THE PLIGHT OF DISABILITY PENSIONERS

THE PLIGHT OF DISABILITY PENSIONERS FROM OTHER RANKS

Most of the disability pensioners are from the Other Ranks. (Sepoy, Naik & Havildars)  They do not know what is attributable or aggravated by military service.  The Unit medical boards discharge them with an assurance that they will be given disability pension.

But after one year of the discharge the soldier is informed that his disability claim has been rejected by the CDA (P) as the disability was not attributed due to service.  These soldiers do not know how to justify their claim for Disability pension.  There is no guidance for them in the matter and therefore they do not make any appeal in time. 

Many disabled soldiers are denied their legitimate disability pension because they are from Other Ranks and most of them are below matriculate and from rural background.  Some soldiers are not even sanctioned even the service element of the disability pension.

The policy guidelines on disability pension can only be interpreted by a very senior Advocate of High Court and Supreme Court.  Therefore these poor soldiers curse their fate and live silently and fade away in due course.  The bureaucrats in the MOD and in CDA(P) and in other higher administrative offices continue to complicate the issues and delay justice for life long.

In the present administrative and judicial set up, a soldier cannot go up to Supreme Court for justice.  But most of them live and die with the hope that “EVERY INJUSTICE WILL COME TO AN END ONE DAY”.  The day is not far off.  It is high time that our judicial system is reformed immediately.

THE RECENT REVISION OF DISABILITY PENSION ON PERCENTAGE BASIS HAD DONE A GREAT INJUSTICE TO THE OTHER RANKS.  While the disability pension for (100%) for Officers has been  increased from Rs.5880 to Rs.8100 to Rs.27000 for various ranks,  no increase has been given to Other Ranks in the rates of Disability pension for 100% disability.

A 100% disabled Sepoy is getting only Rs.3510 where as a Col. is paid Rs.15,630 p.m. for the same 100% disability after this revision.  The Other Ranks constitute maximum number of Disability pensioners, it is a great injustice that these class of people are neglected by the Officers.