COMMENT ON DISCONTENTMENT OF A VETERAN

The problem with the ESM is that we think that everyone else is responsible for our welfare. I think that time has come for us to find ways and means of helping each other and if we cannot do that, atleast retain our dignity and stop seeking help from others.

I have come across many incidents wherein the Veterans have willingly offered to donate their lands for starting the ECHS clinic or the ESM canteen. But, unfortunately, it has not happened in Kerala. Are we all so poor or, is it something else? I think that the time has come for us to introspect.

Navy and Airforce have associations where all ranks are members. However, most of the Army officers prefer to be members of the officers association. Probably, this separation may be running counter to the increasing social aspirations of the retired PBOR. A mechanism to have a common platform like Army Foundation could be thought of. However, there has to be readiness to have PBOR veterans in some of the controlling positions.

Issues related to the Veterans are many and some of them are outside the limits of reality. I have had a veteran officer approaching me to take up a case for getting free membership of a club because of his service in uniform. I can quote many instances where the veterans, insted of helping each other, have resorted to complaining to the RM. Of course, there are good examples too. To quote one, I was pleasanly surprised to see Air Marshal Nair (Retd) sitting at the reception of the ECHS clinic Secunderabad and preparing slips for the patients. He does this every day. Can we hope to see something similar in Kerala? When such display of magnanimity becomes more frequent, there would certainly be a reduction in the percieved distance between the retired officers and the PBOR.

Eapen.

Mon, 3/8/09, eapen kochekkan