New Delhi:
Protesting against the inequality in new and
old pensions, hundreds of ex-servicemen on Sunday returned their medals to the
government here. These retired personnel from the three wings of defence forces
- Army, Navy and Air Force, also staged a sit-in protest against the non-implementation
of equality in pension, popularly known as 'One Rank-One Pension'. “We are demanding
just equality between the old and the new pension. If two pensioners are put in
the same number of years of service, have undergone the same hardships, same risks,
dangers, same separation, their services to the country have been same, then their
pension also must be same," said Lieutenant General (retired) Raj Kadyan, Chairman
of Indian Ex Servicemen Movement (IESM). The 'One Rank-One Pension' was introduced
in 2009-2010. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in his speech at the Independence
Day, had also stated that pensions of some ranked officers have been improved.
However, according to the ex-servicemen, the government hasn't issued the orders
as yet. The IESM has been protesting for the last one and half year against the
injustice to the pensioners of defence forces. "We tried our best initially to
make representation to the Government, to meet the leaders and talk to them but
nothing happened. Depositing of medal is the biggest hurt that a soldier can express
to the government," Lt. Gen (retired) Kadyan said. The ex-servicemen have already
deposited 20000 medals with the President.
