Manipur Ex-Servicemen stage protest demanding Military Service Pay

One of the main demands of the pensioners is the implementation of Military Service Pay (MSP), which was recommended for the first time by the 6th Pay Commission in 2006

Reported by MK Henry

Thousands of pensioners belonging to the Ex-Servicemen (Junior Commissioned Officer) Association, Manipur gathered in Imphal today to stage a protest demanding military service pension (MSP), 7th pay commission, One Rank One Pension (OROP), widow pension, disability pension, reserve pensioners allowances, and honorary rank.

The protesting pensioners also raised their voices against the discrimination faced by the X-group and the allocation of medals.

One of the main demands of the pensioners is the implementation of Military Service Pay (MSP), which was recommended for the first time by the 6th Pay Commission in 2006. They pointed out that this Military Service Pay is also being given to military personnel in European services, and therefore, the officers of the Indian army have demanded its implementation in the Indian army as well.

The pensioners expressed their disappointment over the delay in the implementation of their demands despite assurances from the government. They warned of further protests if their demands are not met soon.

Ngamkhulun Signal of Corps ex-Servicemen said, “We hope that our demand for providing us welfare, facility to be fulfilled by the government.”

Paoboy Kuki of Ex-Servicemen stated, “We condemn OROP and we demand that our rights and needs should be fulfilled. The pay for MSP and Jawans should be equal we demand.”

The Ex-Servicemen (Junior Commissioned Officer) Association Manipur, in a memorandum submitted to the President of India, the Prime Minister of India, and the Defense Minister of India, highlighted the issue of Military Service Pay (MSP) and its implementation.

According to the memorandum, the MSP was first recommended by the 6th Pay Commission in 2006. The commission noted that the MSP was being given in European services, and the officers of the Indian Army demanded the same. However, in all the pay commissions that have been made to date, only army officers were appointed.

The memorandum further stated that when the 6th Pay Commission recommended the implementation of MSP in military service, it was surprising that a Class 1 officer objected to the proposal. The commission had recommended that MSP be given to Jawans at Rs. 1000 and officers at Rs. 6000 per month. The MSP in European countries is given equally to soldiers and officers, but in India, there is a big difference in the MSP of the Jawans and officers, which is not fair.

Despite this objection, the Central Government implemented an MSP of Rs. 2000 for Jawans and Rs. 6000 for officers, which the association claims is still not fair. The pensioners are demanding that the MSP be increased for Jawans and officers to bring parity between the two.

By Bhargobi Khaund

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