Lt.Gen.(R) Harwant Sing's article is a pointer to the fact that the Top Brass are waking up to the situation arising out of the discriminatory treatment being meted out to military. It is a welcome change. Sri Mohanarangan Narayanan's doubt whether the Gen was unaware of this while in service is, though pertinent, emanates from misconception about the uniformed person's right to freedom of opinion and speech. If he had voiced the the same concern while serving, in all probability , would not have survived to write this blog.The question by M Narayanan reminds me of Kruschev's reply to a question as to why he did not object Stalin. So I do not blame him for his action as VCOAS.
What i see in his blog is the mind set that has been so discernible all through as how utterly unmindful they are about the woes of men called PBOR. 
First thing to be done is to remove for good the nomenclature "PBOR" Call them a) Junior Officers (JCOs are Cl II Gazetted Officers) b) Senior Non Gazetted c) Non Gazetted and Air Men, Front line Soldier and Sea Warrior.
Give Same allowances to all whether officer or others and maintain the Pay Difference between officers and Junior Officer and below.All other perks must be equal. By virtue of certain quality required to become an officer an significant enhancement in pay is justified.
This will set aside, positively, most of the resentments prevalent among personnel other than commissioned officers.
This measure if implemented will boost the morale, efficacy and out put of the fighting force

AN APPEAL FROM VETERANS TO PEOPLES’ REPRESENTATIVES

                                                                     IN BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

Honorable Members of Parliament

I am sure that all of you honorable members are aware of the existence of section of society known earlier as “EX-SERVICEMEN” and now rechristened a “VETERANS” . I do not know if the renaming has brought any difference in their social status in the eyes of the bureaucrats which is degradation, disdain, disgrace, contempt and  insult. The process of degradation commenced over four decades ago and grew to the present indescribable dimension. I will not go in to the details of history of those callously calculated  moves  by bureaucrats who always wanted subjugated Armed Forces as all of you , I am sure, are fully aware of.

Issue now is of absolute discrimination

This appeal from veterans comes to you for help in resolving a burning issue which is affecting life of many pre 2006 defense retirees who are living in perennial penury.

The Hon’ble CAT Ernakulam in an order dt 16-8-2013 in OA.No.715/2012 filed by Sri M.O. Inasu directed that the revised pension w.e.f.1-1-2006 under 4.2 of OM dt 1-9-2008 would not be reduced based on the qualifying service of 33 years. The appeals filed against the order in Hon’ble High Court of Kerala and The Hon’ble Supreme court of India were dismissed.

Consequent upon this the GOI issued OM No.38/37/08-P&PW (A) dt 06 April, 2016 revising pension of Central Govt Retirees in Accordance with CAT order.

Within 48 hours of issuance of the above OM the Principal Controller of Defense Accounts (Pension), Draupadi Ghat issued Circular C-149 asking all pension disbursing authorities to revise Pension of all pre 2006 Defense Civilian Retirees.

FOUR MONTHS have gone by nothing has happened as regards defense pensioners.

The benefits of this order mostly affect low paid PBOR like sepoy/Naik/Hav/and JCOS. Most of them are in their twilight years of existence and pinned their hopes of a small comfort of arrears accruing out of the enhancement in emoluments.

We are not worried and surely not jealous if our civilian brothers get arrears earlier. Let them have; but WHY THIS APATHY towards us? That is the question which baffles us. Is GUARDING AND KEEPING VIGIL AT BORDERS AND SACRIFICING OUR LIVES WHEN THE NATION IS THREATENED is the crime that we committed for which we are being subjected to this punishment? We are unable to fathom the depth of the intellectual inanities of “Babus” who rule the roost in MOD.

We have approached all and sundry trying to resolve the issue but in vain. Senior veteran officers have written to the Raksha Mantri requesting him to find a solution for the present impasse; but again in vain. DESW was requested to throw light on the matter and we were advised that the matter was “under processing”. This was on 24 May 2016.

