ESM sitrep 28 Sep evening

Dear Colleagues,
I have received a reply this month from the Defence Minister to my query as to why the widows have been kept out of the pension-enhancement of 2010. The response unfortunately is a mere repetition of the earlier communications from the government on this subject. It again states that since the pension is related to the last pay drawn, it cannot apply to the deceased. That is incomprehensible. The enhancement covered the pre-2006 retiree pensioners. The enhanced pension sanctioned for them after the Cabinet Secretary’s Committee recommendations, also has no relation to their last pay drawn. But then these are the ways of the bureaucracy!
The Civil Services aspirants these days have to take a filter written test before they can qualify for the competitive examination; this is apparently to cut down the number of applicants. In one of the mock question papers for this examination held in June 2011, there was a question on ‘one rank one pension’. OROP has acquired visibility.

Best regards,


Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

ESM sitrep 07 September evening

Dear Colleagues,
The latest interaction with Shri Bhagat Singh Kothari, Chairman Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee on OROP reveals that that they are still working on the petition and expect to submit it to the government in November 2011. He assured me that he wants to make it a thorough job and is putting in it whatever ideas he himself has on the issue. Among other things he mentioned that the expenditure on OROP is not around Rs 3,000 Crore as earlier estimated. According to him it should be only 1200 to 1300 Crore. This is good news for us.
Having assured me that they would submit a convincing report he added the perpetually worrying clincher; ‘it is up to the government whether to accept it or not’.
You would recollect I had written a letter to the COAS on 19 August suggesting telecasting of Heroes-like programmes in Hindi too. (‘Heroes’ was an English language programme telecast by Times Now on 15 August for our gallantry awards winners). Some days ago I received a reply from the Army PIO – attached for information.

Best regards,


Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
262, Sector-17A
Gurgaon- 122 001
Tele: 91+124-4015262
+919811226676

ESM sitrep 03 Sep evening

Dear Colleagues,

There may be apprehension that with all the other activities happening in the country of late, our OROP issue has been pushed to the background; some ESM are beginning to show diminishing patience with the government apathy. However, we intend pursuing it with the same eager zeal as heretofore. We are still awaiting the submission of the OROP report by the Rajya Sabha Committee on petitions. Thereafter the government will give its response. It is admittedly a long struggle.

Our motivator Gen Aditya Jaini has enrolled quite a few new members from Ghaziabad. We welcome the latest among these – No18017 Wg Cdr K K Verma.


Best regards,


Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
262, Sector-17A
Gurgaon- 122 001

ESM sitrep 27 August evening

Dear Colleagues,

It is a historic day for India. The peoples’ power has been recognized. Our heartiest congratulations go to Anna Hazare for bringing about this momentous change. He has been an epitome of steely resolve, stoic determination and civilized behavior. The government failed to see what had become abundantly clear to the whole world. Had they shown more perspicacity and grace the physical suffering of this true crusader could have been greatly ameliorated.

A battle has been won. The war will be truly won only when the bill is finally enacted, a Lokpal is in place and people start feeling relief from the cancer of corruption. But a beginning has been made, and a very good one. Knowing Anna as the country knows him now, he will carry the baton till the finishing line. We wish him good health and long life.

The IESM was happy to be fully visible in the event and its support and contribution was duly recognized.

If events of past two weeks are any indicator, it should lead to another positive; Delhi police may become more people friendly. Hopefully.

Best regards,


Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
262, Sector-17A
Gurgaon- 122 001
Tele: 91+124-4015262
+919811226676

IESM STRONGLY SUPPORTS: INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION

Dated: 23 Aug 2011
IESM STRONGLY SUPPORTS: INDIA AGAINST CORRUPTION
Dear Veterans,
1. IESM once against requests all ESM Organizations and ESMs across the country to strongly support India Against Corruption Campaign and enactment of strong and effective legislation.
2. Martin Luther King Jr when imprisoned said “Injustice Any where is Threat to Justice Every Where”. Fundamental rights to protest was unjustly thwarted by the Govt. It was a grave Injustice.
3. A strong and effective Lokpal and Lok Ayukta Legislation is not only a universal phenomena but deserves to become a Universal Institution which will help reform democracies of the Free World all over to rediscover their pristine spirit of Liberty under care of universally accepted good ethics, morals and values to deliver Good Governance and Justice to Mankind. This alone can usher in Peace and Tranquility through Non Violence.
4. On 11 Sep 1893, in Parliament of Religions at Chicago Swami Vivekananda had said. “No One cane ask Sun its authenticity to Shine”. No one can question Anna’s intentions to uphold and deliver Justice.
5. Friends, PM’s statement that the Govt wants strong and effective Lokpal Bill; while his intentions may not be in question but we the people of India have the right to ask him as to how will he bring strong Lokpal legislation when the seed of the Tree (in the form of Govt Draft Lokpal Bill) is not only weak but lacs potency. Standing Committee behind which the Govt is taking shelter can not substantially alter the bill. The Govt has an option to withdraw the Govt Lokpal Bill and introduce a very strong and effective Lokpal and Lok Ayukta Bill incorporating the best of all suggestions.
6. Let us all join the Movement in large numbers across the country and strongly speak in favour of enactment of a strong and effective legislations. Moral courage in every veteran should be demonstrated by speaking out for JUSTICE. PLEASE REACH IN LARGE NUMBERS WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS AT RAM LILA GROUND ON 24 AUG 2011 AT 11 AM TO BE PART OF ANNA’S MOVEMENT and EVERYDAY THEREAFTER.
God Bless God Speed
With Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman, IESM
Mob : 9312404269,0124 – 4110570
Email : satbirsm@gmail.com, satbirsm@yahoo.com


