Prime Minister Modi Inspecting Guard of Honour

Prime Minister Modi Inspecting Guard of Honour

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Centre committed to implement OROP: V K Singh




Mumbai: The BJP-led government at the Centre is committed to implement the 'one rank, one pension' scheme for ex-servicemen, Minister of State for External Affairs General V K Singh said here on Sunday.

"The BJP-led government at the Centre has allotted Rs 1,000 crore for the implementation of one rank one pension scheme, which is insufficient. I have requested the Finance Minister to allocate more funds for it. The government remains committed to implement the scheme at the earliest," Singh told reporters here.

Singh, who is also the Minister of State for North East Region, said the Finance Minister has assured him that there would be no dearth of capital for the scheme.

The former Army Chief was in Mumbai to attend a programme to mark the '15th Kargil Vijay Diwas' at the state BJP office here.

"We had announced the one rank-one pension scheme in our manifesto and the central government will ensure its implementation at the earliest," he added.

Talking about the upcoming assembly polls in Maharashtra, he said, the state BJP leaders should ensure that the party-led alliance comes to power in the state.

"The assembly elections in Maharashtra are just a few months away. The state BJP leaders should ensure that the BJP-led (Mahayuti) alliance wins the upcoming elections. This will ensure a better co-ordination between the central and the state governments, and further benefit the state from the schemes of the central government," he said.

PTI

Saturday, July 26, 2014

TELANGA EX-SERVICEMEN ASSOCIATION IS CELEBRATING 15th KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS ON 26.7.2014




ON THE OCCASION ON 15th  KARGIL  VIJAY DIWAS TELANGA EX-SERVICEMEN ASSOCIATION IS CONDUCTING THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS ON 26 JULY 2014.

1. AT 10.30 AM THE ASSOCIATION WILL GARLAND THE STATUE OF LATE.       MAJ.PADMAPANI ACHARYA MVC AT VANASTHALIPURAM.

2. A PROGRAM WILL BE A FUNCTION AT TEJASWI MOTORS COMPLEX, BESIDE RYTHU BAZAR, KOTHAPET, HYDERABAD. SRI KARNE PRABHAKAR, MLC TRS, COL.(Retd) ASHOK KUMAR, DIRECTOR SAINIK WELFARE,  AND SRI. SREENESH KUMAR SAINIK WELFARE OFFICER, RANGA REDDY DISTRICT WILL ATTEND THE FUNCTION.

ALL THE MEMBERS ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND ALL THE CITIZENS ARE REQUESTED TO ATTEND THE ABOVE FUNCTIONS AND MAKE IT A GRAND SUCCESS.

P.VIGNESHWAR RAJU
GENERAL SECRETARY 

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

IESM LETTER TO DEFENCE MINISTER ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)


Saturday, July 19, 2014
19 Jul 2014
ShArunJaitley
Hon’bleRakshaMantri
Ministry of Defence
South Block, New Delhi-110011
Sub: IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)
Dear ShArunJaitley,
We are grateful for granting us the meeting with you on 16 July 2014  with regard to issue of Implementation letter for OROP.
Sir,
 your contention that the gap between the calculations made by the Service HQs and the officials of MoD namely CGDA, PCDA, Secy DESW is very large, due to which there was delay in issuing the Govt Letter; is a serious cause of concern for the Defence Fraternity. 
Since, there is only ONE Definition of OROP as approved by the Parliament and therefore, there has to be only ONE calculation, irrespective of small or large gap.
                     It is simple Mathematics
  As pleaded by us, there cannot be two calculations.
  These gaps have been designed to find a way to deny full benefit of OROP to Ex-Servicemen. 
A point to be noted here is that had OROP been granted 25 years back there would not have been any gap now. 
Sir, we are not after money and not asking for back dated payment, it is the principle of seniority in Armed Forces which we cherish. 
As per this principle, a senior rank person should not draw pension/ pay less than rank lower than him. It is a simple principle we need to maintain hence we cannot afford any violation with OROP principle.
Sir, in case X and Y Groups are to be granted OROP as per their respective Groups, the funds required will be 4500 – 5000 Crores, as per calculations correctly carried out by the Service HQs.  And in case all Defence Employees are to be granted ‘X’ Group rates of pensions, then the amount required would be 6500-7000 Crores as per the calculation made by PCDA.
The funds required for the two options are not too large for the Nation to pay justified pensions to the Retired Soldiers, who have given their life and comforts of life for national security.
The CGDA/PCDA/DESW should not be allowed to dilute the definition of OROP or coin their own definition or understanding of OROP. Their calculations, based on datum line 01.01.2006 pensions rates, are totally against the  approved definition which requires the OROP to be calculated based on the rates of pensions as on 01.04.2014, the date from which OROP has been sanctioned and future enhancements are to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This was duly discussed in the meting chaired by you on 12thJune 2014. 
The M1 and M2 Models by CGDA, PCDA, and DESW were out-rightly rejected.
Sir, ex-servicemen are fighting for a principle, any dilution of definition of OROP will not be acceptable to the Ex-Servicemen. It has to be full OROP as per the definition already approved by the Parliament.
In view of the foregoing, please expedite issue of Govt Letter for the implementation of OROP as per the DGL prepared by the Service HQs.

