ERASING THE WRONG IMPRESSIONS OF 3 RD PAY COMMISSION--Gp Capt AG Bewoor

Date:-07/06/26

THE SENTENCES BELOW WERE PUBLISHED BY MVI AND HAVE GOT A RESPONSE FROM GP CAPT A G BEWOOR

"For many years if not decades, many of us have just been blaming the Bureaucrats and the Govt for our status today. The deterioration started from 3rd Pay Commission in 1973 (and is still continuing), when they brought the military pension down from 70% to 50% and raised their own from 33% to 50% and many more such aspects.  After Gen Manekshaw, we haven't got a boss who would do something for the organization they served and became Chiefs or CDS. They are all politicians in uniform and are only worried about their post-retirement assignment of becoming MP or Governor.  Too bad, too sad, what else can we say? We are to be remembered only on 15th Aug and 26th Jan for hoisting the flags and sing patriotic songs whole day!"

---

RESPONSE BY GP CAPT A G BEWOOR

"Is this impression correct? After all this impression has been there for years if not decades, and continues even today? The accusation is that it was the military bosses who decreased the Fauji pensions from 70% to 50%. Is it correct? I place before readers that this impression is not correct and what are the facts!"--Gp Capt AG Bewoor

UNVEILING THE TRUE PICTURE

The information below and in the attached Pension Chart has been confirmed by more than one person who has worked on these reports. I hope this true picture will erase all the wrong impressions that have been pervading many Fauji minds, and even hearts! With these deeply embedded wrong impressions, some Veterans have even accused my father, Gen Bewoor, of cowardice, along with Adm Kohli and Air Chief Mehra and the military staff that worked on the 3 CPC. I am sure this information erases the wrong impressions being cast on many of our predecessors who were at the helm of affairs during the 3 CPC.

======================================================

FOOD FOR THOUGHT, CONTEMPLATION & CORRECTION

1. Many have asked why Bewoor and other Chiefs did not do what they should have during 3 CPC? Can I dare ask what Manekshaw did not do? Can I dare ask what Thimayya did not do? Can I dare ask what all Arjan Singh did not do? Can I dare to ask what did Sunderji do wrong? Can I dare to ask where we failed in OP BANDAR? Can I dare to ask where we screwed up in Kargil? Can I dare to ask what went wrong during Op Sindoor?  Without any worthwhile knowledge I would be stupid to ask these questions.

Those who accuse the leadership during the 3 CPC, are mired in falsehood. Because they believe what has been fed, and have made no study themself. Such men have enjoyed fake news, felt betrayed because it suited their temperament and lazy attitude. Can anyone make accusations on the military victors of the 1971 war for letting go 93,000 Pakistani POWs and not getting all of ours back? No, they blame the govt, but not their favourite general / admiral /air chief marshal. These three worthy men had nothing to do with the POWs and the POWs were not their private property. They were POWs of the Govt of India placed under command of the Armed Forces.

2. Another question is this, can the Fauji pension be 70% and that of the civil servant be at 33%? What was the justification for this huge difference? Does this mean that ICS got only 33% pension while Brigadiers of that time got 70%. How can anyone believe such rubbish? Have a look at the chart PDF. There is not one document that proves that Fauji pensions were 70%. The part that hurts these people is not that our pensions were made 50%, it is that civilians pension became 50%. How greedy and selfish can we be? They do not deserve at least 50%, like we do? Are they pariahs of India?

Chart

3. I have attached extracts from the 3 CPC report.  The pensions of Faujis were not even close to 50%, let alone 70%. It is the 3 CPC that increased our pensions without adversely impacting the DCRG.  It was the 3 CPC that introduced the Factor of Weightage, and all these crib masters have benefitted from that Factor. On the contrary, it was because of the trend set by the 3 CPC, that all further CPCs have added to the benefits of us Faujis, all the way to 6th CPC when our pensions & salaries went up appreciably. Like the POW scenario, the CPC canvas is also controlled by Govt. Military leaders do not resign, they stay on and fight. One chief did resign, and recall what happened in that aftermath.

4. Time to accept that you are wrong, and have been for years. Those who have carried these wrong impressions and had the guts to make false accusations on our predecessors including former chiefs, should have the courage to say sorry!

CLARIFICATIONS & EDUCATION BY AIR MSHL SHARAD SAVUR

"I read with interest the allegations that none of the earlier Chairmen of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (Committee with COAS, CNS and CAS as members and the senior most Chief as the Chairman) did nothing except “worry about post-retirement assignments.”

It would have been better if the persons did some serious facts checks from the myriad Govt documents and reports to find out the Truth like:

(a) The 50% of last pay drawn as pension was NOT an Army proposal but came out of the proposal of the 4th CPC that as the Govt had sanctioned and promulgated in the Gazette of India that 50% of last pay drawn would be the pension for the Judges of the High Courts and the Supreme Court, so it should be for Central Govt and Armed Forces pensioners.

(b) In 2008, soon after the 6th CPC report was made public, the CoSC approached the PM that they were not satisfied with what was being given to the Armed Forces by way of pay, allowances and pension. The PM ordered a Group of Ministers (External Affairs Minister as Chairman, Defence Minister and Finance Minister as Members). On 18 Dec 2008, this GoM made certain recommendations.

(c) As the CoSC pointed out anomalies in the GoM report, in 2009 the PM constituted a Committee of Secretaries headed by the Cabinet Secretary (known as Cabinet Secretary Committee or CSC for short) to examine in detail and make improvements. This report was presented in June 2009.

(d) CoSC pointed out more issues (about 43 in number, major & minor). It also had, in my opinion, frivolous issue like a Brig should be entitled to air-conditioned taxi when almost as taxis and cars in India were air conditioned except the Ambassador staff car.