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

[Hindustani78]

Rally highlights problems of war veterans, widows - The Hindu

Lt. General Jagbir Singh, General Officer Commanding (Dakshin Bharat Area) interacting with the veterans at a rally and meeting conducted by ex-servicemen in Warangal.-Photo: M. Murali
Over 1,200 ex-servicemen, dependents and war widows from Warangal, Khammam, Karimnagar and Nalgonda took part in the rally.
A huge rally was taken out by ex-servicemen to highlight the problems being faced by the veterans and war widows.

The first ex-servicemen (ESM) rally in Warangal was organised by the Artillery Centre, Hyderabad under the aegis of Dakshin Bharat Area (Chennai) Headquarters in association with the Department of Sainik Welfare here on Sunday.

Over 1,200 ex-servicemen, dependents and war widows from Warangal, Khammam, Karimnagar and Nalgonda took part in the rally. It was followed by a public meeting at PGR Gardens in Hanamkonda. Lt. General Jagbir Singh, General Officer Commanding (Dakshin Bharat Area) distributed cash awards and gift hampers to ex-servicemen dependents and interacted with the members.

Mr Jagbir Singh said the rally was an effort by those in service to guide, educate, and help the Armed Forces veterans and their kin in their day-to-day problems and help find suitable solution to their problems.

It was also aimed at projecting the image of Army to the people of Warangal and surrounding areas. A special medical camp was held where Army specialist doctors along with dental specialists and paramedical staff offered services. They distributed free medicines to the needy. The Record office dealing with ex-servicemen has set up a stall enabling the ex-servicemen to register their grievances.

Pension related grievances of several personnel were addressed. Special stalls by Army Welfare Education Trust, Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), and Army Welfare Placement Organisation for the benefits of the veterans and their families were also set up. Facilities to sort out issues related to Digital Life Certificate, Aadhaar Card, PAN Card and Smart Card to avail CSD services were also set. The performance by the military band enthralled those attended the event.

Warangal Range DIG of Police, B Malla Reddy, District Collector V Karuna, Rural Superintendent of Police Ambar Kishore Jha and others were present.

 

[Hindustani78]

OROP stir: Veterans hopeful of breakthrough, RSS asks government to act soon | Zee News

New Delhi: Talks between ex-servicemen and the government on resolving the 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP) imbroglio were progressing and the veterans were hopeful of a breakthrough soon, sources said on Wednesday, the 81st day of the agitation.


The issue also figured in a coordination meeting between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on Wednesday.

As per sources, the RSS asked the government to implement the OROP soon, and form a commission to look into the issues on which consensus has not been reached.

Informed sources told IANS that the veterans since Tuesday have met Principal Secretary to the prime minister Nripendra Misra, Rural Affairs Minister Birender Singh, and MPs Rajeev Chandrashekhar and Bhagat Singh Koshiyari -- the latter headed the parliamentary committee that brought out a report on OROP.

"The talks are going on well. At this pace, we hope to have a breakthrough in a day or two," a source told IANS.

The source said pension equalisation was the point of contention presently.

While the government was ready to do the revision at an interval of five years, the veterans wanted it on a yearly basis.

Meanwhile, sources said RSS chief Mohan Bahgwat talked to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar separately on the OROP issue on the first day of the three-day coordination meeting that began on Wednesday.

Parrikar briefed Bhagwat on the issue, whereas Jaitley spoke on its financial implications.

Sources said the RSS chief also sought to know from Jaitley the problems the central government faced in the implementation of the OROP.

According to sources, Bhagwat asked the BJP leaders to resolve the OROP issue at the earliest and suggested setting up of a commission to deal with its financial implications, if needed.

On Tuesday, the 80th day of the protest, Col. Pushpender Singh (retd), who was evacuated and taken to hospital, returned to the protest site.

"Col. Pushpender is back and healthy. He has joined the fast here again," a spokesperson from the veterans' side told IANS.

Col. Pushpender Singh (retd) continued the indefinite fast in hospital as well.

At present, there are eight veterans on fast at Jantar Mantar here, including Havildar Major Singh (retd) who has been adamant about not leaving the venue despite worsening health.