On 27-6-2016 Sri MBC Menon asked under RTI 2005 to furnish information on the subject for which a reply dt 1-8-16, clearly exhibiting the thinking of Babus which has been and is contempt towards the cause of veterans was received on 3-8-16.

Para 2 of the the reply said “the information sought by is not specific as defined under section 2(f) of RTI Act 2005 and CPIO is not supposed to create information/give clarification on the issue raised by the applicant”

It further says that the matter is “under examination”.

Hon’ble MPs, please note difference a.) GOI issues OM on 6/4/16 and pension is revised for CG pensioner b) within 48 hrs PCDA(P) issues circular to revise pension of defense civilians. C) the matter still “BEING EXAMINED” even after 4 months in respect of defense veterans.

Gentlemen Ladies MPs, tell us what you think about this. Will you accept such inordinate delay when the question of implementation of enhancement of your emoluments are concerned ?

Will Abhinav Mohanty Sir, MP and Rajiv Chandrasekhar Sir MP take up this matter in both Houses? Will any representative of the people, of which we too are part and parcel, rise to the occasion and speak for us.

Thank you in anticipation

Veteran JWO Sukumaran Nair

OROP – A ball game no one knows whose court the ball is in.
For the past two days there have been many high level meetings in connection with OROP.
ESM’s reps met the NSA at his residence where COAS was also present. This followed the next day with the meetings at HM’s where the above mentioned along with Mr. Ram Madhav of RSS.
The channels went on and on incessantly declaring that OROP will be declared on the eve of 50th anniversary of 1965 war with Pakistan which falls on 28 Aug.
This raised the hopes and blood pressure of veterans in equal proportion. Many saw a narrow silver ray
Of OROP SUN In the eastern horizon which raised hope . But by 10 pm 25 Aug, one channel , NDTV, again scrolled that the” OROP talks with Govt inconclusive. Veterans reject Govt plan” sufficient to shoot up the mercury level in the sphygmomanometer fastened to the arms of veterans.
Hectic discussions went on till late into the night but the hurdle remained where it was. The Govt was unrelenting so were the Ex-Service men on the core issues of definition, base year, date of implementation and annual increase of 3%. Govt wants to implement from 2015 with 2011 as Base year. This was against as agreed and approved by two parliaments and ESM rightly rejected it.
When 1.25 lakh cror can be so easily sanctioned from the platform of public rally what adverse effect a couple of thousand cror saved by way of cutting short the date of implementation of OROP will have on the economic health of the country?
ESM have given an ultimatum which expires today.
To add insult to injury Ors up to the rank of Hav have risen in revolt demanding that they be heard before a decision is announced. Balls come from different courts. God knows whose court the ball is in now!!
Parleys are planned for today, too. Will it be fruitful or wasteful?
Nation watches with fingers crossed

JWO ( R ) Sukumaran

Today, the 62 day of relay hunger strike of veterans for OROP, the agitation attracted unprecedented national attention.

The NDMC and Delhi Police to an unwise decision to evict the agitating ex-service men from the venue of their agitation, Jantar Mantar.  One wonders whose brain child it was. Mercifully, so to say, the decision was reversed by the timely intervention of MHA. Otherwise situation could have gotten out of hand.

There was an optimistic expectation that the PM would announce OROP In his speech on 15 Aug on the lines of the definition agreed and approved by the parliament. But the hope got shattered after the meeting with FM, on 12 Aug, who came with new proposal suggesting 2011 as the year of reckoning. This naturally gave way to the apprehension that dilution in the implementation is in the offing which was unacceptable to IESM. Meanwhile , the letter from former four Chiefs of Staff too drew serious concern among one and all. It said volumes in few words. May it serve as an eye opener for the Govt.

