Capt Seema, a former Short Service Commissioned MNS officer and now an IAS aspirant said, “It is a bitter fact that MNS officers have been denied ESM status this effectively killing their re-employment opportunities in civil services for their right to age relaxation and job reservations meant for ex Military personnel. This is particularly hard on those young MNS officers who had to leave the service after the Short Service Commission of 5+5+4 pattern and wish to re-employ civil services as livelihood,” she said.

Major Snehlata Mathur (retd), General Secretary of the association specifically mentioned the example of a petition filed by a former military nursing officer challenging the invalidation of her candidature as ESM candidate for PCS and Allied Service competitive examination held by Punjab Public Service Commission.

“The Punjab and Haryana High Court noted that the members of MNS are serving the nation for the last about 80 years and it is also not in dispute that despite being females, they are rendering services in extreme difficult situations; sometimes in most unfavourable weather conditions at high altitudes; yet they have not been according the status of ESM for claiming certain benefits which are available to the Armed Forces Veterans and that certainly may be a cause of heart burning”.

The Indian Express had earlier reported on Jan 25 that while military nurses were marching in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi for the first time yet they have been denied the status of ex-servicemen.

Colonel Kanta Kumari (retd), president of the association said, “The first female Major General in armed forces was an MNS officer, Maj Gen Gertrude Alice Ram, who was appointed as director of the Military Nursing Services on August 27, 1976. She was a recipient of the Florence Nightingale Medal and the Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM). MNS officers are integral part of the Indian regular Army,” she said.

The members of the association denial of ESM status has been causing irreparable loss as far as career opportunities for former military nurses go as they are getting over-age for many government jobs.

Colonel Kanta Kumari appealed to the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, the President of India, Droupadi Murmu and the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, to look into the matter personally.

Despite prolonged litigation and sympathetic stance by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and even the judiciary and the three service Chiefs as well as the Department of Personnel & Training, the ESM status is still pending, the officers said.

“In fact previously MNS officers had been getting ESM status after release from military service but this status has been withdrawn due to erratic policies. Making these young nursing officers march in Republic Day parade has no meaning when our future is being cut short by denial of ex-servicemen status,” said one of MNS officer from Command Hospital Western Command, Chandimandir, on condition of anonymity.

The former nursing officers said apart from causing lack of opportunities in jobs, the denial of ESM status is also humiliating for them.

MNS is an integral part of the Armed Forces medical Services(AFMS) which consists of Army Medical Corps (AMC), Army Dental Corps (ADC). The AFMS personnel serve in the medical establishments of the independent India. The officers of MNS have history of serving in India as well as also played a role in United Nations peace keeping missions abroad to Lebanon, Cambodia, Somalia and scores of other Nations and many of such missions where needed, they said.

A policy letter issued by the Kendriya Sainik Board (KSB) in 2014 attempted to clarify the status of the MNS officers as ex-servicemen and categorically stated that they enjoyed the status of ESM. However, a subsequent letter by the Board in 2019 rescinded the earlier directions and denied being considered ex-servicemen after the retirement.