Problems Being Faced By Ex-Servicemen And Steps Taken By The Government In This ... on 17 May, 2000

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Lok Sabha Debates

Problems Being Faced By Ex-Servicemen And Steps Taken By The Government In This ... on 17 May, 2000

Title: Problems being faced by Ex-Servicemen and steps taken by the Government in this regard.

SHRI RAMESH CHENNITHALA (MAVELIKARA): Sir, I call the attention of the Minister of Defence to the problems being faced by Ex-Servicemen and steps taken by the Government in regard thereto. … (Interruptions)

SEVERAL HON. MEMBERS: Sir, there is no Minister. … (Interruptions)

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE (SHRI HARIN PATHAK): Sir, I am here in the House. Shri George Fernandes is coming. He is on his way from Rajya Sabha. … (Interruptions)

MR. SPEAKER: This is a very serious matter. Please take your seats.

… (Interruptions)

SHRI RAMESH CHENNITHALA : Sir, I call the attention of the Minister of Defence to the following matter of urgent public importance and request that he may make a statement thereon:

"The problems being faced by Ex-Servicemen and steps taken by the Government in regard thereto. "

THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES): Sir, I am sorry for any inconvenience that has been caused to Members. I had Question Hour in the other House. As soon as the Question Hour got over, I have walked straight into this House.

MR. SPEAKER: All right.

SHRI GEORGE FERNANDES: Sir, about 55,000 Defence service personnel retire or are released from service every year. There are about 15 lakh ex-Servicemen in the country today.

2. The Central and the State Governments are jointly responsible for the resettlement and welfare of ex-Servicemen and have undertaken a number of schemes and programmes in this regard.

There has been substantial enhancement in the pension of Service personnel Consequent upon the implementation of the recommendations of the Fifth Central Pay Commission. The Pension of all ex-Servicemen who had retired before 1.1.1996 has been revised and pension of those who retired after 1.1.1996 raised. As a result of such revision of pensions the Defence Pension Budget for the year 2000-2001 has gone up to Rs. 12,000 crore from Rs. 4,948 core in 1997-98.

4. In order to provide reemployment opportunities to ex-servicemen in civilian Departments, the Central Government have provided 10 per cent reservation in Group 'C' and 20 per cent in Group 'D' vacancies for them. In Defence Security Corps, 100 per cent vacancies are reserved for ex-Servicemen. In Paramilitary Forces, 10 per cent vacancies of Assistant Commandants are reserved for ex-Servicemen. In order to facilitate their re-employment certain relaxation in educational qualifications and in prescribed maximum age limits for recruitment have been provided.

5. The Central Public Sector Undertakings and Nationalised Banks provide 14.5 per cent reservation in Group 'C' posts and 24.5 per cent reservation in Group 'D' posts. Most of the State Governments, except the States of Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, and Meghalaya and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar, have provided reservation for ex-Servicemen in State Government jobs.

6. It has not been possible to provide re-employment to all eligible ex-Servicemen in the Government sector because of shrinking job opportunities, and also because many ex-Servicemen do not want to take up jobs away from their native villages or towns. In order to help them undertake self-employment ventures they are given training in various trades and vocations, which are useful in civilian life, before their release from Services. There are schemes in collaboration with Small Industries Development Bank of India, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development and Khadi and Village Industries Commission, for providing financial assistance to set up small and village industries.

7. Ex-servicemen are encouraged to float security agencies and transport companies. The Director General Resettlement sponsors ex-Servicemen security agencies to provide security services to various public sector undertakings. Coal India and its subsidiaries give transport contracts to transport companies floated by ex-Servicemen.

8. The Central Government have a number of welfare programmes for ex-Servicemen, war widows and their children. Some of the important programmes are as follows:

(i) Educational Concessions:

Thirty-five war memorial hostels have been constructed in the various Regimental Centres to provide accommodation to wards of war bereaved and of disabled personnel to pursue their studies. The children staying in these hostels are given education grant.

