K'taka: Ex-servicemen go on a hunger strike

Bangalore, Oct 20: Ex-servicemen affiliated to Military Veterans Movement on Monday, Oct 20 resorted to relay hunger strike as per the countrywide call given by All India Military Veterans Association (AIMVA).

Association Karnataka Convenor Wing Cdr (Retd) G B Athri told mediapersons that the agitation, which would continue till October 25, was to exert pressure on the Union Government to concede the demands including, among other things, One Rank One Pension, employment of retired Defence personnel in State and Central Government services.

Other demands include setting up of a National Ex-servicemen Commission with necessary statutory powers to look after all the welfare measures of the Ex-servicemen community.

Alleging that the bureaucrats were coming in the way of implementing One Rank One Pension Scheme, he said it was recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence in its report submitted in 2003 itself.

Wing Cdr (Retd) Athri said a legislation should be introduced in Parliament to enable employment of Service Officers/JCOs and Jawans and their equivalents in the Navy and Air Forces into Central and State services and Public Sector Units at appropriate levels. This should be done so that military veterans too have just fair and equal opportunities to upgrade themselves and retire at the age of 60 years at higher levels and appointments.

The Act is necessary for making it mandatory for all Corporates and industries related to supply of equipment, materials and stores to the Armed Forces for employment of military veterans to the extent of ten per cent of their work force, he added.

UNI