Insensitive MoD (English Version) Rakshak News 20 Mar 19
http://www.rakshaknews.com/vishesh/the-ministry-of-defense-will-have-to-be-sensitive
Insensitive MoD (English Version) Rakshak News 20 Mar 19
The recent case of an ex-army sepoy, Sanju Ram, brought to light on social media, indicated the red tape dominated bureaucracy in the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Sanju Ram of the Dogra regiment lost both his legs in a mine blast. He was discharged from the army about a year ago with a set of prosthetics.
He stopped visiting his mother and village located in Himachal Pradesh as he had to be carried due to hilly terrain and this was unacceptable to him. The cause for delay in providing him an upgraded set of prosthetics was his non-receipt of his Pension Paying Order (PPO), which entitled him to all benefits, even a year after his retirement. Surprisingly even his pension was not yet released.
The responsibility of issuing the PPO is that of concerned Record Office and the Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (PCDA), which considers itself almost next to God, since they control all financial aspects of individual soldiers and officers. This is despite apex court orders which state in another similar case, ‘We view the delay of issuance of PPO to the army personnel proceeding on discharge as a matter of serious concern. The payments for which army personnel is entitled after retirement, is his right to be paid in time so as to enable him a dignified life, which in the instant case is virtually denied.
Navdeep Singh, a legal luminary, who fights such cases in court tweeted, ‘This is not an isolated incident. I can give multiple examples of this kind.’ In the case of Sanju Ram, thanks to social media, there have been innumerable offers for providing the best that the nation has to offer and immediately, without any cost.
Similar delays occur with those who sacrifice their life in operations. While the army immediately releases all dues including insurance and gratuity, the bureaucratic PCDA takes almost a year to issue the PPO to enable commencement of pension. It is even worse for the families of those whose bodies are untraced either due to death in avalanches, floods or crevices. They are made to run from pillar to post on simple pretexts of producing proof before their emoluments are released.
The question which arises is that even in this age of digital documentation and every detail readily available, does it still require a year or more to release pension. When the army has declared the individual missing, presumed dead, why delay pension on flimsy grounds?
It is equally surprising that no defence minister nor the defence secretary has ever pulled up the department, whose head is a part of the MoD, for this unwarranted delay. Further, with no responsibility nor accountability and not being directly impacted the PCDA takes it own time without any sympathy, care or concern. Are these organizations only there to find fault with military expenditure, ignoring those whose needs demand immediate action? Court orders exist, yet they are openly flouted and ignored, as Sanju Ram’s case has indicated.
If such actions do not enhance anger of the national public against the bureaucratic red tape system of the MoD what else would? Taking a year on a matter which should be resolved in a few days is nothing else but a lackadaisical approach. It exists because the MoD has no service representative and despite all its shortcomings continues to delay amalgamation with service HQs, considering itself a notch above and unanswerable to them. It only pushes when the interest of those within it are involved, not when it concerns the armed forces.
The Defence Minister, by pushing the PCDA to act and change its approach, as also lay down firm timelines in every such case would not be against the rules of the Election Commission. In fact, this should have been done ages ago. Such poor apathy towards the soldier, revered by the nation, is a sign of complete lethargy and callousness and is totally unacceptable. In this digital age taking over a year to process simple pension is beyond comprehension. It is time the system is overhauled to ensure that the soldier does not suffer due to bureaucratic delays.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army