It was interesting to read your post in the blog (Pensioners' Chronicle) reg. meeting of Dr Subramanian Swamy with the Defence Minister on the issue of 'one rank one pension' for Ex-Servicemen. You are aware that I have personally known Dr. Swamy apart from being his supporter in legal cases in Madras HC.
Dr Swamy's pleadings for causes of National interest are too well known to be mentioned, and some such as 2G and Sethusamudram Canal Project have had created history. Post Service, the retirees deserve a much better treatment in matters of service benefits for obvious reasons including tough assignments they had discharged, and sacrifice of many comforts during their service. In particular our Army men now shoulder additional responsibility of fighting terrorism in our country.
When pension rules seek to deny the pensioners even the rights guaranteed by the constitution for all citizens Dr. Swamy has not hesitated to speak out. Our friends will recall that he wrote on LIC pensioners also as early as mid-2008 to the then PM and mid-2009 and to then FM (and now the President of India). Dr Manmohan Singh acknowledged him and assured action but bureaucrats took convenient shelters. In one reply, and it was for the first time, the Minister of State pleaded ripple effects that would result in the banking sector. and 'sub-judice' was the other excuse for the authorities.
Coming to OROP, LIC pensioners and also those in banking sector should remember that they are governed by 'funded scheme'. That is precisely the reason for our decision in the recent EC to think of chalking out a comprehensive and realistic plan, after the decision is known in the forthcoming hearing of our case in the SC on 14th Jan. Let the New Year be the answer for our way forward.
Regards
GN SRIDHARAN
Gen.Secy Fedn of Retd LIC Class I Officers' Assns