Twenty-five seats in medical colleges and one seat in Dental College and two seats in each of IITs are reserved for the wards of service personnel killed or disabled in action or due to causes attributable to service.

Twenty-five per cent seats in Sainik Schools are reserved for the children of serving and retired Service personnel.

(ii) Travel Facilities:

The Indian Airlines gives 50 per cent concession in airfare in domestic flights to recipients of gallantry awards of Param Vir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra, Ashoka Chakra and Kirti Chakra and to the war widows of post Independence era.

The Railways give two free passes of 1st Class and 2nd AC to the recipients of the Chakra series of awards. War widows are given 75 per cent concession in rail fare for travel in II Class.

(iii) Medical Facilities:

Ex-Servicemen are allowed free out patient treatment in military hospitals. To augment medical facilities for ex-Servicemen and their families 24 Medical Investigation rooms and 12 dental centres have been opened exclusively for them. Ex-Servicemen are eligible for reimbursement of 60 per cent of medical expenses under the Medical Insurance Scheme for treatment of specified serious diseases. Those not covered under the Medical Insurance Scheme are reimbursed medical expenses on treatment of specified serious diseases to the extent of 60 per cent in case of Commissioned Officers and 80 per cent in case of Other Ranks.

Canteen Facilities : The ex-Servicemen and war widows can avail canteen facilities from the nearest CSD/Unit canteens.

Most of the problems of ex-Servicemen relate to matters within the purview of the State Governments. Rajya Sainik Boards at the State level and Zila Sainik Boards at the district level have been opened to help ex-Servicemen, war widows and members of the their families in solving their problems. The State Governments are requested from time to time to look into the problems of ex-Servicemen.

SHRI RAMESH CHENNITHALA : Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am sorry to say that the hon. Minister of Defence has not addressed the very serious issues being faced by the ex-Servicemen in this country. The ex-Servicemen have been suffering from a great deal of injustice with regard to their pay, pension, non-effective benefits and other facilities.

MR. SPEAKER: Shri Chennithala, the hon. Minister has made the Statement. You can only seek clarifications.

SHRI RAMESH CHENNITHALA : Yes, Sir. Shri V.P. Singh, the then Prime Minister of India, had agreed for `one rank one pension’ scheme for the ex-Servicemen. The Fifth Pay Commission also had recommended for `one rank one pension’ for the ex-Servicemen. The hon. President of India also in his speech mentioned about this `one rank one pension’ scheme. The hon. Minister of Defence, Shri George Fernandes on April 13, 1999 at Anantpur Sahib declared that this `one rank one pension’ scheme will be implemented by this Government very soon.

Sir, I would like to know from the hon. Minister as to why and what is the delay for implementing this `one rank one pension’ scheme for the ex-servicemen which is affecting thousands of ex-servicemen in the country.

Sir, the Disability Pension Scheme is also one of the very serious issues. In spite of the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission, the Disability Pension Scheme has not been implemented.

Extension of Kargil-type facilities and grants to the affected defence personnel, who were involved in wars from 1948 to 1971, is also a very genuine demand. I would like to know from the hon. Minister whether this Government would accede to this demand or not.

Sir, one shocking incident has been reported in the newspaper that in the name of Kargil Fund, a considerable amount from the National Defence Fund has been transferred to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. If this news is true, then it is really shocking. I would like to get a clarification from the hon. Minister about this. People had contributed generously for the Defence Fund and it is not proper to divert any amount from that Fund for any other purpose.

Sir, lastly, there are two other issues. One is the medical facilities. The ex-Servicemen are facing a lot of problems in getting proper medical facilities in the military hospitals. They are not getting priority for treatment. The serving Defence personnel are getting priority for treatment. It is the need of the hour to enhance the facilities for the ex-Servicemen in the military hospitals and see that they get medical attention on a priority basis in these hospitals. Reimbursement of claims also is a major issue for the ex-Servicemen.

