They are ready to lay down their lives for the country, often shed blood for it. But when it comes to repaying our war heroes, the country cuts a sorry figure.Take the instance of Squadron Leader (retired) Parvez Jamasji, who flew hundreds of sorties into East Pakistan during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and received a bullet wound on his leg. After the war, his bravery was acknowledged with the Vir Chakra. The Maharashtra government feted him with the Gaurav Puraskar.
Two weeks ago, he made his way to the Sainik Board office in south Mumbai and gave a cheque for Rs 2,245 after the state finance department found he (and some others) was paid more than his due.
Rules stipulate 65-plus war veterans are entitled to only 50% of their allowance. So Jamasji’s paltry Rs 2,670 annual allowance was to be reduced to just Rs 1,335, but some clerk forgot to scale down the payment.
The 69-year-old brave heart said he had been collecting this pittance for the last 10 years not because he needed the money. "If I don’t take it, someone may misuse it," he said at his Dadar Parsi Colony apartment.
"In any other country, even in a banana republic, its war veterans are looked after well. Here, the government thinks that giving Rs 222 a month to a pilot who saw action is magnanimous," said Jamasji’s son Rustam. "And then to halve it for senior citizens of the armed forces is sheer mockery," he added.
Jamasji received his first cheque of Rs 1,400 a year in 2003. The amount subsequently increased to Rs 2,670. However, since the retired Indian Air Force helicopter pilot and a few others were overpaid over the past two years, the finance department ordered that the extra amount be recovered from them. "I returned Rs 2,245 by cheque early this month," said Jamasji.
The retired officer now walks on crutches after surgeries for spinal injuries sustained in a chopper crash and a subsequent road accident. He has logged 4,500-plus flying hours for IAF.
Jamasji is anguished at how ex-servicemen like him are treated by the bureaucracy. "The grant of one rank, one pension to defence veterans has still not been implemented by the government," he rued.
For those above 65, says a state finance department note, there’s a 50% concession while travelling on state transport buses as directed by the sainik welfare department in Pune in 2005.
In October 1971, Jamasji was stationed in Dimagiri on the border of Mizoram and then East Pakistan. The young wing commander transported hundreds of soldiers of the Special Frontier Forces into enemy territory in a MI-4 Russian helicopter. "These were covert operations three months before the war commenced," he said proudly.
He would fly low to evade Pakistani radars, and his chopper frequently came under mortar and anti-aircraft fire. Once on his way back after a mission, a hail of bullets hit the chopper’s rotor and fuselage. But Jamasji managed to pilot his chopper safely into India and land. It was only after he removed his flying suit that he discovered blood on his left leg — a bullet had passed through it. After the wound was cleaned, he was ready to fly the next day.
"During operations against Pakistan in December 1971, the helicopter flown by him (Jamasji) was attacked twice by mortar, but he fulfilled the assigned mission and brought back his aircraft to base safely," says a book on India’s gallantry award winners, describing his role in the war.
Thanking Mr Nauzer Bharucha for the article and P.T for putting it up here.
Indeed it is a point to ponder that the nation is headed by the wisdom of those who think senior veteran’s money should be halved.
Already the veterans are suffering due to the IAS vengeful deceit in not implementing ‘One Rank One Pension’ though the veterans have won the case in all the A.F.T’s and now even in the Supreme Court.
The IAS Babus and the Politicians know that the veterans are not going to sit in Dharnas or rail,rasta roko, style disturbance and so the weakening of the armed forces continue.
Perhaps the IAS wisdom want them to channelize the armed forces into a force with substandard personnel like the police force so that the babus can milk the defense sector, channelize funds away, have less resistance from professional force with respect to salary vis a vis civilian counterpart, facilities, and security for the disabled or widows and retirement benefits. The armed forces are already short of 13000+ officers.
India perhaps is the only country not at war though her soldiers get killed everyday . Perhaps the term proxy has been projected in front of the fact ‘war’ as no civilian,no business house, no politician and no IAS babu are facing the bullets of terrorists. It is indeed funny when a Bombay attack like situation occurs and people dressed in their best appear in front of T.V ( as done in front of the Taj hotel when under attack) and question the lacking security infrastructre.
India is thus playing and only weakening the safety blanket that is in place to protect India’s interest.
How many civilians are aware that the veterans have returned their medals due to IAS and Govt apathy. How many Indians have questioned the Supreme commander of India’s Armed Forces vis a vis her/his knowledge of the subject she heads?
Thanking Mr Nauzer Bharucha for the article and P.T for putting it up here.
Indeed it is a point to ponder that the nation is headed by the wisdom of those who think senior veteran’s money should be halved.
