Seventh pay panel to meet ex-servicemen`s aspirations: Army chief

Barrackpore (West Bengal): Conceding that the current pension benefits for the country`s ex-servicemen are not sufficient, army chief General Bikram Singh Sunday said he would try to ensure their aspirations and requirements are fulfilled when the Seventh Pay Commission comes up.

"I am deeply involved in meeting the aspirations and requirements of ex-servicemen. I know that currently what you are getting is not enough. But you know about the current financial conditions in the whole world. So, taking into account the condition of the government`s coffers, we have to deal with it," Gen Singh said while speaking at a mega ex-servicemen`s rally here. "However, I can assure you that when the Seventh Pay Commission will be set up and the economic conditions will start improving, all your aspirations and requirements would be included in it," he said. About 10,000 ex-servicemen, war veterans, disabled soldiers and war widows (veer naris) were present on the occasion. The Army chief said he had taken up the issue of pension benefits with the central government for the welfare of the ex-servicemen. Lauding the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government for supporting the army on welfare issues, he said it was giving "full support" for the re-employment of ex-servicemen. "I would like to inform you that the Indian Army is getting full support from the West Bengal government. When I met the chief minister earlier, then I saw her love and concern for the Army," he said. Gen. Singh said the army would set up old-age homes for ex-servicemen in every command across the country. "We are opening old-age homes in every command. We are currently experimenting in Chandigarh, where the first old-age home was built," he added. IANS