A meeting of the Udaipur Mandal Ex-Services League took place on Sunday May 06, 2012 at the Sainik Rest House, Madhuban, where some important and long term decisions were taken including a decision of developing an SMS communication network for ESM (Ex-Service Men) of Mewar- Vagad Belt to keep track of illness and eventualities amongst the veteran fraternity.

A suggestion by the President was approved to ensure that two veterans in Uniform with Full Medals MUST attend the last rites, lay wreath on behalf of the UMESL and sound a last post through an improvised electronic bugle.

The meeting was presided over by Brig (Dr) CP Joshi (Retd), President of the league and attended by Veterans Col Ravi Shankar, Col R S Baxi, Subedar Major Pooran Singh, Sergeant C S Pawar, Hav D P Singh Naik Dhrien Chobisa, among others.

A welcome address by the President followed by a condolence and obituary for the Late veteran, Wing Commander Hargovind Singh Ranawat who left for heavenly abode on April 30, 2012 began the meeting.

It was brought out by many members that the PENSION ADALAT held in December 2011 did not achieve the desired results. The feedback from the ESM community was very poor and it was told that either no response had been received by the complainants from the PCPDA (P) Allahabad or very contrary and irrelevant correspondence was being received. The members attributed this to the reluctant organizational response as a last ditch effort and total Non Participation by the District and the State Administration.

The President agreed with the general sentiment and felt that had there been a full fledged rally and large gathering of the entire MEWAR- WAGAD ESM community after appropriate publicity and mobilization by State and District administration then the pressure on the Pension Authorities had been more to resolve the issues.

It was ironic to see public recourses being mobilized by the same authorities for political gatherings to collect crowds but no attention being paid for gathering VETERANS and their families for the noble cause. It was decided that an appropriate feedback should be drafted and forwarded to the Central and State authorities including Ministry of Defense, Dept of Ex-Servicemen Welfare and Pension authorities at Allahabad and New Delhi.

Brigadier Joshi also brought out that the banks, as Pension distributing authorities (PDAs) have, by and large failed in their duties to correctly calculate and disburse the 6^th CPC dues to the ESM.

The PCDA(P), Allahabad and the CGDA, Delhi have now been prevailed upon by the Government of India to issue fresh PPOs to all Pre-2006 Defence Pensioners.

However it may take 1 or 2 more years to do so. Six years have already passed from the date of implementation of 6^th CPC and the 7^th CPC will be constituted on Jan 01, 2015. As per the decision already announced by the Govt of India, there will be a separate Pay Commission for Defence Services for the first time.

The implication is that this 7^th CPC will look into the pay and allowances of 1.2 Million serving Personnel and approximately 3 million pensioners. The correct representation and presentation of facts and figures on behalf of the ESM community will be a gigantic and challenging task. He asked the members to think and deliberate on the task and suggested that the Ex-Services league as a representative organization should play an important part in the run up for the 7^th CPC.

Col RS Baxi and Hav DS Paliwal informed that the District Soldier Board which was re- constituted in June 2011 after a prolonged gap as per the provisions in the charter and mandate of the KENDRIYA SAINIK BOARD, Ministry of Defence has been unilaterally dissolved by the Secretary District Soldier Board without holding a single meeting under the Chairmanship of the District Collector, Udaipur.

The action came as a shock to the ESM community as well as to the eminent citizens like Arvind Singhal (Industrialist), Dr KC Jain (Physician), B.L Mantri (Architect) and many other Ex-Serviceman officers and other ranks who were office bearers and members of this board.

The president informed that the said Board was constituted by the District Authorities, Udaipur after much persuasion to compose the board as per guidelines of the Centrl GOVT as given out in the charter of KSB/RSB/DSB available in writing and on the websites.

The idea was to involve a larger spectrum of population to help out the ex-servicemen, widows and their dependents in far flung areas.

The unilateral action by the Secretary, Udaipur Sainik Kalyan Adhikari without any prior intimation and holding a single meeting of the board is confusing to say the least especially in the eyes of the civilian members ( Eminent citizens). It was decided to pursue the matter and find out as to how a high level board constituted under the charter and mandate of CENTRAL GOVT authority has been arbitrarily dissolved by the secretary.

A decision was taken in the meeting to prepare and follow a yearly fixed calendar of minimum activities at regular intervals so that the members of the ESM community can meet each other, discuss their problems and fraternize by and large. It was also felt that a regular meeting ground should be developed for serving as well as civilian population to bring all together. With this point of view, the following calendar was proposed and tentatively approved-

(a) JANUARY / FEBRUARY – A Veterans and Families Milan and Bara-Khana ( Holi Milan) preferably under the aegis and organization of local formation at Military Station.

(b) MARCH / APRIL – “Healthy Heart for Healthy Nation” Run for serving soldiers, Veterans, Civilians and Families (Sponsored)

(c) MAY /JUNE – A Veterans Sainik Sammelan with local Formation at Military station

(d) JULY / AUGUST – War Casualty Veteran Late Major Sujeet Pancholy memorial ESSAY CUM PANEL DISCUSSION (sponsored)

(e) SEPTEMBER /OCTOBER – A Veterans and Families Day-Out with Lunch (Sponsored).

(f) NOVEMBER /DECEMBER – “HUTATMA DIWAS”, on 07 December. A Wreath Laying Ceremony at the altars of

The fallen soldier by Veterans and representatives of State/ Dist Adm, Civilians and Serving soldiers

Further, in the meeting, the contentious issue of War Memorial Vs Shaheed Smarak was discussed at length. It was agreed that a Shaheed Smark as patronized and understood in civil parlance does not meet the specific philosophy and spirit of a military war memorial.

Brig Joshi clarified that The UMESL will continue to demand for a WAR MEMORIAL at a suitable place at Divisional HQs of Udaipur to commemorate the fallen soldiers belonging to MEWAR–WAGAD region in any theatre of war within the country or on foreign lands under Pre-Independence British Indian or Post Independent Indian Flag.

It was informed in the meeting by the Treasurer that the financial position of UMESL was extremely poor.

A concerted drive to generate some funds was required to hold day to day regular activities and meet the stationary and other expenses. The Rajasthan league to which the Udaipur league is affiliated has been able to get a piece of land from Govt of Raj and PWD has constructed a 4 story building out of MP / MLA development funds. It will be named after IC 01 Late Major General K. Bhagwati Singh who was the first and founder president of the Rajasthan Ex services League. His son, ex-Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Madhvendra Singh has donated Rs. 1 Lac towards the building.

Sergeant Shakti Singh Rao, Jainarayan Shrimali and Nisar Ahmed also presented their point of views. The meeting concluded after the National Anthem and rededication to the Nation.