Can one rank one pension boost the morale of soldiers?

Can one rank one pension boost the morale of soldiers?
x
Highlights

Can One Rank One Pension Boost The Morale of Soldiers. The long awaited ‘one rank one pension’ has been addressed in the Lok Sabha during the presentation of the Union Budget for 2014-15, on Thursday by the Union finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

The long awaited ‘one rank one pension’ has been addressed in the Lok Sabha during the presentation of the Union Budget for 2014-15, on Thursday by the Union finance Minister Arun Jaitley. It has been the desire of the soldiers who served the nation for its glorious years. The same is getting shaped into a reality after a long battle. Will it be boosting up the morale of the soldiers? Surely!! The soldiers who retire in the same rank as on date is getting lesser pension than the projected pension what the other soldier gets after a year or so in the existing system. However, with the implementation of the scheme, all anomalies will be sorted out. So, the issue has been considered even by the previous government and the following have been approved by the Cabinet:

Can one rank one pension boost the morale of soldiers?

(i) Bridging of the gap in the pension of pre 1.1.06 and post 1.1.06 JCO/OR retirees by determining the pension of pre 1.1.06 retirees on the basis of notional maximum for ranks and groups across the three Services as in the case of post 1.1.06 retirees. In addition, the weightage of qualifying service in the ranks of Sepoys, Naik and Havaldar would be increased by two years for both pre and post 1.1.06 retirees.

(ii) The pension of pre 1.1.06 Commissioned Officer pensioners would be stepped up with reference to the minimum of fitment table for the ranks instead of the minimum of pay band.

These are expected to largely meet the demands of the defence pensioners on one rank one pension.

Can one rank one pension boost the morale of soldiers?

II. Enhancement of Family Pension :

(i) The pension of pre - 1.1.2006 family pensioners(Commissioned Officers, Honorary Commissioned Officers, JCOs/ORs ) be stepped up based on the minimum of the fitment table instead of the minimum of the Pay Band;

(i) Establishing linkage of the family pension with the pension of JCOs/ORs, in those cases where the death takes place after the retirement of the JCO/OR since such a JCO/OR drew a pension based on the maximum of the pay scales, 60% of the pension applicable toJCO/OR pensioners would be granted to the family pensioner in case of normal family pension calculated a 30% of last pay drawn. Accordingly, based on the rank, group and length of service of the deceased JCO/OR pensioner, his pension would first be determined on notional basis. In cases where death of JCO/OR took place after retirement, the family pensioners in receipt of normal family pension would become entitled to 60% of the said pension determined on notional basis and those in receipt of enhanced family pension will be entitled to 100% of this pension. Similar entitlements would be determined in the case of Special Family Pension; and

(ii) The family pensioner of the JCO/OR would be granted pension arrived at on the basis of the family pension worked out as per the formulation at (i) above or the pension on the basis of stepping up with reference to the minimum of the fitment table, whichever isbeneficial. Further, the linkage of family pension with retiring pension be applied in the case of post 1.1.2006 family pensioners of JCOs/ORs also.

Can one rank one pension boost the morale of soldiers?

III. Dual Family Pension:

Dual family pension would be allowed in the present and future cases where the pensioner drew, is drawing or may draw pension for military service as well as for civil employment.

IV. Family pension to mentally / physically challenged children of armed forces personnel on marriage:

Grant of family pension to mentally/physically challenged children who drew, are drawing or may draw family pension would continue even after their marriage.

The above recommendations made by the Committee on pension issues of Ex-Servicemen may be implemented from a prospective date and payment made accordingly.

If the same is implemented in both letter and spirit, for sure, it will add-on some more josh into the soldier’s dedication towards their work and towards the nation!!

Show Full Article
Print Article
Next Story
More Stories
ADVERTISEMENT