UNDER THE AEGIS OF IESM HELD AT 1030H TO 1600H
ON 30 AUG 2009, AT AVCC, SECTOR – 37, NOIDA.
This meeting, under the aegis of IESM, was organized for active participation of all ex-servicemen from all over India and to invite suggestion for the road map for future struggle of ex-servicemen in response to rejection of OROP by the Government.
The delegates started arriving from 0930 onwards from all over India. The spirit and enthusiasm of the delegates was high despite the heavy rains since morning. By 1030h 320 delegates from 18 states of India had registered. Delegates from sister organizations like IESL, RDOA, PSSP and all India defense brotherhood were also present in the meeting.
WELCOME ADDRESS BY GP CAPT VK GANDHI VSM, GENERAL SECRETARY IESM
1. Welcome Address; The meeting started at 1030h with welcome address by Gp Capt VK Gandhi Gen Sec IESM, he welcomed and thanked all the delegates who have come despite the rain and congregate in large number for the exchange of views today. He informed them that IESM was borne on 13 Aug 2009 in the same hall. IESM has completed one year and in this one year we have been successful in bringing the grievances of ex-servicemen to the fore front and forced Government to acknowledge the difficulties of military veterans. IESM has arranged many rallies and dharnas at jantar mantar in last one year. But our novel method of depositing of soldier’s medals with the President of India has put tremendous pressure on the Government of India and forced them to accept in principle that the demand of OROP of the ex-servicemen needs reconsideration. The President of India on 4 June in her address to both the houses of Parliament announced that the ONE RANK ONE PENSION demand of ex-servicemen will be reconsidered by the GOI and suitable solution will soon be found.
Consequent to this, a committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary was announced to look into the issue of OROP and give recommendations. Based on the recommendation of this committee the pension of pre 1998 retired PBOR is to be increased and brought at par with pension of post 1998 PBOR, and the FM announce in the budget speech that OROP has been granted to ex-servicemen. The Secretary IESM informed the house that this is blatant lie of the Government and a shabby effort to misguide the ex-servicemen and people at large. He further informed all that the fact is that ONE RANK ONE PENSION has not been granted and our struggle will continue with greater intensity.
He further informed the house that we have all assembled here today to discuss among ourselves and decide what should be road map to intensify the struggle for OROP.
He also informed the house that we appreciate the fact that all delegates want to speak but due to paucity of time we have been able to accommodate about 20 speakers. These speakers are representative of their states. We would invite more speakers if time permits.
OPERATIONAL ROUND UP OF IESM ACTIVITIES BY MAJ GEN SATBIR SING SM (VICE CHAIRMAN IESM)
2. Maj Gen Satbir Singh SM Vice Chairman IESM; Maj Gen Satbir Singh explained to all the genesis behind birth of IESM, he further explained that at the moment there are more than 300 organizations who are doing good work for the welfare of ex-servicemen. These organizations are local in nature and have limited reach and agenda. A need was felt that there is a requirement of an organization which will work as umbrella for all these organizations and should be capable of taking important issues with Govt of India for all ex-servicemen of India and IESM was thought of. IESM has taken up four demands which if granted will definitely improve the status of an ex-servicemen in society. These four demands are
· One Rank One Pension; He explained that armed forces are by nature follow a rigid rank structure. This rank structure is important for maintaining proper discipline in the armed forces. Any soldier holding senior rank is always considered senior and is respected accordingly. He should not draw pension less than a soldier who has held rank junior to him. As a matter of principle he should draw the same pension as his colleague with same rank and same length of service is entitled to, irrespective of the date of retirement. Recently Govt has announced some increase in the pension of PBOR but this falls short of OROP. As per this pension of a soldier who had retired before 1998 has been increased to Rs 5461 whereas a soldier who has retired after 1 Jan 2006 is getting a pension of 7045. There is vast difference in pension of two soldiers who have put in same number of years of service and have retired at the same rank. This difference is with existing weightage of 50% as pension of last pay drawn and will increase further with increase in weightage from 50% to 70% as pension of last pay drawn. This is gross injustice and against ethos of Military system. He informed all that Govt is making a futile attempt to divide the ex-servicemen by making peace-meal and adhoc increases in pension in selected groups of ex-servicemen. He cautioned all to be aware of this and not to fall prey to it. We are united in fight for OROP and will remain united for all times to come.
· Security of job till 60 yrs of age; He explained to all that a soldier is forcibly retired after completing a service of 20 yrs to maintain a young army. This is the time when a soldier has young children and old parents to look after. He asked Govt that as per constitution every soldier who is forced to retire at young age should be absorbed in parallel Govt job with same status and should have a right to work till he is 60 years of age.
