Minutes of Virtual TSEWA Core Committee Meeting held at 1000 hrs on 13 March 2021
The following members attended:
1. Brig CS Vidyasagar President
2. Cmde Sudheer Parakala Vice President
3. Col Dr GB Sethi General Secretary
4. Lt Col G Parvathesam Treasurer
5. Maj Gen SN Mukherjee President TSEWA, West Bengal
6. Cmde KS Sandhu President Mumbai Metro
7. Col Srikantha Seshadri President Karnataka
8. Cdr Chandra Shekhar Member
9. Cmde Ashok Kota Member
10. Lt Col Dr. K Bhaskar Reddy Member
The President welcomed all present in the meeting and thanked them for their efforts to attend the virtual meeting. He requested the General Secretary to commence the proceedings.
Points of Discussion
Item No. I- Reservists Case.
The President and General Secretary expressed their concern that there has been no progress in filing the case in AFTs although the matter was being discussed for the last few years. Their numbers are dwindling and only around 4,500 Reservist soldiers are estimated to be surviving in their 80s.
Decision.
After prolonged discussion, it was decided that Brig SKS Rana, VSM, President of Legal Division should liaise with our Advocate in Delhi and take immediate action to file the case either in AFT Delhi or any other AFT as decided by him.
Item No. II – Donations to Ms. Madhurima.
The General Secretary informed that as on date, a sum of Rs. 7.50 lakhs has been donated by about 106 TSEWA Members directly into the account of Mrs. Jayanthi W/O Late Sepoy Satyanarayana Rao. The President while thanking the Members for generously donating expressed his concern that no donations were received from the Core Committee Members. He further informed that out of the total donations received, Mrs. Jayanthi could immediately clear hand loan of Rs.3.00 lakhs borrowed from her relatives and the balance would be utilized to pay for the Tuition Fee for the II Year. Maj Gen Shibnath Mukherjee and other Members opined that the donations should have been routed through TSEWA to facilitate the donors to avail IT Relief under Section 80 G and also to have total control on donations.
Decision.
It was decided by the Core Committee that henceforth all donations shall be routed only through TSEWA Account and not directly to any beneficiary. Any surplus funds received on account of any specific case be kept separately for use by similar such cases and all donors informed of the status of the funds donated by them.
Item No. III- TSEWA Office Building:
General Secretary informed that so far TSEWA received Rs. 9.00 lakhs only towards purchase of Permanent Office Space which is far below the target of Rs.25.00 lakhs, He lamented that other than Col (Dr) Bhaskar Reddy who donated Rs.20,000/- for this purpose, almost none of the local Members/Core Committee Members have donated any money.
Decision.
After prolonged discussion, it was decided that the environment should be appraised that approximately Rs.1.50 lakhs is being spent on rentals now for the office and this could be better utilized for charity to help very needy veterans if a permanent office space is purchased. The President is requested to highlight this aspect and send a fresh mail to the environment to donate generously towards the Building Fund.
Item No.IV – Shifting of TSEWA Office.
The General Secretary informed that TSEWA Office has been shifted out from Bhaskar Rao Nagar to the New premises at Rs.7,500/- PM rent thus saving some expenditure on account of Rentals.
Decision: Core Committee Members requested to visit the New Office Building at the following address to oversee the work:
Plot No.91, Ashok Enclave
Ground Floor
Opp Telangana Grameena Bank
Kapra, ECIL
Hyderabad – 500 062 (Telangana)
Item No.V- Progress on Identification of Permanent Office Space.
The Vice President who was appointed as President of Steering Committee for purchase of Permanent Office Building informed that we need a minimum of 1,000 sft for the office and at the present going rate, we would require Rs.30 – 40 lakhs.
Decision.
It was decided that the Committee would meet at 1000 hrs on Tuesday 16 March 2021 at 143, Vayupuri to review the progress and make fresh attempts to identify suitable premises.
Item No. VI- Pending AFT Cases.
The General Secretary and Members expressed their serious concern about the pending AFT Cases. They said that there is neither progress on various cases filed nor there is any progress on some of the pending cases yet to be filed. The matter was discussed at length and it was considered that immediate action should be taken progress the cases lest members lose faith in TSEWA.
Decision.
It was decided that all Presidents should identify suitable advocates (preferably ESM) practicing in their respective High Courts/AFTs and send their recommendations to Brig SKS Rana, VSM, President Legal Division. Brig Rana is requested to liaise with our advocates at Delhi to expedite pending cases where OA Numbers were given. He should also take immediate decision to file various cases awaiting filing, in HC/AFTs which are functional and not wait for filing in AFT Delhi alone.
Item No. VII- Membership Drive in West Bengal.
Maj Gen Shibnath Mukherjee informed that the New Membership drive is progressing well but there was an issue on some members submitting applications without photos and also about remittance of the Membership amount.
Decision. General Secretary will send details of the TSEWA Bank Account for remittance of amounts collected. Applications may be sent to TSEWA by scanning for immediate allotment of Membership number.
Item No.VIII. Scholarships from Madhuri Seva Fund.
The Treasurer informed that Col Nagesh Gupta was in touch with him and is willing to advance more money towards scholarships to poor brilliant children.
Decision.
All State Presidents to send recommendations in respect of deserving children from their states latest by 20 Mar 2021 to TSEWA attention: Col Parvathesam.
Item No. X. Vaccination Against COVID 19.
Though there are a few letters issued by the Government, Service Headquarters and MD ECHS, no specific Orders are issued about Military Hospitals vaccinating the Veterans and their dependent Families. The Vice President informed Members that in most of the Private Hospital, Government and PHCs the Registration and vaccination is freely available and that the veterans should visit these hospitals with their Aadhar Card and get themselves vaccinated instead waiting for Military Hospitals taking up this activity.
Decision.
All State Presidents are requested to advise the veterans and families to avail the vaccination facilities available in Private, Govt Hospitals and PHCs.
There being no further points, the meeting was closed at 12:10 PM. The next meeting will be held at 1000 hrs on 27 March 2021.
Brig CS Vidyasagar (Retd)
President, TSEWA