TEXT OF THE APPEAL MADE BY CHAIRMAN  IESM TO  SECRETARY ESM. WELFARE MR.SAMIRENDRA CHATTERJEE

Dear Colleagues,

          In pursuance of our efforts to seek justice for the ESM community I met Secretary ESW Mr Samirendra Chatterjee today. The main purpose was to check progress of the projected case of widows’ pension enhancement but the discussion covered a wider canvas. The issues covered were:

Widows' Pension. Having seen it past the MoD and MoD (Finance), the proposal was sent to the Finance Ministry. The latter queried whether it would generate a similar demand from civilian widow pensioners. It has now been sent to Pension & Welfare Department (dealing with civil pensions) for comments. Mr Chatterjee confirmed that apart from having sent an official note, he would personally speak to his counterpart Secy concerned to give a ‘no objection’ noting on the file. I stressed that the widows are getting impatient and are likely to renew their demand to take a large delegation to Mrs Sonia Gandhi. He said he would get it done in a week’s time further adding that he would ask the Defence Minister to intervene and speak to the Finance Minister on the issue. I am to contact the Secretary ESW again end of next week

OROP. He echoed the Defence Minister’s line that they would move towards it gradually. I underscored the fact that whatever further enhancement they give would be welcome but would not satisfy the veterans and they would continue their struggle till OROP as a concept is implemented.

Filing repeated appeals against Court Judgments. He confirmed that he would examine each case objectively and not have appeals filed as a routine.

Non-implementation of Supreme Court Judgments.This was highlighted by me with specific examples. Inter alia the most notable judgment of Rank Pay case that is again coming up for hearing on 21 Mar 2012 was underscored by me; he is apparently not aware of it. He promised to take stock after the next date of hearing.

Major’s Pension vis-à-vis a Lt Colonel’s.He agreed that the gap is wide and that the number of Majors affected is relatively small and that it is a one-time measure.  He appeared keen to find a solution.

 

·Poor functioning of PCDA Allahabad. I showed him a concrete example where a letter sent by a Records Office in November 2010 remains unacknowledged till date, despite a reminder in June 2011.  He promised to have a meeting with CGDA where PCDA will also be called to alleviate matters. 

·The non-issue of Annexure IV by Banks The pension paying banks are callous and are not issuing the Annexure IV where disbursements can be matched with entitlement. He promised to have a meeting with Banking Secretary where the point would be stressed and erring banks would be asked to pay penalty.

 

Later in the day Gen Satbir and I also had a meeting with the Army Quarter Master General on the  subject of Canteens. While Satbir will disseminate fuller details, broadly following points formed the agenda:

 

·        Supply of cars through CSD – a change in procedure seems the only solution.

·        Non-availability of latest models/brands in the canteens.

·        Facility of mobile canteens in rural areas.

·   Inadequate space and poor availability of conveniences/facilities in canteens in general.  

While apprising us of the efforts being made by all including the Army Chief to improve the situation, he also submitted that there is increasing number of reports of misuse of the facility by us as users. He cited a concrete case where in five users had given their CSD cards to civilians in return of Rs 500 each. While we asserted that some misuse exists in every scheme and it should not harm the majority of honest users, there is a need for of us to introspect and impress on the environment to be more punctilious in this regard.

Best regards,

Lt Gen Raj Kadyan

Chairman IESM

262, Sector - 17A

Gurgaon - 122 001

NOTE: The following points also may be taken up in future.

1.     Denial of dual family pension to the eligible widows.

2.     Speeding up the implementation of various AFT judgments.

3.     The deteriorating working condition of a number of ECHS polyclinics across the country.

4.     Delayed payment of bills to empanelled hospitals causing great concern.  Many good hospitals are withdrawing from the scheme.

5.     Mobile ECHS Polyclinics may be proposed to help the ex-servicemen living in remote rural areas.

6.     All Record Offices to be provided with email facilities to communicate fast with veterans problems.

ALL EX-SERVICEMEN JOIN IESM

AND MAKE IT STRONG. 

