Thursday, July 7, 2011
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.
*************************************************************************
The letter is reproduced below:
************************************************************************
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
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
Thursday, June 9, 2011
ESM sitrep 07 June evening
Dear Colleagues,
In the recent past our efforts have been concentrated towards convincing the members of the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee of the justification and genuineness of OROP for the Defence Forces. Realising that the government reluctance to give us OROP might be based on their apprehension of it provoking a similar demand from other non-Defence employees, we laid adequate emphasis in driving home our uniqueness in the national matrix. From the trend of discussion, questions asked by Committee members and from various other indications, we are very hopeful that the recommendations of the Committee will be favourable to our demand.
We now await the report of the Petitions Committee finding its way to the government and being discussed in the Parliament. In the meantime, veterans with a flair for writing are requested to get OROP related articles published in the media so as the keep the issue on the radar screen and to keep the tempo going.
A letter/reminder sent to Mrs Sonia Gandhi on 07 June 2011 regarding the Service widows’ request to meet her is given below.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
In the recent past our efforts have been concentrated towards convincing the members of the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee of the justification and genuineness of OROP for the Defence Forces. Realising that the government reluctance to give us OROP might be based on their apprehension of it provoking a similar demand from other non-Defence employees, we laid adequate emphasis in driving home our uniqueness in the national matrix. From the trend of discussion, questions asked by Committee members and from various other indications, we are very hopeful that the recommendations of the Committee will be favourable to our demand.
We now await the report of the Petitions Committee finding its way to the government and being discussed in the Parliament. In the meantime, veterans with a flair for writing are requested to get OROP related articles published in the media so as the keep the issue on the radar screen and to keep the tempo going.
A letter/reminder sent to Mrs Sonia Gandhi on 07 June 2011 regarding the Service widows’ request to meet her is given below.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Presentation to the Petition Committee of Rajya Sabha
Dear Friends,
Jai Hind.
Please read the two emails reproduced below.
I am sure this will give you lot of confidence in the efforts being put in by your humble supporters IESM, who are spending sleepless nights to
get justice to YOU ALL INDIAN MILITARY VETERANS.
होंगे कामयाब हम एक दिन - एक दिनIt is time for all of us to support IESM.
Would you please –
Become member of IESM and give them whole hearted support.
You know and we all know – you cannot get very rich by saving those few hundred rupees, which are required to support IESM.
More support you can gather – better are chances of success of IESM.
We need much more momentum to move the political leaders away from the clutches of the Babus, who are bent upon cheating the Defence Services Veterans.
Please help and support IESM.
Vande Matram
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
-------------
From: Satbir Singh [mailto:satbirsm@gmail.com]
Sent: 17 May 2011 14:56
To: CS.Kamboj@yahoo.in
Subject: Fwd: [IESM_GovBody] IESM PRESENTATION TO THE PETITION COMMITTEE OF RAJYA SABHA AND OTHER RELATED UPDATES [9 Attachments]
Dated : 17 May 2011IESM PRESENTATION TO THE PETITION COMMITTEE OF RAJYA SABHA AND OTHER RELATED UPDATES
Dear Veterans
1. The Petition Committee of Rajya Sabha on One Rank One Pension (OROP) invited a number of veteran organizations and a few veterans for the presentation on 16 May 2011. We had requested the Petition Committee to grant us sufficient time to make the presentation to enable us to do justice to the cause. You will be glad to know that our request was accepted. Alongwith us, the Navy Foundation Delhi Chapter and Brig Mahalingam an IESM veteran also made their presentations.
