The Defence Ministry has agreed in principle to grant ex-servicemen status to the personnel of Military Nursing Service(MNS) comprising mostly women. This service is demanding the status for a long time and once granted, the retired personnel can avail of all facilities like ex-servicemen identity card, attending resettlement courses for future employment and jobs in public sector undertakings (PSU) and State Governments.
The Government may also allow the MNS officers to have star plates on their cars if they are above the rank of Brigadier. So far, the officers of MNS were not allowed to do so leading to friction sometimes. The MNS has the highest rank of a Major General.
As regards the veteran status, sources said here on Friday the ministry will soon submit in principle approval for grant of ex-servicemen to MNS to the Supreme Court. A case was filed in Supreme Court by the MNS personnel and its hearing was held on May 7, 2019. Supreme Court told the Ministry of Defence to submit its reply in next hearing in a closed envelope.
The MNS are the support women staff commissioned as officers in the Medical stream of the Armed Forces and they come under the DG, Armed Forces Medical Services. The MNS representatives had moved Armed Forces Tribunal(AFT) on 28 different issues. The main issue was of them being granted the Ex-servicemen Status. AFT had given favourable decision to MNS which was challenged by the Government in the Supreme Court in 2010.
The grant of status to the MNS will include them into resettlement schemes and benefits, for the re-employment courses, exemptions like the toll charges will be extended and the institute facilities like that of the Defence Services Officers Institute will be granted. They already get the benefits of pension.
The Army has also agreed in-principle to allow, the officers of MNS of the rank of Brigadier and above to put their appointment stars on their vehicles. Brigadier has one star and the Major general has two stars on their vehicle.
Sources said the defence ministry had held a meeting in March with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) representatives to redefine the definition of ex-servicemen include MNS. MNS was raised in 1943 through an ordinance and were defined as an 'auxiliary force'. The ESM status is given to the personnel who are in 'regular' force.