REIMBURSEMENT OF MEDICINE : SPECIAL SANCTION

RBI AMENDED PENSION REGULATION ALLOWING 50% PENSION AFTER 20 YEARS

अब 10 साल से कम सर्विस वाले सैनिकों को भी मिलेगी इनवैलिड पेंशन, केन्द्र सरकार ने बदला नियम

अभी सशस्त्र सेना के उन जवानों को इनवैलिड पेंशन दिए जाने का प्रावधान है, जिन्होंने 10 साल से अधिक की सेवा दी हो और जो किन्हीं ऐसे कारणों से आगे सैन्य सेवा के लिए अमान्य करार दिए जा चुके हैं जो सैन्य सेवा से संबद्ध नहीं हैं.

रक्षा मंत्रालय ने सशस्त्र सेना के उन जवानों को भी अशक्त पेंशन invalid pension देने की अनुमति दे दी है, जिन्होंने 10 साल से कम सेवा दी है. अभी सशस्त्र सेना के उन जवानों को इनवैलिड पेंशन दिए जाने का प्रावधान है, जिन्होंने 10 साल से अधिक की सेवा दी हो और जो किन्हीं ऐसे कारणों से आगे सैन्य सेवा के लिए अमान्य करार दिए जा चुके हैं जो सैन्य सेवा से संबद्ध नहीं हैं. 10 साल से कम सेवा वाले सैनिकों को अभी केवल इनवैलिड ग्रेच्युटी मिलती है.
मंत्रालय की ओर से कहा गया कि सरकार ने सशस्त्र सेना में दस साल से कम सेवा देने वाले जवानों को भी इनवैलिड पेंशन देने का फैसला किया है. आगे कहा गया कि ऐसे सैनिक, जिनकी सेवा 10 साल से कम की है और जिनके जख्मी होने या मानसिक कमजोरी के कारण उनकी सेवा आगे नहीं बढ़ाई गई हो या अमान्य किए गए हों और जिस कारण उसे स्थायी रूप से सैन्य सेवाओं एवं असैन्य पुनर्नियुक्ति से हटा दिया गया है, उन्हें इस फैसले से लाभ मिलेगा. मंत्रालय ने कहा है कि रक्षामंत्री राजनाथ सिंह ने इस प्रस्ताव को मंजूरी दे दी है. इस फैसले का लाभ उन सभी जवानों को मिलेगा, जो 4 जनवरी 2019 या उसके बाद सशस्त्र सेना में सेवा में थे.

Invalid pension is granted to the Armed Forces Personnel who is invalided out of service on account of a disability which is accepted as Neither Attributable to Nor Aggravated (NANA) by Military Service

The Central Government has decided to allow Invalid Pension to Armed Forces Personnel with less than 10 years of qualifying service, Ministry of Defence said in a statement today. The proposal to allow the invalid pension to invalidated armed forces personnel with less than 10 years of service was approved by Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh today.

What is an invalid pension?

The government provides invalid pension to armed forces personnel who are invalidated out of services because of disability that can neither be attributed to nor is aggravated by the military service. “Invalid pension is granted to the Armed Forces Personnel who is invalided out of service on account of a disability which is accepted as Neither Attributable to Nor Aggravated (NANA) by Military Service,” Defence Ministry said.

Who will benefit?

The benefit of the new decision of the government will be available to those Armed Forces Personnel who were in service on or after 04.01.2019.
The benefit of this decision will be available to those Armed Forces Personnel who were in service on or after 04.01.2019.
With the latest decision, the ministry’s statement said that Armed Forces Personnel whose service is less than 10 years because of becoming invalidated for specific reasons will benefit. The ministry said, “By this decision, Armed Forces Personnel whose service is less than ten years and became/become invalided out of service on account of any bodily or mental infirmity which is Neither Attributable to Nor Aggravated (NANA) by Military service and which permanently incapacitated/incapacitates them from military service as well as civil re-employment, will be benefited and it will make them economically sound.”
In another development, the Defence Acquisition Council today delegated the powers for progressing urgent Capital Acquisition Cases upto Rs 300 crores to the Armed Forces to meet their emergent operational requirements.