2. Gen Kadyan, Col R P Chaturvedi, Hony Lt Kameshwar Pandey and self represented the IESM. Gen Kadyan made a gripping, impressive, forceful and excellent presentation bringing out all the relevant facts, logic and analysis for the grant of OROP. The members of the committee which comprised Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chairman Petition Committee and Members of Rajya Sabha, Shri Avinash Pande, Shri Rajeev Shukla, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Shri Nandi Yellaiah, heard our presentation fully engrossed and their body language demonstrated their compassion for the soldier. Col RP Chaturvedi, Hoy Lt Kameshwar Pandey made brief forceful comments. I was privileged to add a few points with a couplet commenting on the bureaucracy:-
“Mera Katil hi Mera Munsif Hai, Mere Haq Mein Kiya Faisla Dega”(My Murderer is the Judge, How will he give Judgement in my Favour?)
I appealed to the Hon’ble Members of the petition Committee that Injustice to the Defence Forces must end at the earliest in the interest of the Nation”.
3. The Navy Foundation led by Admiral Harinder made an equally strong presentation highlighting the issue of Non functional upgrades and other promotional avenues and benefits which the bureaucracy has given to itself.
4. We were also privileged to listen to Brig V Mahalingam to a very captivating, factually backed and emotionally charged presentation which was heard by the Committee members in rapt silence nodding in obvious agreement. They commented that during the day’s proceedings they had indeed been exposed to the facts hither to fore unknown to them.
5. We also take the privilege to release IESM Memorandum and Memorandum sent by self with related documents to the Petition Committee. Friends, we are thankful to other veteran organizations ie IESL, All India Ex Services Welfare Association, Naval foundation, IESL Uttrakhand and veterans Gen HB Kala, Gen Vijay Oberoi, Gen Radhakrishnan, AVM R P Mishra, Admiral Alan O’Leary, Admiral Arun Saxena, Brig V Mahalingam for forcefully presenting the case for OROP in their respective memorandums. During our presentation, we were also privileged to hear Mr. Ramachandran Gen Secretary of All India Central Confederation of Pensioners Association speaking in favour of the Defence Personnel. He remarked that if the Defence Personnel are Govt employees, they have to be given employment till the age of 60. In case they are being compulsorily retired earlier, suitable compensation for them is the bounden duty of the Govt.
6. Dear veterans, the time has come for the OROP to be sanctioned. Let us hope the Govt (read bureaucracy) does not derail it any more. As announced earlier, if the OROP is not granted by September 2011, the IESM has planned to carry out “Fauji Gaurav Yatras” in all states of the country starting first with Punjab. The Yatras will cover all the districts of the state. Defence veterans, their members of the families and supporters in large number are likely to take part in Yatras. The aim is to draw attention of the people of India about the ill-treatment of military by successive Govts for the last 62 years. We also plan to collect maximum medals and blood signatures on the memorandum to be deposited with the President of India and inform veterans across the country that those political parties who do not support or work to get us OROP have NO RIGHT TO ask for our votes in any election. Forgetting differences if any, all veteran organizations and individual veterans are requested to join in our crusade to get justice for Defence Forces.
7. We will conduct the Yatras in a peaceful and dignified manner keeping in view the democratic norms and discipline.
“We will succeed”
“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
Attachment(s) from Satbir Singh9 of 9 File(s)
(The attachments received from Maj Gen Satbir Singh being very large in size, cannot be mass emailed. However these attachments are being placed on the following websites –
“REPORT MY SIGNAL - BLOG” – http://reportmysignal.blogspot.com
IESM UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION – http://www.iesm.org/
SANJHA MORCHA WEBSITE - http://sanjhamorcha2009.blogspot.com/ )
---------------
From: IESM_GovBody@yahoogroups.com [mailto:IESM_GovBody@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kameshwar Pandey
Sent: 17 May 2011 16:04
To: gove body IESM
Subject:
CONGRATULATIONS ON AN OUTSTANDING PRESENTATION, SIR.
Dear Gen Kadyan Sir,
I am still recovering from the awe-effect of the presentation you made yesterday. To say that it was an outstanding presentation that you made in front of the petition committee would be a huge understatement. IESM is both lucky and proud to have you as our Chairman and I feel privileged to be able to work closely with you. Even the chairman and the other members of the petition committee had no option but to appreciate your presentation. The effect that the presentation had on the committee can be gauged by the remark that they made, "we would like to meet you again during the course of finalization of the committee recommendations." On behalf of our team and as an 'eye-witness' I would like to congratulate you on a remarkable presentation yesterday.