With regards,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Chairman IESM
Mob: +919312404269,                               0124-4110570
Email ID: 
satbirsm@gmail.com
Copy to

ShriRaoInderjit Singh                                RakshaRajyaMantri C-1/14 Lodi Garden        New Delhi - 110 003   
For immediate action to issue the Implementation letters of OROP please.
General Bikram Singh,                                               PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM,  ADC             Chief of the Army Staff &Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee                                        Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Army)     South Block, New Delhi-110011
May we request you to jointly pursue the matter with the Govt for issue of Implementation letter as suggested above at the earliest please.
Admiral RK Dhowan,
PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC,                                Chief of the Naval Staff                            Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Navy)    South Block, New Delhi-110011
-do-
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha
PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC                                     Chief of the Air Staff                                       Indian Air Force                                                  VayuBhawan, New Delhi 110011
(SOURCE- BC VASUNDHARS BLOG)
-do-

Monday, July 21, 2014

UPDATE ON OROP


orop progress Meeting of IESM Delegation with Finance Minister Sh.ArunJaitley on 16 July 14 Dear Veterans IESM delegation met with FM ShArunJaitley on 16 July 14. Following members were part of the delegation. 1 Maj Gen Satbir Singh Chairman IESM 2 Lt Gen SK Bahiri 3 GpCapt VK Gandhi Gen Sec IESM 4 Wg Cdr CK Sharma Treasurer IESM 5 Col HandaDiwave 6 Hony Lt K PandeyMem GB IESM Gen Sabir Singh impressed upon FM that ex-servicemen thank the Govt for granting OROP, however despite a lapse of five months since approval of OROP on 17 Feb 14, Government order for implementation is still not issued. We request that the implementation order may please be issued soon. Moreover Rs 1,500 crore allotted for OROP is not adequate for full OROP and more funds may please be released for OROP. FM replied that the DGL is under active consideration of Govt and it will be issued once consultations are completed. He hinted that funds required for OROP is much more than expected. The issue was discussed for good 15 min but FM did not give any commitment about time frame for issue of implementation order. He opined that it seems he would need to order a meeting between Armed Forces HQs and Govtdeptts (DESW, CGDA) to iron out the differences. It was suggested that IESM should also be consulted and permitted to give its views but FM remained noncommittal on this. End result is that FM did not give any commitment and time frame of approval of DGL put up by Armed Forces HQs. He also did not give assurance of involving IESM and ex-servicemen in the discussion of DGL. IESM is of the opinion that veterans will need to tighten their belts for another long battle with the Govtfor OROP, your Izzat and status. IESM will continue to discuss the issue with all authorities for release of implementation letter for full OROP. IESM will not accept any dilution in definition of OROP as approved by Parliament. It seems DESW and CGDA have succeeded in delaying implementation of OROP for veterans but have had no objections for approving bureaucrats treatment abroad along with an escort on Govt expenses. What a pity this is how India takes care of soldiers and veterans. .
Meeting of IESM Delegation with Finance Minister ShArunJaitley on 16 July 14
Dear Veterans

IESM delegation met with FM ShArunJaitley  on 16 July 14. Following members were part of the delegation.

