The officials were speaking at a curtain raiser to mark Sagat”s birth centenary. Tribune photo.
Yash Goyal
Our Corresspondent
Jaipur, June 20
Lieutenant General Sagat Singh—who was instrumental in the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 besides the liberation of Goa from the Portuguese in 1961—should be awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously, army officials have said.
The officials were speaking at a curtainraiser to mark Sagat’s birth centenary. The officials said Sagat’s biography should be included in the school and college curricula in Rajasthan.
“Lt General Sagat was awarded the Param Vishist Seva Medal. This is not sufficient. He played a crucial role in the Indo-Pak war of 1971 and helped liberate Bangladesh in just 13 days,” said Lt General Cherish Mathson, the Commander of the Sapta Shakti Command on Wednesday.
Sagat’s “incredible march to Dhaka should be recognised. It seems that in the history of Indian Army, Sagat’s great contribution has faded,” Mathson said.
“Army would also request the Defence Ministry to extend an invite to Bangladesh so that they can participate in Sagat’s centenary which is being observed in Rajasthan from July 8 to July 14,” the Commander said.
The event was also attended by Sagat’s son—Colonel Ranvijay Singh.
In his interaction with media, Singh said his father was born in Kusumdesar (Moda) village in Rajasthan’s Churu district on July 14, 1919.
Sagat began his military career as a ‘Naik’ in the Bikaner Ganga Risala in 1938. Sagat eventually rose to the coveted rank of a Lieutenant General after taking on many challenging military assignments, Singh added.
In the Indo-Pak war of 1971, Sagat’s Corps not only made the famous advance towards Dhaka but also participated in the Meghna Heli Bridge operation—an important aerial operation during the war. He also witnessed the signing of the infamous surrender instrument by General Niazi of Pakistan Army.
The Government advised by the Civil Service manning the MoD and aided by the Military Bureaucracy duty bound to obey due to the strict discipline code, seems to embark on a dangerous course of action.
The ECHS when merged with Ayushman Bharat will have two possible implications:
First: The scarce budget of the Veterans will be gobbled by the general patients leaving the Veteran patients sucking their thumbs. While today a few reputed hospitals are opting for de- panelling, in post Ayushman Bharat era , most reputed hospitals will be out of reach of Veterans.
Second: the quality of the treatment and patient care would fall so drastically that every Veteran would be forced to pay for his treatment in a reputed non empaneled hospital. This will create such dissatisfaction about the post retirement Medical Care of Veterans leading to possible poor morale among the serving soldiers as most of the Veteran are theirvclose kin and such burden of medical bills would fall on the heads of serving personnel.
By purpose or unwittingly, is there a campaign to change the way the Armed Forces live, administer themselves and look after the Veteran. Let the Political, Bureaucratic and Military leaders understand that the way that the Military lived, administered its serving and retired personnel ensured that the Armed Forces remained apolitical, professional and loyal to the country. Any whole sale change in these aspects can have far reaching consequences for the country, Government and the Armed Forces.
Why is there a fund crunch for ex servicemen? Reduce the salaries of all MP’s, MLA’s to 1/4 of their existing salaries, remove all their perks, security , no increase in their salaries. Stop pension for all who have not completed minimum 20 years. No Government vehicles to transport them, the Government will never be have any shortage of funds.
Also get the unaccounted money parked abroad, there’s plenty of funds.
It’s a challenge for the Government & not remove all entitlements agreed at the time of recruitment. A written promise committed by the Government in the form of advertisement can be challenged in the court of law. They can no longer take us for granted.
Why a scheme like ECH purely meant for Armed Forces should be merged with any other scheme,90%of soldiers after retirement suffer from serious health problems which are result of serving in extreme adverse physical and psychological conditions which adversely effect physical and mental health.There is no comparision to such conditions with civilian counter parts.So taking away the only post retirement health care scheme from soldiers who served the nation with utmost loyalty is grave injustice,it is already starving of funds inspite of one time contribution paid by retiring Sainiks.It is high time the serving Generals should take care of veterans and not submit to undue demands from politicians who act on mis guided and distorted information fed by bureaucracy.I give my own example,within six months of retirement i developed back ach,my hyper tension disease detected one and half year before retirement not granted any disability pension,because detected in peace station without giving due consideration to prior servicr done in Counter insugency operations and field areas.
Before government goes ahead with this merger etc it must take into account the impact on already crumbling ECHS. Costly and important medicines prescribed for cardiac care critical kidney disease etc are already in short supply for want of funds. Overloading of the system will bring in further resentment from the veterans and lower morale of the serving.
Needs a relook and bit of spine where top brass is concerned,
Politicians get free treatment abroad leave alone within the country…ample cases can be cited, similarly bureaucrats also enjoy almost similar privileges! Let them first opt for PMJAY! And set an example before eying already burdened & struggling ECHS!
Just see what treatment is given to our enimy solders and compare it with ECHS. Why should a soldier fight if he or his family not given the health care promised by Govt at the time of joining the force. There has been too much detetioration since the Chiefs do not speak up. Time has come that the soldiers will question ability of our officers to command. That will be sad day for the Nation. Our burocracy and politicians have done so much of damage to the forces. It is already too late even they realize it
God bless the Indian Army.JaiHind
Brig JD Sapatnrkar(Veteran)
Looking as though the country doesn’t want the Armed forces, let everyone become an ordinary civilian. Maybe it’s in the best interest of the politicians. But for the country, …. I suppose it’s
WHO CARES.
Most appropriate heading.What else is expected of a govt run by Beurocrates.The govt with a difference & vision here sees only the benifits it will gather by merging in the PM’s pet project a copy of Barack health scheme.However they donot realise that though the scheme is for ESM, yet it affects the services.Such shortsitedness will affect the rectt in the services & those who are serving & retire early will find it a big shock, thus affecting moral.If it has to merge what about additional load sharing resources.Then the excusiveness for services will diappear which have added advantage of most of doctors are Brothers in arms.The additional Health centres which come up due this scheme will have differant working ethos.I appeal to all ESM that they should unite & represent to govt.to stop such a merger & reinfuse new energy in the present scheme.Ifor one favour reforms.In any social scheme people do exploit lacunas, but it is also prudent that course correction must be done at regular intervals.