In his address at the first year Raising Day celebrations organised jointly by CEFAK and VeKare Ex-servicemen Trust here, he said the policy of the central government to make widows eligible for any one pension was unacceptable. The retrograde policy framed by lawmakers had no logic.
According to him, 80 per cent of men in military service retired in the age of 33 - 38 years to keep the armed forces young. They are forced to take up a re-employment in other government or private sectors. In case of their death on service or after retirement in the second government service, the widow pensioner is made eligible to opt for any one pension. Such a rule nullifies the ex-servicemen’s service either with the military or with other government sector. All the ex-servicemen and their widows would have to put a united front to fight the injustice, he told the gathering.
Citing other problems faced by the ex-servicemen, he said the retired people in Hassan, Chikkamagalur and surrounding areas had to travel to Mysore or Bangalore to avail the benefits under the CSD canteen. It is time that a CSD canteen was established in Hassan, he said adding that these issues and a host of other problems will be apprised to the defence ministry officials in New Delhi, when a delegation of CEFAK and VeKare Trust meet the authorities in near future.
He said CEFAK was not restricted to Kodavas alone, but would work towards the general welfare of the ex-servicemen. All ex-servicemen are welcome to the Association, he remarked.
Maj Gen(Retd) S G Vombatkere said serving officers should understand that they would also join the league of ex-servicemen soon and said officials should protect the interest of the community.
On the occasion, Kattera Kariappa, president of Kodava Samaj, Mysore urged the ex-servicemen community to become aware of their rights and reservations available in various schemes and programmes. The children of ex-servicemen should also become aware of reservations, he said.
Eldest military veterans Palandira Somaiah (89 years) and a world war II veteran Madrira Kaverappa, senior most widow of II world war veteran of Coorg Regiment Kodendara Mrs Thangamma Machaiah, war widows Lakshmi M Patil and Kavitha were honoured on the day.
A team of Soaring Sixteen group from 16 th batallion of Bihar regiment were also felicitated.
Wing Commander (Retd) Ronnie Mitra and Lt Col(retd) Manduvanda Lavakumar were present.