MINUTES OF CORE COMMITTEE MEETING OF TSEWA HELD AT 0900HRS ON 29 AUG 2018 AT 143 VAYUPURI, SECUNDERABAD
The following members were present :-
- Brig CS Vidyasagar (Rtd) – President
- Cmde Sudheer Parakala (Rtd) – Vice-President
- Col (Dr) GB Sethi (Rtd) – General Secretary
- Gp Capt CRR Sastry (Rtd) – Joint Secretary
- Hony Capt B Joseph (Rtd) – Joint Secretary
- Col MK Veeramani (Rtd) – President, Charity Division
- Lt Col Ravi Chowdhary (Rtd) – Legal Adviser
- Hony Capt MN Reddy (Rtd) – President, TSEWA Telengana
- Lt Col VS Ramana Reddy (Rtd) – Member
- Lt Col Vijay Chandra Salins (Rtd) – Administrator, TSEWA Web Site
President welcomed all and thanked them for attending this meeting.
Points from General Secretary
Present Position of National Confederation of Ex-Servicemen Organisations (NCESMO): General Secretary thanked all members of the Core Committee who took active part in hosting the inaugural meeting of NCESMO on 19 Aug 2018 in Secunderabad. All those who represented various ESM Associations in the country applauded the hospitality extend to them during their stay in Secunderabad on 19 Aug 2018. Everyone was well looked after right from arriving at Hyderabad till they departed to their permanent locations.
General Secretary emphasized that unless we get a meeting with Hon’ble Raksha Mantri before Model operation of Code of Conduct of State elections due in November and December 2018, we would not be able to show any progress and get more ESM Associations under the belt of NCESMO.
The President informed that a draft letter from the President, NCESMO has been sent to President, NCESMO. President also rang up Brig Kartar Singh President NCESMO and asked for the present position of the letter to be sent by him to hon’ble Raksha Mantri. Brig Kartar Singh replied that he just received the draft letter and he will send it to Hon’ble Raksha Mantri by end of the day. He was also told to ignore adverse comments from some of staunch supporters of some hostile ESM Association to the concept of NCESMO.
General Secretary informed that he has sent 8 agenda points (discussed in our CC meeting of 17 Aug 2018), for discussion with Hon’ble RM to Brig Kartar Singh. On being informed that he did not see, the President told him that these agenda points will be sent again. He requested Brig Kartar Singh to get agenda points from founding members of NCESMO, compile them and send them once invitation is received from Hon’ble Raksha Mantri for the meeting.
Action to be taken by President, General Secretary
General Secretary also brought out that some of TSEWA members and some non-members are sending mails criticizing the formation of NCESMO. It was the opinion of all that we should ignore such comments and go ahead with all connected activities to bring in ESM unity by bringing in more ESM associations under umbrella of NCESMO.
Forming Andhra, Telengana State confederations to join NCESMO: President again requested Hony Capt Joseph and Hony Capt MN Reddy to meet all ESM organizations in Andhra Pradesh and Telengana and strengthen the activities of formation of State Level Confederations. Same way he wanted Presidents of other states also to be expedited through our EC members and Presidents of TSEWA in other states.
Action to be taken by Hony Capt Joseph, Hony Capt MN Reddy
TN ESM Confederation: Col MK Veeramani (Rtd) informed that he had seen a mail sent by W/O Thiru Chelvam, President, TSEWA, Tamilnadu that in his state, they have already formed a State Level Confederation of various ESM organizations under one umbrella. President requested Col MK Veeramani (Rtd) to speak to W/O Thiru Chelvam (Rtd) and ask him to add more ESM organizations of Tamil Nadu into their State Confederation. Col Veeramani (Rtd) was asked to send a copy of the Resolution made by Gp Capt CRR Sastry (Rtd) for NCESMO, for further necessary action by W/O Thiru Chelvam.
