SOUTH ZONE MILITARY VETERANS MEET AT BANGALORE ON SUNDAY, 27 JUNE 2010

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From: Colonelrajan Srinivas
Sent: 07 June 2010 09:59
To: M V
Cc: DELTED
Subject: SOUTH ZONE MILITARY VETERANS MEET AT BANGALORE ON SUNDAY, 27 JUNE 2010

An Officer’s responsibility towards his Men does not end with his retirement; it is a lifelong commitment. We, Officers, owe it to our Men, whom we had the honour & privilege to lead, while in service.
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SOUTH ZONE MILITARY VETERANS MEET AT BANGALORE
ON SUNDAY 27 JUNE 2010
1. The South Zone Military Veterans Meet is scheduled at Bangalore on Sunday, 27 Jun 2010; and, all Military Veterans are cordially invited to attend the same. The venue shall be intimated in due course.
2. Participants.
(a) Ex-Servicemen from all Districts of Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala & Karnataka.
(b) Ex-Servicemen representatives from other States & Union Territories of the Country, especially, Veterans from the seven states of the North East (NE). [My course-mates have come forward to bear the cost of to & fro airfare in respect of Veterans from the NE].
(c) Guest of Honour. Veteran Brig KP Singh Deo.
3. Agenda. To discuss & deliberate on matters concerning:
(a) Military Pension (ONE RANK, ONE PENSION).
(b) Amelioration of difficulties experienced by Defence Pensioners in not being paid their legitimate amount as pension & arrears thereof, by the Banks, designated as Pension Disbursing Authorities (PDA).
(c) Resettlement of Ex-Servicemen.
(d) ECHS.
(e) IESM.
(i) Take stock of IESM by carrying out a SWOT analysis.
(aa) Srengths. The Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) came into being, as a result of popular upsurge, on account of gross injustice meted out the personnel of the Defence Services and Ex-Servicemen; on announcement of the 6th Central Pay Commission. The pro-active stance and events & activities org by IESM has caught the imagination of Ex-Servicemen, young & old alike; and the realization amongst the Ex-Servicemen that if there is any one org that is capable of fighting for their rights and can get them their legitimate dues; it is only IESM that can get it for them. And it is this realization that has been responsible for thousands of Ex-Servicemen flocking to join IESM. It is IESM which has brought ONE RANK ONE PENSION to the centre stage; so much so that Her Excellency, the President of India, referred to grant of ONE RANK ONE PENSION in her address to the joint session of Parliament on 4 June 2009.
(bb) Weaknesses. With the present strength of IESM hovering around 8000, no Govt would even look at us; forget about talking to us. In case we want the Govt of India to take note of us and take us seriously; and invite us to initiate a dialogue or for talks; that would happen only when IESM goes on to have five lakh Ex-Servicemen on its rolls; and NOT otherwise.
(cc) Opportunities. Never earlier has the Ex-Servicemen fraternity been galvanized the way IESM has managed to do it. The IESM has set into motion a Movement that has caught the imagination not only of the Ex-Servicemen; but also the Media and is slowly but surely awakening the conscience of the Nation.
(dd) Threats. Two years have passed since the Movement began in April 2008 and one can feel that the Ex-Servicemen are getting restive & impatient in us not making any concrete headway in getting the Govt to grant ONE RANK ONE PENSION; and thus, the IESM faces a real risk & danger of losing support of the Ex-Servicemen. It is therefore imperative that we in the IESM devise proactive ways & means to keep the momentum going; and also mount a sustained campaign to ratchet up the pressure on the Govt.
(ii) DRAFT Org Structure IESM. Please download attachment
(iii) Measures to strengthen and spread IESM far & wide.
(aa) Increase in strength by epic proportions.
(ab) Low Membership Fee Structure.
(ac) Uniform Membership Fees, irrespective of ranks. There is a school of thought and opinion amongst Gaurav Senanis that Membership Fees ought to Uniform. ie, whether an Ex-Servicemen is a retired General or a retired Sepoy, the Membership Fees be the same for both.
(ad) Dedicated, committed & sustained efforts to increase membership, by penetrating down to Taluks, small Towns & Villages.
4. The points given as Agenda are by no means exhaustive. Veterans are welcome to forward points for discussion & deliberation, giving their views & suggestions. Veterans are also requested to give wide publicity to the holding of the South Zone Military Veterans Meet is scheduled at Bangalore on Sunday, 27 Jun 2010.
5. IESM is a crusade. IESM is a Challenge. Let us take up the Challenge.

Regards,
Col Rajan
IESM Convenor Karnataka & South Zone
Bangalore, 9449043770