24 Jun 2009
Dear Colleagues,
IESM concept of OROP has again been conveyed to the government. We are seeking to remove the gap between the old and new pensioner instead of merely narrowing this gap.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
Pension Parity Trivia
The ESM Pension is an income support payment which is inflation compensatory and non- erodible till death.
A War Disablement Pension is not compensation for an injury, it is a compensatory payment designed to counterbalance the impact of the injury on a Jawan’s quality of life.
A ESM can have War Disablement/ injury Pension coverage for any number of different disabilities.
A War Disablement Pension is a tax free, life time entitlement.
The largest number of Disablement Pension claims are for hearing loss but seldom granted.
Pension Parity: Demands of Ex- Servicemen
The veterans of armed forces “Agitations by military veterans” by retired Vice-Admiral Premvir Das, April 1 have been peacefully fighting for “one rank, one pension” and other injustices. These demands were presented to various political parties who accepted these as genuine and promised to give justice to the defence personnel.
The implementation of the 6th CPC has humiliated not only the veterans but also those in service. So far, the authorities have only promised to remove some anomalies. Even the ultimate sacrifices of the defence personnel have not been able to rouse the conscience of the authorities.
The returning of medals by the veterans was a peaceful, disciplined and authentic way of protest. However, our authorities react only when the situation goes beyond control and the public property and the people suffer.
The veterans do not get any travel concessions. Rather, their civilian counterparts in the government get better travelling facilities and pension benefits.
ANGAD SINGH, SAS Nagar
II
Recently, the defence forces expressed resentment against the report of the 6th Central Pay Commission. Ultimately, the government agreed to make many concessions and demand for a separate pay commission for the defence forces was also accepted. Very often, the defence personnel proclaim that they are the defenders of Indian borders. But, they forget that this is their primary duty. However, the demand for “one rank, one pension” is not unjustified. Instead, they should ask for parity in pension up to 2006, as the civilian pensioners are demanding. But they should refrain from returning their medals.
SHER SINGH, Ludhiana
Military agitation