The beauty of presentation lay in the fact that all our claims, our points and our apprehensions were backed by solid, water-tight facts and figures. What was even more outstanding was that these were issues mostly related to war widows, JCOs, NCOs and other ranks - something that was missing from most of the other presentations made before the committee. It was, thus, proven one more time that Gen Kadyan follows the 'subordinates first' rule which so many senior veterans have forgotten.
Some points of the presentation that I want to highlight that Gen Kadyan stressed on:
- The main focus of the presentation was, of course, on One Rank One Pension, its need and its justification.
- Intended and subtle pun on the cunning efforts of bureaucrats for the planned and tactical down-gradation of the military.
- Loved this quote, "mera qatil hi mera munsif hai, kya mere haq mein faisla dega..." which was delivered in an extremely emotional way by Gen Satbir sir which moved everyone sitting in the room.
- I salute the herculean effort put in by Gen Satbir sir as well as Col R P Chaturvedi sir who worked behind the scenes tirelessly which made this presentation a grand success that it was. We must also thank to Hav Devi Lal sahib who is always in the thick of every IESM activity. Hav Devi Lal sahib is an asset for IESM.
Finally, I apologize for taking the mic without your permission to support the points of Sh S S Ramachandran. The chairman, Mr Koshiyari, tried to interrupt him but I was in full agreement with the point raised by Mr S S Ramachandran, that the young lot of firearms trained soldiers, if left dissatisfied, can be misguided by anti national elements and that can be mighty dangerous.
The question before us, therefore, is weather these committees have any vested powers or are they merely an eye-wash and a governments gimmick to buy more time and further delay the issue. A member of the committee was saying that we are here to give you a hearing and that there are many committees above them that might or might not listen to their recommendations. What, then, is the use of all this lao-lashkar? And what should be our course of action?
I once again appreciate the collective efforst of IESM as a unit because of which such presentations and meetings are suddenly happening and everybody is talking about ESM and OROP. What is notable is the fact that IESM was called separately for making the presentation! That said,
लड़ाई लम्बी है. हमें शांति, धीरज और हिम्मत से आगे बढ़ाना है.
Thank you.
Yours truly.
Kameshwar Pandey
Sub/Maj Hony. Lt. (Veteran)
Governing Body Member Indian ESM Movement
Resi: 230, Pocket-1, DDA SFS Flats, Sector-1,
Dwarka, New Delhi - 110 075
Cell : +91-9811059825
Jai Hind.
Please read the two emails reproduced below.
I am sure this will give you lot of confidence in the efforts being put in by your humble supporters IESM, who are spending sleepless nights to
get justice to YOU ALL INDIAN MILITARY VETERANS.
होंगे कामयाब हम एक दिन - एक दिनIt is time for all of us to support IESM.
Would you please –
Become member of IESM and give them whole hearted support.
You know and we all know – you cannot get very rich by saving those few hundred rupees, which are required to support IESM.
More support you can gather – better are chances of success of IESM.
We need much more momentum to move the political leaders away from the clutches of the Babus, who are bent upon cheating the Defence Services Veterans.
Please help and support IESM.
Vande Matram
In service of Indian Military Veterans
Chander Kamboj.
-------------
From: Satbir Singh [mailto:satbirsm@gmail.com]
Sent: 17 May 2011 14:56
To: CS.Kamboj@yahoo.in
Subject: Fwd: [IESM_GovBody] IESM PRESENTATION TO THE PETITION COMMITTEE OF RAJYA SABHA AND OTHER RELATED UPDATES [9 Attachments]
Dated : 17 May 2011IESM PRESENTATION TO THE PETITION COMMITTEE OF RAJYA SABHA AND OTHER RELATED UPDATES
Dear Veterans
1. The Petition Committee of Rajya Sabha on One Rank One Pension (OROP) invited a number of veteran organizations and a few veterans for the presentation on 16 May 2011. We had requested the Petition Committee to grant us sufficient time to make the presentation to enable us to do justice to the cause. You will be glad to know that our request was accepted. Alongwith us, the Navy Foundation Delhi Chapter and Brig Mahalingam an IESM veteran also made their presentations.
