ALL INDIA EX SERVICES WELFARE ASSOCIATION

Our Mail IDs - aiewaorg@gmail.com,aiewa81@hotmail.com

aiewa_association@rediffmail.com
Web site : www.aiewa.org
Blog : aiewa.blogspot.in

(We Were THIRTY YEARS YOUNG On 21 Nov 2011)

M 35 Palika Bhawan,
RK Puram, Sector 13,
New Delhi 110066.

Ph :011 26110710
Fax :011 241O6144

OROP - STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE PARLIAMENT

ON DEFENCE APPROACHED TO SAVE THE SITUATION

Dear friends

Taking a serious note of the way the RM has been handling the matter with regard to OROP, our Association in its Governing Council Meeting passed a Resolution on 21 Aug for making an appeal to the Hon'ble PM to please issue the Notification for implementation of OROP by 31 Dec, failing which we shall be forced to make more sacrifices.

The Resolution has since been sent. To make sure that our letter reaches the PM we decided to approach the Defence Standing Committee Members. We sent our request to them on 21 Oct. Copy of our letter to the Chairman of the Standing Committee, Maj Gen BC Khanduri is given below. This letter with appropriate changes has been sent to all the members of the Committee. Attached to this letter is a copy of the Resolution to the PM together with the forwarding letter. All these are given below.

The next day on 22 Oct the RM let off another bombshell when he said that he is thinking of referring this matter to a Tribunal. Creating a grim and desperate situation for us all. Unless we put our heads together and work out a joint response we are in for disappointment.

We are having our General Body Meeting at 11 00 hrs on 21 Nov at Community Centre , Netaji Nagar, New Delhi. You are all invited to come and participate in the discussion to take a united stand on this serious matter.

Look forward to not only hearing from you but also your participation.

Warm regards

Sincerely

Lt Col Inderjit Singh

Chairman

Mob : 09811007629

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LETTER TO MAJ GEN KHANDURI CHAIRMAN DEFENCE COMMITTEE

21 Oct 2014

Dear General

Even if it is too late, I write to congratulate you for winning a glorious battle at the hustings. It is a great achievement by any standards, but for a Veteran doing it, it is even more so.

Felicitations

The next thing you deserve our congratulations is for getting nominated as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Parliament on Defence. I must tell you that 33 years that I have been working for the veterans cause, making numerous presentations to your Committee, I have never seen so many illustrious Veterans together on the same Committee, if that was not enough to cheer your heart up, a Veteran as Chairman of the Committee makes the day for Celebrations for " ACHHE DIN " coming at last.

So Near and Yet So Far

Do we presume, it is going to turn out to be a great opportunity to get our basics right or is it going to turn out to be another case of being so near and yet so far? Signs are ominous with the bureaucrats gradually taking the better of leadership slowly but surely, unless we are lucky to get your support and backing.

OROP - Authors

The first litmus test that awaits your immediate indulgence is with regards to OROP. We were the authors of OROP, having presented to Indiraji first time ever on 22 Feb 1982. Col Sona Ram will bear me out as he accompanied me for our meeting with Sh Gujral the PM on 23 Aug 1997 when we launched an agitational program which lasted for 107 days at the Red Fort Maidan.

OROP - Present Position

The situation that prevails now is that the MODs interpretation of OROP was rejected by the Chiefs as it was a mere sop and not OROP and the Chiefs Draft Govt Letter was shot down by the MOD due to large expense involved. The Chiefs then made a presentation to the Hon'ble RM, on 12 Jun to break the deadlock but he did not respond. After a month or so Gen VK Singh led a delegation to the RM. The RM was kind to listen to them patiently without responding. When the meeting ended, he as a parting shot told the Veterans to "lower down their expectations." This in other words means that we are not going to get true OROP.

Resolution

Hearing this awful news the members of Association in their Governing Council Meeting on 21 Aug passed the attached Resolution for sending it to the Hon'ble PM. We have since sent this to our respected PM. In this Resolution we have appealed to the PM to kindly fulfil his promise of giving us OROP by 31Dec, failing which we shall presume that he is not satisfied with the sacrifices we have made for the Nation already and he wants more. To fulfil his desire and win him over we shall make some more to satisfy him.

Your Help and Support

Although we have sent this Resolution to the Hon'ble PM on 22 Aug, we do not believe that it would ever be allowed by the vested interests to ever get to him. We seek your help and assistance to bring this matter to his notice. We are sure that once he comes to know that he is being let down he would come down heavily on these elements and fulfil his promise.

What is required is the immediate acceptance of Chiefs Draft Government Letter with some slight modifications. Can the Veterans depend upon you ? We will look forward to hearing from you.

