Welfare of ex servicemen always ,FIELD MARSHAL K.M. CARIAPPA,'s OBE  prime concern. In 1964, he founded the Indian Ex Servicemens League (IESL), by amalgamating the Federation and the Association, which were rival organisations, often working at cross purposes. He was also responsible for creation of the Directorate of Resettlement. In 1957, he took up cudgels on behalf of Major  General Tara Singh Bal, who had been unjustly retired by the Government, and had him reinstated. Keeping the IESL free from politics was one of his major achievements. He was also famous for his bold decision During the 1965 war, his son, Nanda, was shot down over Pakistan. He was captured and held as a prisoner of war (POW). On realizing the identity of the wounded soldier at Kargil, Radio Pakistan immediately announced the capture of the younger Cariappa. General Ayub Khan himself contacted General Cariappa, who was living a retired life at Mercara, his hometown, with information about his son's safety. When Ayub Khan offered to release his son immediately, Cariappa is reported to have scoffed at the idea and told him to give his son no better treatment than any other POW. Singh recounts that Cariappa replied, "He is my son no longer. He is the child of this country, a soldier fighting for his motherland like a true patriot. My many thanks for your kind gesture, but I request you to release all or release none. Give him no special treatment.

DEFINITION OF EX-SERVICEMEN

1.         The eligibility of the retired Defence personnel to the status of Ex-Servicemen is governed by the definition as laid down by Department of Personnel and Training .  The definition has been undergoing changes from time to time .  The following is the broad categorisaton:-

(a)        Those released before 01 Jul 68 : Any person who had served in any rank (whether as Combatant or not) in the Armed Forces of the Union and has been released from there other than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct of inefficiency

(b) Those released on or after 01 Jul 68 but before 01 Jul 79 :  Any person who had served in any rank (whether as a combatant of not) in the Armed Forces of the Union for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation and released from there other than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency.

(c) Those released on or after 01 Jul 79 but before 01 Jul 87 :  An Ex-serviceman means a person who has served in any rank (whether as a combatant or as non combatant) in the Armed Forces of the Union, including the Armed Forces of the Union, including Rifles.  Defence Security Corps, General Reserve Engineering Force Lok Sahayak Sena and Territorial Army for a continuous period of not less than six months after attestation and

• has been released, otherwise than at his own request or by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency or has been transferred to the reserve pending such release. or

• has to serve for not more than six months for completing the period of service requisite for becoming entitled to be released or transferred to the reserve as aforesaid; or

• has been released at his own rquest after completing five years service in the Armed Forces of the Union;

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• Those released on or after 01 Jul 07.

    “ An Ex-Serviceman’ means a person who has served in any rank whether as a combatant or non combatant in the Regular Army , Navy and Air Force of the Indian Union and

• who retired from such service after earning his/her pension, or

• who has been released from such service on medical grounds attributable to military service or circumstances beyond his control and awarded medical or other disability pension ;or

• who has been released, otherwise than on his own request, from such service as a result of reduction in establishment ;or

• who has been released from such service after completing the specific period of engagements, otherwise than at his own request or by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, and has been given a gratuity, and includes personnel of the Territorial Army of the following categories, namely:-

  Pension holders for continuous embodied service

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(ab)     Persons with disability attributable to military service; and
(ac)      gallantry award winners:.

2.         After careful consideration the Government has accepted the above definition recommended by the High Level Committee.  However, it may be observed that in the new suggested definition certain categories of personnel which have served in the Armed Forces of the Union have been excluded for consideration as ex-servicemen, whereas certain additional categories of Territorial Army Personnel have been added in the revised definition .  The Notification containg the revise defeintion was issed on 27 Oct 1986 and published in the official Gazette on 15th Nov 1986.  The Notification gives effect to the new definition from the date of its publication, but since some of the categories were excluded without adequate publicity.  The effect of the earlier notification of 27 Oct 1986 has been stayed by issuing another Notification dated 27 Mar 87 in which the date of effect has been indicated as 1.7.87.  The net effect is that the following two categories of personnel, who were included in the pre-revised definition of ‘Ex-Servicemen’ will now cease to be treated as Ex-Servicemen w.e.f. 1/7/87 as will be seen from the following provision,  namely.

            “Any person who has been released:-

• at his own request after completing  five years service in the Armed Forces of the Uion;or

• after serving for a continuous period of six months after attestation, otherwise than at his own request or by way of dismissal or discharge on account of mis-conduct or inefficiency or has been transferred to the reserve pending such release; shall also be deemed to be an Ex-Servicemen for the purpose of this clause.”

• The Territorial Army personnel will however be treated as Ex-Servicemen w.e.f 15/11/86.

ELIGIBITY OF CONDITION FOR MEMBERSHIP OF IESL

• Persons (including ladies) who have served in any Branch  of the Indian Army , the Indian Navy the Indian Airforce and the former Indian State Forces, including the enrolled noncombatants:

• Territorial Force, NCC, Mercantile Marine, Merchant Navy, Red Cross & St. John Ambulance Brigade, provided he or she has service on whole time Military duties for a minimum  period of six months during and time of National Emergency;

• Any branch of the Nursing Services;

• Hony Commissioned Officer  those who have a rank in the Army, Navy or Indian Air Force;

• Any of the Forces of the Commonwealth and other countries provided that their corresponding organizations give similar benefits and relief to classes of Ex-Services persons specified above who may be within their territories

• Individual not to be an Office Bearer of any Political Party/other unrecognized ESM Org.

• Individual to have been honorably discharged from service

PLEASE NOTE:

• If the application is submitted online it should be followed by hard copy of document and payment of membership fee b DD/MO/Local cheque Delhi –eg i.e. Discharge Certificate, PPO, ESM Identity Card

• Two stamp size photo preferably in colour

• IESL Life Membership  has been increased wef May 2023 as under, which is utilized for welfare activities is a nominal amount as under:-

(a)        Officers                       –         Rs 500/-
(b)        JCOs                           –           Rs 300/-
(c)        ORs                             –           Rs 200/-