SOME IMPORTANT RELIEFS IN BUDGET 14-15 FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

ONE RANK ONE PENSION

56.       Hon’ble Members are aware of the long standing demand of the Defence Services for One Rank One Pension (OROP).  It is an emotive issue, it has legal implications, and it has to be handled with great sensitivity.   During the tenure of the UPA Governments, changes in the pension rules applicable to the defence services were notified on three occasions in 2006, 2010 and 2013.  As a result, the gap between pre-2006 retirees and post-2006 retirees has been closed in four ranks (subject to some anomalies that are being addressed): Havildar, Naib Subedar, Subedar and Subedar Major.  There is still a small gap in the ranks of Sepoy and Naik and a gap in the ranks of Major and above.  We need a young fighting force, we need young jawans, and we need young officers.  We also need to take care of those who served in the defence forces only for a limited number of years.  Government has therefore decided to walk the last mile and close the gap for all retirees in all ranks.  I am happy to announce that Government has accepted the principle of One Rank One Pension for the defence forces.  This decision will be implemented prospectively from the financial year 2014-15.  The requirement for 2014-15 is estimated at `500 crore and, as an earnest of the UPA Government’s commitment, I propose to transfer a sum of `500 crore to the Defence Pension Account in the current financial year itself.

EDUCATION LOANS

64.       Hon’ble Members will recall that my predecessor, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, had, in the Budget of 2009-10, introduced the Central Scheme for Interest Subsidy (CSIS) in respect of education loans disbursed after 1.4.2009 under which Government took over the burden of interest for the duration of the period of study and a little beyond.  The scheme brought great cheer to student-borrowers and their families.  However, I have noticed a sense of discrimination among students who had borrowed before 31.3.2009, struggled to pay interest during the period of study, and continued to service the loans afterwards.  I think they deserve some relief.  I therefore propose a moratorium period for all education loans taken up to 31.3.2009 and outstanding on 31.12.2013.  Government will take over the liability for outstanding interest as on 31.12.2013, but the borrower would have to pay interest for the period after 1.1.2014.  It is estimated that nearly 9 lakh student borrowers will benefit to the tune of approximately `2,600 crore.  I intend to provide the funds in the current financial year itself.  Accordingly, a sum of`2,600 crore will be transferred to the Canara Bank, the designated CSIS banker.  Details of the scheme will be announced shortly. 

Justice Mathur to head 7th Central Pay Commission

  Former Supreme Court Judge Ashok Kumar Mathur will head the seventh Pay Commission, which will revise salaries of over 50 lakh Central government employees and remuneration of 30 lakh pensioners.

“The Prime Minister has approved the composition of the 7th Central Pay Commission,” the Finance Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

“The Prime Minister has approved the composition of the 7th Central Pay Commission,” the Finance Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
The announcement for composition of the Commission comes ahead of imposition of model conduct which would come into force once the schedule for the general election due in April-May is notified.
The Retired Supreme Court Judge, who had also headed the Armed Forces Tribunal, has been appointed chairman of the Commission.
The Commission has been mandated to submit its report in two years time and its recommendations would be implemented from January 1, 2016.
The other members of the Commission, include, Oil Secretary Vivek Rae (full time member), NIPFP Director Rathin Roy (part-time Member) and OSD in Expenditure Department Meena Agarwal (Secretary).
Earlier in September 2013, the Prime Minister had approved setting up of the 7th Pay Commission.
The recommendations of the Commission will benefit about 50 lakh central government employees, including those in defence and railways, and about 30 lakh pensioners.
The government constitutes Pay Commission almost every ten years to revise the pay scales of its employees and often these are adopted by states after some modification.
The sixth Pay Commission was implemented with effect from January 1,2006, the fifth from January 1, 1996 and fourth from January 1, 1986.

Clarifications on ECHS CARD UPGRADING:

Clarifications on ECHS CARD UPGRADING:

Dear All

I am reproducing mail received from Central Organization ECHS clarifying certain issued raised with them recently.

I would like to thank the MD and his team for being so prompt in accepting our point of view and responding positively.

Thank you Gen George and all your team.

