DELAY IN SETTING UP OF NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR EX-SERVICEMEN BY GOI (MOD)

1. It is a full year since the Govt of India announced that they are actively considering to set up a NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR EX-SERVICEMEN, exclusively to cater to the needs of ex-servicemen, martyrs and families and their welfare issues. Perhaps, implementation of the VI CPC recommendations, conduct of General Elections- 2009, Constitution of Armed Forces Tribunal (and appointment of Judges/Members) have delayed the process. Now, it is time that the Govt. urgently constitute the same so that the Ex-servicemen pending issues get resolved faster. The briefings of Hon.Defence Minister and The Secretary, ESW on the subject are appended below for the information of all :-

"(A) THE HON. DEFENCE MINISTER, SHRI A.K. ANTONY, on Friday(29.8.08) said that the government would soon set up an Ex-Servicemen Commission to address the grievances of armed forces veterans and plan welfare schemes for them. After opening a new department in the Defence Ministry for ex-servicemen, the government is going to set up an Ex-Servicemen Commission soon to recommend various welfare schemes for them and their families, Antony said, during the inauguration function of a Sainik School at Thappa Gothra Khori village near Rewari in Haryana.
He also said that the government had earmarked around Rs 6,000 Crore additionally for serving defence personnel and ex-servicemen after removing the anomalies in the recommendations of the sixth pay commission, which was being implemented from 1st September. Antony urged other States of the country to learn from Haryana, he further added that he is very impressed with Haryana government efforts in taking care of its ex-servicemen and providing them welfare schemes.
The Sainik Schools are today one of the major vehicles to carry forward the movement of mass discipline in our society, he said. (Source :Thaindian News-29.8.08)


(B) THE SECRETARY E S W :- A proposal to constitute a National Commission for the Welfare of Ex-Servicemen is under the active consideration of the government. This was stated by the Secretary (Ex-Servicemen Welfare) in the Ministry of Defence, Deepa Jain Singh in her inaugural address to the annual conclave of the Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) here today (30.7.08). The measure will expedite issues of rehabilitation, welfare and help resolve grievances of retired soldiers, martyrs and their families, she said.
Nearly 60,000 personnel retire from the three wings of the armed forces every year and most of them are in the productive middle age group. There are nearly 14 lakh Ex-servicemen and over 2.5 lakh widows. When this figure is projected considering each Ex-Servicemen minor children, dependent parents, brothers and sisters, it could affect the livelihood of close to one crore population, she added. In view of the vast population of Ex-Servicemen, the government last year created the post of Secretary in the Defence Ministry to deal exclusively with issues related to the Ex-Servicemen welfare.
Deepa Singh, who has undertaken an exhaustive study on the welfare of Ex-Servicemen during her short four-month stint as Secretary (ESW), said a capsule on the subject is soon to be introduced at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy, Mussourie. It would sensitize the young IAS probationers of the vital issues of concern related to the Ex-Servicemen Welfare before they assume responsibility of the District Magistrate posts across the country. This is a step towards fulfilling the Prime Ministers ambitious Skill Development Mission, she added. (Source:Thaindian News of 30.7.08) "