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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