More schemes to be launched for benefit of ex-servicemen: Union Minister Mr. Pon Radhakrishnan

Stating that the Narendra Modi government has already announced the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme for the benefit of ex-servicemen, Radhakrishnan declared that the prime minister would come out with more welfare schemes for them.

The Centre will talk to state governments for providing job opportunities to servicemen who retire at an early age, Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan said on Sunday.

The minister said he will take up the issue with state governments which have reserved some percentage for ex-servicemen in government jobs after he was told that jawans who retire early, at the age of 30-35 years, often find it difficult to secure a job.

Stating that the Narendra Modi government has already announced the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme for the benefit of ex-servicemen, Radhakrishnan declared that the prime minister would come out with more welfare schemes for them. He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of the 28th anniversary celebrations of the Coimbatore Ex-servicemen and Widows Welfare Society here.

On Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi holding a fast in Hyderabad over the Dalit scholar suicide issue, the minister said he was “moving without any direction”. The opposition party is desperate as it is unable to find any grounds to attack the Modi government and is hence trying to tarnish its image by raising non-issues, the minister claimed.

Earlier, at a press conference ahead of the visit by the prime minister in Coimbatore on February 2, Radhakrishnan said Modi will continue to rule for the coming 15 years. Asked about the upcoming Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan said BJP has not not yet reached the stage where it has to beg other parties for an alliance.

Source:www.dnaindia.com

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Removing Anomaly in Pensions of Ex-Servicemen

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

Removing Anomaly in Pensions of Ex-Servicemen 

Removal of anomaly, if any, in the pension being given to the various categories of ex-servicemen is a continuous process. Such anomaly is redressed, as and when it comes to the notice of the Government. 

The policy of “One Rank One Pension” has been adopted by the Government to address the pension disparities. The modalities for implementation of OROP are under consideration of the Government. It will be implemented once the modalities are approved by the Government. 

A Pension Grievance Cell exists in the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare. Grievances received by this Cell are examined and redressed in coordination with the agencies concerned in the matter. A system of holding Pension Adalat is in place to provide a credible forum for redressal of grievances of the defence pensioners. Officers concerned of every organisation involved remain present in the Adalats and the grievances are redressed on the spot. A computerized pension enquiry project “Suvigya” has been developed by the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA). It is an online pension enquiry system which would enable the ex-servicemen to know their entitlements of pension. A pensioners’ grievance cell exists in the Office of Principal Controller of defence Accounts (Pension), Allahabad. 

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to Shri D.P Tripathi in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, 30 July 2015. 

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Monitoring of the implementation of reservation policy for ESM in Central Government Ministries/Departments, Banks, PSUS and CPMFs - designation of DGR as the Nodal Agency - Regarding.

File No. 25/1/2010/D (Res-I)

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare

South Block, New Delhi.

Dated: 04 June, 2014

To

All Ministries/ Deptt.

Govt. of India

Subject: Monitoring of the implementation of reservation policy for ESM in Central Government Ministries/Departments, Banks, PSUS and CPMFs - designation of DGR as the Nodal Agency - Regarding.

As per DOP&T’s Notification No. 36034/1/2006-Estt.[Res) dated 04.10.2012, 10% of the vacancies in the posts upto of the level of the Assistant Commandant in all para-military forces, 10% of the vacancies in Group ‘C’ posts; and 20% of the vacancies in Group ‘D’ posts are reserved for Ex- Servicemen (ESM) in Central Govt. jobs. Likewise 14.5% vacancies in Group ‘C’ and 24.5% vacancies in Group ‘D’ are reserved for ESM in Nationalized Banks and CPSUS.

2. Cabinet Secretariat has mandated Deptt. of Ex- Servicemen Welfare to collect and compile the data/information in respect ofimplementation of reservation policy for ESM in Central Govt. Ministries/ Departments, Banks, Public Sector Undertakings, Central Para Military Forces etc. and other implementing agencies vide their OM 1/21/5/2011-Cab dated 16.12.2013 (copy enclosed).

3. With the approval of the Competent Authority, Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) has been designated as the Nodal Agency on behalf of Deptt. of ESW to collect and compile the required data for facilitating monitoring of implementation of reservation policy for ESM.

4. All Central Government Ministries/Deptt., PSU Banks, Public Sector Undertakings, Central Para Military Forces etc. and other implementing agencies are requested to furnish data as per enclosed proforma annually w.e.f. 01.01.2014, directly to the Nodal Agency i.e. DGR. The first report may be sent by 15th June, 2014.

5. Deptt. of Public Enterprises is requested to issue suitable instructions to all CPSUs to furnish the required information directly to DGR, under intimation to this Deptt.

6. Ministry of Home Affairs is requested issue suitable instructions to all the CPMFs. Deptt. of Financial Services may also issue suitable instructions to all Nationalized Banks to furnish the required information directly to DGR in the prescribed proforma, under intimation to this Deptt.

