Some veterans have expressed the view that time has come to take a look at veterans agitation for OROP. Veterans have expressed their concern that the holding rallies, medal returns to the President and sending memorandums to the Govt has had very little effect on the Govt.
While it is true that OROP has yet not been sanctioned by the Govt for the veterans, but agitations spearheaded by the IESM has given dividends in the form of increased pension for our JCOs and ORs. Full parity in pension for all is yet to be achieved. Once OROP is given to veterans all veterans would draw equal pension for same rank and same length of service.
I would like to confirm that agitation spearheaded by IESM has paid dividends as enumerated below OROP has been brought in center stage of the nation. Definition of OROP is now known to all. Govt which was wrongly quoting grant of OROP has now realized that it can not fool veterans by making incorrect statements on the floor of parliament.
Many state Govt have unanimously passed resolution supporting OROP for the veterans. Govt is on back foot and has sent requests to IESM not to return any more medals. Parliamentary committee on defense headed by Sh Satpal ji Maharaj and members of all parties have unanimously recommended OROP for veterans.
Sh Rajeev Chandrashekhar and other MsP have been raising grant of OROP in both the houses of Parliament.
Many parties have openly supported grant of OROP at various forums. Rajya Sabha had ordered a committee headed by Sh Bhagat Singh Kothiari. The committee had members from all parties. This committee had heard all the section of society and the Govt view also and had recommended OROP for the veterans. The committee went a step further and negated all the reasons given by Govt. ATR by the Govt on the recommendation of this committee is still pending. IESM is making all out efforts to get this report at the earliest.
Presidents of opposition parties have written to PM for grant of OROP for veterans. However despite above efforts Govt is still not inclined to grant OROP for the veterans and is taking refuge under the pretext that they would like to grant OROP in steps. This is not acceptable to veterans and IESM. IESM is inclined to do brain storming at this stage and is looking for better ideas and dynamic veterans to join in protests and agitations and even to lead them.
Request For Out of the box Solution and volunteers to Lead There is no doubt that veterans need to step up the agitation to ensure that the Government listens and accedes to our demands. IESM believes that its views are not the last word in planning an agitation, secondly its plan is not final word and thirdly modus operandi of agitation can definitely be improved to make it more effective. This is the reason IESM has always been requesting veteran community to give practical suggestions and also take a step forward to lead the agitations in a more effective manner. IESM would be more than keen to follow the group of veterans who would like to lead the agitation with their suggested out of the box solution, and hope that the suggested solution would be more effective and would help shake the Government to accede to veterans' demands. IESM is suggesting this as it believes in brain storming and that every suggestion needs to be considered on its merits and its pros and cons discussed in detail. IESM has only one request that please do not give only solutions but take a step forward to Join/lead veterans in making the agitation more effective. TOGETHER WE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS BUT INDIVIDUALLY WE ARE ZERO, ALL VETERANS ARE REQUESTED TO JOIN IN THIS STRUGGLE AND MAKE THE STRUGGLE MORE EFFECTIVE SO THAT THE GOVERNMENT ACCEDES TO OUR JUST AND RIGHTFUL DEMANDS.
PLEASE NOTE; IESM WOULD NOT BACK ANY SOLUTION WHICH PROPAGATES ANY INCONVENIENCE TO CITIZEN AND DAMAGE TO GOVERNMENT PROPERTY. IESM WOULD FIGHT FOR RIGHT OF VETERANS WITHIN THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF INDIA WOULD SUPPORT ONLY NON VIOLENT AGITATION.
Power of Unity
It is time to put more pressure on the politicians so that they accede to veterans' just demand of OROP and treat the veterans with more respect. All veterans should understand the power of unity and the effect it would have on political scene if we use it more effectively. Time has now come to forget our local leanings and local issues and to take a vow that VETERANS WOULD UNITEDLY WOULD NOT VOTE FOR THE PARTY WHICH REFUSES TO GIVE US OROP AND WHICH DOES NOT CARE FOR ITS SOLDIERS AND VETERANS. SOLDIERS PROUDLY SACRIFICE THEIR LIFE FOR THE COUNTRY SO THAT CITIZEN LEAD A LIFE OF PROSPERITY. HOW CAN WE PERMIT POLITICIANS TO LIVE A POMPOUS LIFE WHEN THEY DO NOT CARE FOR A SOLDIER/VETERAN? IT IS A WAKE UP CALL FOR ALL VETERANS TO JOIN TOGETHER AND MAKE IT A COMBINED FIGHT TO GET OUR DEMANDS.
Power of Vote
There are 23 lacs veterans 11 lac serving soldiers (total no is 34 lacs ) spread over the country. Some parts of the country have dense population of veterans and soldiers while other parts of country have very less density of veterans. Every veterans has power to influence at-least 10 votes that of his close family and friends. This means together we can influence 34*10 = 340 lacs or 3.4 crore votes. And with the proper study of distribution of the veterans and soldiers density, together veterans can influence the result of close to 40 to 45 parliamentary constituencies. It is surprising that veterans are begging the Government to give us OROP with so much of power in hand. WAKE UP SOLDIER AND USE YOUR VOTE DECISIVELY ALL OUR DEMAND WOULD BE MET BY THE POLITICAL PARTIES. LEARN ABOUT YOUR VOTE POWER AND USE IT MORE EFFECTIVELY. IT IS YOU AND YOUR VOTE WHICH WILL DECIDE THE COMPOSITION OF THE NEXT GOVERNMENT . EVERY VETERANS HAS POWER TO DECIDE HIS OWN FUTURE ONLY REQUIREMENT IS THAT VETERANS VOTE TOGETHER IN A BLOCK.
VETERANS HAVE ONE YEAR TO GET TOGETHER AND CONSOLIDATE THEIR VOTE POWER BEFORE NEXT ELECTION. LET US ALL GET TOGETHER AND CHOOSE A GOVERNMENT WHICH WILL TREAT VETERANS WITH HONOUR AND IZZAT. IT IS OUR RIGHT AND WE ARE DETERMINED TO GET IT.
Veterans' conclave
Veterans are requested to give their views on the plan to vote as a block. Based on views of environment and the other associations of the veterans across the country,IESM intends to plan a conclave of veterans sometime in near future to harness voting power of veterans and how to use it effectively to increase veterans' influence in formation of Govt favorably placed to veterans.
WAKE UP VETERANS, UNITED WE WILL WIN. साथी हाथ बढ़ाना साथी रे एक अकेला थक जाएगा मिल कर हाथ बढ़ाना साथी रे साथी हाथ बढ़ाना साथी रे
Regards
Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM Gen Sec IESM L - 48, Sector - 25, NOIDA. 201301 Tele no 01204313951 Mobile 09810541222 Pls see IESM latest NEWS on http://www.iesm.org IF YOU SEE SOMEONE WITHOUT A SMILE GIVE HIM ONE OF YOURS.