Yours Sincerely

Lt Col Inderjit Singh

Chairman

The Hon'ble

Maj Gen BC Khanduri

Chairman

Standing Committee of the Parliament on Defence

Parliament House

New Delhi

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LETTER TO THE HON'BLE PM WITH RESOLUTION

Respected Modi Saheb

1. You were very kind to promise to fulfil the long standing demand of OROP of Veterans on coming to power. Your first action to restate your commitment by the President during the Joint Session of Parliament was very reassuring. Hearing that, the bureaucrats who have successfully stalled its implementation for over 33 years, got into action again.

2. In our Governing Council Meeting held in Delhi on 21 Aug the present position with regard to grant of OROP was explained.

3. It was a matter of deep shock for all present to know that despite your commitment the Bureaucrats are out to deny us our rightful due. They were in agony to know what was going on and then went on to pass the attached RESOLUTION which they wanted me to convey to you so that you could take preventive action to ward off this disastrous situation.

4. Many volunteers got up to make supreme sacrifice if the OROP did not come through even with a leader like you at the helm. We have no doubt that you will not let this happen.

Yours Sincerely

Inderjit SIngh

The Hon’ble Sh. Narendra Modi Bhai
Prime Minister of India
South Block
New Delhi - 110011

Copy to :-
The Hon’ble Sh. Arun Jaitley
Defence Minister
Govt of India
South Block
New Delhi – 110011

The Hon’ble Sh. Rao Inderjit Singh
Raksha Rajya Mantri
New Delhi -110011

Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, PVSM,UYSM,AVSM,VSM,ADC
Chief of Army Staff
Integrated HQ of MoD
New Delhi-110011

Admiral RK Dhowan, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC, Chief of the Naval Staff Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Navy) South Block, New Delhi-110011

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC Chief of the Air Staff Indian Air Force Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi 110011

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GRANT OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION - RESOLUTION

GENERAL

Past History

1. We have been struggling for the last 33 years for the grant of ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP) for Veterans. Down the line five Prime Ministers starting with Indiraji had accepted to give it. All their benign gestures to grant the Veterans their rightful dues were however frustrated by the hostile bureaucracy.

Recent Commitments

2. Now the Sixth Prime Minister had announced its acceptance in the Parliament on 17 Feb 2014. The seventh Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi had given his commitment even before he assumed the charge. After assuming charge he reiterated his commitment through Presidential address to the joint session of the Parliament.

Bureaucratic Opposition

3. The bureaucrats are out to frustrate the commitment of Sh Narendra Modi also. They first produced their own version of OROP, which was rejected with the contempt it deserved. When they were given the correct definition, they worked out Rs 9100.00 crore as expenditure to scare the leadership into reneging from their commitment. 

Parting Shot

4. A delegation of Veterans met the Hon'ble RM on 16 Jul 2014. After the meeting when they were leaving, as a parting shot, the Hon'ble RM told them that they should lower their expectations. In other words we should not hope to get true version of OROP. A time has come when unless the Hon'ble PM takes appropriate action he was also likely to fail as his illustrious predecessors.

RESOLUTION

5. We therefore unanimously resolve to appeal to Sh Narendra Modi our respected Prime Minister -

a) to take matters in his own hands and fulfill his promises made at Rewari to grant OROP to the Veterans on coming to power, as the Bureaucrat who have short changed us for the last thirty three years are not going to let it happen so easily;

b) we further submit that we shall be waiting for its implementation until 31 Dec 2014. If it does not come through we shall know that the Hon'ble Prime Minister, our respected leader, is not satisfied with the sacrifices already made by the veterans for the Nation. We shall then make a few more with the hope that he would be won over into fulfilling his promises.

CONCLUSION

6. During recent Elections wherever the Hon'ble PM went, he asked the public whether the previous Govt fulfilled their promises to them? When the public answered NO, he told them to throw the Govt out, which they did with a vengeance unheard of before. We are sure that the dedicated and effective leader that he is, he would not allow the bureaucrats to land him in similar situation.

(Inderjit Singh)
Lt Col (Retd)
Chairman

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SHORT SERVICE COMMISSIONED OFFICERS

From: chander.kamboj@itintellectuals.com

Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 19:27:26 +0530

Dear Veterans,

Jai Hind.

There appears to be wrong impression among some former Short Service Commission Officers that the Rank Pay Case is not applicable to them. This impression is baseless.

Kindly inform all former SS Officers, who were in service during the operative period of 4 and 5 CPC and were holding rank of Capt and above, that they are also beneficiary of the Rank Pay Case.

