Thursday 28 December 2017

From Report of Fourth CPC : Problems of Ex-Servicemen



CHAPTER 14, PART II OF 4th PAY COMMISSION REPORT
Problems of Ex Servicemen

14. 1.             In Part I of our report we have discussed the pay and allowances of armed forces personnel and have made recommendations relating to those. Apart from pay and allowances, retirement benefits are other important aspects for those intending to make service in armed forces a career. We have discussed these elsewhere.      

14.2.  The age limits for compulsory retirement for armed forces personnel are lower as compared to civilian employees. Apart from affecting career progression, the lower age of retirement also deprives them of actual earnings for the period by which the retirement age falls short of superannuation age of 58 years generally applicable to civilians. Besides they have a liability for recall. We have kept these in view while making our recommendations in regard to their retirement benefits. 

14.3.  The Third Pay Commission had observed that the pensionary benefits alone should not be looked upon as the only means for compensating service personnel for early retirement and that pension should not be viewed as the whole means of livelihood after retirement. The servicemen retiring around age of 35 to 40 years can be reasonably expected to be gainfully occupied and independently earn their living and that it is necessary for the government to take responsibility of assisting retired armed forces personnel in securing re-employment. We fully endorse the above view and consider that there is an obligation cast on government to ensure proper resettlement of ex-servicemen.

14.4.  At present the total number of defence pensioners is reported to be about 15 lakh. They constitute the largest single group of retired central government employees. Every year about 60, 000 servicemen join the ranks of pensioners.                     
14.5.  Despite the recommendations of the Third Pay Commission, resettlement of ex-servicemen continues to be a major problem as the number of jobs available to meet the ever increasing number of retired armed forces personnel has been found to be inadequate. Therefore, for the first time government considered it necessary to have a comprehensive review of the work done so far in regard to resettlement and welfare of ex-servicemen and appointed a Committee in March 1984 under the Chairmanship of the then Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence. The report of the high level Committee was submitted to government in October 1984. We have been informed that the Committee had given 68 recommendations out of which 46 recommendations have already been fully accepted by the government and others are in different stages of consideration. A list showing the position in respect of the various recommendations as on August 8, 1986 is given at Annexure 14.1. 
 Annexure 14.1
 
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE ON PROBLEM OF EX-SERVICEMEN

RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED/PARTLY ACCEPTED OR ARE LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTED OR ARE OF CONSEQUENTIAL NATURE OR ARE UNDER CONSIDERATION – POSITION AS ON 8.8.1986

