PARLIAMENT RECOMMENDS PANEL FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

PARLIAMENT RECOMMENDS
PANEL FOR EX-SERVICEMEN

New Delhi | Mar 24, 2011

Stressing upon the "urgent need" to set up a national commission for ex-servicemen, a Parliamentary Committee today asked the Defence Ministry to expedite the matter.

The Standing Committee on Defence in its report said, "as there is apparent dissatisfaction among the ex-servicemen, the committee are of the strong view that there is an urgent need for setting up of a commission at the national level."

(Those Indian Military Veterans, who feel that efforts of IESM are not useful, need to re-examine their views – Chander Kamboj)

The committee also expressed "distress" that even after Defence Minister cleared the matter the Ministry has not done the needful to set up the body.

"The committee are distressed to note than even after getting clearance from Rakhsa Mantri for setting up of National Commission for ex-servicemen, the Ministry has declined to set up the Commission on the plea that number of bodies are existing to undertake the welfare schemes for ex-servicemen," the report said.

On the issue of One Rank One Pension (OROP) for ex-servicemen, the Committee reiterated that the proposal if met would boost morale of defence personnel.

"The Committee would like to reiterate their recommendation made in earlier report to reconsider the issue of OROP, so that the demand of ex-servicemen is met which would boost the morale of the defence personnel," the Committee said.

On Ministry's rejection of proposal to provide monthly stipend to National Defence Academy (NDA) cadets, the Committee said, "extending appropriate financial support during the training would help the cadets in meeting their daily expenses and would also boost their morale."
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