Hyderabad: September 2018 marks the 53rd anniversary of the end of the 1965 Indo-Pak war, but many officers who fought in it and in the 1971 war as Emergency Commissioned Officers (ECO) are denied retirement benefits on the grounds that they lack the tenure for being eligible for a pension.
A group of non-pension war veterans from Telangana, now in their 70s and 80s, are now seeking a policy decision from the Centre. However, the Union government has so far turned a deaf ear to their pleas citing rules and regulations.
Captain L. Pandu Ranga Reddy, who joined in 1963 and served in the 11th Gorkha Rifles, said “I was a Commander of the second level Gorkha Rifles during the 1965 Indo- Pak war and I headed major operations, including the Mizoram operation in 1967. I was released after 5 years and 6 months of service. I am currently 67 years old and recently underwent a cataract operation at a cost of '70,000. I need to operate my other eye too but lack funds. I suffer from heart-related problems also, but cannot afford to treat myself as the medication is expensive. I have been following up my case with the Indian Army which has recommended it to the MoE where it has been pending for over 2 years now.”
The veterans have also written to TS Chief Minister Mr Chandrashekar Rao seeking monetary benefits from the state government as they are few in number. “Over 12,000 people joined and they were released in a phased manner as their services were no longer required. We have been representing now for over 35 years. Many of us are suffering from ailments and need monetary benefits for survival.”
