ESM resents decision on I-cards issuance

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Feb 24: The War Decorated India- a registered Charitable Association of PVC, MVC, VrC, VC and MC awardees, has expressed resentment against the new decision with regard to issuance of I-cards to Ex-Servicemen (ESM).
In a press statement here the Association said that defence personnel after retirement get settled in their local villages, mostly in rural and remote areas. Their contact with the remaining world is mainly through the Sainik Welfare Department (SWD), for welfare, care and documentation for themselves and their families. It monitors various welfare schemes launched by Central and State Governments that benefit the ESM, the War Widows (Vir naris), children and aging parents in case of young martyrs.
Troops hailing from J&K are largely enrolled in JAK Rifles, JAKLI, Dogras, Grenadiers, besides Artillery, Armoured Corps, Signals, Engineers, ASC, AOC and various other Arms and Services. Barring JAKLI, all other Record Offices are spread over the entire country in places like UP, Rajasthan, MP, Karnataka etc. It is difficult and cumbersome for retired ESM, Vir Naris and children to get in touch with the far flung records offices.
Recent announcement the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has declared that there is a plan to change the responsibility of issue of identity cards for ESM and their dependents from SWD to Record Offices and Service HQs. There is no such change in case of IAF & Indian Navy. The decision is unsuited on many grounds. It disturbs a time tested smoothly running system, with neither any representation against, nor experienced difficulty/ lacuna. It shall be breaking the established linkage, identification and resultant chain of interaction between SWD & ESM/ families; nullifying an ongoing existing form of NRC for about 1.6 lakh population in J&K alone.
All physical check of documents local problems of documentation/ certification from local civil authorities will become cumbersome, time consuming. Experience at SWD shows frequent need for many corrections amendments in I-cards due to mismatch of dates/ spellings in original old documents/ academic certificates, bank pass books etc which need local verification and correction now done locally by SWD. It would be problematic to shift these to Records Offices far away. Replacement of lost, defaced cards and amendments / photo recognition on aging will multiply problems. The Association said that the proposal is ill-conceived and Union Govt should go for its review.

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