One rank-one pension scheme to be rolled out soon, Manohar Parrikar says

[Hindustani78]

Ex-servicemen sitting on dharna at Jantar Mantar demanding implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme, in New Delhi on Monday. Photo: Sandeep Saxena

Continuing their agitation against the government over the delay in implementing the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, ex-servicemen on Monday began an indefinite relay hunger strike across the country.

A group of 55-60 veterans sat on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar here. On Sunday, thousands of ex-servicemen held a massive protest at the same venue. The protests began after several rounds of official and back-channel talks with the government failed to make any headway.

“The hunger strike has begun today (Monday) in various cities. This will go on indefinitely till our dues are cleared,” said Colonel (retd) Anil Kaul, media adviser to the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement.

The veterans are demanding that the government adhere to the definition of OROP and announce a fixed timeline for its implementation.

Speaking at an event in Jaipur on Sunday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had asked ex-servicemen to have “patience” and said the government would deliver on its promises.

Even though Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Parrikar have reiterated their commitment to implementing OROP on several occasions, the final announcement has been continuously delayed. Mr. Parrikar had said the file has been sent to the Finance Ministry for clearance.

 

[Hindustani78]

One Rank One Pension: Group of ex-servicemen decides to boycott government functions - The Economic Times
By PTI | 22 Jun, 2015, 08.14PM IST
NEW DELHI: A group of ex-servicemen today announced that they will boycott all official functions, including ongoing 50th anniversary celebrations of the victory in 1965 war, in protest against delay over implementation of " One Rank One Pension" by the government.

Protesting against the delay in implementation of OROP, the ex-servicemen in various cities across the country are holding relay hunger-strike, which entered the eighth day today.

"Our protest will continue till our legitimate dues of OROP is met by the government. We have decided to boycott all official functions including the ongoing commemoration of the victory of 1965 War and the upcoming Independence day celebrations," Chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) Major General (Retd) Satbir Singh told PTI here.


Hitting out at the government over non-implementation of their long-pending demand of OROP, Singh, who is also Convenor of the United Front of Ex-Servicemen (UFESM) said, "The widows of 1965 war are not getting their dues and nor the soldiers who fought the war. What the government is commemorating?"

India had defeated Pakistan in 1965 war.

The Narendra Modi government has said it was committed to OROP, a key promise made during Lok Sabha polls. It is, however, yet to implement the scheme.

Around 22 lakh ex-servicemen and over six lakh war widows stand to be the immediate beneficiaries of the OROP scheme, which envisages a uniform pension for defence personnel who retire in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.

Currently, the pension for ex-servicemen is based on the recommendations of the Pay Commission of that time when they had retired.

So, a Major General who retired in 1996 draws a lower pension than a Lieutenant Colonel who retired after 1996.

Meanwhile, asked about indications that the government might extend OROP to Jawans and other ranks, another official of the group termed it as "tragic".

Meanwhile, asked about indications that the government might extend OROP to Jawans and other ranks, another official of the group termed it as "tragic".

"It would be a real tragic as the government is trying to divide us. We stand united in demanding OROP for all," Colonel (Retd) Anil Kaul, Media Advisor to IESM said.

The ex-servicemen said they were considering taking help from opposition parties, especially in Bihar, to push for their demand.

Assembly elections in Bihar are likely to be held in September or October this year. BJP has a tough fight on hand against the JD(U)-RJD-Congress-NCP combine.

Besides Bihar, they think they are a strong constituency also in Punjab where the Assembly elections are due in early 2017.

 

[uparyupari]

LOL at the politics of ex-service men. What drama. 10 years of UPA they did nothing of this sort and now they want to create a storm in a tea cup

 

[Hindustani78]

LOL at the politics of ex-service men. What drama. 10 years of UPA they did nothing of this sort and now they want to create a storm in a tea cup

OROP is an issue since 40 years and seems in this session, OROP scheme will be implemented.

