Remove salary anomalies: Ex-servicemen to Centre

Tribune News Service

Shimla, September 27

Serving officers and ex-servicemen today demanded that the BJP-led NDA government should first remove “anomalies in their pay, perks and pension” and then implement the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

Narrating their woes, state convener, India Ex-Servicemen League, Brig Khushal Thakur said, “Issues related to allowances, perks and pay, despite the Centre’s assurance, remained unresolved.”

Khushal said the Centre had cut the pension of jawans from 70 per cent (paid during the pre-1971 war period) to 50 per cent. “Is this its tribute to the soldiers who fought valiantly and won the 1971 war,” he asked.

“Politicians keep talking about the sacrifices made by the soldiers and their families, but when it comes to pay, perks, allowances and pension, they go mum. The status of the soldiers has been lowered,” Khushal said.

“Such is the state of affairs that no youth from a good family is willing to join the Army,” he said.

The government must revise the 7th Pay Commission and remove all anomalies to restore the prestige and status of armymen.

Capt Jagdish Verma (retd), president of the Honorary Commissioned Officers Welfare Association, said the politicians had done nothing for the welfare of the soldiers.

The Centre should first resolve the issues. “We can’t leave things to chance,” Capt Jagdish Verma (retd) said.

They criticised the government for its decision to pay less MSP to junior commissioned officers. The members said it was sad that the soldiers were not getting allowances on a par with their counterparts in the civil administration.