Why are veterans angry with the government (English Version) Rakshak News 12 Jan 19
http://www.rakshaknews.com/vishesh/why-is-the-ex-servicemen-dissatisfied-with-the-government
Why are veterans angry with the government? (English Version) Rakshak News 12 Jan 19
Military veterans as a community are becoming more disgruntled by the day against the present government. This was the government, when it assumed office in 2014, post promises made by Modi in Rewari in 2013, which veterans hoped would restore to the armed forces its rightful dues. Slowly and steadily, the government, apart from breaking its promises has continued with the process of earlier governments of downgrading the status of the armed forces, over running its institutions and denying it the dues which it deserved.
The most affected has been the veteran community which continues to depend on a few institutions of the armed forces. By acting to overrun these institutions or degrade their existing capacities, the government has angered the veteran community.
These institutions are the Armed Forces Tribunals (AFTs), Military Hospitals and the Canteen Services Department (CSD). Each of these institutions are being overrun by the government thus making them almost redundant for the veteran community.
The AFTs were created by an act of parliament and comprised of benches headed by a retired justice of the high court along with a retired senior military officer as an administrative member. The reason for this combination was for the administrative member to assist the judge heading the bench on matters peculiar to the military. AFTs were approached by veterans seeking justice on issues concerning pensions, disability pensions and wrongful punishments. Most of the decisions being granted by the AFTs were against the MoD, which behaved in an arbitrary manner and refused to accept even rightful claims.
The government then sought to arbitrarily amend the act and appoint any other individual, which it considered suitable as an administrative member. Such an action would have been against the very reason why the AFTs were created. The same was struck down by the apex court, which is the only authority for appeals against AFT decisions. The government then took another decision which was to stop appointing members to the AFTs. With most benches are non-functional, the few remaining benches would also become redundant by mid this year, closing one door to the veterans.
The armed forces are the only organization which is not entitled to an association to support its members. They therefore need to bank on the AFT for support. It is possible that the decision to reduce the efficacy of the AFTs was taken by increased anti-MoD decisions taken by it. Though in a recent meeting, the defence minister announced her decision to stop challenging decisions on disability pensions in the apex court, its true ramifications would emerge in the months ahead.
The military hospitals, though overcrowded were the last resort for medical assistance for the veteran community. Since these hospitals could not accept an increasing load of veterans, a scheme termed as the Ex-Servicemen Compensatory Health Scheme (ECHS) was opened and in most cities, veterans were referred to affiliated hospitals. The government now aims to open these very overcrowded military hospitals for those whom it enrols under the ‘Ayushman Bharat’ also termed as ‘Modicare’ medical insurance scheme.
Its decision to deny this facility to the Short Service Commission officers on the grounds of lack of capacity was absurd and was immediately struck down by the apex court. Ironically, it was denying the facility to those who wore the uniform while granting it to others, since it failed to obtain support from private hospitals. It was simply ensuring that one more military institution would be out of reach for the veteran community.
The CSDs were a source of purchasing products for daily use for those who had worn the uniform with pride and risked their lives for the service of the nation. The government forced the armed forces to also accept as entitled members, civilians who were paid from defence estimates and sought to grant them the same privileges as military personnel.
This was also accepted, however its two recent actions on the same has enhanced anger amongst the veterans. The first is pushing service HQs to open the purchase of costly items to the civilian community paid from defence estimates. This would reduce the availability to those for whom the service was created. The second is an attempt to appoint a bureaucrat to head the institution, thus taking away from the military another of its own institutions.
The armed forces are the only community which sheds uniform at a very early age, when the personal responsibilities faced by the soldier are the maximum. While it remains the only service, which does not pay for its own pensions, its soldiers suffer the maximum as they have no second option for employment. All quotas laid down by the government in its policies are ignored by its own institutions and organizations in hiring soldiers in a second career. This is the main reason, why OROP is essential for the soldier. The agitation has entered its 1300th day.
The veteran community voted in 2014 for Modi with hope in their heart. However, as years passed, hope faded. The present government has not only reneged on its promises but has also sought to undermine existing military institutions on which the veteran community depends. Modi should realize the damage his government has caused to the community which swore allegiance to him. There is still time for rectification and winning back trust. Ignoring this community would be disastrous.
About the Author
Maj Gen Harsha Kakkar
Retired Major General Indian Army