Eagles were eyeing the prey and trying hard to sweep on them. Political parties of all hues are trying their best to take advantage. Sri Manish Tiwari said that OROP was sanctioned by the UPA govt an funds were allocated. How brazen one can be. No wonder such blunders come from a person who can name a person fugitive when no case , no FIR, no legal action initiated against him. Mr. Sidharth Nath Singh of BJP, as usual, repeated the often heard cliché that OROP is a commitment made by PM and will be implemented. And personalities who cared nil for the past 62 days suddenly thought that they should express solidarity with veterans, so Sri Aravind  Kejriwal tweeted that OROP must be approved immediately, as if it was delayed  because he did not tweet till now. To crown it all Sri Rahul Gandhi, who had time to take up the cause of FTII students and lead them to the Hon President of India visited the venue after veterans sat in Dharna for 61 days . He was received with dignity notwithstanding some chanting “GO BACK” but was not allowed to make a political speech.

One really wonders as to why the Defense Minister/any other Govt Reps. Or some one representing PMO has not visited and assuaged the agitated Veterans  so far. Why is the Govt making it a suspense thriller? Surely we are not awaiting release of a Alfred Hitchcok mistery. Please shed the cloak of secrecy and talk to the veterans, they are a patriotic fraternity. Govt will only gain not by taking them in confidence. Don’t divulge, at least assuage their concerns.

The IESM has scrupulously stayed apolitical, in tune with the tradition of Indian Armed Forces .That is the true legacy of our defense Service and will remain so forever.

Lots of hope are pinned on the speech of the PM from the ramparts of Red Fort tomorrow on the occasion of Independence Day.

Stop press:

The press conference by Defense Minister today at 1530 hrs shattered all hopes till now nurtured. He said that there are” technical difficulties” but will implement the promise given  by the Govt. There is nothing new in the statement . Just repeating what he has been saying always

So ,OROP remains a mirage

 Jwo (retd) Sukumaran Nair RV

ESM have been on relay HS over a month. Today the rally at Bengaluru is succesfully conducted; yet I think the agitaion is not getting as much co-operation expected of ESM.Perhaps the sense of discipline inculcated in them during service period is preventing their active involvement. But it is time to show solidarity. I understand many ESM are in their 70s and 80+ and they cannot be asked to undergo physical strain for longer period of time.I feel that we adopt different modes of agitation. One suggestion is that in order to make it a pan Indian activity we may consider a Human Chain of ESM to East To West and North to South on a particular day at a fixed time lasting for 15 minutes, activists and sympathisers also may join hands. The human chain should block the national highways for a minimum period of 15 minutes so that all vehicular movements come to a stand still.This is a suggestion for consideration of AFVAI office bearers. It is time to intensify the agitation and ensure maximum participation of ESM. The suggestio with proper motivation, in my opinion , will surely ensure involvement of max number of ESM ; because the physical strain to the seniors will be minimal and so that they would willingly involve themselves.
JWO (retd) Sukumaran RV 

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EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE: Expected Date for Submission of 7th Pay Commission Report and its important recommendations

EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE: Expected Date for Submission of 7th Pay Commission Report and its important recommenda



l                                                     The Great Betrayal

Those warriors who guarded the borders vigilantly have been
forgoing food since a month.

Nobody cared a hoot even when a 90 year old fragile widow sat in
hunger strike in JM.

Often heard phrases like "Have faith OROP will be
implemented" "prime minister has assured orop will be
implemented" "in a few weeks" "Expect good news on OROP
soon" etc have been repeated in channel shows. One spokesman even said
(surely a slip of tongue) that OROP will be implemented during the tenure of
this Govt. But none gives a date when it would be.

We have 545 MPs in the lok Sabha out of which 440 are billionaires
rest millionaires; yet they want 100% increase in their salary and substantial
increase in other perks and allowances in addition to enjoying subsidized food
in LOk Sabha canteen. But the subject of parity in pension among current and
past pensioners is anathema to one and all.

Do these MPs know what is the amount of pension that veteran gets.
Here is one illustration. Take a good look honorable MPs.including
PM<FM<RM.

Pension of a JCO,( Class II Service Officer) who retired in 1971
originally was Rs.112/- which now after 6CPC is Rs.6470/- What would now be the
age of that veteran who was 34 in 1971 and does anyone realize that in the
twilight of his life how he would manage his livelihood  with this
princely amount!!!? The hell with OROP for veterans I want my pound of flesh,
come what may I AM AN MP.I WILL GET IT.

