Col Ashok K Singh
has forwarded me a brief of an organisation conceptualised by him, the ‘Indian
Veterans for Democracy’.
According to Col Singh,
the IVD is an organisation formed to enable participation of military veterans
in the political system of our nation and that too without being affiliated to
any political party.
Full details on the
concept and the mission are available on the IVD facebook page which can be accessed by clicking here.
The organisation
has also prepared a detailed awareness note on the election manifestoes of
various political parties and their promises to veterans. The organisation can
be contacted at veteransfordemocracy [at]
gmail [dot] com
Some of the areas
where the organisation plans to work on are being reproduced below verbatim,
without amendment, for the benefit of the readers of the blog :-
Constitutional
Reforms
1. Carry out constitutional amendments to
include ‘Resettlement and Welfare of Military Veterans’ in the concurrent list
of VII Schedule of the Constitution. Presently our constitution is silent on
it. The subject is not even mentioned making it the duty of the state to
re-settle veterans which is the norm in most of the democratic countries. The
passing of such acts and rules will make it an obligatory constitutional
responsibility of the state (both at centre and state) to ensure resettlement
and job security to all ranks of veterans, war widows and depends.
2. Bring required provisions for management of
‘War and Peace’ and all other related subjects as mentioned in the first list
of the VII Schedule of the constitution. Presently there are no such provisions
in our constitution leaving it totally to the executive of the state without
any provision for parliamentary interference. Ours is the parliamentary
democracy where it reigns supreme. Leaving a subject like war (where in very survival
of the state may be jeopardised) totally to the executive without any control
of parliament is just too dangerous a situation. US and other democracies have
such provisions. Such provisions will strengthen the democracy and bring better
management of war and defence of India.
Legal Reforms
3. Accordingly pass military veteran
resettlement and welfare act and rules (on similar lines as USA, UK and other
countries) and implement it at centre and state levels to ensure job and
settlement assurance to all ex-servicemen including short service commission
and woman officers, disabled and homeless soldiers, war widows and dependents.
Include provisions for considering military persons at par with central and
state employee for giving jobs to their dependents in case of deaths. Such acts
and rules are there in all democracies of the world.
4. Amend Govt Business Rules accordingly and
bring the subject under Ministry of Personnel and Human Resources Development.
Place DGR under Ministry of HRD with concurrent relationship with Minster of
Corporate Affairs as MOD is not capable enough to plan and implement such
schemes effectively.
5. Better would be to have an independent
ministry as is the convention in most of the democracies and if not possible
than create national and state commissions for military veterans on the lines
of Minority or SC/ST commission at centre and states both.
6. Promulgate Short Services Commissioned and
Woman Officers Acts and Rules. The same shall include their assured resettlement
and welfare provisions.
7. In terms of Articles 309-313 of the
constitution, promulgate ‘All India Defence Services Acts and Rules’ on the
lines of Civil Services and All India Services Acts and Rules. Presently these
provisions are in form of regulation (DSR) which have been issued by the
ministry of Defence and leave lots of scope of misinterpretation causing
sufferings. Such sensitive issues needs to be put in form of Acts and Rules in
terms of Article 312 and 313 of our constitution with proper parliament
sanctions. Such lateral absorption will also save lots of govt financial
liabilities by correspondingly reducing civil intake in such vacancies.
Administrative Reforms
8. To keep the armed forces young and fighting
fit, soldiers (including officers) retire at early age or are encouraged to
take pre-mature retirements. In this case, it is the duty of the state to
assure job to veterans up to the age of 60 like in the case of civil employees.
Give job security to all serving Officers (regular and short service), JCOs and
soldiers from all three services who retire before 60 years of age, by assured
lateral entry into All India Services, Central Services, central and state govt
services, railways, ordinance factories and PSUs in according to their length
of service (equating with length of service of all civil jobs) and position.
The same is the convention in most of democracies including US and UK.
9. Bring a separate pay commission for armed
forces and also give pension based on the principle of “One Rank One Pension”.
10. Provide incentives to PSUs and corporates to
encourage them to give employment to military veterans. Certain appointments in
certain sensitive areas like telcom, transport, highways and defence industries
by law to be occupied by ex-defence staff.
11. Provide incentives in Govt contracts to
corporates who have formed consortiums and JVs with military owned private
companies.
12. Provide suitable relaxations (in terms of
BG, EMDs, experience and size of company) for company owned by military
veterans to help them bid in govt tenders.
13. Make suitable amendments in company laws to
encourage companies to have military veterans as independent directors.
14. Provide invectives to military veterans
owned companies in Govt procurement policies.
15. Provide sufficient loans on marginal
interests with relaxed security and repayment terms for military veterans to
start business. Suitable incubators be created to help veteran in starting the
business. All military held venture be IT free for first 7 years from the start
of the date of the project or 12 years from the date of retirements.\
16. Create veterans homes all across country for
those who are left alone and helpless.
17 Create strong education and training support
system in India and abroad (may be credit base as in US army) for serving
officers and soldiers. All military training and education be given due
education recognition (Post Graduate. Graduate, Diploma/ certificate)
7 comments:
a tall order. lets see if they achieve anything or it becomes yet another organisation of retired officers.
The above poster anonymous at 4.41 PM is the hallmark of a typical fauji/ veteran these dats.
1. Not wanting to spare time or effort to a common cause.
2. Ready to share the spoils of someone else's achievement.
3. Behind the screen of 'anonymous' to facilitate 1 and 2 simultaneously.
Come out brother and smell the fresh air.
kprakash
It's a great idea of a greatly vibrant mind. Why can't all veterans operating various associations across the country come under one umbrella and integrate themselves into an organisation like the one mulled over by one of the Veterans. That will certainly go a long way in being far more effective, influential and result delivering in moulding the Govt policies relating to Veterans in the correct perspective and right direction. All the best to all Indian Veterans.
This is indeed a great proposal. In this country where democracy is just a matter of numbers.Nothing much can be achived without numbers and standing united.
About time to get organised. The veterans should be encouraged to unite and take the lead.
Agree with the comments of kprakash650 regarding the attitude of Anon (Feb 11, 4:41 PM). These wet blankets have not done anything for the organisation and can only spread gloom!
Its a great initiative of Col A K Singh, I agree with one anonymous which says all veterans association to come under one umbrella. Infact like ECHS we should make it somewhat compulsory to join the veterans association. The AG's Br should formulate policy to have one voice of all veterans under this umbrella. Good way of excersing your voice. keep it up.
I am posted in a dept where few civ offrs are also posted an offr in pay grade pay 7600 is the director and Lt col is working as his 2IC .I Lt col have some reservation for this .civ offr has got a auth of Aug 2008 where in he has been shown equivalent to Col But since Aug 2008 lot of amndt and revision to pay scale has taken place I may kindly be advise whether he is senior to a Lt Col as on date
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