AN ACT OF VENGENCE BY ECHS KANNUR FOR REPORTING TO THE ISSUE OF DATE EXPIRED MEDICINE TO AN AGED & AILING VETERAN

It is Reported thatt the respondent veteran is moving a Petition in Kerala High court for distorting & suppressing the fact by ECHS Kannur for taking Vengeance on him.The Veteran who received the Show Cause Notice is Filing the Petition in the Personal Name OF official who has signed the Show Cause Notice as 1st Respondent & o I/C By name as 2nd Respondent & few other higher officials.

PRIME MINISTERS MORALE BOOSTER VISIT TO LAC

In an unannounced move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to Leh on Friday morning and interacted with Indian soldiers posted there. The move caught most by surprise as it came at a time when India and China are embroiled in a months-long standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. PM Modi's visit came nearly a fortnight after 20 Indian soldiers, including a Colonel-rank officer, were killed in a violent face-off with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley. While China also suffered casualties in the faceoff, it is yet to release details.
The Prime Minister's visit to Leh comes at a time when relations with China are severely strained and is being seen as one aimed at sending a strong message to China, as well an attempt to boost morale of the Indian forces posted in the tough terrain.
Earlier, Defence Minister Rajanth Singh was scheduled to visit Leh and interact with the troops, along with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and Indian Army chief Gen MM Naravane. However, in a last-minute change of plans, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself decided to meet the troops.

1) Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the soldiers who were injured in the June 15 violent face-off with China. Interacting with the soldiers in a military hospital in Leh, PM Modi said they gave a befitting reply to the Chinese. PM Modi told them their bravery will be a source of inspiration for times to come. "The bravehearts who left us, have not gone without a reason. Together, you all also gave a befitting reply (karara jawab bhi diya hai)," he said.
2) While paying tributes to the 20 Indian soldiers killed in the June 15 violent faceoff, PM Modi said their bravery has sent a strong message about India's strength. The Prime Minister was addressing personnel from the Army, Air Force and ITBP.
3) In his address, PM Modi said India's resolve to become 'atmanirbhar' (self-reliant) becomes stronger because of its soldiers and their strong resolve. He told the personnel that their will power is as strong and firm as the Himalayas and the whole country is proud of them.
4) Sending a message to China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the era of expansionism is over now and that India's enemies have seen the "fire and fury" of Indian soldiers. "The era of expansionism has come to an end. This is the era of development...History has proved that expansionist forces have either lost or were forced to turn back," PM Modi said.
5) Addressing the Indian troops, PM Modi said, "Your courage is higher than the heights where you are serving today. When the safety of the country is in your hands, then there is a belief. Not only me, but the entire nation believes in you. We all are proud of you."
6) Affirming that India is committed to peace and friendship, PM Modi said this commitment to peace should not be seen as India's weakness. He said India has always given a befitting reply to anyone who has tried to disturb the prevailing atmosphere of peace and progress.
7) During the interaction, Prime Minister Modi recalled the greatness of the Ladakhi culture as well as the noble teachings of Kushok Bakula Rimpoche. He described Ladakh as a land of sacrifice and a land that has given several patriots. Prime Minister affirmed that the people of India are inspired by the teachings of Gautama Buddha, for whom courage was linked to conviction and compassion.
8) The Prime Minister also travelled to Nimu, a forward post, and interacted with troops there. Nimu is surrounded by the Zanskar range and is on the banks of river Indus.
9) Meanwhile, in an apparent response to the day's event, the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi said it is "groundless to view China as expansionist". "China has demarcated boundary with 12 of its 14 neighbouring countries through peaceful negotiations, turning land borders into bonds of friendly cooperation. It is groundless to view China as 'expansionist', exaggerate and fabricate its disputes with neighbours," a Chinese Embassy Spokesperson in New Delhi said in a tweet.

INJUSTICE TO MILITARY FAMILY PENSIONERS

To                                                                                                07thMay 2020

The Hon’ble Defence Minister

Government of India,

New Delhi

 Sub:An appeal to rectify the currently existing injustice in the matter of eligibility to Enhanced Family Pension to the widows of Armed Forces Pensioners who retire at an early age.

