SAFE CUSTOY OF GALLANTRY AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDALS OF DEFENCE VETERANS DEPOSITED WITH THE SUPREME COMMANDER

20 Sep 2013
Shri Pranab Mukherjee
Hon’ble, the President of India
& Supreme Commander of the Indian Defence Forces
Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi – 110 011

SAFE CUSTOY OF GALLANTRY AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDALS OF DEFENCE VETERANS DEPOSITED WITH THE SUPREME COMMANDER AND 
EX-SERVICEMEN (ESM) RALLY AT JANTAR MANTAR ON 19 OCTOBER 2013

Hon’ble President,

Jai Hind!!

1. Approx 22000 medals of Defence Veterans have been deposited with the Supreme Commander between 2009 to 2012 on six different occasions. When numerous representations of the genuine demands made were ignored by the Govt with impunity; to express their anguish, the defence veterans took the step of depositing their hard earned medals.

2. Another 10000 medals voluntarily deposited by the veterans are respectfully lying in the office of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) and awaiting deposit with the Supreme Commander. Earlier, the medals were accepted by the staff of the Supreme Commander in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. When no positive outcome was in sight, the veterans then decided to hand over the medals only to the Supreme Commander in person. The delegation of veterans and defence widows brought these 10000 medals back when the Supreme Commander did not accept in person.

3. Hon’ble Rashtrapati Jee, we wish to request you to kindly, keep the safe custody of the 22000 medals already deposited with you with honour and respect in Rashtrapati Bhavan and these be maintained properly. During Ex-Servicemen Rallies held across the country; the veterans had expressed their concern about the honour and respect of their medals lying in safe custody in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. MVC, VrC, Military cross, PVSM, AVSM PYSM AYSM, are the medals which form part of the returned medals. These medals are proudly pinned on the chest of soldiers with great pomp and show in Rashtrapati Bhavan for the exceptional bravery of soldiers in the security of nation. It should be a matter of great concern that the soldiers have decided to return these medals because of total neglect of armed forces and veterans welfare. May we request you to also kindly allow inspection of the safe custody of our medals by our delegation at regular intervals say once in three months.

4. Our next Rally at Jantar Mantar New Delhi is being held on 19 October 2013 from 10 AM to 3 PM. You are requested to kindly receive the delegation of Defence Veterans in Rashtrapati Bhavan and accept the medals yourself in person during the above Rally. It is planned that the delegation will reach Rashtrapati Bhavan at 3 PM.

5. May we request you to kindly confirm your availability please?

With regards, 
Yours sincerely,



Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Offg Chairman, Indian Ex Servicemen Movement
Mobile: +919312404269, Tel: 0124-41105709
Email: satbirsm@gmail.com

Copy to:-
Dr Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
152, South Block, New Delhi -110011 For information please

Shri AK Antony
Hon’ble Defence Minister
9, Krishna, Menon Marg New Delhi -do-

General Bikram Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC
Chief of the Army Staff.
Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Army)
South Block, New Delhi-110011 -do-

Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM, ADC
Chief of the Naval Staff
Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Navy)
South Block, New Delhi-110011 -do-

Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne, PVSM, AVSM, VM
Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Air Staff
Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi 110011 -do-

7TH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION AND SEPARATE MILITARY PAY COMMISSION

7TH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION AND SEPARATE MILITARY PAY COMMISSION
***********************************************

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM,
Offg Chairman IESM,
Mob: +919312404269,0124-4110570
E Mail ID: satbirsm@gmail.com

............................................. 

Dated: 28 Sep 2013

Dr Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
152, South Block, New Delhi -110011

7TH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION AND SEPARATE MILITARY PAY COMMISSION

Hon’ble Prime Minister of India

1. The Central Government has announced that Prime Minister has approved the constitution of the Seventh Central Pay Commission. We Defence veterans are heartened that a separate Military Pay Commission is likely to be set up in line with the commitments made by the Government in 2009. 

2. We are however worried that this, much needed refinement would be typically hijacked in implementation, by the Civil services Bureaucracy. In fact newspaper reports (Quote TOI report dated 26 Sep 2013)--Defence ministry officials on Wednesday acknowledged that “everybody had agreed’’ that there will be no separate pay commission for the armed forces but held that the “modalities’’ on how to give representation to the armed forces in the seventh CPC would be decided at a later stage) already indicate the intention of the MOD officials to scuttle a separate Military Pay Commission. We therefore demand that: 

(a) The Military Pay Commission (MPC) be headed and staffed entirely by members serving and retired- of the Defence Forces. 

(b) Over the nearly seven decades since independence the economic status and relative standing of the Defence Forces personnel in relation to their counterparts in the Civil Services has progressively been brought down; mostly through translational anomalies introduced in issue of implementing instructions by the Civil Services personnel. To guard against this, it is suggested that the MPC be additionally tasked with the entire exercise of revision, including issue of implementing instructions consequent to the approval of the MPC recommendations.

(c) To compensate the Defence personnel for their unusual life full of hardships and early retirement, and to make military service an attractive career, there is need to legislate that their pay would be guarded to have edge over their counterparts in Civil Services, for relative years in service, at EACH stage. The other countries of the world package their Defence personnel 15 -20 percent higher than their Civilian Counterparts.

3. We also strongly recommend that the Chairman of MPC and CPC should be common. This will ensure that Chairman is fully in picture about the demands and requirements of both sides so that there is no discrimination. Also while some bureaucrat members from MoD and MoF be part of the MPC, there must be a senior Military representative on the CPC who can co-ordinate with the service HQs. 

4. We hope the above will be truly integrated in the orders for the 7th CPC as and when it is issued. 

With regards,

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM,
Offg Chairman IESM,
Mob: +919312404269,0124-4110570
E Mail ID: satbirsm@gmail.com

Copy to:-

Shri AK Antony, 

Hon’ble Raksha Mantri, 

Ministry of Defence, 

New Delhi-110011

General Bikram Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC Chief of the Army Staff.
Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Army) South Block, New Delhi-110011.

Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM, ADC Chief of the Naval Staff Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Navy), South Block, New Delhi-110011.

Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne, PVSM, AVSM, VM.Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Air Staff. Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi 110011.