Pension for disabled: War hero slams HQ
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi:05.07.2019
Amid the continuing row over the government’s decision to tax the disability pension of military personnel, a 1971 war hero has criticised Army Headquarters for using his name to defend the move as well as deride soldiers with non-combat disabilities, medical conditions and ailments.
Maj Gen Ian Cardozo (Retd), who as a young major amputated his own leg with his khukri after a landmine blast, conveyed his “deep anguish and concern” to the Army HQ. “What soldiers suffering from any disability require is care and compassion, not disdain!” he wrote.
‘Misuse of system by a few must not be used to target actual cases’
The two types of disability benefits given to soldiers are the war injury pension and a normal disability pension due to the stress and strain of operational service.
The government, as well as Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat, have faced flak for the finance ministry’s recent order that the disability pension of all military personnel will now be taxed unless they have been forced or “invalidated” out of service prematurely, as was reported by TOI earlier.
The Army HQ, on its part, initiated the move on the ground that the “broad-banding and higher compensation awarded for disability with tax exemption” has led to a significant rise in personnel seeking it even for lifestyle diseases.
“The trend, if not checked at this stage, is a cause for worry. The Army cannot have a large number of personnel with medical disabilities in the rank and file when security challenges to the nation are on the rise,” it said.
But the move has not gone down well among veterans, who contend that misuse of the system by a few personnel should not be used to target all genuine disability cases.
“It’s ethically, morally wrong. We need to correct the system and not punish innocent disabled soldiers,” said former Army Chief Gen V P Malik (Retd).
An organization, the Disabled War Veterans (India), also took strong exception to the Army’s endorsement of the government’s decision, stressing any “discrimination or invidious distinction” affects the morale of the entire military community.
Gen Cardozo, on his part, said the disabilities painted as “lifestyle diseases” by the Army “are fully covered under the rules for disability pension” for the armed forces as well as central armed police forces because of their tough service conditions.
“If there indeed are a few instances of ‘feigned disabilities’, the loopholes may be plugged rather than broadbrushing. It is not understood why permissible benefits mandated by law are being demeaned,” he added.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
New Delhi:05.07.2019
Amid the continuing row over the government’s decision to tax the disability pension of military personnel, a 1971 war hero has criticised Army Headquarters for using his name to defend the move as well as deride soldiers with non-combat disabilities, medical conditions and ailments.
Maj Gen Ian Cardozo (Retd), who as a young major amputated his own leg with his khukri after a landmine blast, conveyed his “deep anguish and concern” to the Army HQ. “What soldiers suffering from any disability require is care and compassion, not disdain!” he wrote.
‘Misuse of system by a few must not be used to target actual cases’
The two types of disability benefits given to soldiers are the war injury pension and a normal disability pension due to the stress and strain of operational service.
The government, as well as Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat, have faced flak for the finance ministry’s recent order that the disability pension of all military personnel will now be taxed unless they have been forced or “invalidated” out of service prematurely, as was reported by TOI earlier.
The Army HQ, on its part, initiated the move on the ground that the “broad-banding and higher compensation awarded for disability with tax exemption” has led to a significant rise in personnel seeking it even for lifestyle diseases.
“The trend, if not checked at this stage, is a cause for worry. The Army cannot have a large number of personnel with medical disabilities in the rank and file when security challenges to the nation are on the rise,” it said.
But the move has not gone down well among veterans, who contend that misuse of the system by a few personnel should not be used to target all genuine disability cases.
“It’s ethically, morally wrong. We need to correct the system and not punish innocent disabled soldiers,” said former Army Chief Gen V P Malik (Retd).
An organization, the Disabled War Veterans (India), also took strong exception to the Army’s endorsement of the government’s decision, stressing any “discrimination or invidious distinction” affects the morale of the entire military community.
Gen Cardozo, on his part, said the disabilities painted as “lifestyle diseases” by the Army “are fully covered under the rules for disability pension” for the armed forces as well as central armed police forces because of their tough service conditions.
“If there indeed are a few instances of ‘feigned disabilities’, the loopholes may be plugged rather than broadbrushing. It is not understood why permissible benefits mandated by law are being demeaned,” he added.
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