There are around 24 lakh ex-servicemen in India and around 6.5 lakh widows who will benefit if OROP is implemented.

IANS

 

[Hindustani78]

The Hindu
Ex-servicemen and their family members during the agitation for 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP) at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi on Thursday. Photo: Shanker Chakravarty
Govt readies draft on OROP, announcement in 2-3 days - The Hindu



Looking to end the logjam on the issue of One Rank One Pension (OROP) for ex-servicemen, the government has prepared a draft on the modalities of implementing the scheme and an announcement is likely in the next 2-3 days. However ex-servicemen termed it “unilateral” and have rejected the draft.

The major sticking point remains the issue of equalisation. The government is firm on the revision every five years in view of the administrative difficulties of doing it annually, however, the veterans have rejected it. Talks are continuing to find common ground.

“This is the best possible deal we could have worked out considering the financial implications of this in a financial year when recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission will also be submitted. We also feel that a lot of veterans will be satisfied with this deal once it is explained, we hope that the protests end soon," said a senior minister in the government. Earlier this week, the RSS too had raised the matter with the government asking for a speedy resolution within reasonable means. “We have been told by Amit Shah (BJP President) that OROP will be worked out soon,” said RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabele on the sidelines of the BJP-RSS co-ordination meet in Delhi on Friday.

Speaking at Jantar Mantar, Maj Gen (retd) Satbir Singh, Chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) said they are ready to accept a revision every two years but not beyond that.

Responding on the draft OROP, Wg Cdr (retd) Vinod Nebb with IESM said if the government goes ahead unilaterally, they will continue their agitation. “It is utter rubbish. There is no question of accepting it. In fact we are going to escalate our protests from September 12”.

The veterans have been demanding an annual revision and implementation from April 1, 2014. As per definition OROP seeks uniform pension based on rank and length of service irrespective of when they retire.

The draft says implementation would be from July 1, 2014 as the government was sworn in on May 26, 2014 and 2013 would be the base year for calculation.

In terms of implementation, arrears will be paid immediately for widows while for all others it would be cleared in four instalments over two years.

OROP would be applicable for war widows but those opting for voluntary retirement are not eligible.

Given the complexities in determining duration of service and time of retirement, the government is expected to appoint a judicial commission which will submit a report within six months.

Officials said the annual burden on the pension bill will be about Rs. 8,000 crore which would progressively go up with revision in pensions. The current pension bill of the defence ministry stands at Rs. 54,000 crore.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
05-September, 2015 16:48 IST
Government Announces One Rank One Pension Scheme for Ex-Servicemen

The Government has announced the One Rank One Pension scheme for the Ex-Servicemen. This was announced by the Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar here today. The following is the statement of the Defence Minister:

“Government of India respects its Defence Forces and Ex-Servicemen for their valour, patriotism and sacrifices. The Government is proud of their devotion to duty and bravery. Our forces, besides vigilantly and gallantly defending the nation, have displayed exemplary standards of courage and bravery in natural calamities, law and order situations and other difficult circumstances.

The issue of “One Rank One Pension” (OROP) has been pending for nearly four decades. It is a matter of deep anguish that the various governments remained ambivalent on the issue of OROP. In February 2014, the then Government stated that OROP would be implemented in 2014-15, but did not specify what OROP would be, how it would be implemented or how much it would cost. An estimated Rs. 500 crore provided for OROP in the budget presented in February 2014 by the then government was not based on any thorough analysis. It is pertinent to mention that the then Minister of State for Defence in 2009 had, in reply to a question, informed Parliament that there are administrative, technical and financial difficulties in implementing OROP. It is for these reasons that the present government took some time to fulfil its promise.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has, on various occasions, reiterated the Government’s commitment to implement OROP for Ex-Servicemen under military pension. As stated above, the previous government has estimated that OROP would be implemented with a budget provision of a mere Rs. 500 crore. The reality, however, is that to implement OROP, the estimated cost to the exchequer would be Rs. 8,000 to 10,000 crore at present, and will increase further in future.