THE CONDITION OF ECHS POLYCLINIC AT TIRUNELVELI

THE  STATE OF ECHS POLYCLINIC AT TIRUNELVELI

This is a Polyclinic situated in a Non Military Station in South Tamil Nadu.  This is a Type ‘C’ clinic.  This was established in the year 2004.  For the past eight years, this clinic has been running smoothly under the control of Station HQ Thiruvananthapuram.

Problems started mounting after it was taken over by INS Kattabomman. (A naval unit situated nearby)

The main problems are:-

1.      Two empaneled hospitals (Shifa Clinic and Galaxy Hospital) are refusing to admit ECHS members, because of the large amount of their bills not paid for a very long period.  The O i/c ECHS Polyclinic helpless in this regard.

2.      There is only one Medical officer, against the vacancy of four.  There is no Medical specialist (MD) for more than two years in this clinic.  Other medical officers (One Dentist and one Medical officer have resigned).  So far no action is being taken to appoint medical officers.

3.      There is acute shortage of medicine in the clinic.  Since the Station HQ INS Kattabomman is not procuring the medicine in time, funds allotted for the medicine to the tune of Rs.30 lacs have been surrendered in the past.

4.      In the absence of any empanelled hospitals in the city, the ECHS members are suffering a lot.  There is no other empanelled hospital nearby.

The situation is very bad.  The ECH Scheme administered by the Indian Army, should not let it go in this way.  The ECHS members and the Polyclinic Staff  including the O i/c ECHS Polyclinic are very much upset over the condition prevailing now.

It is requested that the Regional Centre, Chennai and the ECHS Central Organisation Delhi to take immediate action on this issue and save the ECHS members.

If the situation continues, this clinic will have to be closed without any notice.  Please save our  members and the Scheme.

MESSAGE FROM VICE CHAIRMAN IESM

MESSAGE FROM VICE CHAIRMAN IESM.

Dear Veterans 

1.   Someone is mischievously spreading rumors by sending old news cutting.  OROP has not yet been sanctioned by the Govt.  We are waiting for the govt’s approval to the Koshiyari Rajya Sabha Petition Committee’s is recommendation on OROP.  My reply of this mail is enclosed,

2.   Please make all ESM  aware of the same specially in villages.

      With Regards,

Jai Hind 

Yours Sincerely, 

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian Ex Servicemen Movement

என் இனிய முன்னாள் முப்படை வீரர்களே, வதந்திகளை நம்பாதீர்கள்.

சில விசமிகள் பொய்யான செய்திகளை பரப்பி வருகின்றனர்.  ஒன் ரேங்க் ஒன் பென்சனுக்கு இன்னும் அரசின் அனுமதி கிடைக்கவில்லை.  விரைவில் கிடைக்கும் என்ற நம்பிக்கையுடன் அனைவரும் ஒற்றுமையுடன் போராடவேண்டும்.  இதுதான் முக்கியம்.

AN APPEAL TO ALL ESM. ORGANIZATIONS

AN APPEAL TO ALL EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS

Respected all,

Certain disparities/anomalies left over by 6th CPC in the pension of about 12 lakhs pre-06 JCO's NCO's and OR's (PBOR's) and equivalents ranks of Navy & AF were rectified by a high level committee convened by the G of I under the chairmanship of Mr K M Chandrasekhar Cabinet Secretary (though much below the 3 decades lingering demand of OROP by Ex-Servicemen) was accepted & sanctioned by the G of I and have been implemented/paid wef 01.7.2009 ; with a gap/delay of three and half years from the cutoff date (01.6.2006) of 6th CPC ; due to budget constraint. About 12 lakhs pre-06 ESM pensioners PBOR's , appx. 97% of The Defence pensioners, suffered this financial loss. Whereas about 3% Officers ( ie Hony Lt and above) have been paid revised pension as per 6th CPC from cutoff date of 6th CPC , 01.6.2006.

One 'lacuna' disparity/anomaly was still left over in the family pension of Pre- 06 JCO's & equivalent ranks of Navy & AF. The family pension of the said JCO's was not revised proportionately/ rationally by the Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar Committee & Gov't. as mentioned below:-

FIRSTLY:- (Ordinary Family Pension)
============================
It should have been revised in the same ratio / percentage of 5th CPC ie the percentage of JCO's pension & JCO's family pension.

