Policy Initiatives-Key Result Areas

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking level at which they were created”

Albert Einstein.

 

Following are the Key Result Areas to empower the community of Ex-Himveers. The points at this stage are only initial leads which have to be studied by analyzing the policy documents, relevant reference material and court judgements, if any. Thereafter the points will be taken up by DO letters, representations or petition, RTI applications or legal recourse as per the quality of legal / statutory evidence in the context of constitutional provisions or natural justice.

 

  1. Trivialized or Misplaced Identity – The devil’s strategy starts with trivialization of most important issues. Its true to the CPMFs. The identity terms used are CPMF, CPO and BGF or para-military. None of it is constitutional and only purpose served is to trivialize the identity of an Armed Force like ITBP to the level of being clubbed with state armed police forces. ITBP is an ‘An Armed Force of the Union under the ITBPF Act and Schedule VII of the Constitution. As per MHA notification (on MHA website) the force veterans are Ex-CAPF personnel. This identity is good for almost nothing, and it doesn’t lead entitlement of any sort. Actually, it is obscuring the identity of the Force. A correction here is overdue which will lead to a number of possible entitlements for taking up cases such as being eligible for desrved post-retirement medical treatment, legal recourse through something similar to AFT, being covered under Zila Sainik Welfare Board etc.

 

  1. Contribution to Regimental Funds – There is a regular monthly contribution till retirement. How does this contribution help us? Money can either rule us or serve us, provided the resource is controlled and balanced properly. The total contribution during entire service comes to a couple of lakh rupees. Has any money ever been used for welfare of veterans, deceased or martyr’s families? Is the policy of contribution mandated by the Government? At many times the expenditure on hospitality during departmental functions is met from such contributory funds. This needs to be rationalized. Some percentage of CWF should be reserved for martyr’s families, disabled & injured, and welfare of Veterans.

 

  1. Notification of States/ UTs to cover welfare of Ex-ITBPF/ CAPF personnel by Rajya Sainik Welfare Boards on the pattern of Haryana – The State of Haryana is pioneer in bringing out a proper gazette notification to enlarge the scope of ‘Rajya and Zila Sainik Welfare Departments’ to cover the veterans of ITBPF/ CAPFs also. MHA will be petitioned to follow the good governance decision of Haryana to issue similar notification for the UTs and for all states to follow. This saves the exchequer of any additional financial burden as only the mandate of existing set up is to be enhanced. The initiative of Haryana Govt needs be replicated by other States too.

 

  1. Exemption of GST for CPC –  Himveers and Army personnel work jointly in border management, one pays the tax and the other is honorably exempted. Himveers feel that same services rendered by them are valued less due to lower entitlements With CPC being brought under GST without the exemption, which was already there in the previous tax regime. Prior to GST regime, CPC was given tax emptions at par to CSD. The very purpose of CPC was to provide essential items to our personnel/ ex personnel at a reasonable cost as that of CSD.

 

  1. The rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, and medically boarded out personnel – SHAPE system is applicable for health and physical standards in ITBP. The medical standards followed in ITBP for recruitment of all ranks has parity with defense services. The pricing of post-retirement medical policy which is CGHS for CPMF and ECHS for Defense is same but quality and scope just does not match.

 

  1. Insurance Policy – The contributions towards Life Insurance during service is all a private contribution. Life of paramilitary personnel is as precious as defense personnel as they work in same terrain, face similar hazards, have same family obligations and so on. Should the insurance policy not provide same value as the policy governing the defense personnel?

 

  1. Armed forces flag day fund :- An extract of website (http://ksb.gov.in/armed-forcesflag-day-fund.htm) of Kendriya Sainik Board says ‘Since 1949, 7th December is observed as the Armed Forces Flag Day throughout the country to honour the martyrs and the men in uniform who valiantly fought on our borders to safeguard the country’s honour. There cannot be a nobler cause than laying down one’s life for the country. At the same time, our admiration for the martyrs should not mean that we have little time for the living heroes who were wounded while doing their duty towards their motherland or their widows and children whom they left behind to fend for themselves’. There is a gazette notification from the GOI on collections which are used to fund 17 different Welfare Schemes. What stops the GOI from considering such a policy for CAPFs, which are the Armed Forces of Union.