Action to be taken by Col MK Veeramani (Rtd)
Other ESM Associations willing to join NCESMO: Col MK Veeramani (Rtd) also informed that he has seen a email sent by PO Bidyadhar Nayak (Rtd) that their Odisha Chapter of ESMs with about 10,000 members are prepared to join the NCESMO. The procedure to admit new members was discussed and it was decided that all founder members of NCESMO be informed of such a move. New ESM Associations be admitted by consensus of all 11 founder members of NCESMO. The committee directed President TSEWA to inform Brig Kartar Singh, President, NCESMO to inform all founder members and seek their opinion. This will set a democratic ethos of consultations and every founding member of NCESMO feels that their acceptance was also sought. The committee felt that President and Vice President of NCESMO should not take any unilateral decision which might lead to bitterness.
Action to be taken by President
Position of AFT cases: Position of filing of AFT – 20 case of deduction of money from EME JCOs due to their non – option in time to come over to 6 CPC. This case is moving very slow. Many affected EME JCOs are reminding the General Secretary and President about filing this case in AFT Delhi. Gp Capt CRR Sastry (Rtd) was asked to speak to Brig SKS Rana, VSM, (Rtd) to expedite the matter. The advocate in AFT Delhi wanted the amount of deduction from each of the petitioners. General Secretary informed that it will take unduly long time to get this information from all petitioners. Whatever information is available with us should be sent to our advocate through Brig SKS Rana, VSM (Rtd). If we insist all petitioners have to submit their deduction running into Rs 2 to 5 lakhs, the case is likely to be delayed by another one year and will attract severe criticism from the petitioners.
Lt Col RK Tripathi (Rtd) has not sent the format for affidavit because of which BB – 3 case was not admitted in AFT Delhi in spite of repeated reminders. Brig SKS Rana, VSM (Rtd) is again requested to impress upon the advocate to send the affidavit for our future requirement.
General Secretary and President advised Gp Capt CRR Sastry (Rtd), legal advisor to go to Delhi, discuss with Brig SKS Rana VSM , two advocates in AFT of the delay in filing legal cases in AFT Delhi. We are unable to answer persistent queries posed by the petitioners. Cmde Sudheer Parakala (Rtd) again brought out that so far the time frame which was to be decided for various activities at TSEWA HQ, with Brig SKS Rana VSM, and with Brig Srivastava VSM in processing of legal cases have not been finalized. Due to this, there is considerable delay in filing the cases in AFT. Many of our members who have joined for various AFT Cases are pressurizing the President, General Secretary and him to early filing of the legal cases in AFTs. He wanted Gp Capt CRR Sastry (Rtd), legal advisor to bring this issue to notice of Brig SKS Rana VSM (Rtd) and two advocates in AFT Delhi and decide the time frame at the three levels i.e. Hq TSEWA, Brig SKS Rana, VSM (Rtd) and Advocates in AFT.
Action to be taken by Gp Capt CRR Sastry (Rtd)
Regarding AFT -7 case of wives of deceased soldiers dying in harness to get Special Family Pension (SFP), it was brought out that our advocate insisted that it has to be filed as an individual case and not as a Class Action suit as circumstances of death of each of the husbands of petitioners is different. The committee strongly felt that any person dying in harness due to any reason, is to be treated as died in harness and the SFP should be sanctioned to his wife. It was the opinion of all members that all such cases are to be treated as a single case and case to be filed accordingly, instead of treating each case as a separate case and file individual cases. Gp Capt CRR Sastry (Rtd) was asked to talk to Brig SKS Rana VSM (Rtd) about this case also and arrive at a solution at the earliest.
Action to be taken by Gp Capt CRR Sastry (Rtd) & Brig SKS Rana, VSM (Rtd)
Publication of TSEWA articles in Sanbun publications: General Secretary brought out that M/S Sanbun publishers, Delhi are keen to publish articles about various activities of TSEWA. After some discussions, it was decided that individual members should write articles of their area of responsibility and send the same to Gp Capt CRRSastry (Rtd), who will suitably edit it and make it an article to be read and understood by any civilian about Armed Forces in General and about the welfare activities of TSEWA in particular. General Secretary, Treasurer, President, Vice President, President Charity Division, Lt Col VS Ramana Reddy and any member of TSEWA or Presidents of TSEWA at various levels and members of Executive Committee to write articles of interest and send the same to Gp Capt CRR Sastry (Rtd). President suggested that a team comprising of Gp Capt CRR Sastry, Cmde Sudheer Parakala (Rtd) and Col Ajit Singh Rana (Rtd) can do the vetting and finalise the articles. Such articles can be sent to Sanbun for publishing the same. It was the General Opinion that no point in publishing another book on all such matters, but articles will be better. The Committee also suggested that TSEWA should not incur any expenditure in publication of the book, as the offer has come from Sunban Publishers, Delhi to publish a book of articles of faujis which could be lapped up by civilians to know more about faujis.
