The focus has remained on surgical strikes and possible retaliation from Pakistan but the armed forces are also fighting a pay scale battle with the government.
Soldiers have not received revised wages or arrears, unlike their civilian counterparts, following differences on the pay commission award.
With the festive season approaching, serving and retired personnel are disappointed but the government is exploring options, including a possible one-time disbursement of dues pending a resolution of differences to bring festive cheer.
The armed forces are upset that with the new pay commission provisions, they have been equated to and in some cases scaled below the para military forces, which have a different role to play in the security matrix.
Many veterans who were debilitated during service are particularly hurt that a notification that effectively cut down a large portion of their disability pension was issued on September 30, a day after the surgical strikes.
In a petition that has been sent across associations and groups on Friday, veterans have said that the morale of the soldier needs to be kept high.
“SOLDIERS WHO WENT ACROSS DIDN’T GO WITH AN INTENTION TO GET ANY REWARD… THEY WROTE LAST LETTERS TO THEIR LOVED ONES, TO BE POSTED IF THEY DON’T RETURN.
Was it necessary for the government to announce the “downgrade” right after the surgical strikes?” the petition circulating on veteran networks said.
Veterans groups have come out strongly on the case of disability pension, saying that a change in rules will result in an effective cut in their pension, even after the 7th Pay Commission is implemented. “According to the new rules, many veterans will see a cut in pension to the effect of Rs 3,000-5,000.
We are clear that if this is not changed, we will go to the only option of legal remedy,” Colonel Devinder Behl (Retd), told ET on behalf of the Retired Defence Officers Association.
While all government employees have already received revised salaries and arrears, the armed forces are still waiting as the service chiefs took up a joint stand that the pay commission should not be implemented as there were anomalies that have given an unfair advantage to civilian counterparts.
However, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, who is the senior service chief, has said that the pay commission is being implemented.