioners, one getting higher pension and one getting lower pension because of their date of retirement. It will be easier to call it Mil Pay as Military service has always been different than their civilian counter parts because of their inherent exposure to dangers and their 24x7 duty hours.
6. Seeking parity between old and current pensions is a matter of pride. That is the reason that Hon’ble MsP and MsLA have been granted same pension irrespective to their dates of being elected to Parliament and State Assemblies. Similarly, our Hon’ble members of the judiciary are also enjoying benefits of this provision. All members of IAS, IFS and IPS also draw the benefit of higher pension as all retire at the level of secretary or equivalent. The soldiers, in the normal course, should get preferential treatment. Here, they are not even being treated at par with others.
7. Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) has been projecting demands of veterans and soldiers at various forums. IESM has even taken lead in depositing hard earned gallantry medals to the President of India because of non-acceptance of veteran’s demands. IESM has also submitted various memorandums signed in their own blood to all important functionaries in the Government.
8. That the precious blood of soldiers, which should be shed for the safety of India, is being used for signing memorandums is a matter of shame and communicates their alienation from Government’s policies. IESM has a strong influence on veterans and will be able to influence their voting choice on one call. Therefore, it is important for IESM to know the views of your party for the following demands of veterans and soldiers in uniform.
(a) Same Pension for same length of service for same rank call it Mil Pension system to differentiate from civil employees.
(b) Representation of veterans in all committees, as head of the committee, which are formed to look into the demands of veterans and armed forces.
(c) Representation of veterans in Armed Forces Commission as is the case of other commissions like Minority commission (headed by Minority member), Women Commission (headed by a woman).
(d) Despite veterans and armed forces personnel winning cases in AFT and various courts, the Government of the day as a matter of principle goes in for appeal in higher courts to deny benefits to veterans and armed forces personnel. Government has gone in appeal in over 3600 cases decided in favor of veterans by various courts. Denial of broad banding of war injury of war wounded soldiers and Denial of rank pay to all officers since fourth pay commission are some of the classical examples of denial of benefits to armed forces personnel and veterans.
(e) Special policy to look after welfare of widows. As of now, the widow is on the street and does not even get her proper pension. Her pension is not increased by Government stating some rules of last pay drawn. It is a matter of shame that this Government which can afford to spend thousands of crores on various welfare activities cannot give a pension of Rs 10000/ to a widow of a soldier who has laid his life for the country. As on date she is getting a paltry sum of Rs 3500/ as pension.
(f) Dept of ESW is being headed by an IAS officer whose main task is to put hurdles in the way of veterans getting their dues even after winning cases in the courts. This Dept of ESW should be headed by an officer in uniform and manned by men in uniform. Only a man in uniform can understand the plight of a veteran and a widow. Among the remaining staff of DESW there should be a good number of retired Defence personnel, who know and very well understand the problems of the veterans.
(g) The status and interse equation of Defence Forces with other civil services have been downgraded by five notches since 26 Jan 1950 which has not only adversely affected the morale and motivation of Defence Forces, but have made the profession less attractive to the youth. Raksha Mantri’s, statement in Parliament revealed that from 2005 to 2009, 40% of vacancies in IMA & OTA have not been subscribed. Such a retrograde situation has adversely affected the security of the Nation. The suitable youth is not being attracted to the Defence Forces. There is an immediate need to restore the status and interse equation of Defence Forces with other central services as existed on 26 Jan 1950 with all consequential benefits.
9. Kindly communicate your views on the demands of veterans stated above and also confirm that these demands would be suitably included in your manifesto for the election and that your leaders would be unambiguously announcing party stand in various meetings in veterans’ populated areas.
10. IESM delegation would be happy to meet the President and other important functionaries of your party at a convenient time and date to explain the demands of veterans and work out other modalities.
11. Please communicate your stand at the earliest.
With Regards,
Yours Sincerely, Jai Hind
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian Ex Servicemen
Movement Mobile: 9312404269, 0124-4110570
Email:satbirsm@yahoo.com, satbirsm@gmail.com
Note – Copy of this letter has been also sent to the Three Chiefs, with a request to persue the above matters vigorously with the Government.