S No.
Recommendation Number
Subject
Accepted
1
15.2.
Definition of an Ex-Serviceman
2
15.6
Special ex-servicemen placement drives
3
15.7
Lateral induction into suitable Group A and B posts
4
15.8
Improvements in the Discharge Certificate
5
15.9
Spoosring ex-Servicemen for reserved as well as unreserved vacancies by Employment Exchanges and for reserved vacancies by Rajya/Zila Sainik Boards
6
15.10
De-reservation of reserved posts for ex-servicemen strictly in accordance with existing rules. 30 clear days for confirming non-availability. Carry forward of reserved vacancies for at least one year
7
15.11
Modification and amendments to Recruitment Rules
8
15.12
Revitalisation of Rajya and Zila Sainik Boards
9
15.13
Absorption of released Shrot Service Commissioned Officers
10
15.14
Avenues and opportunities for ex-service in new areas for Nation building tasks
11
15.18
Dismantling of concessions after acceptance of assured employment up to age of 58 years
12
15.24
Suitable enhancement in the existing exemptable limit of pension (Rs 250/-) on reemployment of officer pensioners in Government jobs
13
15.26
Enlarged Training opportunities for personnel during the last 18 months of service
14
15.27
Formal facilities for resettlement training of Officers
15
15.28
Meaningful training programmes for retirees from the Services
16
15.29
Equation of military qualifications, trades and professional experience with civil equivalents
17
15.32
Statutory reservation at the Central and State Government Levels to help ex-servicemen in self-employment schemes
18
15.33
Services to encourage ex-servicemen to undertake small self-employment schemes
19
15.34
Central/State Governments to accord preferential treatment to ex-servicemen in self-employment
20
15.35
Ancillary units by ex-servicemen for manufacture and supply of items to Defence industries
21
15.36
An amendment to the terms of reference of the Fourth Pay Commission for examining the pension policy of past pensioners
22.
15.40
Re-arranging work of sanctioning pension of Service personnel
23
15.41
Simplifying the procedure for sanction and disbursement of pensions
24
15.42
Improvement of existing facilities in CDA (P), Allahabad
25
15.43
Grant of family pensions to widows of ore 1.1.1964 pensioners
26
15.46
Code of Conduct
27
15.47
Chief Ministers, other Ministers and senior serving military officers should meet ex-servicemen during tours
28
15.48
Revival of practice of Sainik Sammelans for ex-servicemen by the Chief Ministers and Collectors
29
15.49
Timely assistance and dignified treatment by the State Governments and District Administrators
30
15.50
Service personnel should keep in touch with ex-servicemen
31
15.51
Service Headquarters should organise pre-retirement orientation courses
32
15.52
IAS trainees at LBS Academy to be given lectures on their responsibilities towards ex-servicemen
33
15.53
Ex-servicemen should themselves display a high sense of discipline and conduct
34
15.54
Amendments to Land Reforms Acts and Rules to protect land holdings of Defence personnel and reservations in assignment of surplus land
35
15.55
Housing Boards under State Governments and UTs to reserve a minimum of 10% of the house sites/houses for the ex-servicemen
36
15.57
Children of retiring Defence personnel studying in Central Schools be given automatic admission in Central Schools at or near the place where the parents settle down on retirement
37
15.59
Existing facilities in military hospitals to be enhanced for ex-servicemen
38
15.60
States/UTs to extend free medical treatment to ex-servicemen
39
15.61
Extension of canteen facilities in districts with larger number of ex-servicemen
40
15.62
Re-organising and strengthening of Directorate General Resettlement
41
15.63
Re-structuring Directorate General Resettlement
42
15.64
Revitalisation of Sainik Board organisation
43
15.65
Strengthening of Zonal Resettlement Directorates and provision of staff at Static Headquarters
44
15.66
Maintaining a data bank of retiring personel in suitable EDP system
45
15.67
Major publicity drive using all media
46
15.68
New publications/handouts for ex-servicemen
II
PARTLY ACCEPTED
1
15.56
Rent control legislation should provide for retiring Defence personnel to get back their homes for self-occupation on a time bound basis and under summary procedure. Financial assistance to ex-Servicemen for house construction; loans on concessional rates
2
15.58
State Governments should provide reservation facilities and concessions to the wards of ex-servicemen for admission to professional institutions
III
LIKELY TO BE ACCEPTED
1.
15.1.
Ex-Servicemen as a separate category in the 1991 census
IV
RECOMMENDATIONS OF CONSEQUENTIAL NATURE
1.
15.16
Maintenance of detailed data to match requirement of jobs in civilians departments
2
15.17
Modalities for assured employment up to 58 years of age
V (a)
RECOMMENDATIONS NOT ACCEPTED
1.
15.3.
Enactment of a comprehensive National Ex-Servicemen Resettlement Act and a Draft Model Act for States
2
15.5.
Establishment of Ex-Servicemen Resettlement Commission (or Commissioner)
V (b)
RECOMMENDATIONS NOT ACCEPTED BUT WILL OTHERWISE BE TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH OTHER SCHEMES
1
15.30
Establishment of a National Ex-Servicemen Financial Corporation at the Centre
2
15.31
The proposed corporation could render all assistance including training to ex-servicemen for starting self-employment ventures
3
15.44
Proposal for a plan outlay of Rs 170 crores at the Central and Rs 180 crore at the State Government levels
4
15.45
Allocation of funds vide 15.44 to be spread over a period of five years of the Seventh Five Year Plan
These recommendations relating to Special plan provision for Ex-Servicemen have not been accepted in the form recommended by HLC., but efforts will continue to secure for Ex-Servicemen their due share of benefits under the ongoing programmes of the 7th Five Year Plan.
VI (A)
RECOMMENDATIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION; DECSION ON WHICH WILL BE TAKEN AFTER RECEIPT OF THE REPORT OF THE FOURTH PAY COMMISSION
1
15.37
Rank-for-rank pension and grant of increased pension whenever pensions are revised
2
15.38
Appointing a permanent standing committee for inter-relating the cost of living index to the pension
3
15.39
Restoration of commuted value of pension
VI (B)
RECOMMENDATION UNDER CONSIDERATION RELATING TO ASSURED EMPLOYMENT DECISION WHICH IS LIKELY TO TAKE SOME TIME
1
15.15
Assured employment up to the age of 58 years
VI (c)
RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH ARE UNDER ACTIVE CONSIDERATION
1.
15.4.
Constituting a Parliamentary Committee consisting of Members from both the Houses
2
15.19
Simplification and uniform application of orders governing initial fixation of pay and other benefits on re-employment of ex-servicemen
3
15.20
Non-pensioner ex-servicemen be permitted to count full military service up to 5 years and 50% beyond 5 years for increments in pay on reemployment but not for seniority
4
15.21
Seniority and pay fixation of Emergency Commissioned and Short Service Commissioned Officers who joined pre-commission training or who were commissioned after 1st November 1962 but before 10th January 1968
5
15.22
Short Service Commissioned Officers, Commissioned on or after 10th January 1968 to be permitted to count their full military service up to 5 years and 50% beyond 5 years for purposes of fixation of pay on reemployment but not for seniority
6
15.23
Ex-servicemen on reemployment be permitted to count their total military service for grant of various types of loans and advances as also for allotment of family accommodation
7
15.25
Protection of previous basic pay and grant of one increment in the higher pay scale to reemployed ex-servicemen on promotion to a higher post or grade


Source: Ministry of Defence
































































































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