1              Maj Gen Satbir Singh                 Chairman IESM

2              Lt Gen SK Bahiri

3              GpCapt VK Gandhi                     Gen Sec IESM

4              Wg Cdr CK Sharma                     Treasurer IESM

5              Col Handa                                     Diwave

6              Hony Lt K Pandey                       Mem GB IESM


Gen Sabir Singh impressed upon FM that ex-servicemen thank the Govt for granting OROP, however despite a lapse of five months since approval of OROP on 17 Feb 14, Government order for implementation is still not issued. We request that the implementation order may please be issued soon. Moreover Rs 1,500 crore allotted for OROP is not adequate for full OROP and more funds may please be released for OROP.

FM replied that the DGL is under active consideration of Govt and it will be issued once consultations are completed. He hinted that funds required for OROP is much more than expected. 

The issue was discussed for good 15 min but FM did not give any commitment about time frame for issue of implementation order. He opined that it seems he would need to order a meeting between Armed Forces HQs and Govtdeptts (DESW, CGDA) to iron out the differences. It was suggested that IESM should also be consulted and permitted to give its views but FM remained noncommittal on this.

End result is that FM did not give any commitment and time frame of approval of DGL put up by Armed Forces HQs. He also did not give assurance of involving IESM and ex-servicemen in the discussion of DGL.

IESM is of the opinion that veterans will need to tighten their  belts for another long battle with the Govt for OROP, your Izzat and status.

IESM will continue to discuss the issue with all authorities for release of implementation letter for full OROP. IESM will not accept any dilution in definition of OROP as approved by Parliament.

It seems DESW and CGDA  have succeeded in delaying implementation of OROP for veterans but have had no objections for approving bureaucrats treatment abroad along with an escort on Govt expenses.  What a pity this is how India takes care of soldiers and veterans. .
Posted by ESMA at 1:47 AM 


Saturday, July 12, 2014

'Rs 1000 crore outlay for OROP insufficient'



CHANDIGARH: The announcement of Rs 1,000 crore in the Union budget for the implementation of much-awaited one-rank one-pension (OROP) policy has come as a rude shock for the defence fraternity in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, which has termed the amount as "insufficient".

According to veterans, the Union ministry of defence (MoD) had proposed Rs 3,000 crore per year before a 10-member parliamentary panel led by BJP leader and Nainital-Rudrapur MP Bhagat Singh Koshiyari. Even Union finance ministry had recommended Rs 1,300 crore under OROP for 2011-12 financial year and Rs 1,730 crore for 2013-14.

"The allocation of just Rs 1,000 crore for the year by the finance minister is mere eyewash, and not related to OROP. I think the government has been misled by bureaucrats," said Brigadier (retd) K S Kahlon, president of All India Defence Brotherhood (Punjab Chapter). High court advocate Major Navdeep Singh, who has been taking up welfare issues of defence personnel, said that Rs 1,000 crore for one year would not meet the demand of the "accepted' definition of OROP". "I think the very concept of OROP has been misinterpreted by the central government," he said.

Defending the government, war veteran Lt General (retd) P N Hoon, who has been associated with BJP, said Rs 1,000 crore might be insufficient but at least something had been done. "What did the previous governments do so far? Coffers are empty, but with the passage of time the government would increase the amount," he said. There are around 30 lakh ex-servicemen in the country out of which 8 lakh are from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Punjab has around 3 lakh former defence personnel.

Source: Times of India

Friday, July 4, 2014

Cheated, eh?


It is indeed ironic.

The pension wing of the Ministry of Defence, now under the so called Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) has cheated military veterans and their families since long. It is however sad that these downright deceitful actions did not elicit any protest from the Services HQ, who, especially during times of yore, either did not have the capability of keeping a sharp eye on issues concerning defence veterans, or were not clued up or were simply too timid to react.

