LET THE VETERANS (JCOs AND BELOW) GET SOMETHING : Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS Retd

A REPEAT ENTRY
The guardians of the nation’s security, who guarded the nation
at the risk of their life without asking the reason why but
followed the tradition of do and die, are being killed inch by
inch, both by the govt. and their own senior veterans who still
matter in the govt. JCOs. and below, who count for 96% in the
Armed Forces of India, are being neglected at every step by the
govt. while granting them the pension and other post retrial
benefits. Veterans up to the rank of Hav. have been placed in
the Pay Band - I along with class IV Civilians and most of
them draw a basic pension of Rs. 3500/- PM , an amount being
bagged by Chokidars, Malis , Cooks and Sweepers etc.
Realizing the pathetic condition of these veterans,Committee
headed by Cabinet Secretary recommended a step of equating
Pre - 96 with Post- 10.10.97 counter parts to remove the
anomaly in their pension, and same has been announced in
the union budget on 6-7-2009 ,then in Parliament on
12-07-2009 and then finally by Hon'ble Prime Minister on
15-08-2009 although giving it a name of ONE RANK ONE
PENSION for PBORs only. This flared up the mood of superior
veterans who protested against the grant of ONE RANK ONE
PENSION only to JCOs. and below without waiting for a
moment to think that it was a removal of anomaly relating
to JCOs. and below only. However, the Hon’ble Defence
Minister, Mr. A.K. Antony silenced them by announcing ONE
RANK ONE PENSION for all including officers in Lok Sabha
0n 12 July, 2009 which was in fact a step to implement the
decision of court regarding the pay anomaly of Maj. Generals
and giving a separate pay scale to Lt. Generals, as well as
their counter parts, in civil. The govt., after the
announcement, has immediately issued the orders for
Lt. Generals and Major Generals but the orders for JCOs.
and below are still gathering dust in the Ministry of
Defence and not yet issued, presumably, at the instance of
some of the remaining senior veterans who have not been
benefited by this announcement of the govt. The travails
of JCOs.and below do not end at this stage. The orders for
giving pension to JCOs. at the rate of 60% of their last
drawn payand to Hav. and below at the rate of 70%, which
were acceded by the govt. along with change of pay band
from PB-3 to PB- 4, in case of Lt. Cols., have also not been
issued till date where as the Lt. Cols. have received the
revised pension, as a result of change in pay band, long
ago. Such discriminatory treatment to veterans( JCOs.
and below) is not un- common in every field, may it be in
granting pension or canteen benefits to them. They have
been authorized to purchase cars from CSD canteen only
up to 1300 CC, after a gap of 7 years, only if they have
current Driving License and earned pension after a
minimum 15 years of service where as officers including
Short Service Commissioned Officers and Emergency
Commissioned Officers who are not drawing any pension,
can purchase a car of any brand after a gap of 2 years
without having current Driving License.
Veteran Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS (Retd.)
President.
Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab & Chandigarh .
Mob. 98554-09128 – Ph. 0175-5000896.