2. Gen Kadyan, Col R P Chaturvedi, Hony Lt Kameshwar Pandey and self represented the IESM. Gen Kadyan made a gripping, impressive, forceful and excellent presentation bringing out all the relevant facts, logic and analysis for the grant of OROP. The members of the committee which comprised Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chairman Petition Committee and Members of Rajya Sabha, Shri Avinash Pande, Shri Rajeev Shukla, Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, Shri Nandi Yellaiah, heard our presentation fully engrossed and their body language demonstrated their compassion for the soldier. Col RP Chaturvedi, Hoy Lt Kameshwar Pandey made brief forceful comments. I was privileged to add a few points with a couplet commenting on the bureaucracy:-
“Mera Katil hi Mera Munsif Hai, Mere Haq Mein Kiya Faisla Dega”(My Murderer is the Judge, How will he give Judgement in my Favour?)
I appealed to the Hon’ble Members of the petition Committee that Injustice to the Defence Forces must end at the earliest in the interest of the Nation”.
3. The Navy Foundation led by Admiral Harinder made an equally strong presentation highlighting the issue of Non functional upgrades and other promotional avenues and benefits which the bureaucracy has given to itself.
4. We were also privileged to listen to Brig V Mahalingam to a very captivating, factually backed and emotionally charged presentation which was heard by the Committee members in rapt silence nodding in obvious agreement. They commented that during the day’s proceedings they had indeed been exposed to the facts hither to fore unknown to them.
5. We also take the privilege to release IESM Memorandum and Memorandum sent by self with related documents to the Petition Committee. Friends, we are thankful to other veteran organizations ie IESL, All India Ex Services Welfare Association, Naval foundation, IESL Uttrakhand and veterans Gen HB Kala, Gen Vijay Oberoi, Gen Radhakrishnan, AVM R P Mishra, Admiral Alan O’Leary, Admiral Arun Saxena, Brig V Mahalingam for forcefully presenting the case for OROP in their respective memorandums. During our presentation, we were also privileged to hear Mr. Ramachandran Gen Secretary of All India Central Confederation of Pensioners Association speaking in favour of the Defence Personnel. He remarked that if the Defence Personnel are Govt employees, they have to be given employment till the age of 60. In case they are being compulsorily retired earlier, suitable compensation for them is the bounden duty of the Govt.
6. Dear veterans, the time has come for the OROP to be sanctioned. Let us hope the Govt (read bureaucracy) does not derail it any more. As announced earlier, if the OROP is not granted by September 2011, the IESM has planned to carry out “Fauji Gaurav Yatras” in all states of the country starting first with Punjab. The Yatras will cover all the districts of the state. Defence veterans, their members of the families and supporters in large number are likely to take part in Yatras. The aim is to draw attention of the people of India about the ill-treatment of military by successive Govts for the last 62 years. We also plan to collect maximum medals and blood signatures on the memorandum to be deposited with the President of India and inform veterans across the country that those political parties who do not support or work to get us OROP have NO RIGHT TO ask for our votes in any election. Forgetting differences if any, all veteran organizations and individual veterans are requested to join in our crusade to get justice for Defence Forces.