· Veterans’ commission; Govt should make a veteran’s commission and it should be manned by veterans only and not by other dignitaries like judges and IAS officers.
· Representation of Veterans in the Committees to look after the veterans; He informed the house that veterans should be part of every committee which is formed to look into grievances of the ex-servicemen.
He further informed the house that IESM has formed two cells to look after the problems of ex-servicemen. These cells are fully functional and these are manned by very experienced veterans. These are;
Pension Cell; Pension cell is fully functional and is headed by.
Vice Admiral Barin Ghose Director
B 449 Sushant Lok I
Gurgaon 122002 Haryana
Phone 124-4044069, Mobile 9871381479
E Mail bag1944@yahoo.co.in
ECHS Cell; ECHS cell is headed by
Air Marshal Kuldip Rai Director
Col Rakesh Chaturvedi Coordinator
A-35, Sector 36,
Noida. 201303.
Mob: +919891279035
Email id rpchaturvedi@gmail.com
RTI Cell; RTI cell is headed by
Col Kirit Joshipura
Email id
Mob no +919910439890
Maj Gen Satbir Singh further informed the house that these cells would also have coordinators at the state level and will help ex-servicemen to solve their problems at local level. He asked the gathering to give names of volunteers for these cells.
He emphasized on the unity of veterans and explained to all the veterans that together we can put tremendous pressure on Govt and we can get our demands from the Govt. And if we are not together then we would not be able to exert any pressure on Govt and our status in the society will be further lowered.
Formation of CSD cell; In deference to the views of the speakers, the vice chairman announced the formation of CSD cell of IESM. Brigadier Harwant Singh volunteered to coordinate the activities of this cell from the IESM. Vice Chairman Maj Gen Satbir Singh requested Lt Gen Jagdish Chander present in the audience to head the CSD Cell of IESM. Lt Gen Jagdish Chander accepted to act as Director of CSD cell of IESM. CSD cell of IESM has now been formed and is fully operational. Contact details are given below.
Lt Gen Jagdish Chander Director CSD cell
Email id
Brig Harwant Singh Coordinator CSD cell
Email - hrwntsingh@yahoo.co.in
Phone - 0172-2270154,
Mobile - 09814432554
Address: - 54, Phase- 7, MOHALI. (Punjab).PIN 160 062
FINANCIAL HEALTH BY MAJ GEN PRAVESH RENJEN AVSM TREASURER IESM
2. Maj Gen Pravesh Renjen, AVSM, Treasurer IESM; He gave brief details of the current Financial and Membership status, as follows;
Finances;
He explained that the IESM’s accounts are subject to external audit and Income Tax Act. IT return would be filed in Sep and thereafter the audited balance sheet would be displayed on the web site for info of all ESM. It will also be presented at the AGM when held (likely Nov 2009) for approval of the members. Briefly;
• Up to 31 Mar 2009 (approx figures in lacs rupees)
Membership Fee Rs 9.0 lacs
Donations Rs 14.0 lacs
Total Receipts Rs 23.0 lacs
Expenditure Rs 5.0 lacs
Balance Rs 18.0 lacs
(Rs16.0 lacs in FD)
• 01 Apr to 22 Aug 2009 (approx figures in lacs rupees)
Membership Fee Rs 4.0 lacs
Donations Rs 3.0 lacs
Total Receipts Rs 7.0 lacs
Expenditure Rs 3.0 lacs
Balance Rs 4.0 lacs
• Balance as on 22 Aug 2009. ----------------------Rs 22.0 lacs (Rs19.0 lacs in FD).
Membership;
He said that total membership, as entered in records up to 22 Aug is approx 3700; another 100 – 150 names are yet to be entered in our records. He requested all individual members and State, Distt, City Conveners and Motivators to check data entered for each member on the web site for correctness and edit where required at the soonest, so that Membership cards may be issued to all members. Expressing great disappointment at the number of members, he gave out the following analysis;
• Of the 3700 members, 61% are officers, 15% are JCOs and 24% are OR – highly disproportionate to the actual strength of veterans in these categories. This indicated lack of motivation and commitment on the part of JCOs and OR and needs a special drive by all Conveners and Motivators to redress.
• State wise Analysis of Northern India, which has maximum population of ESM.
NCR Delhi 300
Gurgaon 140
NOIDA 420
Haryana (other than Gurgaon) 320
Panchkula 120
Remainder Haryana 200
UP (other than NOIDA 270
Punjab (including UT Chandigarh)350
Himachal 120
Rajasthan 15
Uttaranchal 40
J&K 20
2315
• State wise Analysis of Southern & Western India, which has relatively thinner ESM population.
Maharashtra 390
Karnataka 290
Tamil Nadu 255
...