 

[Hindustani78]

By Manu Pubby, ET Bureau | 24 Jun, 2015, 06.25AM IST
Defence ministry to directly disburse Rs 51,000-crore pension, benefitting 24 lakh ex-servicemen - The Economic Times

NEW DELHI: Getting rid of the virtual 'middleman', the Defence Ministry is implementing an ambitious plan to credit Rs 51,000 crore worth of pensions directly into the accounts of ex-servicemen, doing away with an earlier process of banks - mostly state owned - being the disbursement agency.

Faced with the mounting pressure of thousands of complaints and grievances on pensions being wrongly calculated or distributed unevenly, the MoD has sanctioned a new policy to directly send money to pensioners through the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) process.

Initial estimates by the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA) indicate that an annual saving of over Rs 180 crore will be effected through this change by cutting out the 32 banks - 28 Public sector and 4 private sector - that were earlier the distribution agency for pensions.

More importantly, the MoD believes that implementing a centralized system will do away with a majority of grievances that pensioners bring up on disbursement of funds. "An analysis of grievances received at the Ministry or at CGDA office or at PCDA (Pension) office reveal that more than 95% of the complaints pertain to pensioners drawing their pension from the banks. The task of addressing these grievances and providing services to pensioners to their complete satisfaction is an arduous one," a note on the new system says.

At present more than 24.16 pension accounts - and growing - are active throughout the nation that received close to Rs 51,000 cr per year. Out of these, 18 lakh pensioners are serviced through banks and the MoD pays Rs 960 a year to the banks as transaction fees for each account.

"If all pensioners are brought under the centralised PDA system where MoD will credit pension in pensioners Bank accounts through NEFT/RTGS, saving of Rs 180 cr could be achieved," the note says.

Officials said that to start with, all new pensioners in the Navy and Air Force will get disbursements through this new system directly into their bank accounts. Pensioners will need to indicate a joint bank account of their choice along with their Aadhar number. The Army, which has the largest chunk of pensioners, will get the new system by August.

 

[Hindustani78]

Mizoram ex-servicemen demand OROP - The Hindu

Updated: June 26, 2015 05:48 IST

Members of the Mizoram Ex-Service League on Thursday took out a huge rally demanding the implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme in the country.
The rally, held under tight security, was addressed by Z.S. Zuala, State Parliamentary Secretary for Home, who said the OROP should be implemented by the Centre within a time-frame.

Representatives of the Mizoram Ex-Service League submitted a memorandum to President Pranab Mukherjee, Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces, through the State Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma.

The Mizoram Ex-Service League has around 6,200 former soldiers as its members, besides over 25,000 ex-servicemen’s wives and other family members. - PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

‘Recognise the armed forces’ - The Hindu
Updated: June 27, 2015 05:40 IST
Ex-servicemen, under the banner of the National Ex-Servicemen Coordination Committee, held a protest demanding ‘One Rank, One Pension’ facility here on Friday.

In a memorandum addressed to the president, the ex-servicemen of this region said that the government must recognise the special nature of commitment and the sacrifices of the armed forces.

The government should take a quick call on implementing the facility and make a time-bound decision in this regard, they said. The undue delay is affecting the morale of personnel, they said.

 

[thesolar65]

explain the scheme and why it is needed ??

@DESERT FIGHTER
Can you throw some light on the pension system for Pakistan Army personnel? Or after Indian Army gets OROP, will Pak Army will demand the same?

 

[Hindustani78]

Government committed to implement 'One Rank One Pension': Manohar Parrikar to ex-servicemen - The Economic Times
By PTI | 3 Jul, 2015, 08.29PM IST

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has conveyed the NDA government's "unequivocal commitment" in implementing 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP) when a delegation of ex-servicemen, who are on a strike for past 19 days pressing for its execution, met him.

Not happy with Parrikar's assurance, the agitating ex-servicemen said the question of ending the protest does not arise without a government announcement on implementing the long-pending demand.