They should submit the required information to PCDA (O). In case of officers who have already submitted the required information and have not received the arrears due to them, should refer the case, in detail, to the following –

A. Lt Col BK Sharma, President Retired Defence Officers Association – beekay_sharma49@yahoo.co.in .

B. Gp Capt SS Phatak, Head Pension Division IESM - suhas.mailbox@gmail.com .

Kindly give widest possible publicity to the contents of this email.

There are over 7000 cases at PCDA (O), to whom Rank Pay arrears have not be paid due to required information not being available.

For Col BK Sharma Only – Our teleconversation of date refers.

In service of Indian Military Veterans & Families

Chander Kamboj 

Check out PCDA Circular No. 529 - Rationalization of casualty Pensionary Awards for the Armed Forces Officers and Personnel below Officer Rank (PBOR) invalided out from service prior to 1.1.1996: Extension of benefit of broad banding of percentage of disability/ war injury added to our post dated 24 Sep 2014.

 ‘Major Saab’ suffers rank indifference

The Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW), in its true bureaucratic lack of empathy and common sense has created more confusion and heartburn for senior ex-servicemen.

Vijay Oberoi

The Tribune, Chandigarh

OPED — DEFENCE

Tuesday, October 28, 2014, Chandigarh, India

MANY veteran majors continue to be treated shoddily by our government, as manifested by the policies issued by a department of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), ironically named the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW)! This department has the dubious distinction of doing zilch for the veterans, since it was carved out from the MoD and placed under a secretary level bureaucrat.

Although this piece talks of only ‘majors’, it is equally applicable to the equivalent ranks in the navy (lieutenant commander) and the air force (squadron leader).

The rank of ‘major’ has always been a pivotal rank in the army. Earlier, an officer reached the substantive rank of ‘major’ after 13 years of tough service in various locations and climates. Now, after a change in policy, officers are promoted to the rank of major after only six years service and the erstwhile major’s rank has now been upgraded to that of lt-col.

As youngsters, we used to look forward to the rank of ‘major’, as one was then considered mature, senior and experienced to command a sub-unit, i.e. company/ squadron/ battery. These were the appointments that were the work-horse of the army in all facets of functioning; whether in operations, intelligence, training, logistics or administration. Majors also held important appointments as staff officers, instructors or other specified appointments. With the rank, one also earned the privilege of being called a ‘field officer’, which gave two immediate benefits. Firstly, one became entitled to a full salute at the Quarter Guard or by any other sentry on duty. Secondly, one earned the honour of wearing spurs on one’s half-wellington boots, while donning the formal summer or winter Mess dresses, in some regiments like mine.

The major change in the fortunes of ‘majors’ came when a policy decision was taken in the late 1980’s that henceforth the first selection grade rank would be lieutenant colonel (lt-col), instead of major. This resulted in captains becoming majors after completing six years service and majors becoming lt. cols after 13 years of service. Thereafter, selection ranks would commence. The positive effect of this new policy was that those who were not selected at the first selection stage would at least retire in the higher rank of lt -col, instead of a major and would get higher pension. While this was a welcome development, the MoD forgot to give this largesse to those majors who had already retired.

In a classic case of bureaucratese, while serving majors became lt- cols on reaching the stipulated 13 years of service and drew enhanced pay and allowances, the majors who had already retired after completing their stipulated years of service were denied the pension of lt-cols. When manpower policies are changed, as in this case, for meeting the aspirations of a particular group of personnel, as well as for better management of the cadre, it is incumbent on the government to ensure that all past cases get placed in the same category and draw the same emoluments as their counterparts who were upgraded to a higher rank.

In this case, all retired majors should have automatically been given the pension of lt-cols, even though the higher rank could not be conferred on them. Instead of doing so, the MoD adopted the bureaucratic way of simply ignoring the large number of veteran majors, depriving them of their legitimate emoluments. MoD forgot that there was no difference between those who went home as majors on superannuation and those who were in service on that date and were promoted as lt-cols; in terms of years of service, professional expertise, exposure to dangers of losing life or limb, and all hardships associated with serving in inhospitable/uncongenial areas and climates.

After the 5th Pay Commission recommendations were accepted, the MoD did make amends by issuing a letter dated 21 November, 1997, that stated that officers who became substantive majors on or after 01 January, 1996, would be granted the scale of lt-col, without increase in the rank. However, similarly placed substantive majors who had retired prior to the magic date of 01 January,1996, would not be eligible for this largesse! The predictable result was that one more category was created, whereby some veteran majors started receiving pay and consequently pension of lt-cols, while the older lot whose needs and requirements were obviously more, were left in the lurch. This was yet another case of creating categories within categories; which the bureaucrats seem to enjoy doing, possibly to confuse everyone.

