Ex-servicemen say the government's award ignores five out of seven demands they had made and only partially meets the other two. Ajai Shukla reports
The award, which involves a pay out of Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 crore to 2.5 million ex-servicemen, ignores five out of seven demands that ex-servicemen leaders had spelt out and only partially meets the other two.
Satbir Singh, retired major general, who heads the United Ex-Servicemen League said: "Ex-servicemen strongly reject the government's notification and will intensify their agitation for a just award. Instead of One Rank, One Pension, the government has implemented One Rank, Many Pensions."
On September 5, after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar announced details of the proposed award, ESM leaders had met him to propose amendments to the award. But Satbir Singh and other leaders say the government "completely and arrogantly ignored" their suggestions while issuing the notification.
Ex-servicemen leaders are now planned to extend the agitation from Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, into a countrywide movement.
"The first major rally we will organise is in Ambala on November 15", says Singh.
"Based on its success, we will have another rally in Delhi on December 13. That will be followed by rallies in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and southern India," he added.
The protesters plan to increase the protest's visibility, reaching out to even non-military audiences by featuring celebrity children of army, navy and air force personnel, including actors Gul Panag and Priya Gill.
Gul Panag, whose father is a retired lieutenant general, confirmed to Business Standard that she is ready to rally to draw attention to the cause.
"I am happy to support them in whatever way they want," Panag said.
The agitators have also implemented a public funding model, in which ex-servicemen groups - based on course and unit affiliations - are collecting donations for the UESL.
Business Standard examined the fund collection of a sample ex-servicemen group, based on unit affiliation, which had collected Rs 150,000. The army alone has more than 800 such unit groups.
"We are entirely self-sufficient in funds, based on ex-servicemen contributions," Singh confirmed.
Meanwhile, celebrities are also helping gather funds. Sunita Garware, the daughter of an ex-serviceman and wife of a Pune-based industrialist, set the ball rolling with a cheque of Rs 5 lakh. Others will follow, said Singh.
A social media and digital media campaign is also on the cards. Support is being mustered through missed calls to a particular number (3.5 million calls already made) and text messages to another number. This support will be demonstrated to the government, Singh added.
Within the ESM community, younger people are arguing for intensifying the agitation from a peaceful dharna at Jantar Mantar to more intrusive and visible rallies, marches and "raasta roko" and "rail roko" agitations.
Asked whether he is concerned the agitation could spin out of control, Singh responded, "I hope it will not come to that. I am confident the government will address our concerns."
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