Sir, lastly, the Singh Deo Committee which had been appointed earlier and had submitted its report in 1984 had recommended for the establishment of a National Commission for ex-Servicemen. Shri Jaswant Singh, the hon. Minister for External Affairs, was a Member of this Committee. It has been well accepted that there is very much a need for the establishment of a National Commission for the ex-Servicemen. I would like to have the response of the hon. Minister of Defence on these matters.

Lastly, the problem of unemployment of ex-servicemen can be sorted out through creation of more units of Territorial Army in different parts of the country. Such units can be entrusted with the task of ecological development and other related activities. I would like to know from the hon. Minister whether the Government is prepared to create more units of Territorial Army to provide employment to ex-servicemen in the country.

(ends) श्री राशिद अलवी (अमरोहा) : अध्यक्ष महोदय, इस देश में एक्स सर्विसमैन की बहुत सी समस्याएं हैं। मंत्री जी का जवाब बहुत संतोषजनक नहीं है। उनके मंत्री बनने के बाद यह उम्मीद थी कि एक्स सर्विसमैन की समस्याएं हल होंगी लेकिन ज्यादातर समस्याएं अभी बाकी हैं। मंत्री जी ने जवाब में कहा कि हर साल ३० हजार से ६० हजार डिफरेंट मलिट्री ऑर्गेनाइजेशन्स के लोग रिटायर होते हैं। उसमें सी.पी.ओ., बी.एस.एफ., सी.आर.पी.एफ. की अलाहदा क्या परसैंटेज है? उनके कितने लोग रिटायर हुए? क्या यह सही है कि १९७९ ऑनवर्डस से आर्मी में शॉर्ट सर्विस आफिसर्स ५५ परसैंट हो गए हैं? उनकी प्रीमैच्योर रिटायरमैंट में ज्यादा दिलचस्पी है। यदि यह सही है तो ऐसा क्यों है? क्या यह सही है कि दिन-ब-दिन उनकी तादाद बढ़ती जा रही है। अभी कारगिल युद्ध के बाद सारे देश ने देखा और सारे देश से यह कहा गया था कि वे पैसों से उनकी मदद करें और सरकार के साथ कोआपरेट करें लेकिन देखने में आया कि जनता ने डायरैक्ट आर्मी वैलफेयर एसोसिएशन को मदद करना ज्यादा पसन्द किया कम्पैरेटिवली नेशनल डिफेंस फंड और प्राइम मनिस्टर फंड को। क्या इसका यह मतलब नहीं है कि जनता का विश्वास प्राइम मनिस्टर फंड और नेशनल डिफेंस फंड से घटता जा रहा है? इसके बारे में मंत्री जी की क्या मालूमात है और यह बात कितनी सही है?

महोदय, जो लोग रिटायर होते हैं, वे ज्यादातर सिक्योरिटी आफिसर बन जाते हैं। वे पब्लिक सैक्टर में, प्राइवेट सैक्टर में, बैंकों में, कारपोरेशन में या किसी के घर के आगे बन्दूक लेकर खड़े हो जाते हैं। इससे उनका हयूमलिएशन होता है। जो लोग देश की रक्षा करते हैं, सरहद पर खड़े होते हैं और अपनी जान कुर्बान करने के लिए तैयार रहते हैं, वे लोग रिटायरमैंट के बाद ऐसी जगहों में सिक्योरिटी गार्ड बन जाते हैं। मंत्री जी ने अपने जवाब में कहा है कि रिटायर होने के बाद उन्हें एनक्रेज किया जाता है कि वे इस तरह का बिजनेस करें और उन्हें रिक्रूट करें। मेरे ख्याल में हर साल २००-३०० करोड़ रुपया ये ऑर्गेनाइजेशन्स कमाती हैं। वे एक्स सर्विसमैन को परेशान करती हैं और उनसे नाजायज पैसा लेती हैं। यह भी शिकायत आई है कि फेक सर्टफिकेट बनाए जाते हैं। जो एक्स सर्विसमैन नहीं हैं, उन्हें एक्स सर्विसमैन का सर्टफिकेट देकर एम्पलाय किया जाता है। क्या सरकार अपने पैमाने पर कोई ऐसा लॉयजन आफिस बनाने के बारे में सोच रही है जिससे सारा रिक्रूटमैंट हो।

