|
New Delhi, 20 Sep 2015
Putting together all that has been said and written about One Rank
One Pension (OROP) one may easily gauge the extreme frustration of
the fauji veterans and the utter callousness of the Government in
dealing with the issue. The latest stab in the back was the
announcement of so called OROP by the RM on 5th
September, 2015. It introduced several anomalies and red herrings
which have completely over turned the accepted definition of OROP on
its head. In their haste to make an announcement it announced a
hotch potch of measures which was certainly not OROP. The veterans
rightly rejected it outright.
As opined by the veterans the
seven serious shortcomings in the implementation of OROP as
announced by the RM on 05 Sep 2015 are as under:-
·
Instead of equalizing the pensions every year as required as per the
approved definition, the Govt has announced equalization after 5
years. This would totally defeat the definition of OROP. Large
number of senior defence personnel will start drawing less pension
than juniors. This would result in One Rank Five Pensions and not
One Rank One Pension. This is not acceptable. Veterans have software
to overcome the administrative problems being quoted by the
government.
·
The Govt plans to order a one man commission to decide on the
periodicity of the equalization of pension and other anomalies and
has given six months time to the commission. The purpose of such a
committee is not understood particularly since all issues have been
resolved as stated by you after the last time the file was sent to
finance ministry. This is grossly unfair and not acceptable. If
committee is to be ordered, it must consist of five members: - three
from ex-servicemen, one serving defence personnel and one from MoD.
Such committee should be given only one month period to submit its
report and within 15 days thereafter it must be processed and final
decision implemented.
·
During our discussions with the Personal Secretary to the Hon’ble
Prime Minister, base year 2013 – 2014 was accepted, that means as on
31 Mar 2014. However, in the Note issued by the Defence Minister,
calendar year 2013 has been mentioned, that too the average of the
calendar year. This is not acceptable.
·
The Govt plans to give arrears wef 01 Jul 2014 instead of 01 Apr
2014 The Govt has deprived the veterans three months of arrears.
Once a Welfare Scheme has been sanctioned by the Govt, why is it
being diluted to the disadvantage of defence veterans? Further if
the date is changed to 01 Jul 2014 then the financial year must also
change to 2014-2015.
·
It was agreed by RM to grant highest of scale of rank and years the
service. The Govt intention to grant average of the pay scale will
greatly reduce the pensions. JCOs, ORs and widows will get hardly
any increase in pension.
·
OROP is a concept which is to be executed in perpetuity. This was
also agreed that the implementation of OROP is independent of
Central Pay Commission (CPC). It is pertinent to mention that Pay
Commission award must integrate the OROP and should not adjudicate
on it.
Several writings have appeared in the media and were sent to us
which we have put together to inform everyone who cares regarding
the state of affairs, which we append below to highlight how a
simple solution has unnecessarily got complicated by the
vacillations of the government. These are given below which I hope
will put the entire issue in the correct perspective:
1.
Definition
- One Rank, one Pension (OROP), or same pension, for same
rank and for the same length of service, irrespective of the date of
retirement, was the basis for determining the pension and benefits
of
Indian Armed Forces till
1973. An all party
ten member Parliamentary Panel, known as the Koshyari
Committee after its Chairman, examined the issue of grant of OROP to
Armed Forces Personnel and submitted its report on 19 December 2011.
The Koshyari Committee unanimously found merit in OROP and strongly
recommended that, "Government should implement OROP in the defence
forces across the board at the earliest and further that for future,
the pay, allowances, pension, family pension, etc in respect of the
defence personnel should be determined by a separate commission so
that their peculiar terms" are properly taken into account. The
Koshyari Committee blamed bureaucratic resistance and apathy for the
failure to implement OROP.
2.
SERIOUS SHORTCOMINGS
3.
Mr Prime Minister, Why Are You Vacillating?
4.
Why OROP is Eminently Affordable
5.
One Rank One Pension (OROP) – Satyam Ev jayate
6.
Is One Rank One Pension only for the IAS?
7.
CiviL - military divide ─ Mind the gap
8.
Who is Afraid of the Truth in OROP?
9.
A COMPUTER PROGRAMME FOR CALCULATING OROP IN 15 SECONDS
Back to Top
Disclaimer
Copyright
|