ENHANCEMENT IN FAMILY PENSION

 DEMAND FOR ENHANCEMENT OF FAMILY PENSION

While the Service pension was enhanced for the Other Ranks from Sepoy to Sub. Maj. w.e.f. 01.07.2009 by the recommendations of the Cabinet Secretary’s Committee, corresponding enhancement was not given to family pensioners.  It was a great disappointment to the family pensioners.

Since Service Pension is fixed at 50% of the pay and family pension at 30%, any increase in service pension should have been allowed to family pension also.  Unfortunately, the MOD and Dept. of ESM Welfare was intentionally confusing the issue and denying the legitimate increase for the family pensioners.

This grave anomaly and the injustice was explained in detail by the IESM Chairman with a group of widows to the Hon. Defence Minister and the UPA chairperson Smt.Sonia Gandhi on 14 Nov 2011.  The Defence Minister was convinced over the legitimate demands of the widows represented by the IESM and it seems now that the MOD has finally agreed to enhance the family pension of other ranks in line with the revision done for service pension.

It is not known as to how the MOD will draft the changes.  However, ordinary soldier and the bottom most family pensioner expects the following minimum improvement in the family pension if it is accepted in proper perspective.

The following table will show the existing family pension and the expected improvement in the family pension, if implemented.

Existing family pension	Expected improvement in family pension
Sep ‘X’ Group     Rs.3,500	Rs.4,305
Sep ‘Y’ Group     Rs.3,500	Rs.3,690
Naik’X’ Group    Rs.3,500	Rs.4,608
Naik ‘Y’Group    Rs.3,500	Rs.4,035
Hav ‘X’ Group    Rs.3,500	Rs.5,103
Hav ‘Y’ Group    Rs.3,500	Rs.4,377

             

At present the minimum family pension is Rs.3,500 for all the above three Ranks irrespective of their group.  There is no relevance for the Rank.  This is a grave anomaly and injustice.  Our sincere thanks to IESM for taking up the matter.