 

  1. Service Privileges to defence personnel – A number of service privileges such as, Priority in litigation (Sec 32 AA) including postponement due to posting in hard areas, Toll Tax Exemptions even on private vehicle even off duty, Exemption on Entertainment Tax, Exemption of fee on Arms License including renewal, Eviction of tenants from property owned by defense personnel, Exemption of Income Tax to disabled servicemen, Reservation of 7.5% on Oil product Agencies for martyrs’ NOK, Post retirement placement agencies, Reservation/ Allottment of plots including industrial plots, Concessional loans from ex-servicemen corporations including concessional home loans, Concessional hiring of Sainik Rest Houses for social functions, Exemption from House Tax from Municipal Corporations, Concessions on registration of property in some states and so on. There is absolutely nothing of the sort available to CAPF/ Ex CAPF personnel.

 

  1. Institutional Support – There is a total absence of Institutes to support and uphold honor and dignity of CAPF veterans, which in case of defense forces are thought to be inescapable. These are AWHO for concessional housing, DSOI for post-retired social life, Kendiya Sainik Boards and Directorate of Resettlement, Military schools, State Welfare Boards for ESM, Clubs, Holiday homes, Sainik Rest houses, Old age homes, Rehabilitation centers and more.

 

  1. Martyrs’ Memorials for CAPF personnel – There is a national Martyrs’ Memorial dedicated to defense forces, and there are also similar memorials at state capitals and cities. Is there any policy for CAPF also? If not, what stops the government from laying down a comprehensive policy for CAPF martyrs also. These monuments are there to symbolise that sacrifice for nation is honourd and never forgotten.

 

  1. ECHS (Defense) vs CGHS (CAPF) – The cost of both the post-retirement health cover Schemess is same, but the similarity ends there. ECHS is cashless from empaneled hospitals and coverage is much wider, but CGHS coverage leaves much to be desired

 

  1. Priority boarding at Airports – Such small gestures add to the dignity of service in the eyes of Public. For example a defense person travelling to Leh has priority but an ITBP personnel does not have that recognition.

 

  1. Designation of one day in a calendar years as Veterans Day – This can be done at the level of the Dte Gen ITBPF, as it is to be celebrated at the level of field formations and units only.

 

  1. Raising Day – An event may be dedicated to Himveer veterans during the week-long series of events during the Raising Day celebrations or any other day may be earmarked for the purpose.

 

  1. Dress code for veterans – There is well laid down dress code with medals for ex-servicemen for Force level/ Regimental functions or Independence Day/ Republic Day, ex-servicemen dedicated events. This tradition may be emulated for Ex-CAPF personnel also.

 

  1. Legal Assistance – Though legal recourse is a fundamental right, but due to conditions of service, access to legal help as last resort for getting the due rights is very difficult. The recent merger-demerger policy played havoc not only with career of Officers but also with the Force itself. Blind belief in authority which is part of the organizational culture led to a policy which was totally ill-conceived and illegal. The NFU case being fought in Honorable Supreme Court is another example of denial of genuine entitlements. Honor and Dignity should not be sought, but flow naturally. A situation of continued inequality weakens the self-worth and lowers the confidence.

 

  1. Incubation of Regional Chapters for expansion of Association – An Association of people working in jointly is always better than an individual and will achieve more. The purpose due to which association is being created is shared by many veterans across the States and regions. To enable them to join and collaborate in a manner in which they become well empowered entities at the regional level by joining The AIEPWA can help and guide them with Constitution and By-laws and Registration in respective states.

 

  1. What point of law prevents a cadre officer from being eligible for top post as already in case of Coast Guard? :- The honour and dignity lies not in fighting the old but building up the new paths. This point in no way is to question the officers on deputation, but to ask for own opportunity as has in the case of Coast Guard, where no point of law or procedure made the coast guard senior most officer ineligible for the top post. The coast guard is a CAPF similar to us.

 

“Strength of the wolf lies in the pack”

                                         Rudyard Kipling.

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