Whatever be the reason, I am pointing out four out of many such instances of how Cabinet decisions have been openly given the kick by a few junior level functionaries of the Ministry of Defence leading to denial of crores of rupees to poor unsuspecting veterans and their families:

1. Pensioners other than commissioned officers who retired prior to 10-10-1997 : When the 5th CPC was implemented with effect from 01-01-1996, a gazette notification was duly issued which stated that though the scales were being mentioned for ranks other than officers, the Ministry was carrying out trade rationalisation and removing anomalies from the said scales and the scales would finally be implemented once the said rationalisation was complete and that the said anomaly-free scales would replace the anomalous scales with effect from 01-01-1996. However, when the anomalies were removed and the new scales were finally implemented, these were implemented w.e.f 10-10-1997 through Special Army Instruction (SAI) 2/S/98 and were not implemented w.e.f 01-01-1996 as already approved by the Cabinet. The retrospective implementation w.e.f 01-01-1996 notified vide a Gazette notification was conveniently forgotten. Later when pensions were improved from time to time, the said improvement was based on the anomalous scales of 1996 rather than the anomaly-free rationalised scales introduced in 1997 which were in fact to take effect from 1996 thereby replacing the old anomalous scales. Many decisions in favour of pensioners were rendered by High Courts on the said issue and affirmed by the Supreme Court but still the Ministry did not take any action on the subject. The situation was finally rectified by the Defence Ministry w.e.f 01-07-2009 thereby denying our pensioners the correct pension from 01-01-1996 till 30-06-2009. The Ministry not only managed to flout and contravene a gazette notification issued after approval of the Cabinet, but also managed to disregard directions of our Constitutional Courts.

2.  Removal of requirement of 10 months’ service in a particular rank to earn the pension of that rank: The 6th CPC abrogated the requirement of the 10 months’ formula and provided that pension shall be calculated on the basis of 50% of the emoluments last drawn unlike the position earlier where service of 10 months in a particular rank was required to earn the pension of that rank. The same was made applicable to both pre and post-2006 retirees by the Government. Prior to the 6th CPC, the pensions of Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) were calculated on the basis of themaximum of the pay-scales which was different than the system followed for all civilian employees and commissioned officers of the defence services for whom the pension was calculated on the basis of the minimum of pay scale. Accordingly, again to provide an edge to PBOR as was the case till 6th CPC, the Government constituted a committee under the Cabinet Secretary who opined that the pension of pre-2006 retirees should be calculated based on the notional maximum within the new 6th CPC scales corresponding to the maximum of pre-6th CPC (5th CPC) scales as per the 6th CPC switch-over fitment tables thereby extending the edge granted to PBOR which was applicable to them earlier. This new stipulation was made applicable with financial effect from 01-07-2009. The said report was accepted by the Cabinet. However, when the DESW of the Ministry of Defence issued the implementation letter, they on their own again added a line re-introducing the 10 months stipulation back into the pensionary provisions for pre-2006 retirees which in reality now stood abrogated for pre-2006 as well as post-2006 retirees after the 6th CPC. Meaning thereby, that if a Naib Subedar had served only for 6 months in that rank prior to retirement, he would be granted the pension of a Havildar, and not a Naib Subedar. The interesting part however remains that even the notings sent to the Cabinet for approval of the Committee’s recommendations contained no such stipulation and the same was mischievously added by lower and mid-level officials of the Ministry of Defence without any reference to the Committee of Secretaries or to the Cabinet, which itself is a serious mischief in an elected democracy.