पूरे देश में तकरीबन ३३ ऑर्डेनेन्स फैक्ट्रीज हैं। वहां बड़ी तादाद में लोग काम करते हैं। इसका बड़ा बजट है। एक्स सर्विसमैन को इनमें एबजॉर्ब किया जाए। सविल सर्विस और प्रोविंशियल सर्विस में सर्टेन रिजर्वेशन होता था लेकिन ब्यूरोक्रेसी ने बड़ी खूबसूरती के साथ उसे खत्म कर दिया। एक्स सर्विसमैन के लिए सविल सर्विस और प्रोविंशियल सर्विस में कोई रिजर्वेशन नहीं है। उनका वहां रिजर्वेशन होना चाहिए। इसके लिए राज्य सरकार को डायरैक्ट करना चाहिए। केवल राजस्थान सरकार ऐसी है जिस ने थोड़ा बहुत... (व्यवधान)

MR. SPEAKER: Shri Alvi, the rule position is very clear. You can only seek a clarification during Calling Attention.

श्री राशिद अलवी: अध्यक्ष महोदय, मुझे अपनी बात पूरी करने दीजिए।

अध्यक्ष महोदय: इतना समय कैसे मिल सकता है?

श्री राशिद अल्वी : अध्यक्ष महोदय, ये बी.जे.पी. वाले हमें बोलने नहीं देते। अध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं पूछना चाहता हूं अगर यह कहना चाहते हैं।

MR. SPEAKER: First of all, you must go through the rules.

श्री राशिद अल्वी : अध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं कालिंग अटेंशन में कोई इर्रिलेवेंट बात नहीं कर रहा हूं। मैं एक एक मुद्दा उठा रहा हूं। मैं इसके साथ ही यह कहना चाहता हूं कि इन्होंने मैडिकल के बारे में कहा। इसके लिये एक कमेटी लैफ्टिनेंट जनरल एन. फॉयली की सदारत में बनी थी। उसकी कितनी रिकमेंडेशन्स इम्पलीमेंट कर रहे हैं और कितनी नहीं कर रहे हैं? इन्होने मैडिकल ट्रीटमेंट के लिये कहा क ‘between the Serving Class and the Ex-Servicemen, there should be no discrimination.’ MR. SPEAKER: Shri Rashid Alvi, please conclude. यह कालिंग अटेंशन है, आप भाषण कैसे देंगे?

SHRI RASHID ALVI : I am just concluding, Sir.

उनका एक तरीके से ट्रीटमेंट होना चाहिये और बी.जे.पी. के लोग उसका नाजायज फायदा उठाना चाहते हैं। कारगिल की लड़ाई के वक्त आफशियली उन्होंने कहा था कि आने वाले दिनों में इसका फायदा होगा। इनकी दिलचस्पी इस बात के अंदर नहीं कि उनको फायदा पहुंचाया जाये। इनकी दिलचस्पी चुनाव के अंदर है। थैंक यू।

SHRI J.S. BRAR (FARIDKOT): Hon. Speaker, Sir, this is a very important matter on which we have called the attention of the Government. The statement has been given by the hon. Minister. Here, I would like to give some very concrete suggestions because I come from a State from where a prominent role has been played by the Ex-Servicemen in the country’s integrity and this nation’s pride.

