Update # 13: Only lip service; Jetly's family yet to get justice!

Close to three weeks after the demise of Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly, there seems to be noting substantiate happening from the side of IAF and India government. While, the IAF officials  have not yet made an official statement in this regard, India's defense minister A.K. Antony had at least the courtesy to reply to a letter written to him by Jetly's wife Shalini.

Here's what an IAF official wrote to Tarmak007, when asked why there's still a delay in getting justice to Jetly family. "I am told her case is under progress. While on it, there are a few things that need to be understood. She was offered a job as warden in Air Force Bal Bharti School where she could avail of accommodation and also have her children transferred for convenience, among other things. She turned it down and insists for a teaching job in The Air Force School only. She is a Home Science graduate, over 40 years and with no experience in teaching at school. She has only college teaching experience but as per the guidelines of the government her qualifications/age do not conform to the requirements for a fresh appointment of a new teacher. The AF is also considering seeking a special waiver for her from the Govt. Yet there is one problem. There is a vacancy for only one Home Science teacher and there is already someone serving for years. The teacher serving cannot be removed to accommodate Mrs Jetly. The administration is trying to figure out a workable way. While all sympathies exist for the family, some things do not find easy solution every which way the family wants. And rightly, as the minister wrote, things are being actually looked into," the official said.

Family members now confirm to Tamak007 that the Shalini Jetly is now planning to meet the wife of India's Air Chief through the Air Force Wives' Welfare Association.

It is indeed really sad that the widow of IAF's promising and ace stunt pilot is put to so much of difficulties by the administration. While it is great to see India's defense minister Antony has written to the family, what really needs to be seen is whether a solution would emerge without delay.

If not, it will be a major embarrassment to IAF, Ministry of Defense and other officials during the upcoming Aero India.

Justice for Jetly. Just that!

(A report in today's Deccan Herald)

Update # 12: Antony responds to late Wg Cdr Jetly's wife's letter

Jetly's family received this letter from Antony today.

Update # 11: Jetly's pension papers finally move, but...

Any nation that does not honor its heroes
will not long endure. -- Abraham Lincoln

Late Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly's pension papers have finally moved. This after over one year of his retirement from the Indian Air Force (IAF). Family sources tell Tarmak007 that the Pension Pay Order (PPO) number has been released to the bank, signalling that the much-awaited pension will sooner or later start coming. It will take some more time before the family starts receiving the pension.

There's yet no official word from Defense Minister A.K. Antony following Shalini Jetly's letter addressed to him dated 17.01.2011. Aides close to Antony, however, confirmed the receipt of the letter, which according to them, is marked to Secretary Defense with a note "For Immediate Action." Now, the file will go through the proper-channel -- which means another set of delays!

The family members have concluded the 11th and 13th day ceremonies, post Jetly's demise, and are now putting the pieces together for a stable future. The load on Shalini has increased. She has to do a balancing act and take care of the needs of her aged parents -- father (80) and mother (77), in-laws -- father (75) and mother (65) and her children  (12 & 8). She also has to run around to get the dues from the IAF and continue with a life hoping against hope that the IAF would give her a teaching job.

It is now confirmed that Shalini is unlikely to take-up the teaching job offer from Indus International School in Bangalore. "She is ever grateful to the school management who came forward to help her after seeing the media reports. We are touched by the gesture of the Bangalore-based school, who did exactly what the IAF failed to do all these years despite our pleas. We are all settled in Delhi and it won't be possible for us to move to Bangalore to take up this job. Please convey our heartfelt gratitude to the school," says a Jetly family member.

Tarmak007 will keep-up the campaign going until the family gets a fair and deserving response from the IAF and the government. The online signature campaign is still on and the blogger is grateful to the online community which has been spreading the Justice for Jetly campaign to more people. 

 

Update #10: Bangalore-based Indus International School offers Shalini Jetly job; no news yet from Antony & IAF!

The Indus International School, promoted by Mantri Developers, has come  forward offering a teaching job to Shalini Jetly, wife of late Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly. There's no news yet from Defense Minister A.K. Antony and the IAF!

(This post will be updated) 

 

Update # 9: Bangalore Media joins Justice for Jetly campaign; shocked ex-student writes to TAFS princy; online signature campaign to Antony gains momentum

The Justice for Jetly campaign has picked up momentum. Military sources tell Tarmak007 that India's Defense Minister A.K. Antony has received the letter from Shalini Jetly, wife of late Wg Cdr Vikas Jetly (Jets). The family members are heading for  Haridwar tomorrow (January 21) for the 11th day ceremony and to immerse the ashes. The petitiononine signature campaign addressed to Antony has picked up on the second day (yesterday) with over 150 signing-up for cause. 

The Bangalore Media too has joined the Justice for Jetly campaign with the DNA and the Deccan Herald coming out with detailed articles today. This is the second time that both the papers have published reports on Jets. Rahul Singh (first to report) of Hindustan Times too is backing the campaign and has written two back-to-back stories so far.

The blogger received an email from Shivi Krishna, a former student of The Air Force School (TAFS), Subrato Park, New Delhi, where Shalini is seeking a teaching job. The 1995 batch student, said in his mail to the TAFS principal: "I felt a strange sense of disquiet on reading the plight of Mrs Jetly on Tarmak007. I write to you because being a product of this institution I could not fathom why Mrs Jetly was denied an opportunity to be employed on humanitarian grounds at this very institution where her children also study. I feel that whatever reasons the management had to reject her plea, it runs contrary to the values that this institution imbibed in me and all its students over the years. I therefore request you to kindly look at her case again and on humanitarian grounds see what best can be done to help her case."

We shall keep the campaign going and see what Antony and his Air Chief would do to help Jets' family. 

Hope justice prevails, finally!

Copyright DNA: A report by Hemanth C.S. in DNA (P 1), dated 20.01.2011, below.

Copyright DH: A report by Chethan Kumar in Deccan Herald (P 7), dated 20.1.11, below.

 

QUOTE OF THE DAY

Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure. -- Abraham Lincoln