7. We will conduct the Yatras in a peaceful and dignified manner keeping in view the democratic norms and discipline.
“We will succeed”
“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
Attachment(s) from Satbir Singh9 of 9 File(s)
(The attachments received from Maj Gen Satbir Singh being very large in size, cannot be mass emailed. However these attachments are being placed on the following websites –
“REPORT MY SIGNAL - BLOG” – http://reportmysignal.blogspot.com
IESM UPDATES AND MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION – http://www.iesm.org/
SANJHA MORCHA WEBSITE - http://sanjhamorcha2009.blogspot.com/ )
---------------
From: IESM_GovBody@yahoogroups.com [mailto:IESM_GovBody@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kameshwar Pandey
Sent: 17 May 2011 16:04
To: gove body IESM
Subject:
CONGRATULATIONS ON AN OUTSTANDING PRESENTATION, SIR.
Dear Gen Kadyan Sir,
I am still recovering from the awe-effect of the presentation you made yesterday. To say that it was an outstanding presentation that you made in front of the petition committee would be a huge understatement. IESM is both lucky and proud to have you as our Chairman and I feel privileged to be able to work closely with you. Even the chairman and the other members of the petition committee had no option but to appreciate your presentation. The effect that the presentation had on the committee can be gauged by the remark that they made, "we would like to meet you again during the course of finalization of the committee recommendations." On behalf of our team and as an 'eye-witness' I would like to congratulate you on a remarkable presentation yesterday.
The beauty of presentation lay in the fact that all our claims, our points and our apprehensions were backed by solid, water-tight facts and figures. What was even more outstanding was that these were issues mostly related to war widows, JCOs, NCOs and other ranks - something that was missing from most of the other presentations made before the committee. It was, thus, proven one more time that Gen Kadyan follows the 'subordinates first' rule which so many senior veterans have forgotten.
Some points of the presentation that I want to highlight that Gen Kadyan stressed on:
- The main focus of the presentation was, of course, on One Rank One Pension, its need and its justification.
- Intended and subtle pun on the cunning efforts of bureaucrats for the planned and tactical down-gradation of the military.
- Loved this quote, "mera qatil hi mera munsif hai, kya mere haq mein faisla dega..." which was delivered in an extremely emotional way by Gen Satbir sir which moved everyone sitting in the room.
- I salute the herculean effort put in by Gen Satbir sir as well as Col R P Chaturvedi sir who worked behind the scenes tirelessly which made this presentation a grand success that it was. We must also thank to Hav Devi Lal sahib who is always in the thick of every IESM activity. Hav Devi Lal sahib is an asset for IESM.
Finally, I apologize for taking the mic without your permission to support the points of Sh S S Ramachandran. The chairman, Mr Koshiyari, tried to interrupt him but I was in full agreement with the point raised by Mr S S Ramachandran, that the young lot of firearms trained soldiers, if left dissatisfied, can be misguided by anti national elements and that can be mighty dangerous.
The question before us, therefore, is weather these committees have any vested powers or are they merely an eye-wash and a governments gimmick to buy more time and further delay the issue. A member of the committee was saying that we are here to give you a hearing and that there are many committees above them that might or might not listen to their recommendations. What, then, is the use of all this lao-lashkar? And what should be our course of action?
I once again appreciate the collective efforst of IESM as a unit because of which such presentations and meetings are suddenly happening and everybody is talking about ESM and OROP. What is notable is the fact that IESM was called separately for making the presentation! That said,
लड़ाई लम्बी है. हमें शांति, धीरज और हिम्मत से आगे बढ़ाना है.
Thank you.
Yours truly.