3. Grant of pension limited to maximum terms of engagement rather than 33 years as applicable to all government pensioners :It is commonly known that earlier, pensionary tables for defence personnel used to be prepared only till the maximum possible service in each rank since individuals were compulsorily retired on attaining the maximum terms of engagement. However, the 4thCentral Pay Commission recommended that full pension should be fixed on the basis of 33 years of service including weightage and proportionately reduced for lesser length of service. The system of 33 years is followed as on date for all pre-2006 pensioners. However still, the Defence Accounts Department continued paying pension in accordance with the maximum terms of engagement for each rank and not based on 33 years of service as applicable after the 4th CPC. For example, if a Naik had served for 28 years, or if a DSC Naik had say 30 years of combined service of two spells, they were only being paid a pension for 22 years of service on the specious pretext that the maximum terms of engagement possible for a Naik were 22 years. This was later questioned and quashed by Courts being against the notifications issued after various CPCs which contained no such prohibition. Now last year, the cabinet improved the pensionary benefits of Sepoys, Naiks and Havildars by increasing their weightages. The Govt was then asked to issue a letter. The letter was issued, but again mischievously, in Para 8 of the Letter dated 17 Jan 2013, a line was added by the DESW that the pension shall be revised subject to the maximum terms of engagement for each rank. Giving a benefit to some by one hand and taking it away with the other. This prohibition was never a part of the Union Cabinet’s decision or the recommendations of the Committee of Secretaries on the basis of which this Govt of India letter had been issued but was made a part of the draft letter prepared by the Defence Accounts Department. From where did this line creep in mysteriously and illegally? As on date, all govt employees are being paid pensions in accordance with the length of service rendered by them, however Other Ranks of the defence services are being paid only in accordance with the terms of engagement applicable to their ranks from time to time rather than their actual service. This is not only unfair, but also patently illegal.

4.  Enhancement and fresh Categories of Casualty Pensionary Awards including Disability, War Injury and Liberalized Pensionary Awards, introduced after the 5th CPC : The 5th CPC had introduced certain new categories and enhanced the existing casualty pensionary awards w.e.f 01-01-1996. These were extended only to post-96 retirees vide a Govt of India letter for civil pensioners issued on 03-02-2000. The same stipulations were later extended to post-96 defence pensioners by the MoD vide a letter dated 31-01-2001. Later, the benefits were extended by the Govt of India to pre-96 pensioners vide another letter issued on 11-09-2001 and a copy of that letter was sent to MoD for implementation. The MoD however sat on the letter and never issued similar instructions for defence pensioners. Till date, w.e.f 01-01-1996, pre-1996 retiree defence pensioners have been denied the benefits of the Govt of India letter dated 11-09-2001 despite the fact that the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW) has reminded the MoD time and again to do the needful. One stipulation of the letter of broad-banding of disability percentages was implemented by the MoD for pre-1996 retirees but only with effect from 01-07-2009 thereby denying such disabled personnel the arrears from 01-01-1996 till 30-06-2009, which of course had been released and paid to similarly placed civilians.

Yes, all of you were cheated. And the most striking feature of this sadism is that the particular officer in DESW who was responsible for many of the above actions and is also a signatory of a majority of these letters, is now dealing with the process of implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP). He is still functioning in the DESW on re-employment, after retiring from regular service.

Unless veterans are on the same page and cease and desist from their internal battles, and the Services HQ acquire expertise and knowledge, overcome timidity and involve stake-holders, no progress can be expected.

The state seems much better in the Pay Commission Cells of the Defence Services at this point, but only time would tell if the hammering can be reversed or if further hammering can be arrested.

Best of luck!

ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING & ELECTIONS ON 6.7.2014 OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE ASSOCIATION HYDERABAD EAST

THERE WILL BE A ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING ON 6.7.2014 AT 10.00 A.M. AT TEJASWI MOTORS BESIDE RYTHU BAZAR, KOTHAPET.  ALSO  ELECTIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED TO THE NEW BODY. ALL THE MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO ATTEND THE SAME. LUNCH FOLLOWS. 

ON PUBLIC REQUEST THE PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT JUDGEMENT IS POSTED AGAIN HERE

SALARY HIKE TO MPS, ONE RANK, ONE PENSION

SALARY HIKE TO MPS, ONE RANK, ONE PENSION
Letter to Hon'ble Prime Minister by Hon'ble M.P.

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Ex-Servicemen return Medals