Defence Ministry has got nine boxes of medals from ex servicemen

New Delhi, Dec 14 (ANI): Defence Minister A K Antony on Monday revealed in the Lok Sabha that his ministry has received nine cardboard boxes of medals returned by ex service men in protest against non-acceptance of their demand of one rank one pension.

Replying to a question, Antony informed members that a committee was set up under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary to look into the issue.

"However, keeping in mind the spirit of the demand several other recommendations to substantially improve pensionary benefits of Personnel Below Officer Rank (PBOR) and Commissioned Officers have been made," he said.

Antony informed the House that the Government has accepted the recommendation to bring parity between pension of pre and post October 10, 1997 PBOR pensioners, inclusion of Classification Allowance of PBOR from January 01, 2006 and further improving PBOR pensions based on award of GOM, 2006.

He further informed that removal of linkage of full pension with 33 years from January 01, 2006 in respect of Commissioned Officers and revision of pension of Lt. General pension after carving out a separate pay scale of Rs. 69000 - 79000 has also been accepted.

Antony said his ministry has decided to broad banding of percentage of disability or war injury pension for pre January 01, 1996 disability or war injury pensioners and removal of the cap on war injury element of pension in the case of disabled pensioners belonging to Category .

"As the has been substantially addressed by the committee, the government expects ex servicemen to honour their hard earned medals," Antony said. (ANI)