Dr. Avnish Jolly, 22nd May , Chandigarh:In the last six decades there is tug of war between bureaucracy and defence forces. The recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission shows that defence people are weak. In this planned strategy, the political leadership has remained mute spectators.
Although they realize that India needs a strong and highly motivated military to guard the security of the nation from both external as well as internal threats, they have unfortunately been hamstrung by their near total dependence on the bureaucracy. Today, the military veterans, want to put an end to this state of affairs, so that the nation, whom we all love, is both secure and prosperous. This can only be done by the active support of the media; so that our ‘cause’ is understood by the citizens of our great nation and they prevail on the government to give the military their legitimate and well earned dues.
According to joint press release issued by Military veterans under the command of Lt Gen (Retd) Vijay Oberoi and Lt Gen (Retd) Harwant Singh The Sixth Central Pay Commission Report (6thCPC) has treated the Defence Services Personnel, both serving and the veterans highly unfairly. In spite of repeated requests, no member from the Defence Services was included as a member of the Pay Commission. The Special Review Committee now ordered to review the 6 CPC report, again has no member from the Defence Services.
Even the “One Rank One Pension”, which was granted to the Defence Services by the Parliamentary Committee for Defence and was debated in favour of the military veterans, after decades of protests and agitations, has been taken away by the 6th CPC; can it be called a fair report? The military veterans have therefore decided to continue their protest till their demands are met. There are four categories of personnel, who have suffered the maximum. These are firstly, our jawans and JCO’s; secondly, all middle level officers from the rank of Lt Col to Brigadier; thirdly, officers of the rank of Lt Gen; and fourthly all veterans. The main demands of the military veterans are as under:
• One-Rank-One-Pension (OROP)
• Resettlement of Veterans
• Representation of Soldiers on Premier Committees
• Inequities in the Report of Sixth Pay Commission.
• Formation of a Commission for Defence Services.
• Address All Anomalies.
• Compensation for the War Disabled.
• Compensation for Early Retirement.