Memorable Moments with PVC Awardees

Dear All,

 I was extremely lucky when I was tasked to escort three living Param Veer Chakra Awardees from Aurangabad to Buldhana on 15 Jul 15. On 16 July a grand reception was arranged by Dept Of Sainik Welfare, Govt of Maharashtra, another by civil authorities and third by all colleges at Buldhana. The entire route was lined up with NCC cadets, school boys and girls with their teachers numbering more than 2000 showering petals on three of them. They were in the open jeep to receive this salute. Even on the same late night CREDAI , of Aurangabad , visited our hotel and paid floral tributes to them. Next morning on 16 th July at sharp 0700 hrs we went to Mahatma Gandhi Eng College auditorium where students and staff numbering more than 250 were present to hear these awardees.

 

 

 We left same day at 0815 hrs for Pune and reached outskirts at around 1445 hrs. Representatives of PSSP and AFA Maharashtra were waiting to offer bouquets to all three of them. Photo below shows to my left, Nb Sub Sanjay Kumar of Kargill war, Hon capt Bana Singh of Siachin fame and Sub Yogendra Yadav of Tiger Hill fame.

 I dropped them at their place of halt thereafter. I accompanied my wife again in the late evening to meet them and paid our profound respects to all of them. They are attending another private civil reception this morning at 1000 hrs where Air Marshal Bhushan Gokhale ( Retd) will be Chief Guest to honour them.

 My three days with these PVC awardees will remain a unique and most memorable event in my life. You may not get three living legends together in the near future. Nb Sub Sanjay Kumar is presently serving at IMA as Instructor and Sub Yogendra Yadav of Granadiers is serving at Bareilly.Hon Capt Bana Singh is retired and staying at Jammu.

Regards,
Gp Capt Suhas Phatak,(Retd)
President,
Air Force Association,Maharashtra,
Camp, Pune -411001
Tel no : 020-26840442/462

Mob: 09421003200

One Rank One Pension Explained in 10 Points

Here is a 10-point guide:

1.   Retired services personnel also expect a year's back pay in pensions at the new rate, which if approved will be a windfall for pensioners.

2.   Unlike the civil services, where the retirement age is 60, 85 per cent soldiers are compulsorily retired between 35 and 37 years of age. Another 12-13 per cent soldiers retire between 40 and 54 years.

3.   Protesters demanding OROP also point out that civil servants cannot be discharged by the government on account of disability until they reach their retirement age. But soldiers can be discharged any time on account of disability.

4.   Currently, the pension for retired personnel is based on the Pay Commission recommendations at the time when they retired. So, a Major General who retired in 1996 draws less pension than a Lt. Colonel who retired after 1996.

5.   Implementing OROP will cost the government at least an estimated Rs. 8,300 crore annually and the Finance Ministry has to take the final call on it now. One Rank One Pension will benefit 25 lakh ex-servicemen.

6.   One Rank One Pension was an election promise of the BJP. Ex-servicemen are now demanding that it fulfil that promise.

7.   In its last Budget in 2014, months before the national election, the Congress-led UPA government announced that OROP would be implemented, but allocated a meagre Rs. 500 crore.

8.   The BJP government says that was grossly inadequate and that it has, since it came to power, been working hard to implement OROP.

9.   The Supreme Court had ordered the implementation of OROP six years ago in 2009, and in February this year, reminded the government that it is yet to do so. In 1983, the Supreme Court said, "Pension is not a bounty nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweet will of the employer."

10.   A group of ex-servicemen leading protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi claim ex-jawans are willing to fast unto death for OROP. With Anna Hazare on board, the ex-servicemen say they will also protest in election-bound states such as Bihar.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/one-rank-one-pension-explained-in-10-points-782065

Sainik Darpan Jul 2015

OROP Protest - Sainik Samaj Party

OROP PROTEST TAMILNADU – REPORT DT 05 JUL 2015

Lt Col CR Sundar, President Tamil Nadu Sainik Samaj Party

Protest at Ranipet – 05 Jul 2015

Excellent arrangements were made for the protest opposite the Ranipet Thasiladar’s office by ESM S Nagaraj, President Sainik Samaj Party (SSP), Ranipet MLA constituency, ESM NM Sekar, Vice President, ESM M Gajendran, Secretary and ESM D Bhaskaran, Deputy Secretary.

Party flag was raised at the location.

Sloganeering was done in which those present joined in energetically. Slogans were raised against  Modi for having failed to keep his promise and also against the central and state governments for not having shown due consideration for the plight of the Veterans.

Arrangements were made for 200 attendees but only about 60 including ladies turned up. The reason could be because Ranipet does not have a good strength of ESM. Those expected from surrounding areas did not come probably because of fatigue having set in due to too many protests within a short period.

A few snaps are attached below.

All Eyes to Jantar Mantar

By Col K Mohandas

IT IS A SHAME FOR OUR COUNTRY 

Nowhere else in the world, the War Veterans take to streets to seek justice from their own government. But in our country where the Government ignores the services rendered by the soldiers, but continue to pamper the Members of Parliament  with lucrative perks and privileges, this had to happen.

Do you know that the Relay Hunger Strike by the Armed Forces Veterans and War widows had been going on at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi for the past three weeks. A few glimpses from the previous days attached.

And at Jantar Mantar Today, Mrs CharuSheela,  92 year old, w/o Late Col Balbir Singh, past CO 3 Grenadiers participated in the Hunger strike along with others. We are blessed to have such wonderful people amongst us  Pic from the venue, incl That of Mrs Charusheela are att below. The struggle will continue till our demand is met by the Govt.

Visit them at Jantar Mantar anytime from 9.30 AM till 5 PM.Do spend some time with organisers and those on hunger strike. They need your support in ample measure!!