For example:- Subedar Major Group 'A'
'X' (5th CPC ordinary rate family pension divided by 28 years service pension) ie :-

a) 2175 -:- 4784 = 46.464%
-
(6th CPC ordinary family pension divided by 28 years service pension)

b) 5250 divided by 13450 = 39.033%

A loss of 7.431% means Rs 1000/- pm appx.
-
The 6th CPC family pension of Sub Maj Gp 'A' 'X' :- to be enhanced as under-

c) 13450 X 46.464% =Rs 6250/-appx.
Say Rs 6250/- pm

So present ordinary rate family pension of Sub Maj Gp 'A' or 'X' should be revised to Rs 6250/- per month, instead Rs 5250/- which is paid now.

SECONDLY:-(Rationally with family pension of Hony Lt)
===========================
While taking rationally/ proportionally with family pension of Pre- 06 Hony Lt
As par 6th CPC & Cabinet Secy. K M Chandarsekhar Committee report:-
The family pension of Pre-06 Gp. 'A' 'X' Sub Major will be equal to:-

8100 -:- 13500 X 13450 = 8070/- pm

THIRDLY (Enhanced Family Pension)
=============================
Similarly enhanced rate of Sub Maj. Gp. 'A' or 'X' family pension in the ratio/ percentage of 5th CPC should be:-

3625 -:- 4784 X 13450 = Rs 10192/-pm

As above examples the family pension of all JCO's Group A, B & C or X, Y & Z and eq. ranks of Navy & AF be amended/increased accordingly ; the afore explained Lacuna/ disparity/ anomaly may please be rectified at the earliest wef cut off date of 6th CPC ie 01.6.2009

NB:- This is for verification and opinion of all concerned Pre-06 JCO's , eq ranks of Navy , AF and various Unions/NGO's of Ex-SM for joint / united petition on the said grievances please.
 
Regards

M S Padda
Coordinator:- ALL INDIA DEFENCE FORCES PENSIONERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION : JALANDHAR

UNITY IS STRENGTH

 

AN APPEAL TO ALL EX-SERVICEMEN ORGANISATIONS

ON BEHALF OF COL.T.N.RAMAN &

ALL LIKE MINDED EX-SERVICEMEN

Dear Veterans,

Maj Gen Inderjit Kashyap has made a pertinent point regarding the previous experience, in such an effort for Unity, pioneered by Lt Gen SK Bahri, Maj Gen RNRK and a few others. But, the context then was different.

What I am proposing now is that, since Air Force Association, Naval Foundation, India Ex Services League, War Widows Association and Disabled Veterans Association, had joined together to form a Confederation in an important case, filed a PIL, and also got favorable judgment in the Medicare case, can't this concept be enlarged to rope in other ESM Associations fighting for similar causes?. As I have quoted, the Supreme Court had concurred with the formation of such a Confederation of ESM Associations to pursue a common cause.

The Confederation of the ESM Associations had only a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to progress the legal case. Can we not think of similar arrangement, with every ESM Association maintaining its own independent identity, but coming together only for pursuing the legal cases of individual ESM or their Associations?

The MOU is not an Article of Association or Memorandum of Association, but laying down the broad aspect of cooperation, in tackling the Govt's posture in stalling the established verdicts of various courts. As a Confederation, it can also address the Chiefs with more authority,  since it will be representing nearly 15 lakhs ESM. Similar power of address can also be expected in the case of MOD and DEW or even the Union Govt.

For example the IESM is now pursuing the case of Hony Nb Subs. Also the case of OROP. Will there not be a difference if the appeal is sent from the Confederation of ESM Associations, than a single ESM Association?

Let us take one such case, which is agreeable to all the ESM Associations. The Rank Pay case for example, and file a PIL, where the Confederation will be the Petitioner. All other affected ESM Associations, in addition to the five Associations which are already part of the earlier Confederation, sign the required MOU and be party to the case. To my mind such a trial will be worth the effort.

There is no effort required for any Association  to establish its own supremacy over the others or an endeavor to identify itself as the sole representative of the ESM Community. Our earlier effort failed precisely on this score. The leadership, as far as the legal plank is concerned, is given to the Confederation, in which all the ESM Associations are equal partners, with only the MOU binding on them.

Kindly consider.

Col TN Raman