Action to be taken by all concerned
Cmde Sudheer Parakala (Rtd) asked Col MK Veeramani (Rtd) to talk to Maj Gen NN Gupta (Rtd), Senior Vice President, Akhil Bhartiya Poorva Sena Sainik Parishad again about helping any daughter of an ESM for Charity to study any professional course with the donation given by Smt Asha Varanasi. When Maj Gen NN Gupta (Rtd) came to attend NCESMO on 19 Aug, Col Veeramani had already spoken to him to identify any suitable student for this Charity, which the general officer had assured to do the needful. However Col MK Veeramani (Rtd) was asked to expedite the matter.
Action to be taken by Col MK Veeramani
Expansion of NCESMO: Lt Col Ravi Chowdhary (Rtd) suggested that TSEWA should make efforts to unify many ESM Associations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to form State Confederations. He also saw a mail from President of recently formed ESM Association, Puducherry (UT) asking for help from TSEWA. President requested Lt Col Ravi Choudhary to do the needful in this regard.
Action to be taken by Lt Col Ravi Chowdhary
Points from Col MK Veeramani
Col MK Veeramani (Rtd) informed that his friend Dr Srikant Jawalkar who had donated Rs 50,000/- to TSEWA and promised to donate Rs 50,000/- every year to TSEWA has volunteered to donate the profit to be earned by him by selling his photos in the photo exhibition soon going to be held in Hyderabad. He is photographer of repute and goes all over the world. He specialized photographing nature. He said that he will contact his doctor and other friends to come for the exhibition and buy his photos. Same way he wanted TSEWA to send a mail to local TSEWA members to visit the exhibition, buy the displayed photos and help TSEWA to get some additional donation. President asked Col MK Veeramani (Rtd) to send a suitable mail to all local TSEWA members in this regard.
Action to be taken by Col MK Veeramani (Rtd)
Col MK Veeramani asked Hony Capt Joseph about helping Mrs Padma ( W/O Declared Deserter Sep Veeriah of 17 Kumaon) to get the cheque book from her bankers. Since this is a zero balance bank account ( under PM’s Jan Dhan Yojna), cheque books are not issued. Col MK Veeramani had suggested that Hony Capt Joseph to go to her bank along with her, deposit Rs 500/-, collect a cheque book, get one cancelled cheque leaf, give the same to Lt Col Ravi Chowdhary, who will get her entitled money from the AGI, Delhi. Hony Capt Joseph informed that he will be leaving tonight for Bhadrachalam on this task and will do the needful. All appreciated the good work of Hony Capt Joseph.
Action to be taken by Hony Capt Joseph, Lt Col Ravi Choudhary
Points from the President
Presentaton on some of Post – 2016 JCOs getting less pension than their Counter parts in OROP: The President made 45 mins presentation on how some Post – 2016 JCOs are fixed less pension compared to their counter parts who retired in 2013 or earlier years. For example a Subdear of AOC of Group – Y with 28 years of service who is due to retire on 31 Aug 2018 was sanctioned pension of Rs 27,100 as seen from his PPO. The pension of Subedar who put in 28 years’ service and of Group – Y in OROP is drawing Rs 31,529 today. The pensioners who retire later generally get higher pension than their counterparts in OROP.
The President during his presentation with examples of three Post – Subedars and one post – 2016 Brigadier showed that only those whose Pay in Pay Band (or Band Pay or Basic Pay) in 2013 is less due to delayed promotions than the PIPB out of OROP of those who actually retired with same service in 2013 will draw less pension. The MS PP slides are attached. All appreciated the good work done by President
There being no other points the meeting ended.
Brig CS Vidyasagar (Rtd)
President,TSEWA