Pathak

Dear Sir,
We in ECHS Central Organisation are receiving reports from veterans that undermentioned aspects are being highlighted by various Ex Servicemen Associations alongwith clarifications against each :-
(a) Inclusion of UID in ECHS Application Form. Clarification : This is Not Compulsory.
(b) Deposit of ECHS Cards while applying for Upgraded Cards. Clarification : This policy on deposit of ECHS Cards while applying for Upgraded Cards has been reverted. Now ESM have to carry their New Cards with the Old Cards to ECHS Polyclinic for registration where the Old Card will be deposited.
(c) Compulsory Upgradations from 16 kb Card to 32 Kb Card and to be done before 01 Jan 2014. Clarification : There is no such compulsion and where ESM finds that the Card Text is not readable or the Biometric check is not working for the card, the same may be changed through existing process.

You are requested to please give the above inputs to all veterans so as to avoid any confusion.

Cdr Ravindra Waman Pathak I.N. (Retd)

Member Governing Body and Pension Cell

Indian Ex Servicemen Movement

JOB OPPORTUNITY TO EX-SERVICEMEN

M/s. Aurobindo Pharma requires Security Managers(only ex-servicemen). Salary will be 25-30 thousand. Should be fluent in English. Probably the jobs are in Hyderabad & Andhra Pradesh. Interested Ex-Servicemen are required to apply to HRABI@AUROBINDO.COM OR HUDHA@AUROBINDO.COM with full bio data or contact 040-39325000 

65th Republic Day Celebrations at Tejaswi Car Coats, Kothapet

Sri. Sreenesh Kumar Sainik Welfare Officer Ranga Reddy District Hoisting the National Flag.

Members attended the meeting 

P.
Vigneshwar Raju Vice-President speaking on the occasion

P.Manohar Reddy Gen.Sec. speaking on the occasion 

Sri.Sreenesh Kumar speaking on the occasion

Brilliant display by the IAF drill team

MiG-21 RETIRED FROM ITS OPERATIONAL SERVICES FROM INDIAN AIR FORCE

It was an emotional moment as people watched, amidst firing Zon guns, three MiG-27 aircraft perform the Trishul Break manoeuvre at the Kalaikunda airbase in West Midnapore Wednesday as a salute to a MiG-21 type 77 (FL) aircraft that was towed to the hangar for the last time.

The operational conversion unit here bade a final farewell to its oldest workhorse after five decades of service as the fleet of MiG-21 FL fighters was officially phased out.

For years, the IAF has depended on MiG aircraft, which also took part in the 1971 war.

Before Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne received form 700, the document log of the aircraft, he delivered a speech wherein he said that the end of nearly five decades of remarkable operational service by the iconic fighter was a watershed moment in the history of the Indian Air Force.

"No wonder, five generations of combat pilots, including myself, who have cut teeth on this veritable fighter swear by its unmatched prowess. Around 80 per cent of the serving fighter IAF aircrew have flown the T-77 and 90 per cent one of the MiG variants," Browne said, adding that "the T-77 may have completed its last sortie today but its imprint on the operational DNA of the IAF will continue for a long time. Gradually, the other variants of MiG-21 will also retire.

Group Captain T K Singha said the 15 MiG-21s that the fleet had were used for combat and training fighter pilots.

"Now, these would serve as decorative pieces or gate guardians. Some of those would also be sent to aeronautical and engineering institutes for students to study and understand the physics of the mean machines while the trainer aircraft would be sent to the Bison squadron," he said. Singha added that the replacement was yet to be decided.

SUPREME COURT ISSUED NOTICES TO RESPONDENTS (PENSIONERS ) IN 3 SLP FILED BY UOI

SUPREME COURT ISSUED NOTICES TO RESPONDENTS 

(PENSIONERS ) IN 3 SLP FILED BY UOI  ON 19/11/2013 

AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT OF CAT PB & DELHI HIGH 

COURT.

THE DATE OF  HEARING WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY AFTER  THE REPLY TO NOTICES ARE RECEIVED BY THE COURT.THERE IS NO PLACE FOR ANY DISAPPOINTMENT 

SINCE THIS WONT AFFECT THE CONTEMPT PETITION 

WHICH IS COMING UP FOR HEARING IN CAT PB 

ON 27/11/2013

THE REVIEW PETITION FILED BY UOI IN SUPREME COURT IS DISMISSED

The review petition RP(civil) 2492/2013 filed by UOI in SUPREME COURT  against the dismissal of SLP(c) 23055/2013 is againdismissed as there is  no fresh case is made out to review the order dated 29th July 2013.The judgement is reproduced below.                      
             IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

     CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

REVIEW PETITION (CIVIL) NO.2492 OF 2013

                   IN

SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CIVIL) NO.23055 OF 2013

         U.O.I. & ANR...PETITIONERS

                             VERSUS

    CENTRAL GOVT. SAG (S-29)    &ANR....RESPONDENTS          

                               ORDER

This Review Petition has been filed against

order, dated 29thJuly, 2013, whereby the Special

Leave Petition was dismissed.

