Redress of grievances of Ex-servicemen without rank discrimination – Gadkari’s letter to PM

Dear Dr. Singh,

Subject: Redress of grievances  OF  EX_SERVICEMEN Without rank discrimination

The Ex Servicemen stand very high in esteem of our countrymen. On account of their gallant services, they undoubtedly are special. They are a category of retired people WITH DIFFERENCE. If Article 14 of our Constitution were to be invoked for a worthy ‘reasonable classification’ there can’t be any better cause than that of the Ex Servicemen. They do deserve a preferential treatment.

The UPA Government has, for reasons inexplicable, failed to pay any serious attention to their genuine grievances. As President of a NATIONALIST political party, I find it as my duty to remind you, in your capacity as the Prime Minister of India to help shed the apathy and indifference of your Government towards the problems of our ex servicemen.

It would be appropriate here to recall that our nation had suffered a great political, territorial, material and human loss when Chinese attacked our borders in 1962. The raison  detre for that defeat was no other than the apathy of that day’s government and the then TOP POLITICAL LEADERSHIP towards the defence matters which had greatly lowered the MORALE of the fighting men.

As not to face a 1962 like situation again (by neglecting our armed forces), I am reminding you to address the problems of the ex servicemen, WITHOUT ANY DISCRIMINATION AND DIVIDE OF RANKS, in right earnest and resolve it.

Genuine and justified demands of the Ex Servicemen are given in the succeeding Paragraphs.
 
i) One Rank and One Pension (OROP)

Despite promises and various statements made by the Government in and outside the Parliament this problem still remains to be resolved in its essential elements. Disparities in pensions of the ex servicemen, due to their date and year of retirement, exist even today. Sixth Pay Commission, in this has done little in this regard.

ii) Supreme Court Judgement of 08 Mar 2010 on Rank Pay

The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on 08 Mar 2010 gave a judgement,in the context of the FOURTH PAY COMMISSION’S AWARDS, that the rank pay to the armed forces personnel was to be given in addition to the revised pay scales. The implementation of this award was missed out due to the misinterpretation of the Fourth Pay Commission’s recommendations by the Government. However, when the Supreme judgement came for putting this anomaly right, the Government instead of obeying the Supreme Court orders gracefully have filed an application in the Supreme Court to “rehear the case and modify the order” This, to say the least, is tantamount to a grossly hostile Government attitude towards the Ex Servicemen. It is Government’s MORAL duty to withdraw this application and implement the Supreme Court Judgement.

iii) Service Span of Defence Forces Personnel

Presently Defence Forces Personnel, particularly personnel below officers Rank (PBOR) retire very early. This puts them to great hardships, at a time when their family responsibilities are increasing due to the needs of their growing children. Appropriate LATERAL INDUCTION to other security services, of the defence personnel, can solve this problem and enable the defence forces personnel to serve for 60 years.

iv) Setting up of a Statutory Commission For Ex Service Men

This is a genuine organisational requirement to take care of the welfare of Veterans. A separate PAY COMMISSION FOR THE DEFENCE FORCES personnel will solve many anomalies, which the successive ten yearly PAY COMMISSIONS have handed down to the defence forces personnel.
 
In view of the fore going, I request you to look into the matter and redress the grievances of the VETERANS at the earliest. Let this discontentment be removed lest it creeps into the serving soldiers and lowers their MORALE too.
 
With regards,
                        Yours

(Nitin Gadkari)