IESM: Vijay Diwas and Protest Rally

On 16 Dec, the Vijay Diwas, we in Delhi and the NCR will assemble at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at 1200 hours to pay homage to the martyrs of 1971 War. We have given a paper advertisement inviting all the public to join in. After the above ceremony, we will proceed to the Jantar Mantar venue to hold a rally. This will culminate into a relay fast; 11 ESM will sit on a 24-hour open- ended relay fast. This is to press our demand for OROP that has been recently rejected by the government.

The fast option may not find favour with some of you. It has not been easy for us either- we all have imbibed the same value system. But we have exhausted all other options, including getting arrested by the police. The Parliament is in session till 23 Dec and we wish to display our disapproval of the govt decision in a peaceful but visible manner.

I do not suppose any ESM, or serving soldier, will disagree with the OROP demand. Those who wish to show solidarity with the cause, should please join us for the India Gate function as well as the rally. Those who cannot physically join, for whatever reason, do wish us well. I am attaching a handout that will be issued to the press on 16 Dec. This may be used for distribution to the local media.

Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

An Earnest AppealThere are nearly 23 Lakh Ex Servicemen in India. Over 50% of them were compulsorily retired at 35-40 years of age so that the armed forces can retain their profile of fitness and youth. They were forced to go home on a meagre pension at a stage when their financial commitments were at their peak.

Justice demands that old pensioners should get the same pension as new pensioners, irrespective of the date of their retirement. This is the basis of ‘one rank one pension’ (OROP). The Sixth Pay Commission has in fact moved in reverse. In a retrograde step, the Commission has created an unprecedented situation of ‘Many ranks one pension’. This has led to glaring intra rank as well inter rank disparities with personnel holding senior ranks getting lower pension than their juniors who retired later. See tables below:


Every Ex Serviceman in the country unequivocally supports the demand of OROP. All serving personnel are tomorrow’s pensioners and back the demand. OROP is not a fight for money; the demand is based on justice and equity– equal pension for equal length of service and equal responsibility (rank). The OROP concept is already being followed in case of our legislators, judges and certain senior government employees. Ever since the Sixth Pay Commission report was submitted on 24 Mar 2008, the Ex Servicemen have been knocking at every possible door to get their long- standing OROP demand accepted. Unfortunately, despite promises made in the Congress election manifesto, despite the Congress President herself endorsing the demand publicly in Mohali in 2002 and despite the President including the point in his address to the Opening Session of the Parliament in 2004, the demand has been rejected in a written reply submitted by the Raksha Mantri in the Rajya Sabha on 11 Dec 2008. No reason has been given for the rejection. We once again appeal to the government to reconsider their decision and approve the OROP for defence pensioners.

Today on Vijay Diwas we salute our martyrs who gave their life in the line of duty in the 1971 War. Let us also spare a thought for those veterans who survived the War and are now living in penury.

Lt Gen Raj Kadyan,
Chairman IESM
16 Dec 2008