On 10 Apr 2023, it was widely reported in the media that the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), headed by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, had set up a committee to study the increase in disability pensions among armed force personnel. This happened in response to the Comptroller and Auditor General’s Report (CAG) on the subject, which insinuated that something is not right in the procedure for grant of disability pensions in the Armed Forces. The media reports suggested that the CAG commented negatively about the procedure for granting the disability pension and highlighted that some categories of soldiers are benefiting disproportionately because of some loopholes.
The media reports, however, failed to carry out an in-depth analysis of the whole subject and just concentrated on creating a media frenzy. The CAG, now infamous for reporting the huge losses in the 2G allotment and Coal Scam (no one has ever been indicted by the courts in these scams even after the passage of 10 years), has raised another false red flag that can tarnish the image of the only organisation (the Indian Armed Forces) of the country that enjoys high reputation and respect among the citizens of the country. The CAG report seems to be based purely on the number of soldiers getting disability pensions without studying the other laws of the land or even the various international conventions on the subject matter.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is an international human rights treaty that outlines the rights of persons with disabilities and the obligations of governments to promote, protect, and ensure those rights. The Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006 and entered into force in 2008. India is a signatory to this convention, and India ratified the said convention in early October 2007.
This story is from the June 2023 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 2023 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
TIME FOR A ROBUST BMD SHIELD
With nuclear-armed Pakistan and China in the neighbourhood, India must prepare ballistic missile defences at the earliest for protecting its densely populated cities
URGENT NEED FOR SMART AND LETHAL WEAPONS
India must tread the path towards the development of a whole gamut of next-generation smart and lethal weapons for countering a two-front threat scenario, writes AMARTYA SINHA
MOBILITY SOLUTIONS FOR THE INDIAN ARMY
While the Indian Army has a significantly large fleet of trucks and utility vehicles, there is a need to further augment the capabilities by adding latest platforms with better fuel-efficiency, faster speeds, larger wheelbases and enhanced axle-load bearing capacities, argues AMARTYA SINHA
C-295 CREATING A MANUFACTURING BLUEPRINT FOR INDIA
With the right momentum, a realistic roadmap and enabling policy framework, a story is being scripted to make India a hub for global aircraft manufacturing. The potential is enormous. An in-depth report.
ENHANCING NAVAL AVIATION CAPABILITIES
A robust Indian naval air arm will prove to be the biggest sea-based conventional deterrence, both for the tactical as well and strategic level battlefields.
HAS THE WORLD FORGOTTEN THE PLIGHT OF THE AFGHAN WOMEN?
With the Taliban and command in Afghanistan, serious questions are being raised about the status of women in that country. GAYATRI SINGH dissects the situation on the ground.
HOW TANKS ARE EVOLVING TO AVOID OBSOLESCENCE
Is the dominance of tanks in modern wars coming to an end? This question is increasingly attracting attention of the military experts as the ongoing war in Ukraine and the second Nagorno-Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan not long before have witnessed the staggering numbers of tanks being destroyed and outgunned, particularly by military drones.
MISSION GAGANYAAN AFTER LOK SABHA POLLS
The Indian human spaceflight programme will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s biggest gift to the Indian scientific community.
TIME TO GO FOR SIXTH-GENERATION AIRCRAFT
With China racing ahead in 6th-Gen Fighter Aircraft Programme, India cannot afford to be left behind. AIR MARSHAL ANIL CHOPRA (RETD) explains
Unending War In Ukraine
Is Russia's War in Ukraine following a script or it is lost in direction? RAVI SRIVASTAVA attempts to answer
