LETTER TO DIRECTOR OF PENSIONS

A LETTER TO DIRECTOR OF PENSIONS BY MAJ.GEN.R.N.RADHAKRISHNAN (RETD)

 VICE PRESIDENT, INDIAN EXSERVICES LEAGUE.

Following is what I have to say with a heavy heart and guilt on reading the case of Sepoy Lakshmana Rao, who died in the fading days of World War II, and the paltry pension awarded to his widow Thota Venkatasubbamma (Amma):

Pathetic is the attitude of the Government towards Pensioners in General and the widow pensioners in particular. And how concerned is the attitude of us, the ESM and all the associations organized towards the welfare of the ESM.

First, please read an extract from my letter to the National President BJP, given below. The letter had been posted in two blogs http://rnrk.blogspot.com/  and the http://indianexservicemen.blogspot.com/

“Denial of Family Pension Government as a Role Model Employer has introduced the concept of family pension at the rate of sixty percent of the pension drawn by the husband. (On the demise of the husband, the widow loses the moral physical and financial support and needs the protection of the Government; hence proportion of the sixty percent itself becomes questionable.) Strange is the fact that the soldier on reemployment is asked to sign a document consenting that the wife, on his demise, shall be entitled to only one pension, either for his military service or the service in the civil sector, whereas he himself is entitled for both the pensions. Stranger still is the fact that this stipulation is from MoD. This case also has been brought to the notice of the former and the present Secretaries (ESW) for review.”

The case of short payment was taken up by me with CDA(Pension) vide my DOL RNRK/ESW/13/20090629(1) dated 29^th Jun 2009, explicitly asking for the information with respect to all PDA located at Tirunelveli on the total amount of

·         Over payment as detected by the Audit during the last five years

·         Short payment as detected by the Audit during the last five years

The idea was to prove the non-existence or lopsided auditing attempted by the Audit if there exists one. Well there has been no response till date.

The case of denial of dual pension to the widows was taken up with the Secretary Mrs Neelam Nath by my DOL RNRK/ESW/17/20090802(1) dated 2^nd Aug, 2009. An extract:

“I have come to know that ex-servicemen when they retire from their second career are forced by some of the Organizations (specifically by the State Bank of India) through some sort of Service Conditions to exercise an option for either the Defence Pension or the Civilian Pension for their family, though the ex-serviceman himself is entitled to draw both the pensions. It is strange that a pernicious and pecuniary condition is created to the disadvantage of widows of ex-servicemen community. The widow, none will deny, needs to be extended much more benefits, as she has lost the emotional and physical support of the husband.”

Of course there has been no response.

I confess. My attitude is that my concern is limited to just to pen down a DOL to the concerned and forget to follow it up. Does it not amount to indifference on my part? I do feel guilty and ashamed of the lack the crusader’s attitude in me.

These two letters were circulated in the Military Veterans circuit and there on, to other nets as well. What was the reaction if any;

·         Did Veterans who happened to read these two letters react, if so in what manner?

·         Did any of the leaders happen to read these two letters (I presume they should have) and if so, what did they do about it?

·         Have these glaring injustices been noted at all these years by the leading associations and

o    if they had noted, what was the action taken by them?

o    if they have not, why not?

o    If they had taken any action, were the results satisfying and if not satisfying what was the follow up?

Please do not mistake my intentions in sending the email. It is certainly not to find fault. There has been and is a tendency of complacency in us. We do not intend in the heart of heart to do much about the ESM or the Nation. We are happy and content with what we have. If something more comes our way, well, we will accept it as bonus, else we will philosophically shrug it off with the attitude of ‘Don’t Worry Be Happy”.

I have attached both the DOLs for your information.

Regards RNRK