IESM/2015/Pension Dec 9, 2015
Pension
issues: Veterans
I
am approaching you to seek your help in
resolving some of the old issue that have been pending for a long time, as also,
to make some fresh recommendations.
These may be considered in the
present state of flux when both
OROP as well as 7th
Pay Commission recommendations are in the consideration stage.
(i)
Pension of Honorary Naib Subedars. Some selected
Havildars are granted an Honorary rank of Naib Subedar on retirement.
Those given this honour after 1.1.2006 are entitled to the pension of regular Naib Subedars. However, the pre-Jan 2006 retiree Honorary
Naib Subedars are denied this benefit and are getting the pension of a
Havildar. There is thus a discrimination. The number involved is small and
extending this legitimate benefit to all will be a just gesture.
This issue I had raised even with your predecessor,
Shri A K Antony and with the then Secretary ESW, but has still not been
resolved.
(ii)
Pension of Majors: As you would
be aware, after Dec 2004, the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel and equivalent has been
made a time-scale promotion, instead of a 'selection rank' as was the
case earlier. As a result, post 2004
every officer now becomes a Lieutenant Colonel on completion of 13 years of
service and no one any longer retires in a rank lower than Lieutenant
Colonel. However, prior to this date,
there were a number of officers who retired in the rank of Major. Their total number may be only in 100’s. These Majors performed the same duties and
held the same responsibility that the
Lieutenant Colonels are doing today.
However, as on date, the
difference in their pension is enormous particularly after the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel has been upgraded to Pay
Band 4. It will be just and fair that
Majors that retired prior to Dec 2004 are given an appropriate enhancement in
their pension so as to narrow the gap
between their pension and the pension of
Lieutenant Colonel within reasonableness. This point had been raised earlier by me with Shri A K Antony as well as with the Secretary, ESW.
(iii)
Widows' Pension. Widows are the
weakest entity among the veterans'
community. Particularly in the rural
areas, after the demise of the pensioners, their widows are put to great
hardship. Having lost the pension earner and with no significant reduction in
their living expenses, their pension on widowhood suddenly gets slashed to
60%. The 7th Pay Commission
has recommended an enhancement in the family pension to Rs.9000/-. Considering that the existing DA will merge,
this only amounts to only 14.28% and is not considered adequate. There exists a
case for the widows to continue earning the same pension that was being given
to the husbands. This may be favourably considered.
(iv)
Emoluments of
short service commissioned officers. The defence
forces need a wide base and a narrow top for efficient functioning and to avoid
stagnation in view of the limited number of higher posts being available.
Introduction of Short Service Commission
fills this gap and has empirically proved to be a useful step. These officers
serve for varying periods but retire well before reaching the minimum
qualifying service for pension. They are therefore denied many of the existing facilities extended to Ex
Servicemen. This inevitably is a disincentive for the aspiring candidates for
short service commission. There is a
strong case for them to be given pro rata pension depending on their total
service. Extension of ECHS facility to these released officers will greatly add to the
attractiveness of the scheme and is recommended.
Lt Gen Raj Kadyan
Shri Manohar Parrikar
Hon’ble Minister of Defence
South Block
New Delhi -110 011
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