The 7th CPC report was tabled on 19 Nov 15. I am not going to go into the nitty-gritty of the 899 page report. Everything is available in the public domain and every expert is giving varied views. You too can form your own opinion if it is justified, satisfactory, affordable to the nation etc. etc.
Today I will touch upon just one aspect of the sacrifice that these brave men/ women are subjected to. And my question is –Have the Defence Forces been Compensated adequately to cover their sacrifices? Just a moment, I am NOT going to talk about the Ultimate Sacrifice which, just a day earlier was paid by a brother, Col Santosh Mahadik, SM, which is the Ultimate Sacrifice. That is a topic by itself. Then what is it that I am going to write about?
Are you aware, that it is NOT only the man who opts for the Defence Forces sacrifices for the nation but his entire family too sacrifices as much. But this is strangely not visible to the world. Let me explain.
Military personnel are posted to remote locations and many of them have some family accommodation. These are called modified field areas. The standard of schools aren’t that great. The teachers are just average and many times, wives of these personnel themselves have to teach for want of better teachers locally. The posting every two years results in their kids being forced to go to a different school each time. The kids suffer because of this. What happens in the long run? They lose out on stability, they lose out on good schools, they lose out on better teachers. They lose out on having a good base in core subjects. When they reach higher classes and board exams they lose out big time to other kids who have had a steady schooling in the best schools with best teachers and good tutors. Hence these kids with great potential, wonderful grooming, and excellent manners stand nowhere to the competition, and end up getting placed much lesser as compared to their true potential. So hasn’t the child sacrificed along with his Father? Who compensates the child?
Let us talk about the Lady. She stays in makeshift accommodation, looks after her kids with whatever is available locally, lives within the means provided by her husband’s pay. Her education, her potential, her abilities have no avenues for her professional growth. In the end some just end up teaching in the local schools, paid much below that what she could have otherwise earned or progressed in life economically and professionally. Expressed in business terminology, her Opportunity Loss is far greater and cant be quantified. Isn’t she sacrificing her life along with her husband? Who compensates the Lady?
Do you think the Military Service Pay (MSP) – the only differentiator between those serving in Armed forces and outside, adequately caters to these loses and sacrifices? And how much is the MSP? It was just 6000 rupees for officers and 2000 for Soldiers in the 6th Pay Commission. Yes a mere few thousands. Some of our maids and drivers get paid more. How much would it be in the 7th CPC? It will now be Rs 15500 for offrs and 5200 for Soldiers. We will know exactly how much it would be, when the Govt approves it. I can tell you from my experience that even with the new MSP, it can’t even fetch a good Tutor for the child in higher classes to compensate for the life time losses the child has suffered due to their father’s postings.
Are we as a Nation not short changing the man and his family just because he is ready to sacrifice his entire life for us. Just because he can’t speak his feelings as he is duty bound by a Defence law which has taken away his Right to Speech. No wonder, today you see old soldiers agitating on the streets for their rights. It is not about money, it is their pent up emotions after realizing that they have been short-changed through out their entire lifetime.
Think. What would you have done? Is your family’s lifetime sacrifices worth just a mere few thousand rupees. Please speak out to support the Forces, Express yourselves in the social media, whenever you can, from where you can. And lastly, Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. That is a way we can do out bit for these brave hearts. And my question to You is – Won’t You?
Very aptly covered. Kudos to you!
Armed Forces have been short changed for long now. Its high time they are given their legitmate dues. One really hopes the Nation acknowledges their immense contribution. Irony is that whenever the forces are mobilized there are thousands lined up shouting patriotic slogans & after operations are over the streets are deserted! Only welcome they get is from their near & dear ones whose mental plight during this period cannot be imagined by others. They all rightfully deserve much more. Lets all rise & salute them.
Rightly brought out Sajan. We cannot compare the life of the soldier with that of anyone.
Well said! Unfortunately very few apart from those who have ever had the privilege of donning a uniform understand ; even less care. However, for those of us who have, our pride; our underlying ethos, culture; camaraderie is I think the just compensation; besides the utmost personal satisfaction.
FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE OF MSP OVER OTHERS IF ANY MUST BE WORKED OUT TO GET A TRUE PICTURE OF THE EFFECT OF EARLY RETIREMENT POST 7th CPC. ALL THIS REQUIRES QUANTIFICATION AND VERIFICATION TO KNOW WHETHER MSP PROVIDES THE REQUISITE COMPENSATION FOR EARLY RETIREMENT AND RELATED ISSUES. THE FOLLOWING POINTS NEED TO BE FACTORED IN THE CALCULATIONS:
BASIC PAY + ALLCES
MIL SER PAY (MSP)
TERMINAL BENEFITS – GRATUITY, LVE ENCASHMENT etc.
ANY OTHER
TOTAL EARNING IN LIFETIME VIS-A-VIS CIVIL / POLICE COUNTERPARTS etc.
THE INHERENT SOCIAL AND FAMILY PROBLEMS HIGHLIGHTING IN THE ARTICLE ARE INTANGIBLE AND DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY BUT HAVE SEVERE RAMIFICATIONS.
WE MAY CONSIDER UTILIZING ACCOUNT / LEGAL / IT EXPERTISE TO ASCERTAIN FACTS.
REGARDS.
BRIG R VINAYAK, VSM (RETD)
When I did my schooling . Sainik school exams , NDA exams all of us knew about it . Now ask any indian student in private / govt.school 90 % he won’t have any idea about this .
We are teaching our children that army men are found ready made from other states you just concentrate on becoming an doctor or engineer working in corporate hospital or it companies.
We are forgetting our soldiers & their sacrifices for us & the country.
Let us start at the top our army chief salary should be just below the Presidents . It should be definitely more than cabinet secretary . Then let it trickle down to the other ranks .
In protocol let the army chief stand next to president then CJI PM .
Once we give our army /airforce /navy chief their deserved position in indian democracy . We will solve half the problem
Let the 2 nd in command of India then take the decision about soldiers salary /benefits / pension .
Well covered Sajan.
More than many of us who have the luxury of at least analysing and contemplating the pros & cons / the highs & lows of the 7th PC, imagine the thousands of innocent men (who may not be even aware of whats the whole fuss is about) who may be simply carrying on with their duties leaving such welfare issues to the superiors above them. Its for such lot that the people involved in the commission should have compensated and not just compared.
Thank You all. Your comments have been very valuable and some of it are real Gold for its knowledgeable content.
Nothing can compensate the decision to risk their lives.
Very well covered Sajan .Besides the financial status the Armed Forces Personnel in the 7th CPC have also been brought down in the order of precedence vis a vis our civilian counterparts.
Vinay Mehta