"A six member delegation of United Front of Ex-Servicemen (UFESM) met the Defence Minister last night. Parrikar conveyed unequivocal commitment of the party (BJP)and the government towards implementation of OROP," said Col (retd) Anil Kaul, spokesman of the Front.

He said Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag was also present at the meeting.


"The question of calling off the relay hunger strike does not arise unless a date for implementing it is announced and that too without dilution," he said.

Kaul said the minister told the delegation that the file pertaining to OROP with various observations regarding resolutions of complexities had been received by him but he had not been able to study it.

Another meeting is likely to take place with the minister either on July 6 or 7, he said.

The relay hunger strike of ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar entered 19th day today.

"We will wait for government's decision on OROP till July 15 and then take our agitation for OROP to next level in which local ex-servicemen organisations all over the country will resort to demonstrations and other peaceful ways of voicing their grievance," said Major General (retd) Satbir Singh,one of the leaders of the protest.

The Narendra Modi government has been maintaining that it is committed to OROP, a key promise made during Lok Sabha poll.


Close to 22 lakh ex-servicemen and over six lakh war widows stand to be immediate beneficiaries of the scheme, which envisages a uniform pension for the defence personnel who retire in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.

Currently, the pension for ex-servicemen is based on the Pay Commission recommendations of the time when they had retired.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ex-servicemen to hold protest demanding OROP in Bathinda | Zee News
Last Updated: Monday, July 6, 2015 - 21:38
Ludhiana: Ex servicemen will hold a protest march from Military Station at Bathinda here on July 8 demanding One Rank One Pension (OROP).

Announcing this, president of the Indian Ex Services League (Punjab), Brig (Retd) Inder Mohan Singh said here today that their aim is to organise peaceful disciplined protest at Bathinda to apprise the serving soldiers who are going to be tomorrow's veterans.

He said that memorandum would also be presented to the concerned authority on that day.

Brig (Retd) Singh said that Punjab has 14 army stations and 5 Air Force stations and such protest rallies would also be organised at every station.

Regarding the political brouhaha, he said, "The last UPA government continued to make a mockery of the issue by announcing different versions of OROP ..."

Whereas the BJP made it a part of its poll plank during the last Lok Sabha elections but now nothing is being done to fulfil the promise, he said.

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Manohar Parrikar likely to meet protesters demanding OROP: Reports | Zee News

New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is expected to meet protesters who are demanding implementation of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) here on Tuesday, a television channel has reported.

Parrikar's expected meeting comes in the wake of other media reports that ex-servicemen organisations are planning to show black flags to Parrikar when he visits Mohali, Punjab, on July 12.

They have also reportedly indicated that they will boycott a Punjab Government function that he is scheduled to attend on the same day.

Parrikar is visiting Mohali to inaugurate the Punjab Government's Armed Forces Preparatory Academy for Girls.

Ex-servicemen organisations in Punjab are also planning demonstrations at various locations across the state. One such rally is being organised on July 8 by the Indian Ex-Services League (IESL) in Bathinda.

Chairman of Indian Ex-Services Movement (IESM), Lt Gen Raj Kadyan (retired), has been quoted by the Indian Express as saying that while the spirit among the ex-servicemen is praiseworthy, the kind of strong language used at public meetings and contemplated action is scary.

In an e-mail to ex-servicemen, Lt Gen Kadyan said that this sort of scenario was not in the national interest.

Relay hunger strike-related protests in New Delhi's Jantar Mantar area by 75 ex-servicemen over the delay in the implementation of the promised OROP scheme entered the 23rd day on Tuesday.

Parrikar had earlier said complications around the implementation of the OROP have been sorted out, but gave no date for its implementation.

Social activist Anna Hazare has also reportedly backed the implementation of the OROP.

ANI

 

[HariPrasad]

explain the scheme and why it is needed ??

What used to happen was that a person retiring late in same grade had more pension than the man retired early (His senior). That hurt seniority sensitive army men.

 

[OrionHunter]

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday assured the ex-servicemen of early implementation of the one rank-one pension scheme, saying his ministry has fast-tracked the work on it.