Encl: As above

Sd/-

(A S Lakshmi)

Joint Secretary

Source:http://www.desw.gov.in/sites/upload_files/desw/files/pdf/File%20No.%2025(1)2010-D(Res-I).pdf

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There is no proposal to reduce the minimum qualifying service for grant of pension

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO 2893

ANSWERED ON 10.02.2014

PENSION TO EX SERVICEMEN

2893 . Shri RAM SINGH KASWAN

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to state:-

(a) whether a large number of ex-servicemen who retired before independence are still alive and not getting pension;

(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to grant pension to such ex-servicemen in the country; and

(c) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE (SHRI JITENDRA SINGH) MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

(a) There is no mechanism to ascertain such data. However, ex-servicemen with service of 15 years or more as PBOR and 20 years or more as Commissioned Officers are entitled to service pension.

(b) There is no proposal to reduce the minimum qualifying service for grant of pension.

(c) Minimum qualifying service is an essential criterion for earning pension in the Armed Forces as per the existing Army, Navy & Air Force Pension Regulations.

Source:Loksabha

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Himachal CM seeks ‘one rank, one pension’ for ex-servicemen

   Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh Saturday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi here and pleaded the case for implementation of ‘one rank, one pension’ scheme for the ex-servicemen.

   He said the implementation of the scheme would benefit the majority of the ex-servicemen in the state and would give them additional economic security in their old age.

   The chief minister also apprised Gandhi about various developmental projects and schemes launched in the state, an official statement said.

   He said the state has adopted the party’s election manifesto as an official document and all the promises made in the manifesto are being implemented.

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Committee to Look Into pay and Pension Grievance Of Retired Military Personnel.

   A Committee was constituted by the Government in July, 2012 under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary and consisting of Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Defence Secretary, Secretary, Department of Expenditure, Secretary, Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare and Secretary, Department of Personnel & Training for looking into the pay and pension related issues of relevance to Defence Services Personnel and Ex- Servicemen.

   Although there was no military representative on the Committee, consultations were held with all the Service Chiefs by the Committee before finalizing the recommendations.

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Ex-servicemen to get timely pensions

   The defence ministry on Wednesday took several decisions to ensure ex-servicemen get their pensions in time, stung by criticism over the huge delay in former NSG commando Surender Singh getting all his dues. Anti-graft crusader Arvind Kejriwal had raised the case of Singh, who was injured in the 26/11 terror attacks, last month, forcing the government to admit there had been a considerable delay since the soldier's retirement "paperwork'' had not been completed in time.

   At a meeting chaired by defence minister A K Antony, it was decided that 50% of the pension of soldiers who are "invalidated out" or are "war casualties" should be disbursed immediately, pending the completion of retirement/medical board formalities. It was also decided the Army and Navy should follow the IAF's example of the which has established " e-tracking process" to ensure pensions are disbursed in time.

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Grievance of EX-Servicemen.

   In view of the persistent demand from the Ex-servicemen and their associations, Government constituted a committee headed by Cabinet Secretary in July, 2012 to look into the Pay & Pension related issues of Armed Forces personnel & ex-servicemen.

   The Committee submitted its report dated 17.08.2012 on pension issues, which has been accepted by the Government. The recommendations relate to OROP-Bridging the gap in pension, Enhancement of family pension, Dual Family Pension and Family pension to mentally / physically challenged son/daughter of armed forces personnel on marriage.

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Rs.2300 crore approved to meet the demands of Ex-servicemen pensioners.

   The Union Cabinet has approved the recommendations of the Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary for benefits to ex-servicemen on four issues.   The financial implications of the improvements made as per the Cabinet decision on the four items are broadly estimated at Rs.2300 crore per annum.  The details are as follows:
 
I.             One Rank One Pension:
 
   On One Rank One Pension, the demand of the Defence Forces and Ex-Servicemen Associations is that uniform pension be paid to the Defence Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.
 
            The difference in the pension of present and past pensioners in the same rank occurs on account of the number of increments earned by the defence personnel in that rank.  There is also a difference between the pension of pre 1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 retirees belonging to a particular rank.  The UPA Government on two previous occasions has taken decisions to narrow the gap between the present and past pensioners, particularly those belonging to the ranks of JCOs and Other Ranks.

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Deprived Section of Ex-Servicemen.

   Ex-servicemen with service less than 15 years are not entitled to pension as it is a mandatory requirement for a Personnel Below Officer Rank to render 15 years and for Commissioned Officers 20 years qualifying service to earn pension. Minimum qualifying service is an essential criterion for pension in the Government.

   The Short Service Commissioned Officers who are not pensioners are eligible for certain schemes of DGR like Training, Security Agencies and other self-employment schemes. Ex-Defence personnel with more than 5 years of service are entitled to CSD canteen facilities available in units / establishment apart from being employed as security guards. Some grants out of RakshaMantri Discretionary Funds is also provided to non-pensioners upto the rank of Havaldar.

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