Kameshwar Pandey
Sub/Maj Hony. Lt. (Veteran)
Governing Body Member Indian ESM Movement
Resi: 230, Pocket-1, DDA SFS Flats, Sector-1,
Dwarka, New Delhi - 110 075
Cell : +91-9811059825
OROP: Presentation to Petition Committee
Dear Colleagues,
The presentation to the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee took place as scheduled. It was heard by the Chairman Shri Bhagat Singh Koshiari, and many other members including Shri Ram Vilas Paswan and Shri Rajiv Shukla. Our team included, Hony Lt Kameshwar Pande, Col Rakesh Chaturvedi, Maj Gen Satbir Singh and self. Our 25-minute power point projection was heard with rapt attention. Body language of the Committee members betrayed a very positive response.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
The presentation to the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee took place as scheduled. It was heard by the Chairman Shri Bhagat Singh Koshiari, and many other members including Shri Ram Vilas Paswan and Shri Rajiv Shukla. Our team included, Hony Lt Kameshwar Pande, Col Rakesh Chaturvedi, Maj Gen Satbir Singh and self. Our 25-minute power point projection was heard with rapt attention. Body language of the Committee members betrayed a very positive response.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
Monday, May 16, 2011
ESM sitrep 13 May evening
Dear Colleagues,
The Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee on OROP is in session. We are scheduled to make a presentation in the next week.
Sub Hari Singh and Capt Chander Singh continue their membership drive relentlessly, undaunted by the oppressive Hisar heat. Their enthusiasm is exemplary.
A letter written to the Defence Minister today is reproduced below:
IESM/Terminology 13 May 2011
Dear Hon’ble Defence Minister,
I draw your kind attention to the need for using correct terminology in Government communications. In the military, the terms Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs), Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Other Ranks (OR) have been historically used while referring to personnel of different ranks. The relevant point to be noted is that JCOs and NCOs are also officers though they may not hold the same level of commission as the Class 1 Commissioned Officers.
It has been observed that for some time in the past a new term PBOR – Personnel Below Officer Rank – has been coined and is being used in official communication. The term ‘PBOR’ willy-nilly conveys an impression that personnel being alluded to are not officers. This does not fit facts as explained in the preceding paragraph. Use of term ‘PBOR’ arouses strong emotions of protest from the affected veterans. We had taken up the issue with the Army Headquarters and we were assured that the use of term ‘PBOR’ would discontinue.
In a recent MoD letter dated 15 Feb 2011 concerning disability pension, the term ‘PBOR’ has again been used. It is requested that keeping in view the sensitivity of the environment and emotive angle involved, use of term ‘PBOR’ may kindly be eschewed in future.
With regards,
Yours sincerely,
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM
Friday, May 6, 2011
HEALTHCARE DEFENCE VETERANS by Maj Gen Satbir singh
Lt Gen Mukesh Sabharwal, PVSM, AVSM*, VSM Dated : 05 May 2011
The Adjutant General
Adjutant General’s Branch
Integrated HQ of MoD (Army)
Room 280, South BlockDHQ PO, New Delhi -110011
HEALTHCARE DEFENCE VETERANS
Dear General Sabharwal,
1. On 03 May 2011, I had an opportunity to visit RR Hospital Oncology Department with a relative patient. While waiting for our turn to be seen by the doctor, I happened to read a Notice Board put up in the corridor which has compelled me to write their letter.
2. All along our Military Career, (the post retirement being part of it as the last stage), we were told that Health Care of the Defence Veteran and his/her spouce would be taken care of by the Govt. We were told that DSSR also mentions so. The ECHS was introduced to further improve the health care of defence Veteans. But what is written on the Notice Board referred above, one can safely deduce that any Defence Veteran or his/her ECHS dependent inflicted with the Cancer will find it most difficult to get the treatment and he is sure to die most probably due to harassment and exhaustion rather than by cancer.. I borrowed a paper from the reception counter and copied what was written on the Notice Board. The same is as follows:-
All Ex Servicemen to be registered under ECHS for treatment of cancer.
All ECHS members to come to Oncology OPD with reference for ECHS Policlinic.
ECHS members to come to OPD Days (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) for consultation between 0900 – 1400hrs.
All patient coming for initial or subsequent visit should get then registered in OPD.
All special investigation or Radiological investigation will be done from civil hospital through ECHS Cell.
Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy will not be provided at this hospital.
Surgery may be offered depending on availability of beds and OT slot, after permission from Commandant.
Medicines and disposable for ECHS members to be collected from ECHS policlinic.
