Ex-armymen pass memo to PM, demand equal pension

Lucknow, Mar 31 (UNI) Retired armed forces personnel here have sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Defence Minister A K Antony, demanding fixing of pension at par with the current retired.

In a meeting organised by Veteran's Sahayata Samiti here last evening, the ex-servicemen noted, ''there should not be any discrimination in the pension being received by the present and past retired armymen.'' Today, the pension of the past retired is determined at minimum scale of the rank as against the present retired, who get pension at the maximum of the scale or last pay withdrawn, the memorandum stated.

Therefore, we request to fix our pension on the highest of the scale of that rank, as recommended by the 6th pay commission, the memorandum demaded.

The memorandum also brought to notice the service conditions of the armed force, mentioning it was entirely different from other service in the civil job.

The amount of risk always looms large on the head of armymen, whether they were in peace or war.

Armed Forces personal are denied full service tenure, as compared to their civil brethren. The Personal Below Officers Rank (PBOR) retire between 35 to 42 years, while majority of the officers retire at the age of 54 years, the ex-armymen brought to notice.

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