Ex-servicemen demand national war memorial in Delhi

Former servicemen have asked the Union government to set up a national war memorial for the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country.
"There are many memorials scattered across the country, but these have been built either by local efforts or by army units or by those representing some martyrs, and none represents the martyrs on a national basis," President of All India Ex-Servicemen Council, Lt Gen (retd) Mandhata Singh, said at a press conference here today.
"The army even sanctioned a National War Memorial at the Princess Park in New Delhi, but the government of India found it against the beauty of the area and former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit also opposed it," alleged Singh, who is also veteran of Rajasthan Ex-Servicemen League.

Inspite of the promises made and various affidavits given in the courts, pay scales of servicemen have not been changed in the 5th and 6th Pay Commissions, he alleged and claimed that this was causing huge resentment among the serving and ex-servicemen.
Listing a number of other grievances, Singh alleged broadbanding policy with respect to servicemen's disability had not been implemented so far.
Singh alleged there was no parity between the pension of the new and old ex-servicemen, he said.
Speaking about the grievances of ex-servicemen and war widows in the state, Brig. (Retd) V D S Nirwan from the Council alleged the Rajasthan government had not reconsidered the package given to widows of service martyrs for the last 14 years.

A total of 43,991 widows, including 1,570 ward widows, had been receiving old package for the last 14 years, Nirwan said.