Only patients operated at this hospital will be reviewed here. Others, who have received treatment in civil are to be followed up at the respective hospitals.
3. The analysis
(a) The individual first reports to ECHS, collects the investigation forms, goes to
investigation empanelled hospitals which is difficult to find, gets back to ECHS, collects referral form for RR, reports to RR gets registered and then reports to Oncology department. (The patient and his/her relatives are already exhausted).
(b) ECHS members can visit RR only on OPD Days ie Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday for consultation between 0900 – 1400hrs. Coming from 50 – 60 Kms away he is late at the reception and may not get his turn that day. This is what a few in the corridor had to tell me.
(c) The notice says that all special investigations or Radiological investigations will
be carried out in civil Hospital through ECHS Cell and not in RR Hospital. The patient returns to ECHS polyclinic which has already been closed for the day. He comes to ECHS, the next day and gets referral forms for investigations, goes to civil hospitals and gets the investigation done. After a few days collects investigation reports from the civil hospital and returns to ECHS Polyclinic. Again waits for his turn, gets referral to RR Hospital and then on OPD day reports to Oncology Dept.
(d) He is seen by the specialist doctor but his ordeal does not end. If Radiotherapy and
Chemotherapy are required to be don, the Notice Board says that these will not be provided at RR Hospital. He then goes back to ECHS polyclinic, is seen by the doctor who then prepares referral for civil hospital.
(e) He then goes to the civil hospital and waits for his turn to be given future date for
the therapy.
(f) The Notice Board also says that surgery if required may be offered depending on
availability of beds and OT Slot that too after permission from Commandant. The individual then starts his journey to reach upto the Commandant to get permission. If he is lucky, to get permission, he returns to oncology department and gets the date for surgery.
(g) The problem is further compounded, the Notice Body says, Medicines and
disposables for ECHS members to be collected from ECHS polyclinic. The patient returns to his dependent ECHS Polyclinic and asks for Medicines and disposables. More often, the local purchase funds would not be available, and the individual is harassed further. He is now at the breaking point.
(h) If he is lucky to get his surgery done at RR, only then he can get himself
reviewed at RR. But if he has been operated in any civil hospital, he would have to follow the same tedious procedure to get himself reviewed at the Civil Hospital since RR will not entertain him for any future complications.
5. After reading the Notice Board I looked up and prayed to the God that No defence veteran should ever get Cancer since he is sure to die due to the bureaucratic tedious system of provision of Health Care. Soldier took the oath that Nation comes first then come his comrades and his own comfort the last and accepted to sacrifice his life. But he was assured that the Nation will lookafter his needs. Alas! if the instructions on the Notice Board are any indication, a defence veteran has been left at the VILLAGE WELL AS FIRED CARTRIDGE TO DIE. Dear General Sabharwal, I must admit that my emotions over took and tears rolled down.
6. May we request you to please take up the case at the highest levels and get the system set right to ensure that super specialty care to the Defence Veterans for all type of health problems is provided through single Widow concept. Please treat this MOST URGENT
With Regards,
Jai Hind Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Mobile: 9312404269, 0124-4110570
Email : satbirsm@yahoo.com
The Adjutant General
Adjutant General’s Branch
Integrated HQ of MoD (Army)
Room 280, South BlockDHQ PO, New Delhi -110011
HEALTHCARE DEFENCE VETERANS
Dear General Sabharwal,
1. On 03 May 2011, I had an opportunity to visit RR Hospital Oncology Department with a relative patient. While waiting for our turn to be seen by the doctor, I happened to read a Notice Board put up in the corridor which has compelled me to write their letter.
2. All along our Military Career, (the post retirement being part of it as the last stage), we were told that Health Care of the Defence Veteran and his/her spouce would be taken care of by the Govt. We were told that DSSR also mentions so. The ECHS was introduced to further improve the health care of defence Veteans. But what is written on the Notice Board referred above, one can safely deduce that any Defence Veteran or his/her ECHS dependent inflicted with the Cancer will find it most difficult to get the treatment and he is sure to die most probably due to harassment and exhaustion rather than by cancer.. I borrowed a paper from the reception counter and copied what was written on the Notice Board. The same is as follows:-
All Ex Servicemen to be registered under ECHS for treatment of cancer.
