Demand for One Rank One Pension for Retired Army Personnel.

   The ex-servicemen Associations have been demanding for several years grant of same pension which is granted to new pensioners with same rank and same length of service irrespective of date of retirement, popularly known as "One Rank One Pension" (OROP). The differentials in pension between the past and the new retirees arise on account of the fact that the computation of pension depends on the pay scale of the person at the time of retirement and pension undergoes change as and when the pay scales are revised.

   Their requests have been considered by the Government and over the years several improvements have been made in pension of past pensioners in accordance with the recommendations of successive Pay Commissions, as accepted by the Government. The Cabinet Secretary Committee constituted by the Government of India to look into the demand of OROP and related issues gave seven recommendations to reduce the gap between past and current pensioners. All the seven recommendations were accepted and implemented which has significantly reduced the gap between the past and present pensioners and also considerably improved the pension of disabled ex-servicemen. However pension reform is a continuous process.

   This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri A.K. Antony in written reply to Shri T.M. Selvaganapathi in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

ECHS Facilities to Ex-Servicemen.

   The Government has sanctioned 426 Polyclinics for Ex- Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS). 227 Polyclinics were sanctioned in the year 2002, all of which are functional. Due to increasing ESM population an additional 199 Polyclinics including 17 Mobile Clinics were sanctioned in October 2010, out of which 43 Polyclinics are operational, thus at present 270 Polyclinics are functioning. In addition the Government has sanctioned 15 new Regional Centers to strengthen the ECHS Services, out of which 6 Regional Centers are already functional. As on 1st March, 2012, there are 39,46,898 beneficiaries which include 12,34,069 ex-servicemen and 27,12,829 dependents.

   The ECHS beneficiaries can avail treatment at state Government hospitals/Clinics. The cost of treatment at Government hospitals is reimbursed at the approved rates and 80% advance of the estimated cost of the treatment at Government hospitals/Clinics is admissible to the ECHS beneficiaries.

   At present 1383 Private hospitals/Dental Clinics/Diagnostics Centers and Eye clinics throughout the country are empanelled with ECHS, where the ECHS beneficiaries can avail cashless treatment. In emergency cases, reimbursement is made at approved rates, even for treatment in non-empanelled hospitals.

   This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr MM Pallam Raju in written reply to Shri Virender Kashyap and Shri Kuldeep Bishnoi in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Mobile Polyclinics for Ex-Servicemen.

   Providing Medicare to Ex-servicemen and their dependents is an ongoing process and the endeavor of the government is to continuously upgrade the quality of medicare services being provided. The Government has approved opening of additional 199 polyclinics including 17 mobile polyclinics besides the existing 227 polyclinics to improve accessibility of Ex-servicemen to medical facilities. Out of 199 polyclinics, 43 polyclinics have already been operationalised.

   Opening of new polyclinics is based on the ESM population in a particular area. Mobile polyclinics are proposed for remote/hilly areas where the ESM population is less and scattered. Presently 342 districts have been covered with 426 ECHS polyclinics (270 operational & 156 proposed) including 17 mobile polyclinics. The newly sanctioned polyclinics will be operationalised across the country including Himachal Pradesh in a phased manner over a period of time.

   This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in a written reply to Shrimati Viplove Thakur in Rajya Sabha today.

Source: PIB

Medical Facilities to Gorkha Pensioners.

   The Government has extended the benefits of Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) to Nepal Domiciled Gorkha (NDG) pensioner Ex-servicemen and their dependents. Medical facilities will be provided through 3 ECHS polyclinics at Kathmandu, Pokhara and Dharan. One mobile clinic will also be attached with each of the polyclinic. The polyclinics will provide outpatient treatment and patient requiring hospitalization will be referred to empanelled hospitals in Nepal. Cashless treatment will be provided by these hospitals as is the case in India. The manpower for ECHS Polyclinics and the mobile clinics will be engaged on contractual basis. NDG Ex- servicemen residing in India already have coverage of this scheme since its inception.

   This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM PallamRajuin a written reply to Shri Manicka Tagore in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

Promotion of Youths to join Forces.

  The details of shortage of manpower in the three Services of the Armed Forces are as follows:

Army	Navy	Air Force
10526	17711	8289

    Government has taken a number of measures to encourage the youth to join the Armed Forces, including conduct of Recruitment Rallies, Media Campaigns, etc. The number of youth aspiring to join the Armed Forces has shown an increasing trend over the last few years.

            This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in a written reply to KunwarRewati Raman Singhand others in Lok Sabha today.

Source: PIB

Non-Payment of Full Salaries to Defence Trainees.

