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Sunday, July 6, 2014

Bringing to the knowledge of the top what is happening at the bottom

The Prime Minister, on occasions more than one, has made his pain felt at the litigation initiated by the Ministry of Defence against disabled soldiers in the Supreme Court. The issue also forms a part of the manifesto of the ruling party.

The ruthlessness of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) of the Ministry of Defence is bewildering, and it is also a cause of concern that the Three Services Headquarters have not protested this sadism strongly enough in the recent past.

It is thus very clear that the Prime Minister, and also the current Defence Minister, who in all probability are very busy in the upcoming budget, are unaware that it is business as usual for junior functionaries of the DESW and that the said department and Govt lawyers in the Supreme Court are continuing with their tirade against disabled soldiers and other pensioners.

It is however heartening to note that people have taken a lead in informing the political executive of this malaise and one such letter written to the Prime Minister can be accessed by clicking here.


It is the duty of all of us to ensure that the sentiments of old and infirm pensioners, both civilian as well as military, and of disabled soldiers and military widows, are brought to the knowledge of the Prime Minister and the concerned Ministers, so that the dubious intentions of junior functionaries of the Govt are not allowed to override law, equity and justice or even to contravene the opinion expressed by the Prime Minister.

The issue has been covered in the press too:

The Hindu

The Tribune

The Hindustan Times

13 comments:

Unknown said...


Dear Maj NS ji,
Excellent review'''timely....
VN

HARDEV said...

Lower functionaries of DESW & MOD managed the skip through fingers of the minsters beside the assurance of PM for withdrawal of all such cases & petitions.They may have used the PMs speech of assurance to protect the bureaucrats to stop the policy logjam.But since PM & RM has been reminded then immediately after the budget DESW & MOD approach must change to quell the apprehensions that otherwise may built up again.Govt is talking of 2 things, one is lack of funds & other is assurance to meet the requirement.The strategy is still not speltout.I hope the budget will not be another chatterbox of assurances.

Unknown said...

Good job dear,
I am sure every one is aware of the plight of ex service men but it is this reluctance to change the set procedures and norms with utter disregard to welfare of the ex servicemen.

Anonymous said...

DESW could'nt have gone about its arrogant and sadist behaviour without the support of the previous UPA Defence Minister(s) who were happy to look the other way since they intended to treat the services the way they have shabbily treated it till the end of their tenure. The department needs to be shut out permanently and its jobs transferred to service HQs. If that is not possible then its name should certainly not include Ex-servicemen Welfare. In addition, the going on of this DESW should be exposed thru the TV media to let the nation know the treatment meted out to services during the UPA rule. Jai Hind

A K SETHI said...

NAVDEEP SIR ,DO YOU REALLY FEEL THAT THE TOP DOES NOT KNOW -OR IS IT AN EYEWASH -A CARROT & STICK policy- even if they announce budget provisions they may not give - all politicians and all parties are the same the crore patis are Not bothered about poor aged pensioner whether it is this case of arrear or OROP or the disability cases all empty promises just for votes HARYANA an ARMY state goes to the polls?-

Nischal Sood said...

Navdeep...you may consider sending such articles on PM's blog...he supposedly sees his blog on a daily basis personally

Medical specialist said...

army is a way of living...if someone have even contemplated joining army the country is bound to give maximum it can to them in service and out of service...and esp if a disability is there it should be our endevour to give as much as we can to disabled soldiers...since they are not asking for moon but only what is legitimate to them

Anonymous said...

don't break my heart, there is ray of hope, wait wait....

A K SETHI said...

My comments of 08 JULY are vindicated V keep on cursing so called BABUS -how can a CO --NOT know that the men he commands R UNHAPPY . It is a crying SHAME that your OWN GOVT does not bother about their ESM's SUNSET years-- all politicians r the same --it was WRONG on each PORTAL to profess undying love for any political PARTY

VKK said...

It is ridiculous of the DESW having the final say on a political decision. Once a ministerial decision has been made , MOD thru DESW or any one of the secys. have simply to execute the decision irrespective of the expenses involved. Even if there has to be any betrayal that should be the decision only of the Ministers. And if Mr. Modi or his ministers have any justifications to go back on their words even without any reasons, they should have the decency to come on board and not take support and excuses invented by the civilians clerks who in any case have no credibility left in the eyes of the services. The acceptance or the denial should come from the horse's mouth and no one else has any locus standi to justify or deny OROP. Has the nation any sense of gratefulness and gracefulness left for the Jawans ??? The nation will sooner than later pay for their unfair treatment to the services. Jai Hind

Anonymous said...

Make 4 years Defence service COMPULSORY for all Indian. All issues will be sorted out within stipulated time.

A K SETHI said...

REFER my COMMENTS on this blog dated 08 july and check IESM mails --you would realize that I have been vindicated -- The so called babus had nothing to do with this The MINISTERS know that they cannot now give ANYTHING - they have won LEADERSHIP for 5 years and you can HIBERNATE
ONLY the CHIEFS can help --NOT even the MP's-The BENEFIT officers are bound to die?

Unknown said...

DESW is a huge organisation,with a Secretary(?)as its Head. DESW means Dept of Ex-Servicemen Welfare. But Independent ESM Organisations seem to have done far more for the welfare of ESMs than DESW. I wonder how DESW fared in its Presentation to the PM! I think PM should request Independent ESM Organisations to make Presentations to him,with the Secretary-DESW present. If Modiji goes Modiji's way, I am sure he will disband DESW and assign its job(WHAT?!)/what needs to be done to someIndependent Organisation like the Govt did in the case of AADHAAR,with people competent enough to understand the meaning of ESM & ESM Welfare. DESW in its present Form is a Waste,& its contribution for ESM Welfare over the years has been very little.Their involvement(active/passive)in ESM Litigation cases can prove this point.