The initial blame for the distress caused to all veteran majors must be borne by the service headquarters. At the time of the policy change, the service headquarters, on whom all ranks — serving or retired — look up to for ensuring that their welfare and concerns are fully met, failed in their duty and the veteran majors were left high and dry. However, the major part of the blame must go to the MoD and specifically to DESW, for it is their responsibility to ensure that no military person gets an unfair deal.

It will be a monumental shame if these forgotten warriors of yore go to their ‘happy hunting grounds’carrying a grudge against the system.

The writer is a former Vice Chief of Army Staff

ALL INDIA EX SERVICES WELFARE ASSOCIATION

Our Mail IDs - aiewaorg@gmail.com,aiewa81@hotmail.com

aiewa_association@rediffmail.com
Web site : www.aiewa.org

(We Were THIRTY YEARS YOUNG On 21 Nov 2011)

M 35 Palika Bhawan,
RK Puram, Sector 13,
New Delhi 110066.

Ph :011 26110710
Fax :011 241O6144

21 OCT 2014

Dear Friends,

1.  We will be 33 years old on 21 Nov 2014. To mark that auspicious occasion we will be holding our General Body Meeting and 33 Anniversary Celebrations on that day at 1100 hrs at the Community Hall Netaji Nagar New Delhi. It is very close to our office.

2. The Association has travelled such a long journey serving the old and infirm Veterans and their families. In this arduous and successful journey many sacrifices have been made and significant benefits secured from Govt and made available to the veterans. We can proudly say that the History of Veterans welfare is the History of the Association. This all has been possible due to the unstinted loyalty to the Association, dedicated hard work and spirit of selfless sacrifice displayed by all members.

3. While congratulating all of you, I bow my head to all of you for offering unstinted support for all programs of the Association, I appeal to all of you to get ready for making more sacrifices, any time after 31 Dec 2014, for achieving our basic demand of ONE RANK ONE PENSION . The present Govt after making all sorts of announcements is trying to back out from their commitment.

4. To seek the help for our cause we are inviting large number of influential leaders. We request you to come in large numbers to make the meeting a grand success.

5. The Agenda for the meeting is as follows:-

a) Review of the situation and work out our plan of action.
b) Future Programs
c) Accounts
d) Any other point with the permission of the Chairman.

SARVA BHARAT EX SERVICEMEN COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD (AIEWA)

6. In addition the Meeting of General Body of the Sarva Bharat Ex-servicemen Cooperative Society Ltd.(AIEWA) will also be held. The Agenda will be :-

a) Decision regarding continuing the Society
b) Accounts.
c) Approval of Board of Director about Membership.
d) Any other point with the permission of the Chairman.

7. Look forward to seeing you for the Meeting.

Yours sincerely,

LT COL INDERJIT SINGH

CHAIRMAN

MOB : 09811007629

Our Delhi Unit Celebrates Air Force Day 2014 at Qutab Vihar

     

AIEWA WB UNIT CELEBRATES INDEPENDANCE DAY AT KALNA

 

 

 

       

Method of address of the mails addressed to Defence Service Personnel - Partial modification of Rule 27 of PO Guide Part -

F. No. 1-3/2014 -PO

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

PO Division

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg

New Delhi 110001

Dated: 30 /09/2014.

To,

Addl. Directorate General of APS

Subject: Method of Address -reg.

I am directed to intimate that in partial modification of Rule 27 of PO Guide Part-I, the method of address of the mailsaddressed to Defense Service Personnel serving in Army and Air Force may be read as follows:

No.

Rank

Name

Unit

PIN- C/O 56 or 99 APO (9000056 or 9000099)

Mobile No (Optional)

This may be brought to the notice of all the concerned for compliance.

The receipt of the same may kindly be acknowledged.

sd/-

(M.S.Rana)

Asst. Director Genereal (PO)

DIWALI GREETINGS

ALL INDIA EX SERVICES WELFARE ASSOCIATION

(Please note that we have, for daily work. added another mail ID aiewa81@hotmail.com

to the old one aiewa_association@rediffmail.com

Figure 81 denotes the year of our raising. We were THIRTY YEARS YOUNG on 21 Nov 2011)

DEAR FRIENDS,

Wishing You and Your Family

A Very Happy and Prosperous Diwali

May The Almighty Bless You With Health Wealth

And Unprecedented Prosperity In The Coming Years

And More Than Anything Else

Our Most Cherished Goal

Of

ONE RANK ONE PENSION

LT COL INDERJIT SINGH

CHAIRMAN

AND ALL MEMBERS

ALL INDIA EX SERVICES WELFARE ASSOCIATION

35 PALIKA BHAWAN, RK PURAM, SECTOR 13, NEW DELHI 110066,

PHONE 011 24675078, 26110710, MOB 0 9811007629.