Sunday Times 2
Recognising casualties of battle and war veterans
Introduction
Having been an infantry officer, who commanded soldiers in battle, I very often come across retired serviceman known to me from all three services, those who have fallen sick a few years subsequent to their retirement. Majority of them suffer from renal ailments, heart disorders, orthopedic ailments, eye problems and post traumatic stress disorders. Unfortunately, they are neither recognised as casualties of battle nor indirect casualties of battle. Hence, expensive medical treatment such as dialysis, bypass surgeries, knee and hip replacements and pace makers are beyond their capacity. A majority of these ailments commenced whilst they served in their respective services, due to difficult living conditions, physical and mental stress, unhygienic food and water consumed in the field. These conditions aggravate and escalate a few years after their retirement. There are a number of ex serviceman suffering from renal impairment and they spend about Rs. 24,000 a week for dialysis because the government hospitals have a limited number of dialysis machines. Likewise, these poor ex-servicemen suffer from different ailments without access to proper medical treatment. Those who are closer to Colombo have the consolation of getting limited treatment from the Military Hospital.
The Ranaviru Seva Authority is established to look after disabled serviceman, families of serviceman killed in action, wounded in action and missing in action. Unfortunately there is no government sponsored organization to recognise the indirect casualties of battle/ex-servicemen and war veterans.
War veterans
A war veteran is a person who has served in a military force, especially one who has fought in a war. War veterans often receive special treatment in their respective countries due to the sacrifices they made during wars. Different countries handle this differently.
More than 250,000 to 300,000 war veterans from all three services are retired and live with untold hardship.
Considerations to categorise as an indirect casualty of battle
Those who have developed chronic illnesses prior to leaving the service and aggravated the condition subsequent to their retirement and those who have developed serious illnesses within a reasonable period of time after retirement could be categorised as indirect casualties of battle.
- A government medical board comprising specialists must confirm that the illness is attributed to previous military service.
- They should be given a reasonable monthly disability allowance.
- Since these ex-servicemen are considered civilians, it is suggested to produce them before a medical board comprising civil doctors.
- Considerations to
- categorise as a war veteran
- Those who have served in the infantry, a supporting arm or a teeth arm in classified operational areas during the period of Eelam war from 23rd July 1983 -19th May 2009 ( Eelam war 1,2,3 and 4) to be recognised as war veterans.
- Special recognition to be given to those who have been decorated for bravery in the face of the enemy, by the president, with any two of the following decorations. They could be classified as “Distinguished war veterans”.
PWV (Parama Weera Vibushanaya)
WV (Weerodara Vibushanaya)
WWV (Weera Wickrama Vibushanaya)
RWP (Rana Wickrama Padakkama)
RSP (Rana Sura Padakkama)
Proposals
1. A war veterans’ allowance of Rs.7,500 to be added to the pension of those who have any one of the following decorations; PWV or WV.
2. A war veterans’ allowance of Rs.6,500 to be added to the pension of those who have any of the following decorations; WWV or RWP
3. A war veterans’ allowance of Rs.4,000 to be added to the pension of those who have only the RSP. (Eligibility for the allowance is only the highest medal)
Or:
4. A war veterans’ allowance of Rs. 5,000 to be added to the pension of all those who are decorated with one or more decorations without any reservation. (As the President predicts, in future, there will not be another war in this country. Hence in the future, none will be decorated.)
5. A special allowance of Rs.2,500 to be added to the pension of “Distinguished war veterans”.
6. War veterans’ identity card to be issued with due recognition.
7. Preference to be given to war veterans/ex-serviceman in government institutions and hospitals. Priority to be given to war veterans for bypass surgeries, kidney transplants and dialysis in government hospitals and at least six dialysis machines to be made available exclusively for ex-serviceman in the military hospital.
8. Their children to be given preference in admission to schools and universities.
9. A standard 15% annual interest (Payable monthly interest) to be paid on their fixed deposits with state banks and private banks, irrespective of the amount deposited.
10.Land to be given to war veterans who do not have a house and also agricultural land to be given to those who are willing to make a living from agriculture on a long term lease. This will prevent them getting involved in crimes and being insulted while employed in security work in the private sector.
11.Attention to be paid to establish something similar to the ‘Govi Hamudawa’ or farmers corps. This will have long term benefit to the country and the soldiers who have left the services prematurely or purchased their discharge. Abandoned government farms could be utilised for this.
12.Establishment of a ‘War Veterans Authority’, exclusively to look after the welfare, HR development and development of skills and gainful employment of war veterans.
13.A war veterans’ club similar to a hotel with accommodation, to be established in Colombo, exclusively to be patronized by the war veterans and guests accompanied by them. (This was planned sometime ago but never materialized. Today the procedure adopted to entertain ex-servicemen’s guests in an officers mess is too complicated and uncertain.)
14.Reasonable discounts (about 35%-50%) for war veterans at any of the 4/5/6 star hotels, for wedding receptions of their children. This privilege could be utilised once a year for up to three children.
15.A reasonable allowance to be paid to indirect casualties of battle, depending on their degree of disability.
Conclusion
There are about 300,000 war veterans and the ex-serviceman in the country. This is a formidable force which could be utilised for development, agriculture and food production if used properly.