__._,_.___

ESM SITREP 04 JULY EVENING

Dear Colleagues,

ESM from different corners of the country keep enquiring about OROP progress. Hopefully the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee will submit its report within this month and the government would take a decision on this within the duration of the Monsoon Parliamentary session (01 Aug – 08 Sep). Although there is cause for apprehension if one goes by the reported statement of the Defence Minister in his media interaction in the last week of June 2011. He has been quoted as saying
“Though ‘one rank, one pension’ is a dream, we are nearing it. Our approach is... that step by step increase it at least to the nearest pole. We are in the process and whenever we get an opportunity, we try to increase it”.
We have to wait and watch.
As the environment would know, Punjab and HP have already passed resolutions in their State Assemblies supporting grant of OROP to Defence pensioners. A letter has been written by me to Chief Ministers of 12 other States (UP, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Bihar, WB, Orissa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, MP, Chhatisgarh, Gujarat, J&K) requesting for similar action. It will help if pressure is also mounted through the local MsLA.

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The letter is reproduced below:
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Dear Hon’ble Chief Minister,

I am approaching you in connection with an important aspect of welfare affecting the Ex Servicemen.
You may be aware that for over three years, the Ex Servicemen have been struggling for their legitimate right of ‘one rank one pension’ (OROP). It implies equal pension for all personnel that retired from the same rank after equal number of years of service, irrespective of their date of retirement. As per the existing provisions, whenever the pensions are enhanced by successive Central Pay Commissions (CPC), the enhancement is only applied prospectively and old pensioners are left out. The gap between the old and new pensioners keeps widening with each successive CPC.

Interaction with top government leaders has revealed that their apprehension possibly arises from the fact that granting OROP to defence pensioners might generate a similar demand from civilian government employees thus increasing the financial liability that may be difficult to sustain. The civilian employees are our own kith and kin and not our adversaries. However, denial of a legitimate due to the Ex Servicemen on this ground is unfair considering the vastly different service conditions under which our military persons serve. Apart from risks, dangers, separation, dislocation, hard life etc, let me highlight some other major and not easily discernible differences:

1. Early Retirement. Over 85% military personnel retire in their mid/late Thirties whereas all civil employees serve up to their age of superannuation i.e. 60 years. The military persons thus lose out on the benefits of two/three CPCs that the civilian employees enjoy. Early retirement also is at a lower pay and consequently lower pension. There is no compensation for the relative differential in their salaries and pensions.

2. Limited Promotions. The Defence Forces are structured around a very steep pyramidal rank structure. For example, at Independence, when the Army’s strength was barely 2, 50,000 they had one officer holding the rank of General. Today, even though the strength has gone up by over five times, the Army still has only one General. In contrast the proliferation of senior posts in the civil and police forces is too well known to be recounted. It may be of interest to know that an Army officer has a 0.022% chance of reaching the topmost rank.

3. Very Slow Promotions. The Defence Forces suffer a double whammy in the field of promotions. Not only are the avenues on top severely limited, even attainment of those limited senior ranks comes very late. For example, while an IAS officer becomes a Joint Secretary in about 14/20 years of service (States/Centre), its equivalent rank of Major General that comes to less than 3% of Army officers, is attained only after 33 years of commissioning.

Keeping the above realities in mind, denial of their legitimate entitlement of OROP to the Defence Forces, on the apprehension that it might evoke a similar demand among the civilian employees, is patently unjust. In fact if the OROP issue had been of equal interest to the civilian employees, they would have agitated long ago. OROP demand by Ex Servicemen that had been simmering for nearly 30 years, gathered steam after the 6th CPC report came out. It has become a very emotive issue in the entire population of the Ex Servicemen. Seen in the larger context, this can have an adverse effect on the overall security scenario in the country. It is with this background that I solicit your kind support.

........ has a very large population of Ex Servicemen and meeting their legitimate demand is in everyone’s interest. In fact Punjab and HP have already passed a resolution in the State Assemblies unanimously supporting the demand of OROP. I will request you to consider if a similar resolution can be moved in your State. I further implore you to kindly use your influence with the Centre in getting OROP sanctioned.

I will be happy to meet you and make a presentation at your convenience.

Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM,

ESM sitrep 06 July evening

Dear Colleagues,
During Night 05/06 July 2011, an ESM Hav Dayal, residing in his village 25 km from Rewari (Haryana), suffered a heart attack. Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM, Vice Chairman IESM was informed telephonically at 0030 hours. He immediately swung into action, called up various hospitals and finally rushed him to Artemis Hospital Gurgaon. He also woke up Lt Col (Retd) Anil Dhall, SM a renowned cardiologist who is working as a Heart Surgeon at Artemis. Angioplasty was performed at 0345 hours by Anil and his team and the patient’s condition was stabilized.
This is another chapter in the welfare activities of the IESM and Gen Satbir deserves full praise for his energetic actions. Since the patient’s ECHS card was not available till much later in the morning, Satbir also gave an undertaking that the cost would be underwritten if the card was not produced.
IESM takes pride in announcing that a precious life has been saved through its intervention.



Best regards,


Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM