Ballia (Bihar):
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General V K Singh, has hinted at implementation of One Rank One Pension and said all information regarding ex-armymen would be collected and their problems would be sorted out.
Addressing a conference of ex-armymen yesterday, General Singh said that all efforts were being made to implement One Rank One Pension from the last two years.
Stating efforts were also being made to remove disparity in the family pension scheme, the Army Chief said it may take time, but there would certainly be one or the other good outcome.
The implementation of One Rank One Pension would involve an expenditure of Rs 3,000 crore, but it was less from the point of the welfare of the soldiers, General Singh said.
He was in Ballia to unveil the statue of former Prime Minister Chadrashekhar at Devsthali.
Assuring soldiers after becoming pensioners they would not be forgotten, General Singh said both unit and headquarters have been directed to speedily redress pension related and other complaints of ex-armymen.
He said that all details of ex-armymen, including that of their families, were being gathered and they would include whether any family member of an ex-armyman was aggrieved and what his problem was.
Though the media was kept away from his programme, some reporters managed to enter the venue and enquired General Singh whether he would hand over documents related to the bribery case to the CBI.
The Army Chief refused to comment and said that media should gather information from the CBI in this regard.
At a public function later, General Singh emphasised on setting up of better educational institutions in rural areas and said they should focus on all round development of students.
"It is the responsibility of the younger generation to take the country forward," he added.
Chandrashekhar's son and MP Neeraj Shekhar and MLC Ravishanker Pappu were also present at the event.