 Respected sir,

The current NDA government, under the able leadership of Shri. NarendraModiji, had done quite a lot for the welfare of defence personnel including the Ex-servicemen and widows. The notable benefit was the grant of OROP which was a long pending demand of the Ex-servicemen community. While we are extremely grateful for all benefits extended to us, we would like to submit the following anomaly in the matter of eligibility for Enhanced Family Pension to the widows of early retired defence pensioners, for your kind consideration and favourable action.    

As per existing Family Pension Rules, the Enhanced Family Pension (EFP) is payable, in the event of death of a pensioner, for a period up to seven years from the date of retirement (or) till the pensioner has attained  67 years of age, had he/she been alive, whichever is earlier. The enhanced family pension payable is equivalent to 50% of the Last Pay Drawn (LPD) by the pensioner at the time of retirement (or) the amount of pension sanctioned before commutation, whichever is less. 

 Thereafter the widow will be entitled to normal family pension at the rate of 30% of last pay drawn, whichis 20% less than the Enhanced Family Pension. The above provisions of the Rule apply uniformly to the widows of both the civilian central government pensioners and the armed forces pensioners.

 On careful examination of the above provisions, it will be seen that it is discriminatory and unfair to the widows of ex-servicemen who are made to retire at a young age as a national necessity, in order to keep the Armed Forces young and fighting fit all the time. It may kindly be noted that 88% of the soldiers retire at the age of 33-37 years.

 The following illustration will demonstrate the above point clearly. 

 1. If a central government employee who retired on superannuation at the age of 60 years, dies shortly after his retirement, the widow will be eligible for Enhanced Family Pension at the rate of 50% of Last Pay Drawn by the pensioner at the time of retirement, almost for 7 years or till 67 years of age of the pensioner, had he been alive, whichever is earlier. 

 2. Whereas the widow of a defence pensioner/ex-serviceman who got discharged at the age of 33 years on completion of his initial term of engagement becomes INELIGIBLE for Enhanced Family Pension, immediately after seven years of his discharge when his age is only 40 years, had he been alive. The age of the widow at that time, will naturally be less than 40, possibly 34 or 35 years, when her responsibilities are full and to the brim with her children in the critical stage of studies in school or college and the necessity of her continuous presence at home, possibly to take care of both her aged and ailing parents and in-laws, who need constant physical, emotional and even financial support.

 Unfortunately, at that critical time of her life, she gets a reduced pension of only 30% of her husband's Last Pay Drawn, just because of the reason that her husband had died immediately after a lapse of seven years of his discharge. This is a double whammy to the young and hapless widow.   

 Sir, while her counterpart in the civil will be eligible for the benefit of enhanced family pension at the rate of 50% the last pay drawn by her husband until 67 years of his age, she will be unfairly deprived of the benefit when the age of her husband is only 40.  This is a grave injustice, especially in view of the fact that he retired early as the country needs a young armed force. 

 In order to mitigate this hardship and to rectify the above anomaly, it is suggested that the existing condition of death should have occurred before 7 years of retirement to be entitled to the Enhanced Family Pension, may be amended to the effect that the Enhanced Family Pension may be paid uniformly to all widows for a period of seven years after the pensioner’s death irrespective of his age of retirement (or) up to 67 years of age, had the pensioner been alive, whichever is earlier.

 The financial implication of such an amended provision will be negligible as the statistics show that majority of pensioners including those from armed forces, normally die at an old age of above 60 years and therefore, there may hardly be a few cases of death at an earlier age.  Considering the selfless service that these small number of defence pensioners haverendered while they were in uniform in defending our great nation, the proposed amendment to the Rule, will not only be a great tribute to their memory, but also isof greatfinancial help to the young widows in the critical time of their life.

 In view of the foregoing, I earnestly appeal to your good self to get the above matter examined in the light of the submissions made, for issue of appropriate orders in this regard, for which act of kindness the entire ex-serviceman community of this country shall remain grateful to you and remember you forever. The benefit may also be kindly extended to all the existing family pensioners of this category.  

 Yours Faithfully,

 M. Prabhakaran, Air Veteran,

Member, Karnataka RajyaSainik Board,

Flat no. 15A&B, Krishnanagar Apartments, Bangalore - 560017

(M)  9880016240