VETERANS SEMINAR BY IESL

NEWS FROM IESL Dear Veterans,    1.         On 29th March 2011 a Veterans Seminar was held in Manekhsaw Centre. Due to last minute changes the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri could not be present, however, COAS with all the PSOs gave detailed briefing to the Veterans during the interaction session. All the question asked by the Veterans were replied exhaustively. From IESL the President along with State President Rajasthan and Punjab Leagues attended the Seminar. The points raised by IESL Team and their replies given by COAS are given below:-             Point Reply Anomaly in Pension of Majors. Case is with Anomaly Committee under active consideration. No increase in pension of pre 06 widows of Ex-Servicemen post Sixth CPC Under consideration of the Govt. Widows of deceased Ex-servicemen not getting both pension of their late husband. COAS agreed with case and the same is being pursued with the Govt strongly. MOD is going in appeal against each of decisions of Courts/AFT going in favour of Ex-servicemen. This is giving a perceived feeling that the Service HQ and Govt is against the Military Veterans and their widows. COAS stressed that there is no disconnect between the veterans and Service HQs and all the issues concerning Veterans and their kins are being supported by the Services. Rank Pay Case decision (Maj Dhanapalan) given by Supreme Court not being implemented. Service HQs are supporting the case for early resolution. Serious anomaly in pensions of pre 06 retired officers be addressed. This point is also under active consideration of Anomaly Committee.                                                                                                 2.         It was a very fruitful Interaction Seminar where Chief of Army Staff expressed his absolute support for the welfare of Military Veterans and their widows. In fact this year has been declared by COAS as Disabled Military Veterans Year and various welfare schemes had been launched by Army HQ.     Regards!     Col Akhil Sharma Gen Secy IESL

CDA(P) CIRCULAR NO.456 ON CASUALTY AWARDS.

IMPLEMENTATION INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED ON CASUALTY AWARDS

In continuation of our post dated 23^rd Mar 2011, the long awaited implementation instructions issued now for revised casualty/disability/war injury awards for pre 2006 retirees based on post 2006 pay scales by CDA(P) Allahabad.

The CDA(P) Circular No.456 can be accessed and downloadedby clicking here.  All welfare Associations may go through this circular again and again and guide the pensioners and banks for speedy disbursal of the arrears.

REVISED WAR INJURY PENSION

A WAR INJURED SEPOY

REVISED WAR INJURY PENSION W.E.F. 01.07.2009 FOR PRE 01.01.2006 PENSIONERS

FOR 100% INJURY..

RANK	PENSION AMOUNT
SEPOY GROUP ‘X’	RS.15,900
SEPOY OTHER GROUPS	RS.13,800
NAIK GROUP ‘X’	RS.16,500
NAIK OTHER GROUPS	RS.14,400
HAVILDAR GROUP ‘X’	RS.17,100
HAVILDAR OTHER GROUPS	RS.15,000
NAIB SUBEDAR GROUP ‘X’	RS.25,350
NAIB SUBEDAR OTHER GROUPS	RS.23,250
SUBEDAR GROUP ‘X’	RS.25,950
SUBEDAR OTHER GROUPS	RS.23,850
SUB.MAJ. GROUP ‘X’	RS.26,250
SUB. MAJ OTHER GROUPS	RS.24,150
HON. LT.	RS.40,500
HON. CAPT	RS.41,550

The above rates are derived from the MOD letter dt.15.02.2011.  These rates are subject to confirmation from CDA(P) Allahabad, circular yet to be released.

The fixed War Injury Element at Rs.7020/-, Rs.8600/- & Rs.11760 for ORs, JCOs and Officers respectively has now been made percentage of reckonable emoluments being 100% for Invalided  cases and  60% for superannuated cases. Also Disability Element of pension has been made 30% of  reckonable emoluments.  These rates are 100% disability & proportionately less for others.  These have now been sanctioned retrospectively with effect from 01.01.2006.  However, there has been a cap on the total war injury pension OR disability pension to be equal to reckonable emoluments till 30 Jun 09.  Therefore, arrears are due on this account along with applicable DRs for different periods.

Note: There are certain cases like Invalided pensioners with more than 60% disability whose total pension is protected to be not less than 60% of emoluments and also those whose fixed disability element of pension had been more advantageous – such cases will not be benefited by the latest order.

It is expected that a detailed circular from CDA(P) Allahabad on the subject will clear all doubts.

DA INCREASE

GOVERNMENT APPROVES 6% HIKE IN DEARNESS ALLOWANCE

New Delhi, Mar 22 (PTI) In a bid to provide relief from high inflation, the government today increased dearness allowance (DA) by 6 per cent to 51 per cent, benefiting over 50 lakh central government employees and 38 lakh pensioners.

