Betrayed by the System, Ex-BSF Jawan Pleads for Medical Pension

Arabinda Mondal, a retired constable of the Border Security Force (BSF), is wrestling with a two-front war: one against an aggressive cancer, and the other against a system that he believes has turned its back on him. His claim to a medical pension, a lifeline he desperately requires, has fallen on deaf ears. "My disability is not my fault; it was an accident," Mondal voiced his distress in a heartfelt plea for help. Having spent a significant part of his life as a BSF Jawan, Mondal upheld the sovereignty of his country with utmost commitment and resolve. However, the hero who once defended the honor of his nation now perceives a sense of betrayal by the very system he served.
Hailing from a quaint town in West Bengal, Arabinda had joined the Border Security Force in 1999, a dream he had harbored since childhood. However, after 21 years, six months, and 15 days of service, he injured himself during physical training. After that, he suffered from a type of cancer called Myxoid Liposarcoma. He was forced to retire with an 80% disability certificate. After retirement, he has been denied a disability pension and other medical benefits crucial to his well-being.
Mondal is currently receiving a pension of 17,000 rupees monthly. This amount, however, fails to factor in the medical benefits that should be part and parcel of his retirement package. Administrative oversights and irregularities while processing his retirement papers are believed to be at the core of this issue. An apparent lack of thorough inspection and inquiry into Mondal's case has caused these errors to go uncorrected, further contributing to his predicament. "I have informed the authorities and written to them several times; however, that has not helped my case," he said.
A braveheart who puts the country's welfare above his interests, Arabinda Mondal still wishes to serve his nation. "I did not want to come back home; I wanted to serve my country till age 60. They forced me to retire against my will", recalls Mr. Mondal.
"I have a big family to support and am the breadwinner. How will I make ends meet? My medical expenses, in addition to other household expenses and my children's educational expenses, are too much for me to bear," he says.
Despite grappling with his health condition, which limits his ability to stand for extended periods or bend his leg, Mondal remains determined to continue serving his country. Mondal's hopes to engage in sedentary work as a means of service have been dashed alongside his pursuit of a medical pension, a critical necessity for his ongoing cancer treatment.
"They call me unfit. Yes, I am unfit physically, but I am more than capable of pulling off a desk job. I will never say no to anything they ask me to do, even if that requires me to stand for long hours. If I fall, you support me and help me rise back on my feet", says a determined Arabinda Mondal.
In 2022, Mr. Mondal wrote a letter to the Union Home Minister Amit Shah but has yet to get an answer. He has also written several letters to the Pension Commission and the BSF. However, all of them have highlighted the discrepancies in his paperwork and denied him the medical allowances he is rightfully entitled to. Arabinda Mondal is being punished, with no fault of his own.
Arabinda Mondal was forced to retire with three things, an 80% disability certificate, an orthopedically handicapped certificate from the railways, and a government certificate for his services. He feels cheated and betrayed by the system he has dedicatedly served for 21+ years.
Mr. Mondal has selflessly manned the borders of the country, but now, memories of life while on duty are what he lives by. All he wants is his medical pension. During a conversation with NTT, he held his uniform close to his heart and said, "I have safely kept everything. I wish I get a second chance to serve my nation and wear this uniform again."
In 1999, he cracked the CISF, CRPF, and West Bengal Police Service examinations in addition to BSF. He chose to join the Border Security forces because he deeply desired to serve his country. He received an offer letter that encapsulated an opportunity to live his dream. But now, Mr. Mondal yearns for the disability pension he rightfully deserves. However, it is being denied to him for no fault of his own.