It is a matter of fact that the Defence organization in
our country is probably the only government organization that truly takes care
of its #veterans. From the continuance of their last ranks into the civilian
fold, to medical facilities and close knit associations of various regiments
and battalions, the veteran has an umbilical cord of sorts attached to the
organization to which they have dedicated their ardous life of selflessness and
sacrifice.
To add a milestone to this ethos of the men in uniform,
new initiatives and trimmer procedures have been rolled out for officers before
retiring. The present chief General #Bikram Singh took due cognizance of one of
the most essential needs of the officer fraternity prior to their retirement
and has initiated a novice system to counsel and guide them for their final
documentation and resolution of observations. The new system would also
incorporate talks / lectures on essential aspects like #pension entitlements,
#ECHS, #AGIFbenefits, job opportunities and re-settlement avenues. This would go
leaps and bounds in making the complex policies and rules easier to assimilate.
Retiring officers are entangled in traditional paper wars
and red tapism and are required to submit multiple documents to various
agencies just to receive their entitled pension and other allied benefits. Previously
the veteran community was left in the lurch and made to fend for themselves
with piles of archaic policies and complex documentation, which were not at all
user friendly.
Having been isolated from the mainstream of civilian
life, which shelters the Army personnel from the groping and shoveling of an
endemic corrupt system, the military man is definitely found to be in need of
some level of doctored guidance to acclimatize him well to the unfamiliar
‘babuji’ based culture and functioning. Lack of counseling and guidance at a
very crucial juncture of their lives inadvertently has led to many officers not
getting their legitimate dues and entitlements in time, thereby causing undue misgivings
and resentment.
This scheme has created the framework to provide the
necessary information and guidance needed by veterans to enable them to settle
well in their post retirement life. The establishment of the #Pensioncell at
Adjutant General’s Branch also is a well thought out and much needed initiative
which could become the core for addressing veteran’s grievances. The move will
ensure that every officer gets an opportunity to clarify all doubts about
pension complexities and other aspects of retired life thoroughly, before
stepping out of the organization, besides catering to his esteem needs.
The next step for the Army should be creation of a user
friendly online system for the veterans, where their personal issues can be
voiced and addressed without having to come to Army Head Quarters. Or is it
asking for too much?
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