"The decision to hike DA was taken by the Union Cabinet at its meeting here," a Union minister said.

The combined impact of the hike will be Rs 5,715.90 crore per annum. However in the next financial year, the burden on the exchequer would be Rs 6,668.52 crore after the additional 6 per cent DA payout is factored in from January 1 to March 31 this year.

The increased DA, which will be effective from January 1, is provided to government staff and pensioners to compensate them for rising prices.

Presently, the DA is paid at 45 per cent of basic pay

REVISION OF SPL. FAMILY PENSION & DISABILITY PENSION

 INJURED SOLDIER IN HOSPITAL

A WIDOW CRYING FOR LIVLIHOOD.

 

REVISION OF SPECIAL FAMILY PENSION

AND DISABILITY PENSION

Ministry of Defence, Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare letter No.17(4)/2008(1)/D(Pen/Policy))/-Vol-V dated 15^th Feb, 2011 Para 3,  revises the Special Family Pension in one long sentence as follows:-

Special Family Pension

3.         The special family pension revised in terms of this Ministry’s letter dated 11.11.2008 read with letter dated 4.5.2099, shall not be less than 60% of the minimum of the pay in the pay band plus Grade pay, Military Service pay, ‘X” Group pay where applicable/minimum pay in case of HAG and above pay scales, in the revised pay structure introduced from 1.1.2006 corresponding to the pre-revised scale held by the deceased Armed Force personnel at the time of death, subject to a minimum of Rs.7,000/- per month.

This long one sentence policy guideline is awaiting further suitable implementation instructions from the PCDA (Pensions) Allahabad.  This policy letter is addressed to the Three Service Chiefs and a copy has been sent to as many as 36 addressees as per a standard distribution list.  Unfortunately none of the Government recognized Ex-servicemen Welfare Association has been included in the list.  None of the Government Departments who have received this letter have taken any initiative to publish in their Website or for circulation by any means.

If such important policy letters affecting pensionary benefits of thousands of defence family pensioners living all over India not brought to the notice at least through the Govt. Recognized Associations, how will these pensioners get the information?  Are they not having the right to know this information?  What is the harm in sending few copies of this letter to these Associations?  There is no justification for the Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare to keep the Recognized Ex-servicemen Welfare Associations in darkness.

On behalf of 2.2 million defence pensioners, we appeal to the Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence to circulate all Policy letters at least to the Recognized Ex-servicemen Welfare Associations.

REVISED RATES OF SPECIAL FAMILY PENSION AND DISAILITY PENSION (PERCENTAGE BASIS) W.E.F. 01.01.2006. BASED ON MOD LETTER DT.15.02.2011.

DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ARE AWAITED FROM CDA(P) ALLAHABAD

SPECIAL FAMILY PENSION	AMOUNT	DISABILITY PENSION FOR 100%
Sepoy ‘X’ Group	Rs.7,000	Rs.3,510
Sepoy  Other Groups	Rs.7,000	Rs.3,510
Naik ‘X’ Group	Rs.7,000	Rs.3,510
Naik Other Groups	Rs.7,000	Rs.3,510
Hav. ‘X’ Group	Rs.7,000	Rs.3,510
Hav. Other Groups.	Rs.7,000	Rs.3,510
Naib Sub. ‘X’ Group	Rs.10,140	Rs.5,070
Nb. Sub Other Groups	Rs.9,300	Rs.4,650
Subedar ‘X’ Group	Rs.10,380	Rs.5,190
Sub. Other Groups.	Rs.9,540	Rs.4,770
Sub.Maj. ‘X’ Group	Rs.10,500	Rs.5,250
Sub.Maj.OtherGroups	Rs.9,660	Rs.4,830
Hony. Lt.	Rs.16,200	Rs.8,100
Hony. Capt.	Rs.16,620	Rs.8,310

The above figures are subject to confirmation from CDA(P) Allahabad. All affected disability pensioners and Special Family pensioners are eligible for arrears w.e.f. 01.01.2006.  The is no increase in SFP to the widows of Sepoys, Naiks, Havildars and equivalents  in other services, since their SFP already revised to Rs.7000.

Similarly there is no increase in the Disability pension to the ORs (Sepoy to Hav) since 30% of the min. of pay in the Pay band plus Grade Pay, MSP and 'X" Group pay  fall below Rs.3510.  This is a great disappointment.  This class of pensioners are more in number comparing to JCOs and Officers.  But there is no one to represent on behalf of these poor soldiers to the government.