Firstly, I would like to ask the hon. Defence Minister in this regard that in pre-Independence era, the Defence personnel were getting much higher rates of pension ranging from 70 to 100 per cent of their pay as compared to their Civil Servants including ICS at that time who got pensions ranging between 40 to 50 per cent of their pay. Is it not the irony of fate that those jawans and those officers who sacrifice for this nation are being discriminated against?

Secondly, I would also like to inform him, although the hon. Minister knows about it, that the death-cum-retirement gratuity sanctioned for the civil employees was introduced in 1950 whereas the Defence personnel got their benefit only in 1970. So, I think, this should also be looked into because this is a very big discriminating factor.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, I would only make only one or two points and conclude. I would not waste the time of the House. This being an important matter, the JCOs and officers have been abused under the false plea of civilian control over the Defence Services. The civilian control really means ‘political control’ and not that of a bureaucratic control. So, this has been forced upon the Defence personnel. So, I think, the hon. Defence Minister should also look into this matter.

Hon. Speaker, Sir, this is a very important point which I would like to highlight before the august House that our country’s jawan, our Defence personnel handle and use very sophisticated weapons at borders. Now, they handle Agni. Missile But my hon. friend and a very seasoned parliamentarian is also suggesting that a jawan is rated below a chaprasi of the Government of India. I would quote the figures in this regard. A chaprasi of the Government of India gets a pension of Rs. 2,100 to Rs. 2,200 whereas a jawan gets the basic minimum pension of only Rs. 1,275. This is a big discrimination and I would request that the hon. Minister should look into this matter.

Now, I would say a few words about their family pension. As a result of the facts stated in the statement, the widow of a jawan gets only 20 to 24 per cent of the pension as compared to his civil counterpart who gets 30 per cent family pension. Why is this discrimination against the widows of the jawans and the Ex-Servicemen who have sacrificed for the nation?

I would like to repeat the last point which my dear friend and my colleague Shri Ramesh Chennithala has made by adding one line to it. The Government has been rightly so generous on the jawans who fought the Kargil War, which had brought pride to the entire nation and the entire nation was one on that. There was no difference of any political party or any issue as far as the Kargil martyrs are concerned. My request is that those who suffered similarly during the Wars of 1947, 1962, 1965 and 1971, should also be given the same benefits as those being given for martyrs of Kargil War.

I would like to request the hon. Defence Minister to consider and reply these five points in conclusion.

You announced one rank one pension at the historic place of Anandpur Saheb where 303rd centenary celebration of Khalsa was being celebrated and before Granth Saheb you announced that one rank one pension will be given, but still you have not implemented that. You must implement that to satisfy 50 lakh of ex-servicemen who are there in the country. All the assurances of enhancement of family pension, proper medical care, increase in disability pension, provision of alternative jobs and, lastly, setting up of a Finance Development Corporation for ex-servicemen should be fulfilled.

With these words, I thank you very much.

अध्यक्ष महोदय : श्रीप्रकाश जायसवाल।

श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव (सम्भल) : अध्यक्ष महोदय, हम इतना इंतजार नहीं कर सकते। आपने कहा था कि प्रश्न काल के तुरंत बाद आप हमें बुलायेंगे।

अध्यक्ष महोदय : इसका प्रोसीजर है, हम आपको कालिंग अटेंशन के बाद बुलायेंगे।

मेजर जनरल (सेवानिवृत्त) भुवन चन्द्र खण्डूरी (गढ़वाल) : यादव साहब, आप तो रक्षा मंत्री रह चुके हैं, हमें भी थोड़ा समय दीजिए। आपको तो ऐसा नहीं करना चाहिए…( व्यवधान)

श्री श्रीप्रकाश जायसवाल (कानपुर) : अध्यक्ष महोदय, एक्स-सर्विसमैन की समस्याओं के बारे में माननीय रक्षा मंत्री जी ने जो बयान दिया है, वह पूरी तरह से संतोषजनक नहीं है, ऐसा कई माननीय सदस्य कह चुके हैं। मैं आपके माध्यम से माननीय मंत्री जी का ध्यान दो-तीन बिंदुओं की ओर आकर्षित करना चाहूंगा। …( व्यवधान)