   The cadets undergoing their pre-commission training at the various training academies get a fixed stipend of Rs.21,000/- per month for the last one year of training before commissioning. This stipend is converted to pay for all purposes on successful completion of training and the arrears of the allowances admissible are paid. The VI Central Pay Commission did not agree to the Services` demand to grant provisional commission in the last year of training with full pay and allowances and all attendant benefits of the commissioned rank as successful completion of pre-commission training is a pre-requisite for the grant of commission in the Defence Forces, a situation which is not totally comparable with the civilian side.

   This information was given by Minister of Defence Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri T.M. Selvaganapathiin Rajya Sabha today.

Source: PIB

Combined Defence Services Exam (I) 2011 Final Results Announced.

   The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced the final results of Combined Defence Services Examination (I). A total of 356 candidates (272 *Men + 84 Women), have finally qualified on the basis of the results of the Combined Defence Services Examination (I)-2011 conducted by the UPSC and  interviews held by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence for admission to the (i)  *Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai  for 95th  Short Service Commission Course (for Men) and (ii) Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai 9th Short Service Commission Women (Non-Technical) Course,  commencing in April, 2012.  The list of 95th Short Service Commission Course (for Men) also includes the names of the candidates who were recommended earlier on the basis of the result of the same examination for admission to the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala and Air Force Academy,  Hyderabad (Pre-Flying) Training Course(s).
 
   The number of vacancies as intimated by the Government, for (i) 95th Short Service Commission Course (for Men) is 175 and for (ii) 9th Short Service Commission Women (Non-Technical) Course is 25.

   The result of Medical Examination of candidates has not been taken into account in preparing the merit list.   The candidature of all the candidates is Provisional.  Verification of date of birth and Educational Qualification of these candidates will be done by Army HQ.
 
            Result is available on PIB website i.e www.pib.nic.in and also on the U.P.S.C. website i.e. www.upsc.gov.in. However, marks of the candidates will be available within 15 days from the date of declaration of final result on Commission’s web-site and will be available for 60 days.
 
   UPSC has a Facilitation Counter near Examination Hall Building in its Campus.  Candidates may obtain any information/clarification regarding their examination on working hours in person or over telephone No. 011-23385271, 011-23381125 and 011-23098543 from this Counter.
 
Click here to see result

Grant of Child Care Leave to Civilian Female Industrial Employees of Defence Establishments.

   Based on the recommendation of the VI CPC, Govt. of India accepted and introduced Child Care Leave for Women Central Government Employees vide OM. No.13018/2/2008-Estt(L) dt.11-09-2008.According to this order, the women employees could avail the CCL only after exhausting the Earned Leave if any in their credit. After receiving various representations from Govt Servants/ Federations/Associations, Govt of India reviewed its earlier decision and issued a clarification. According to which, all the establishment has been directed that Earned Leave, if any availed by women employees before availing CCL subsequent to the issue of the OM.13018/2/2008-Esst(L) dt.18-11-2008 may be adjusted against CCL if so requested by the employees.

   The Civilian Female Industrial Employees of Defence Establishment covered by the CCS (leave) Rules 1972 were denied this benefit of CCL, though they are at par with the Non-Industrial Women Central Government Employees Covered by the CCS(Leave) Rules 1972.

   All the Defence Employees Federations taken up the matter to Ministry Level and demanded to grant the CCL to Industrial Women Central Government Employees. Then the matter was subsequently considered and the benefit of Child Care Leave to Civilian Industrial Employees working in Defence Establishments at par with the Non-Industrial Govt Employees covered by CCS (Leave) Rules,1972 has been extended vide Department of Personnel & Training Letter No.12012/2/2009 Estt(L) Dt.20th October 2011. But the order was given effect only from the date of issue of this order i.e. w.e.f. 20-10-2011.Due to which the EL availed by Women Industrial Employees working in Defence Establishments during the period of September 2008 to October 2011 can not be adjusted against CCL. After receiving many representations from women employees, the Federations approached the higher authority to consider this and to issue necessary clarificatory orders to give retrospective effect subsequent to the issue of the OM.13018/2/2008-Esst(L) dt.18-11-2008.Especially the INDWF Federation has represented this issue to the Secretary,DOP&T to review this order. Through its letter, posted in INDWF blog, explained that many Women Industrial Employees working in Defence Establishments during the absence of the benefit of CCL, availed Earned Leave between September 2008 and October 2011 are not been allowed to adjust against CCL and were deprived of the benefit, since the extended benefit was given only w.e.f. 20-10-2011.