indian veterans for democracy profile

Indian Veterans for Democracy (IVD) ( A Political Front of Retired Military Soldiers)

We have served democratic India with our blood, now we will live for democracy

Veterans have a political stake in the democracy and will exert and exercise it

Democracy is too dear to the veterans to be ignored



JAI HIND

Join the movement. Join the group at Facebook by clicking our link

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Political Prayer of Veterans for Democracy

If, one has faced death,

he understands how precious the life is

If, one has faced war,

he understands the real value of peace

If, one has fought to prevent injustice,

he understands what the justice means

If, one has experienced extreme anger,

he understands the true meaning of love

If, one has seen destructions and devastations,

he understands the real meaning of growth, development and prosperity

If, one has carried the honours of uniform silently,

he understands the real meaning of freedom of speech

If, one has lived by his commitments to the nation,

he understands the oneness of people irrespective of their caste, creed, gender and religion

If, one has stood by freedom risking his blood,

he understands the true value of democracy.





Indian Veterans For Democracy (IVD)

Background

Indian Veterans for Democracy (IVD) is a political platform for a large number of retired Military Veterans

(officers including SS and woman officers, JCOs and ORs and equivalent ranks in other services), their families,

supporters, sympathisers and various organisations to create awareness, express, demand and participate in

the process of democracy to further strengthen it.

Commitment

IVD is not affiliated to or front organisation of any political party or political believes. IVD is fully committed to

the principles of ‘democracy by the people for the people’ and the spirit of ‘we the people’ as given in our

constitution.

Mission

IVD is working towards integrating all stake holders through this political platform to become a meaningful

force to uphold the values of democracy and create a voice in its support.

IVD is working with an agenda to integrate and meaningfully mobilise large number of voters among retired

military veterans, their families, supporters, sympathisers and various organisations for nation building in a

democratic and peaceful manner.

Objectives

IVD will work with the objectives of strengthening the democracy by active participation in the nation building

process within the framework of our constitution and democratic value. IVD believes that:

1. Political corruption, economic disparities among various sections of society, backwardness of various

regions, divisive political games, fatigued governing; justice and administrative system, poor foreign,

defence and security management policies and unsettled boarders are the biggest security threats for

the nation and proactive and immediate measures are needed to address them.




2. It is the utmost responsibility of democratically elected government to work with fair judgment and

without any discrimination, abiding by the directive principles of governance as given in our

constitution, to be a welfare and institutionalised state based on the principles of equal opportunities,

assured fundamental rights, freedom of expression, protection of human rights, social justice,

brotherhood, tolerance, and secularism (state to encourage dialogue and interactions among all

religions and support inter-religious harmony without any discrimination) for India to emerge as a

secure, peaceful and prosperous nation.

3. India with her size, location and all resources at her possession and disposal has the potential to play

a positive and leading role in world affairs and deserves a place to actively work for strengthening the

UN, conflict management through dialogue and assertive persuasion/ outlook, global peace, fair trade

and global business practices, human rights and environment protections based on the principle of

equality of nations and mutual respect.

4. Large pool of talent among retired veterans (including short service commissioned officers) must be

utilised by the state for nation building efforts by having a structured policies and provisions to re-

settle them respectfully corresponding to their experience and position, in govt administration, public

sector, business and corporates and ensure their welfare. The infusion of military work culture,

operation concept and technology after due adaptation cycle in govt, civil and corporate environment

is a proven methodology to strengthen the character of a society.

Strentgh

Retired military veterans with their character, values, ethos, talent, skills, size and spread along with their

families, supporters, sympathisers and various related organisations can create a strong political voice for

strengthening the democracy and extend support for achievements of objectives given as above.

Action Plan

IVD proposes to build a political movement progressively by uniting concerned people, stake holders, and

organisations through this platform by directly be part of it or have association or by supporting or

sympathising with it.

The action plan will be implemented in following stages

1. Stage 1. Awareness. IVD plans to progressively spread awareness among all stake holders about the

existence of this platform, its utility, issues and demands to prepare a base by mid-2013. A core team

of convenors will manage the stage.

2. Stage 2. Laying the base. Well before parliamentary elections in 2014 IVD wishes to consolidate and

form basic organisation structure.

3. Stage 3. Strategic entry into political decision cycle. IVD will than attempt to make a strategic entry

into the political decision cycle from helping the political parties to include our demands to assisting

governments and parliament in implementing the same.




Methodolagy

IVD plans to remain in constant dialogue and interaction with military veterans, govt, various political parties

and stake holders through all mediums using democratic tools to create awareness, educate and assist

authorities and institutions to achieve its objectives in peaceful and democratic manner.

