New Delhi: Asserting that the new rules for disability pension will prevent exploitation and misuse by military personnel, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan on Friday said it will “protect the genuine interest of personnel who acquire disability during service”.
At a press briefing held to address the ongoing debate around the disability and death pensions, Gen. Chauhan stressed that there would be no retrospective application and that the new rules does not, in any manner, alter the emoluments of war widows, family pensioners or veterans.
Most of the concerns of the ex-servicemen community were addressed at a meeting on 3 October, he added.
“The disability element has been renamed as Impairment Relief in respect of only those personnel who are not invalidated out due to their nature of disabilities and continue to serve till their term of engagement,” the CDS said, regarding the change in name of ‘disability pension’ to ‘impairment relief’, which the ex-servicemen community has alleged would be taxable.
He added that the change in name to Impairment Relief does not affect the “true nature of entitlement or quantum of emoluments.”
Gen. Chauhan said that the new rules would be applicable to only those personnel of the armed forces who have superannuated after 21 September, 2023.
IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V. R. Chaudhari, Navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Army vice-chief Lt Gen. M V Suchindra Kumar and Adjutant General Lt. Gen. Bansi Ponnappa were also present at the press briefing.
Concerns have been raised by a section of ex-servicemen after the Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff released a statement saying that the ‘Entitlement Rules for Casualty Pension and Disability Compensation Awards to Armed Forces Personnel (ER), which stipulates the conditions for award of death and disability compensation to armed forces, was revised with effect from 21 September 2023.
After the new Entitlement Rules were rolled out, the ex-servicemen community had raised a furore saying that the changes put them at a disadvantage as compared to their civilian counterparts working in the Government of India.
Gen. Chauhan reiterated that there would be “absolutely no change in the Entitlement Rules in giving out death and disability pensions.”
He said that the Guide to Medical Officers (GMO) was vetted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The guide helps medical officers of the three armed forces in understanding health-related policies of the forces.
“The revision of Entitlement Rules and Guide to Medical Officers will help retain a high degree of operational efficiency and motivation in all ranks of the armed forces,” he added.
The CDS reiterated that there was no change in the entitlement for any category of personnel being granted compensation for death or disability. The new rules encourage the idea of physical fitness, which is a hallmark of the armed forces, he said.
(Edited by Tony Rai)