The MEG, in April this year turned down 66-year-old Belliappa Motaiah’s plea to include his wife C.M. Jancy’s name in the records,
An Indo-Pak war veteran’s struggle to include his wife’s name in Indian Army records appears to have crossed a major roadblock with the Integrated Headquarters (IHQ) of the Ministry of Defence (Army) taking note of his plight and communicating the matter to the Madras Engineer Group (MEG).
The MEG, which in April this year turned down 66-year-old Belliappa Motaiah’s plea to include his wife C.M. Jancy’s name in the records, has now sent a letter to the Kodagu-based ex-serviceman, asking for an application to be sent again through the district office of Sainik Welfare and Resettlement.
The MEG’s apparent turnaround comes after The Hindu carried a report on Vekare Ex-Servicemen Trust (VKET), an NGO assisting ex-servicemen and their dependants, questioning the Army’s propriety in rejecting the veteran’s plea on the grounds that his service documents were destroyed 25 years after his retirement.
After the IHQ sent a “signal”, considered to be the fastest mode of communication in the Army, the MEG wrote to Mr. Motaiah asking for a fresh application along with the relevant documents.
Mr. Motaiah joined the Indian Army in the “boys company” of the MEG and Centre on April 20, 1968. He married Ms. Jancy in May 1986, about five years after he was discharged on his request on October 21, 1981.
While Mr. Motaiah is planning to send the application and documents after the rain fury in Kodagu abates, VKET president M.N. Subramani wondered why the MEG requires an application to be sent afresh. “They have asked for a fresh application and documents only to cover up their mistake,” he said.
Referring to the MEG seeking Ms. Jancy’s school certificate, along with the other documents, Mr. Subramani said such a certificate was “irrelevant”. “It amounts to harassing the applicant,” he said.
In his original application, Mr. Motaiah had included copies of marriage certificate issued by the Registrar of Marriage, an affidavit sworn before the notary, his service ID card, his army discharge book, and Aadhaar card details.
Mr. Subramani also asked why the Indian Army does not standardise the functioning, policies, and formats concerning the issues and welfare of veterans and their widows, as the Navy and Air Force have done.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – August 19th, 2019