IVD will create awareness to garner support among various political parties on the issues related to nation

building and military veterans. IVD will also impress upon various political parties to nominate candidates from

military veterans and others who have proven track records and qualifications in various elections. All

necessary inputs and assistance shall be provided to all political parties to draft their elections manifests on

the relevant issues.

IVD will join hands with other organisations to mobilise support of MPs and MLAs to assist govt in passing

relevant laws which support achievement of objectives of IVD as stated above.

IVD will endeavour to create awareness and educate voters among military veterans to vote for political

parties who are willing to work for their cause of nation building.

IVD in long term wishes to create a nationwide organisational network to help, assist and guide military

veterans and also form bodies at district and block levels to help them resolve their problems with district and

block administrations and also to mobilise them in case of need.

Military Veterans need to realise their potential to work together for the cause. Let us mobilise ourselves and

help our society in nation building.

Military related specific demands are attached as annexure

Please Rise, Join Hands and Contribute in Nation Building


JAI HIND







Annexure

Demands for Resettlement and welfare of Veterans and War Widows

Constitutional Reforms

1. Carry out constitutional amendments to clearly include the Resettlement and Welfare of Military Veterans

in the concurrent list. Presently our constitution is silent on it. The subject is not even mentioned in any of

the list of VII schedule making it a part of the govt’s responsibility. The passing of such acts and rules will

make it an obligatory constitutional responsibility of the state to ensure resettlement and job security to

all ranks of veterans, war widows and depends.

2. Bring required provisions for management of war and peace and all other related subjects. Presently

there are no such provisions in our constitution. These subjects are only mentioned in the first list of

attached VII schedule of the constitution. In our parliamentary form of democracy, parliament must have

some say or control on matters of management of war and defence of India.

Legal Reforms

3. Accordingly pass military veteran resettlement and welfare act and rules (on similar lines as USA, UK and

other countries) and implement it at centre and state levels to ensure job and settlement assurance to all

ex-servicemen, disabled and homeless soldiers, war widows and dependents. Include provisions for

considering military persons at par with central and state employee for giving jobs to their dependents in

case of deaths. Such acts and rules are there in all democracies of the world.

4. Amend Govt Business Rules accordingly and bring the subject under Ministry of Human Resources

Development. Place DGR under Ministry of HRD with concurrent relationship with Minster of Corporate

Affairs as MOD is not capable enough to plan and implement such schemes effectively.

5. Create national and state commissions for military veterans on the lines of Minority or SC/ST commission

at centre and states both.

6. Promulgate Short Services Commissioned and Woman Officers Acts and Rules. The same shall include

their resettlement and welfare provisions.

7. In terms of Articles 309-313 of the constitution, promulgate All India Defence Services Acts and Rules on

the lines of All India Services Acts and Rules. Presently these provisions are in form of regulation (DSR)

which have been issued by the ministry of Defence and leave lots of scope of misinterpretation causing

sufferings. Such sensitive issues needs to be put in form of Acts and Rules in terms of Article 312 and 313

of our constitution with proper parliament sanctions.




Administrative Reforms

8. Give job security to all willing serving Officers (regular and short service), JCOs and soldiers from all three

services who retire before 60 years of age, by assured lateral entry into All India Services, Central Services,

centreal and state govt services, railways, ordinance factories and PSUs on in according to their length of

service (equating with length of service of all civil jobs) and position.

9. Bring a separate pay commission for armed forces and also give pension based on the principle of “One

Rank One Pension”.

10. Provide incentives to PSUs and corporates to encourage them to give employment to military veterans.

Certain appointments in certain sensitive areas like telcom, transport, highways and defence industries by

law to be occupied by ex-defence staff.

11. Provide incentives in Govt contracts to corporates who have formed consortiums and JVs with military

owned private companies.

12. Provide suitable relaxations (in terms of BG, EMDs, experience and size of company) for company owned

by military veterans to help them bid in govt tenders.

13. Make suitable amendments in company laws to encourage companies to have military veterans as

independent directors.

14. Provide invectives to military veterans owned companies in Govt procurement policies.

15. Provide sufficient loans on marginal interests with relaxed security and repayment terms for military

veterans to start business. Suitable incubators be created to help veteran in starting the business. All

military held venture be IT free for first 7 years from the start of the date of the project or 12 years from

the date of retirements.\

16. Create veterans homes all across country for those who are left alone and helpless.

17 Create strong education training support system in India and abroad (may be credit base as in US army)

for serving officers and soldiers. All military training and education be given due education recognition

(Post Graduate. Graduate, Diploma/ certificate)




indian veterans for democracy profile

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