                          Delay condoned.

           Prayer for oral hearing is rejected.

We have perused the Review Petition as well as

the grounds in support of the Review Petition. In

our opinion, no case for review of order, dated

29thJuly, 2013, is made out. Consequently,  
          the review petition is dismissed.

                 .,J.

        (SURINDER SINGH NIJJAR)

                  ,J.

   (FAKKIR MOHAMED IBRAHIM KALIFULLA)

NEW DELHI

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

ON PAY COMMISSIONS - Damaging a Great Institution - BY LT GEN HARWANT SINGH (RETD)

THE 6TH CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION, SET UP IN 2006, DISPLAYED COMPLETE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF DEFENCE SERVICES, ON WHOSE PAY &ALLOWANCES IT WAS TO DECIDE. THERE ARE STILL MORE THAN TWO DOZEN ANOMALIES IN ITS RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING DEFENCE SERVICES, WHICH AWAIT RESOLUTION 

 

33 YEARS’ SERVICE

The condition of 33 years’ service to earn full pension was introduced,knowing full well that more than 90% of the defence personnel cannot meet this requirement. The 4th CPC created a number of other anomalies which till now have not been resolved.

The 5th CPC took away the running pay band and introduced many more disadvan- tages for the defence personnel. It further lowered the status of defence officers. On persistent protests from the defence services, the bureaucracy (Ajai Vikram Singh Committee), instead of restoring the rank-wise status, altered the very rank structure within the service by creating more vacancies in higher ranks. Thus, we ended up with a Lt Col doing a Major’s jobs, resulting in six to seven Lt Cols in a unit, besides the commanding officer of colonel rank. The same pattern was adopted right up to the rank of Lt Gens. In some manner, this cheapening of the rank did contribute to the problems that have surfaced in units during the past year or so. This has been the handiwork of the bureaucracy, bugged as it had been with the earlier status of armed forces officers vis-à-vis the bureaucracy, police etc. Higher command in the defence forces, unable to oppose this damage to the service, acquiesced to this mischief.

ANOMALIES GALORE
 

The 6th CPC did away with rank pay and displayed complete lack of knowledge of defence services, on whose pay, allowances etc., it was to decide. It thought that a brigadier is of a higher rank than a Maj Gen and consequently gave the former higher pension! It took nearly six years to partially sort out this issue by taking the case right up to the Supreme Court. There are still more than two dozen anomalies in its recommendations concerning defence services, which await resolution.

However, the biggest mischief of this CPC has been the exclusion of defence officers from what is called Non-Functional Upgradation ( NFU), which means that once an IAS officer, say with 14 years’ service, becomes a joint secretary to the union government, then all, yes all officers, in grade A central service with 16 years of service will get elevated to an equivalent status in terms of pay etc. There are more than 50 class-A central services. Army officers are not in class-A central service, it is military service as designated by the bureaucracy. The issue of NFU for the defence services is being left for the 7th CPC to decide, which of course should not be accepted. Hopefully, army commanders (and those in the air force and the navy) will, in writing, apprise the defence minister of the damage such policies are inflicting on the services.

NO REPRESENTATION

No CPC had a member from the defence services, while theirs is the largest officer cadre and nearly 40% of central employees are from the armed forces. There has never been a defence member even among the staff of more than 150 officers assembled to work out the nitty-gritty of various CPC reports. The 5th CPC’s report runs into 2,100 pages in three volumes, where less than 50 pages deal with the defence services.

The government has succeeded in making the service so very unattractive that few suitable candidates want to join it and many of those in service want to quit. During 2001-04, 2,000 officers applied to leave service and that included two Lt Gens, 10 Maj Gens, 84 brigadiers and the rest colonels and below. How many from the IAS, IPS and other central services have opted to leave? Looking at the number of mutinies in units in recent times and the increasing number of cases of suicides and fratricides, even the dumb-witted can make out the impact these developments will have on national security. The British took more than a century to create a worldclass military, while we have succeeded in inflicting much damage to this great institution within a much shorter period. Winston Churchill spelt out the time and the type of effort required to restore the spirit and morale of an army.

The 7th CPC must have a member from the services and sufficient number among the staff that prepares the report. The issue of NFU for the defence services and other anomalies need to be decided now and not left to the 7th CPC.