Congress (Ex-Servicemen Cell) demands Defence Pay Commission

New Delhi, Nov 2 (UNI) Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (Ex Servicemen Cell) has requested the Centre to appoint a separate Defence Pay Commission for granting pay scales to serving defence personnel and resolve the old issues of pensions and other welfare measures relating to Ex-Servicemen.

A high-level delegation of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (Ex- servicemen Cell) called on Defence Minister A K Antony yesterday and demanded parliamentary legislation to ensure hundred percent rehabilitation of armed forces soldiers, who retire at an early age, in State Police Forces and Para Military Forces.

It demanded that retired defence force personnel should be recruited in Delhi police on the additional forces sanction strength which has been recently sanctioned by the Home Ministry to Delhi police. Armed force personnel, who retire at an early age, have been fully trained and equipped to combat terrorism and maintain law and order and peace and have practical experience in assisting civil administrations in Jammu and Kashmir and northern eastern states and their rich experience should be utilised for the safety and security of the common citizens particularly in metropolitan cities, the delegation said.

Major (Retd) T C Rao demanded the representation of retired Army Generals in recently constituted Defence Welfare Committee in the Ministry of Defence. He demanded that all commissions related to welfare of defence personnel should have members of Defence Forces.

He said the status of Lt General has been downgraded in comparison to D G P of State Police in the Sixth Pay Commission.

While DGP commands approximately 16,000 policemen at state level, however, the Lt General commands approximately one lakh trained soldiers at national level. He demanded Lt General should be placed above DGP and also requested to look into the issue of other ranks at highest level.

He said the issue of one rank one pension has not been addressed by the Sixth Pay Commission and requested for setting up high level committee to sort out the issue at earliest level so that ex-servicemen are equally benefitted, according to a DPCC press release today.

UNI RP RR HT1405