Army to run campaign to help ex-servicemen: Gen Singh
Various army formations would launch a campaign across the country to help ex- servicemen in getting their pending pensions and arrears, Chief of Army Staff, General VK Singh assured today. "We want to run a campaign in all states of the country so that we can help our ex- servicemen get their due rights like pensions and arrears," he said while addressing a rally of Himachal chapter of Indian Ex-services League in Dharamsala.
Various army formations would launch a campaign across the country to help ex- servicemen in getting their pending pensions and arrears, Chief of Army Staff, General VK Singh assured today.
"We want to run a campaign in all states of the country so that we can help our ex- servicemen get their due rights like pensions and arrears," he said while addressing a rally of Himachal chapter of Indian Ex-services League.
General Singh said that in view of the problems of ex-servicemen, the army had organised rallies across the country to assure its veterans that the legacy they left behind had been duly taken care of by the armed forces. "We are most concerned about your problems and if we succeed in helping you resolve those problems it will be a matter of pride for us," the army chief remarked.
General Singh said that 13 Corps based in Rajasthan had already constituted a team that had reached out to every ex-serviceman from the Corps to get details on pensions they were drawing.
"After getting the details, the team helped these ex-servicemen in getting their pending arrears of over Rs 22 crore," the army chief added.
He said that efforts were made to resolve the 'one rank one pension' issue in the last two years, adding that a parliamentary committee had accepted the proposal and even the defence minister had supported the cause.
"Despite support from various political parties, the 'one rank one pension' issue could not be implemented due to some reasons. However, the defence minister has strongly supported us on the matter and we hope that it would be implemented very soon," said General Singh.
"Over Rs 1,000 crore is needed to implement it and I think it's not a big amount for our government," he added.
Assuring the ex- servicemen of Himachal that their all pending issues would be resolved very soon, General Singh said that year 2012 was dedicated to ex-servicemen and veterans of the army.
Earlier, Indian Ex-services League Himachal chapter president Major Vijai Singh Mankotia (retd) welcomed the army chief and raised the issue of 'one rank one pension' strongly and asked the central government to resolve the issue.
"If the government fails to resolve the issue, ex-servicemen will take the fight to the streets," he warned.
Mankotia felicitated General Singh on behalf of the League.
Families of war heroes honoured
General VK Singh also honoured family members of three Paramveer Chakra awardees from Himachal, namely Major Somnath Sharma, Major Dhan Singh Thapa and Captain Vikram Batra.
The fourth awardee Havildar Sanjay Kumar was present at the occasion and was honoured by the army chief.