Feel free to contribute on burning issues concerning the armed forces. Contributions would be acknowledged - Use the 'Comments' tab or email navdeepsingh.india[at]gmail.com. No operational/business/commercial matters to be discussed please. Legal advice/litigation related issues would strictly NOT be published or discussed or entertained. Information on this blog is opinion based and is neither official nor in the form of an advice. This is a pro bono online journal in public service related to issues, policies and benefits, and the idea behind it is to educate and not to create controversy or to incite. Be soft in your language, respect Copyrights.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Standing Committee on Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA): Some positive noises

The Meeting of the Standing Committee on Voluntary Agencies is a regular feature under the aegis of the Department of Pension & Pensioners’ Welfare (DoPPW). The positive outlook of the DoPPW has been discussed on this blog earlier, here and here.

This time, the meeting was chaired by Minister of State, Dr Jitendra Singh. It is quite heartening to note that there were some very positive vibes from the Minister and the overall set-up regarding welfare of military veterans. Amongst others, the meeting was also attended by Col HN Handa, the President of DIWAVE (Disabled War Veterans, India) and Gp Capt Sethi of the AFA.

When brought to the knowledge of the Minister that unlike DoPPW, the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (DESW) did not hold any consultations with stakeholders and decided most issues unilaterally, the Minister directed the DESW representative to inform the Secretary DESW to hold regular consultative meetings with veterans and be more proactive.

When the Defence Accounts Department informed that according to them, out of 18.5 lac pre-2006 defence pensioners, fresh PPOs had been issued for 14.11 pensioners, the Minister was apprised that the figures seemed incorrect.

The Defence Accounts Department was also advised to increase the frequency of Lok Adalats in smaller cities.

The DESW representative was also questioned about the non-issuance of orders for some pending pensionary matters wherein disability pensionary anomalies of civilian pensioners emanating out of the 5th Pay Commission that had been resolved in early 2000s for them have still not been resolved for military pensioners. And this despite the fact that the DoPPW had written way back in 2010 to the DESW asking them to rectify the anomalies. On this, the representative of the DESW said that the draft letter had already been sent to the competent authority for approval and the orders were expected soon.

Most departments have a dedicated day for resolving grievances of pensioners and also have a dedicated officer dealing with such issues. On a request for the same, the DESW had replied to the DoPPW that PCDA(P) was the nodal authority for defence pensioners and they could visit the said office in Allahabad. The DESW expressed its inability to fix a day and time in the DESW for this purpose and stated that the Secretary DESW had been meeting representatives of veterans quite frequently to redress grievances. On this the veterans informed the Minister that it was not acceptable for veterans to visit Allahabad for resolution of their issues and that neither the Secretary calls veterans for any meetings nor was the Department proactive in resolving issues or communicating the progress of the same.

It was also informed that the proposal for enhancement of disability and war injury benefits based on fitment tables rather than minimum of pay bands was also under consideration.

On being informed that the DESW had closed the case concerning the demand of enhanced family pensionary benefits to widows of war disabled soldiers, the Minister directed that the file would not be closed. DIWAVE also demanded that they be consulted before taking decisions on such matters.

Thanks to Col Handa, Gp Capt Sethi and all other veterans for putting across the points concerning military veterans to the Minister of State.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear Navdeep

Thanks for the positive update.
Hope for some Good news in the near future.

Gurdeep Singh
Group Captain

Unknown said...

Dear Maj NS ji/ Interested. Thanks for the encouraging report on the recent SCOVA meeting development. Experience so far is "What Minister promises, the Babu disposes!". For example, on the pre-2006 pensioners' arrears issue, the "concerned high official of DOP" stated that he is new and shall ensure that court orders are obeyed, but soon after, the sister Dept of the same ministry says that "the matter is sub-judice'; on the very same issue!!!.FUNNY THING IS: THE GOVT ITSELF MAKES ALL CASES "SUB-JUDICE' BY FILING "FAALTU" SLPs & CAs and then gives the atrocious excuse in the meetings to escape from truth & reality.... (contd)

HARDEV said...

Well vibes are positive but I have every right to doubt the politicians going by the past experiences. Immediately after election during his 1st meeting with ESM Orgs FM cum RM had spoken words from his real heart & beside shuffling in DESW is only giving us hope, or may be selling another round of hopes since elections in 2 states & few by elections are due. We better cultivate habit of seeing implementation in black & white than euphoria of hopes in series.

Unknown said...

What is this issue of fresh PPOs for pre 2006 pensioners? I am one. I so far hold a provisional PPO issued in 1985. can i get a fresh PPO isued? Ex Sgt Manikandan K

Anonymous said...

Was the issue of payment of arears of revised pension to all pre-2006 retirees with effect frm 01 Jan 2006 taken up forcefully? What is happening on this issue or is the govt waiting for all Pre-2006 veterans to fade away. Can u update us please.