Disgraceful Deceit ; need to say anything more?

Govt is turning a blind eye to this just demand with out realizing
the connotation of impact it likely to have among the disciplined section of
the society.

By and large our Ex-service men community have been apolitical and
hope it remains so always .

Political parties are trying to fish in the troubled waters and
the powers that be are pretending to be blissfully unaware of this or willfully
brazening it out. The community is still loyal to the party who promised that
OROP will be implemented; please do not make them your enemy 

Veterans are now a volcano ready to erupt; please prevent the
catastrophe ; if not the the destiny of the nation might change.

Enough of the placating phrases, time now is to act and ACT
SWIFTLY. The matter has gone out of the hand of RM and the FM is untrustworthy.
The only solution has to come from the PM 

PM sir, your vociferous silence is giving jitters to the veterans.
Please come out of Moun Vrat and give us a solution.

When the RM said on 9th july that "good news on OROP
soon" we thought that your arrival back in India will have a beneficial
effect of veterans.We thought that you would visit JM, embrace the veterans and
announce then and there that OROP will be implemented on August 1 , 2015 with retrospective
effect. Nay, it was not to be so, you chose to continue your silence.

Sir, it is not late even now, we beseech, please do something and
help us clear off the course of planned aggravated agitations which will
 surely project a poor image of the country in the world arena/

JWO (retd) Sukumaran RV

 tions

The Great Betrayal

Those warriors who guarded the borders vigilantly have been forgoing food since a month.
Nobody cared a hoot even when a 90 year old fragile widow sat in hunger strike in JM.
Often heard phrases like "Have faith OROP will be implemented" "prime minister has assured orop will be implemented" "in a few weeks" "Expect good news on OROP soon" etc have been repeated in channel shows. One spokesman even said (surely a slip of tongue) that OROP will be implemented during the tenure of this Govt. But none gives a date when it would be.
We have 545 MPs in the lok Sabha out of which 440 are billionaires rest millionaires; yet they want 100% increase in their salary and substantial increase in other perks and allowances in addition to enjoying subsidized food in LOk Sabha canteen. But the subject of parity in pension among current and past pensioners is anathema to one and all.

Do these MPs know what is the amount of pension that veteran gets. Here is one illustration. Take a good look honorable MPs.including PM<FM<RM.
Pension of a JCO,( Class II Service Officer) who retired in 1971 originally was Rs.112/- which now after 6CPC is Rs.6470/- What would now be the age of that veteran who was 34 in 1971 and does anyone realize that in the twilight of his life how he would manage his livelihood  with this princely amount!!!? The hell with OROP for veterans I want my pound of flesh, come what may I AM AN MP.I WILL GET IT.
Disgraceful Deceit ; need to say anything more?
Govt is turning a blind eye to this just demand with out realizing the connotation of impact it likely to have among the disciplined section of the society.
By and large our Ex-service men community have been apolitical and hope it remains so always .
Political parties are trying to fish in the troubled waters and the powers that be are pretending to be blissfully unaware of this or willfully brazening it out. The community is still loyal to the party who promised that OROP will be implemented; please do not make them your enemy
Veterans are now a volcano ready to erupt; please prevent the catastrophe ; if not the the destiny of the nation might change.
Enough of the placating phrases, time now is to act and ACT SWIFTLY. The matter has gone out of the hand of RM and the FM is untrustworthy. The only solution has to come from the PM
PM sir, your vociferous silence is giving jitters to the veterans. Please come out of Moun Vrat and give us a solution.
When the RM said on 9th july that "good news on OROP soon" we thought that your arrival back in India will have a beneficial effect of veterans.We thought that you would visit JM, embrace the veterans and announce then and there that OROP will be implemented on August 1 , 2015 with retrospective effect. Nay, it was not to be so, you chose to continue your silence.
Sir, it is not late even now, we beseech, please do something and help us clear off the course of planned aggravated agitations which will  surely project a poor image of the country in the world arena/

JWO (retd) Sukumaran RV