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