श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव : आप वहां से बैठे-बैठे लोक सभा में क्या बुलवा रहे हैं, …( व्यवधान)

श्री श्रीप्रकाश जायसवाल : अध्यक्ष जी, एक्स-सर्विसमैन को जो मैडिकल फैसलिटी मिलती है वह केवल आर्मी हास्पीटल में मिलती है। आप जानते हैं कि आर्मी हास्पीटल केवल उन शहरों में होते हैं, जहां कैन्टोनमैंट बोर्ड होते हैं, वरना हर जगह आर्मी हास्पीटल नहीं होते हैं। ऐसी जगह दो सौ, चार सौ और पांच सौ किलोमीटर अपने इलाज के लिए एक्स-सर्विसमैंन को जाना पड़ता है, क्योंकि सर्विस के बाद जब वह रिटायर होता है तो अपने नेटिव प्लेस में रहता है। मैं आपके माध्यम से रक्षा मंत्री जी से मांग करता हूं कि कम से कम एक्स-सर्विसमैन को अपना इलाज कराने के लिए सविल हास्पीटल मैं इलाज कराने की परमीशन दी जाए। अगर ऐसा हो जाए तो फिर चाहे कोई एक्स-सर्विसमैन किसी भी जिले में रहता हो, गांव में रहता हो या कस्बे में रहता हो, वह सविल हास्पीटल में जाकर अपना इलाज करा सकता है।

अध्यक्ष महोदय, मेरा दूसरा प्रश्न यह है कि एक्स-रेलवेमैन के लिए इस बजट में ४६१ करोड़ रुपये की व्यवस्था की गई है और एक्स-सर्विसमैन के लिए रक्षा बजट में केवल १०० करोड़ रुपये की व्यवस्था की गई है, जबकि इससे पहले यह १२० करोड़ रुपये की व्यवस्था थी। इस बार बजट में केवल सौ करोड़ रुपये की व्यवस्था की गई है। इतनी कम धनराशि में एक्स-सर्विसमैन का क्या कल्याण हो पायेगा और कहां से उनके लिए व्यवस्था हो पायेगी। इसलिए मेरा आपसे अनुरोध है कि माननीय रक्षा मंत्री इस बजट की व्यवस्था को बढ़ाकर दोगुना कर दें। अंत में, मैं आपसे अनुरोध करता हूं कि पार्लियामेंट की सर्विसेज में भी एक्स-सर्विसमैन को स्थान मिलना चाहिए।

मेजर जनरल (सेवानिवृत्त) भुवन चन्द्र खण्डूरी : अध्यक्ष जी, मुझे कृपया एक मिनट के लिए बोलने दीजिए, मैं बहुत संक्षेप में अपनी बात कहूंगा। मैं माननीय सांसदों का आभार व्यक्त करना चाहता हूं कि गैर सैनिक होते हुए भी उन्होंने हमारा पक्ष सदन में रखा है।…( व्यवधान)

MR. SPEAKER: No, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) B. C. Khanduri. Now the hon. Minister will reply.

श्री मुलायम सिंह यादव : असली बात यह है कि इस मामले में राज्य सरकारें क्या कर रही हैं?

…( व्यवधान) जबकि यह पूरा राज्य सरकारों का काम है, इसके बारे में कोई नहीं बोल रहा है।

…( व्यवधान)

मेजर जनरल (सेवानिवृत्त) भुवन चन्द्र खण्डूरी : मैं माननीय रक्षा मंत्री जी से कहना चाहता हूं कि क्या वे ये हास्पीटल दिल्ली में भी देना चाहेंगे या नहीं। जवानों की पेंशन के बारे में दो चीजें मुख्य हैं -एक तो ३३ साल का जो काल है, वह खत्म होना चाहिए।…( व्यवधान)