Why are Military Veterans Dying Young
Impetus for this blogpost addressed to Defence Minister of India came from a report titled 'Battle for Recognition' published in the Hindu of 29/11/15, which claimed that with per-capita cost at Rs. 2.97 Lacs the CAPF were lowest paid employees of GoI and that Defence Person at Rs. 3.24 Lacs per annum was second lowest paid. However a deeper analysis shows that in terms of life time costs Military is paid the least. In this post I propose to nail the lie about Cost of Soldier to Government and underscore the fact that Military Veterans are dying young. To prove my points I have relied solely on the data given in the Report of 7th CPC (this will makes task of cross checking the figures easy).
1. Cost of Soldier to Government. The 7th CPC computes per-capita cost of MHA employee at Rs. 2.97 Lacs at Para 3.65 on Page 35 and since CAPF form more than 96 percent of MHA strength, this can be safely presumed to be cost of a Constable of CAPF.
In Para 6.2.73 (i) (b) on Page 121 the 7th CPC states that Military Service Pay (MSP) gives edge of 27.77 percent in emoluments to a soldier in comparison to a constable of CAPF. Thus we can assume the Cost of Soldier to Government to be Rs. 2.97+27.77% = 3.79 Lakh per annum. However actual expenditure on Pay and Allowances during FY 11-12 was Rs. 39996 Crore less Rs. 2000 Crore paid to Defence Civilians in Army thus per-capita cost of Army was 3.27 Lacs. In any case both the figures are much less than per-capita cost of MoD Civilian at Rs. 4.31 Lacs or Revenue at Rs. 5.10 Lacs.
However per-capita cost while in service tells only half of story because a soldier retires after 17 years of service with least possible pension in last rank held (Naik TS) while every CAPF Constable gets to serve till 58 years of age after getting three MACPs retires with maximum possible pension in last rank held (ASI). Thus lifetime earnings of a soldier on reaching 75 years of age are 45 percent of CAPF Constable reaching 75 years of age.
2. Plight of Veterans. Refer to tables given on Page 382 and 400 of the Report of 7th CPC. First point to note is that 182000 soldiers have retired even before they attain 45 years of age due to the fact that soldiers start retiring after 17 years service when they are 39/40 year old. Second important fact is that 57 percent of military pensioners are below 60 years of age, 19 percent in 60 to 70 year age bracket and 16 percent in 70 to 80 year bracket. In case of Defence Civilian pensioners, no one retires before 60 years of age, 51 percent are in 60 to 70 year age bracket and 40 percent in 70 to 80 year age bracket. Third albeit most alarming fact that emerges from analysis of this data is that Military Veterans are dying younger in 40-60 year age bracket at annualized rate of 3.8 percent as compared to annualised rate of 2 percent for Defence Civilian Pensioners in age bracket 60-70 years. In a country where average life span is 72 years, early death of military veterans is sure sign of economic hardship and stressful life both prior to and after retirement.
I am sanguine that:
(A) You would kindly take concrete steps to either ensure that All Rank serve till 60 years of age or retire with 75 percent of last pay drawn as pension and OROP is applied as defined by the Parliament.
(B) Institute a time bound study by 'Out of Government Expert Group' to identify causes and suggest remedy for short life span of military veterans.
1. Cost of Soldier to Government. The 7th CPC computes per-capita cost of MHA employee at Rs. 2.97 Lacs at Para 3.65 on Page 35 and since CAPF form more than 96 percent of MHA strength, this can be safely presumed to be cost of a Constable of CAPF.
In Para 6.2.73 (i) (b) on Page 121 the 7th CPC states that Military Service Pay (MSP) gives edge of 27.77 percent in emoluments to a soldier in comparison to a constable of CAPF. Thus we can assume the Cost of Soldier to Government to be Rs. 2.97+27.77% = 3.79 Lakh per annum. However actual expenditure on Pay and Allowances during FY 11-12 was Rs. 39996 Crore less Rs. 2000 Crore paid to Defence Civilians in Army thus per-capita cost of Army was 3.27 Lacs. In any case both the figures are much less than per-capita cost of MoD Civilian at Rs. 4.31 Lacs or Revenue at Rs. 5.10 Lacs.
However per-capita cost while in service tells only half of story because a soldier retires after 17 years of service with least possible pension in last rank held (Naik TS) while every CAPF Constable gets to serve till 58 years of age after getting three MACPs retires with maximum possible pension in last rank held (ASI). Thus lifetime earnings of a soldier on reaching 75 years of age are 45 percent of CAPF Constable reaching 75 years of age.
2. Plight of Veterans. Refer to tables given on Page 382 and 400 of the Report of 7th CPC. First point to note is that 182000 soldiers have retired even before they attain 45 years of age due to the fact that soldiers start retiring after 17 years service when they are 39/40 year old. Second important fact is that 57 percent of military pensioners are below 60 years of age, 19 percent in 60 to 70 year age bracket and 16 percent in 70 to 80 year bracket. In case of Defence Civilian pensioners, no one retires before 60 years of age, 51 percent are in 60 to 70 year age bracket and 40 percent in 70 to 80 year age bracket. Third albeit most alarming fact that emerges from analysis of this data is that Military Veterans are dying younger in 40-60 year age bracket at annualized rate of 3.8 percent as compared to annualised rate of 2 percent for Defence Civilian Pensioners in age bracket 60-70 years. In a country where average life span is 72 years, early death of military veterans is sure sign of economic hardship and stressful life both prior to and after retirement.
I am sanguine that:
(A) You would kindly take concrete steps to either ensure that All Rank serve till 60 years of age or retire with 75 percent of last pay drawn as pension and OROP is applied as defined by the Parliament.
(B) Institute a time bound study by 'Out of Government Expert Group' to identify causes and suggest remedy for short life span of military veterans.
posted by Yogi at 1:40 AM
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