The question is not 'if' but WHEN!!

The clowns in the finance ministry have returned the recommendations to the MoD five times already within the past 4 months for adding/deleting commas and fullstops!! WTF? It's nothing but a delaying tactic by the bl00dy bureaucrats who seem to have taken even PM Modi for a jolly good ride!

explain the scheme and why it is needed ??

Simply put, for example, a Col retiring in 2015 gets more pension than a Col who retired earlier, having the same length of service. This applies across all ranks.

There is a specious argument that the Central Police Forces including the BSF and CRPF will ask for the same, but it must be realised that an army jawan retires between the ages of 35 to 37 whereas all ranks of the CPOs retire at age 60! The loss of pay/allowances and pension on account of this for a defence forces jawan is huge in comparison to his counterparts. But the babus and politicians don't seem to understand this.

 

[Hindustani78]

NDA government committed to OROP, reiterates Manohar Parrikar | Zee News
Last Updated: Thursday, July 9, 2015 - 15:17

Lucknow: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday reiterated that the Narendra Modi government was committed to 'One Rank One Pension' scheme for ther armed forces, and added it would be implemented at an appropriate time.

His assurance came a day after ex-servicemen held a relay hunger strike in Delhi to press their demand for 'One Rank One Pension', and said they would request no more for a meeting with Parrikar after a promised meeting failed to materialise on Wednesday.

"There are some stumbling blocks (in the implementation of OROP) and efforts are being made to remove them," the defence minister said.

Parrikar also asked journalists not to hazard a guess on the date of implementation of the scheme and said that everyone would come to know of it in due course of time.

Responding to Pakistani defence minister's recent comment on the use of nuclear weapons in case of a face-off with India, Parrikar said, "The nation is competent to meet any threat."

Parrikar, a Rajya Sabha member of parliament from Uttar Pradesh, was in the state capital to attend a function at the Cantonment Board.

He said all possible help would be extended to the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation regarding problems related to the route of the ambitious project through the Cantonment area.

"Whatever plans and proposals are sent to the defence ministry will be dealt with a positive and forward-looking approach," he added.

IANS

 

[Hindustani78]

Supreme Court's OROP order for all ranks, say ex-servicemen | Zee News
Last Updated: Saturday, July 11, 2015 - 22:00

New Delhi: With the Supreme Court ordering that the government should implement the 'One Rank, One Pension' (OROP) within six weeks, ex-servicemen have said the implementation should be for all ranks and not just for the major general rank for which the case was filed.

In relation to a case going on in the Supreme Court pertaining to the difference in pension of major general rank officers, the apex court in February gave the government a three-month deadline for implementation of OROP.

"Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand said in the hearing that the government has sanctioned OROP after which the case will be solved itself. The Supreme Court then gave a three-month deadline, which has passed," said Maj Gen (retd) Satbir Singh, chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement.

"The impression now being created is that OROP will be only for major general rank, which is not true. OROP is for all ranks and has to be implemented for all ranks," the retired army officer told IANS.

In February, a bench of Justice TS Thakur and Justice AK Goel gave the government a three-month deadline for implementing OROP.

On Wednesday, the bench gave the Centre another six weeks for implementation of OROP on a request made by Anand, who asked for some more time to enable the government to do the needful.

"The SC order is clear, OROP shall be implemented," Maj Gen Singh said.

Meanwhile, braving incessant rain, ex-servicemen continued their protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital.

Saturday was the 28th day of the protest by ex-servicemen over OROP, which began on June 14. Since June 15, the veterans have been holding a relay hunger strike.

"Both the UPA and NDA governments' sanctions of OROP were an eyewash. I hope that the present government will now abide by the SC order," Maj Gen Singh added.

The ex-servicemen are demanding that the government give them a date for implementation of OROP. They have also demanded that the nature of the scheme should not be changed.

Currently, pension for retired personnel is based on the Pay Commission recommendations at the time when the personnel retired.

This leads to a difference in pension for officers of the same rank who retire on different dates.

IANS