Already the veterans are suffering due to the IAS vengeful deceit in not implementing ‘One Rank One Pension’ though the veterans have won the case in all the A.F.T’s and now even in the Supreme Court.
The IAS Babus and the Politicians know that the veterans are not going to sit in Dharnas or rail,rasta roko, style disturbance and so the weakening of the armed forces continue.
Perhaps the IAS wisdom want them to channelize the armed forces into a force with substandard personnel like the police force so that the babus can milk the defense sector, channelize funds away, have less resistance from professional force with respect to salary vis a vis civilian counterpart, facilities, and security for the disabled or widows and retirement benefits. The armed forces are already short of 13000+ officers.
India perhaps is the only country not at war though her soldiers get killed everyday . Perhaps the term proxy has been projected in front of the fact ‘war’ as no civilian,no business house, no politician and no IAS babu are facing the bullets of terrorists. It is indeed funny when a Bombay attack like situation occurs and people dressed in their best appear in front of T.V ( as done in front of the Taj hotel when under attack) and question the lacking security infrastructre.
India is thus playing and only weakening the safety blanket that is in place to protect India’s interest.
How many civilians are aware that the veterans have returned their medals due to IAS and Govt apathy. How many Indians have questioned the Supreme commander of India’s Armed Forces vis a vis her/his knowledge of the subject she heads?
Thanking Mr Nauzer Bharucha for the article and P.T for putting it up here.
Indeed it is a point to ponder that the nation is headed by the wisdom of those who think senior veteran’s money should be halved.
Already the veterans are suffering due to the IAS vengeful deceit in not implementing ‘One Rank One Pension’ though the veterans have won the case in all the A.F.T’s and now even in the Supreme Court.
The IAS Babus and the Politicians know that the veterans are not going to sit in Dharnas or rail,rasta roko, style disturbance and so the weakening of the armed forces continue.
Perhaps the IAS wisdom want them to channelize the armed forces into a force with substandard personnel like the police force so that the babus can milk the defense sector, channelize funds away, have less resistance from professional force with respect to salary vis a vis civilian counterpart, facilities, and security for the disabled or widows and retirement benefits. The armed forces are already short of 13000+ officers.
India perhaps is the only country not at war though her soldiers get killed everyday . Perhaps the term proxy has been projected in front of the fact ‘war’ as no civilian,no business house, no politician and no IAS babu are facing the bullets of terrorists. It is indeed funny when a Bombay attack like situation occurs and people dressed in their best appear in front of T.V ( as done in front of the Taj hotel when under attack) and question the lacking security infrastructre.
India is thus playing and only weakening the safety blanket that is in place to protect India’s interest.
How many civilians are aware that the veterans have returned their medals due to IAS and Govt apathy. How many Indians have questioned the Supreme commander of India’s Armed Forces vis a vis her/his knowledge of the subject she heads?
Rules are Rules. Rs. 111/ had value two decades ago.Those who expect others to live in customs of great grand father’s times should practice to so live in those times without complaining.The valiant, worthy soldier is not complaining but his son is.
Rules are Rules. Rs. 111/ had value two decades ago.Those who expect others to live in customs of great grand father’s times should practice to so live in those times without complaining.The valiant, worthy soldier is not complaining but his son is.
Rules are Rules. Rs. 111/ had value two decades ago.Those who expect others to live in customs of great grand father’s times should practice to so live in those times without complaining.The valiant, worthy soldier is not complaining but his son is.
Where is the great Mr.Ratan Tata and his Tata Trust. Why not provide this great War Hero with a substantial monthly pension of around Rs.20,000 plus all his medical expenses so that this great person is able to lead the remaining years of his life with dignity. This is a great cause. Please Mr. Ratan Tata think about it.
These dumb Pension offices make serious mistakes and some people have to run around these offices for 2 years to get their pension certificates with EPFO.
Where is the great Mr.Ratan Tata and his Tata Trust. Why not provide this great War Hero with a substantial monthly pension of around Rs.20,000 plus all his medical expenses so that this great person is able to lead the remaining years of his life with dignity. This is a great cause. Please Mr. Ratan Tata think about it.
Where is the great Mr.Ratan Tata and his Tata Trust. Why not provide this great War Hero with a substantial monthly pension of around Rs.20,000 plus all his medical expenses so that this great person is able to lead the remaining years of his life with dignity. This is a great cause. Please Mr. Ratan Tata think about it.
These dumb Pension offices make serious mistakes and some people have to run around these offices for 2 years to get their pension certificates with EPFO.
These dumb Pension offices make serious mistakes and some people have to run around these offices for 2 years to get their pension certificates with EPFO.