All ECHS members to come to Oncology OPD with reference for ECHS Policlinic.
ECHS members to come to OPD Days (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) for consultation between 0900 – 1400hrs.
All patient coming for initial or subsequent visit should get then registered in OPD.
All special investigation or Radiological investigation will be done from civil hospital through ECHS Cell.
Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy will not be provided at this hospital.
Surgery may be offered depending on availability of beds and OT slot, after permission from Commandant.
Medicines and disposable for ECHS members to be collected from ECHS policlinic.
Only patients operated at this hospital will be reviewed here. Others, who have received treatment in civil are to be followed up at the respective hospitals.
3. The analysis
(a) The individual first reports to ECHS, collects the investigation forms, goes to
investigation empanelled hospitals which is difficult to find, gets back to ECHS, collects referral form for RR, reports to RR gets registered and then reports to Oncology department. (The patient and his/her relatives are already exhausted).
(b) ECHS members can visit RR only on OPD Days ie Tuesday, Thursday,
Saturday for consultation between 0900 – 1400hrs. Coming from 50 – 60 Kms away he is late at the reception and may not get his turn that day. This is what a few in the corridor had to tell me.
(c) The notice says that all special investigations or Radiological investigations will
be carried out in civil Hospital through ECHS Cell and not in RR Hospital. The patient returns to ECHS polyclinic which has already been closed for the day. He comes to ECHS, the next day and gets referral forms for investigations, goes to civil hospitals and gets the investigation done. After a few days collects investigation reports from the civil hospital and returns to ECHS Polyclinic. Again waits for his turn, gets referral to RR Hospital and then on OPD day reports to Oncology Dept.
(d) He is seen by the specialist doctor but his ordeal does not end. If Radiotherapy and
Chemotherapy are required to be don, the Notice Board says that these will not be provided at RR Hospital. He then goes back to ECHS polyclinic, is seen by the doctor who then prepares referral for civil hospital.
(e) He then goes to the civil hospital and waits for his turn to be given future date for
the therapy.
(f) The Notice Board also says that surgery if required may be offered depending on
availability of beds and OT Slot that too after permission from Commandant. The individual then starts his journey to reach upto the Commandant to get permission. If he is lucky, to get permission, he returns to oncology department and gets the date for surgery.
(g) The problem is further compounded, the Notice Body says, Medicines and
disposables for ECHS members to be collected from ECHS polyclinic. The patient returns to his dependent ECHS Polyclinic and asks for Medicines and disposables. More often, the local purchase funds would not be available, and the individual is harassed further. He is now at the breaking point.
(h) If he is lucky to get his surgery done at RR, only then he can get himself
reviewed at RR. But if he has been operated in any civil hospital, he would have to follow the same tedious procedure to get himself reviewed at the Civil Hospital since RR will not entertain him for any future complications.
5. After reading the Notice Board I looked up and prayed to the God that No defence veteran should ever get Cancer since he is sure to die due to the bureaucratic tedious system of provision of Health Care. Soldier took the oath that Nation comes first then come his comrades and his own comfort the last and accepted to sacrifice his life. But he was assured that the Nation will lookafter his needs. Alas! if the instructions on the Notice Board are any indication, a defence veteran has been left at the VILLAGE WELL AS FIRED CARTRIDGE TO DIE. Dear General Sabharwal, I must admit that my emotions over took and tears rolled down.
6. May we request you to please take up the case at the highest levels and get the system set right to ensure that super specialty care to the Defence Veterans for all type of health problems is provided through single Widow concept. Please treat this MOST URGENT
With Regards,
Jai Hind Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement
Mobile: 9312404269, 0124-4110570
Email : satbirsm@yahoo.com
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