The Government held extensive consultations with experts and Ex-Servicemen. The main argument for OROP is that the Defence personnel retire early and thus are not able to get the benefits of serving till normal retirement age. Despite the huge fiscal burden, given its commitment to the welfare of Ex-Servicemen, the Government has taken a decision to implement the OROP.

In simple terms, OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement. Future enhancements in the rates of pension would be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This implies bridging the gap between the rate of pension of current and past pensioners at periodic intervals.

Under this definition, it has been decided that the gap between rate of pension of current pensioners and past pensioners will be bridged every 5 years.

Under the OROP Scheme:

The benefit will be given with effect from 1st July, 2014. The present government assumed office on 26th May, 2014 and therefore, it has been decided to make the scheme effective from a date immediately after.

Arrears will be paid in four half-yearly instalments. All widows, including war widows, will be paid arrears in one instalment.

To begin with, OROP would be fixed on the basis of calendar year 2013.

Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners retiring in the same rank and with the same length of service as the average of minimum and maximum pension in 2013. Those drawing pensions above the average will be protected.

Personnel who voluntarily retire will not be covered under the OROP scheme.

In future, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years.

It is estimated that the expenditure on arrears alone would be ten to twelve thousand crores of rupees. Apart from the fact that the previous government had provided for only Rs. 500 crore in the budget, it is noteworthy that the Koshiyari Committee had accepted the estimate of Rs. 235 crore as additional financial burden to implement OROP. The present government has accepted OROP in true spirit without being constrained by these inaccurate estimates.

OROP is a complex issue. A thorough examination of interests of retirees of different periods and different ranks is needed. The inter-service issues of the three Forces also require consideration. This is not an administrative matter alone. Therefore, it has also been decided that a One Member Judicial Committee would be constituted which will give its report in six months.

Prime Minister Shri Modi has fulfilled his commitment and approved OROP for Armed Forces personnel. Ministry of Defence will soon issue detailed Government Order.”

NAo/NM/RK

 

[Hindustani78]

OROP implemented: Key points to note | Zee News

New Delhi: The NDA government announced on Saturday that it will implement the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme for veterans. The announcement was made by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Here are the key points you should know:

• The OROP scheme will be implemented with effect from July 1, 2014.
• OROP will be fixed on the basis of calendar year 2013.
• Pension will be refixed for all pensioners on the same rank and with the same length of service as the average of minimum and maximum pension in 2013.
• The pension would be refixed every five years.
• Arrears will be paid in four half-yearly instalments.
• Widows and war widows will be the first to receive arrears and that too in one instalment.
• Personnel who opt for premature retirement will not be covered under OROP.
• Over 25 lakh veterans would benefit from OROP.
• According to Parrikar, the cost to the exchequer will be Rs 8,000 crores to Rs 10,000 crores.
• Those drawing pensions above the average will be protected, said the minister.

***********

OROP row: Points of disagreement between govt and ex-servicemen | Zee News
New Delhi: The government has decided to implement the `One Rank, One Pension` (OROP) scheme for veterans, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said here on Saturday. However, the ex-servicemen, who have been on agitation for 83 days, rejected the key details of the decision.

Here are the key differences:

1. The government has decided to implement OROP under which there would be revision of pension every five years as against one year demanded by the ex-servicemen.
2. The base year would be calendar year 2013 for calculation of the OROP and it will be implemented from July 2014. The veterans had been demanding that the scheme be implemented from April 1, 2014.
3. The government said that ex-servicemen, who have taken voluntary retirement, would not be eligible for the scheme. However, the veterans have demanded OROP benefits for those who have taken premature retirement.
4. The government is setting up a one-member judicial committee to work out details of implementation of the OROP which will file a report in six months. The veterans have, however, demanded a five-member committee under the Defence Minister which will include an ex-serviceman too.

Govt announces OROP; veterans reject offer | Zee News

Parrikar said to implement OROP, the estimated cost to the exchequer would be Rs 8,000 crore-Rs 10,000 crore at present, and will increase further in future. He added that the previous government had set aside a sum of Rs 500 crores for OROP, but it was "not based on a thorough analysis". The expenditure on arrears alone will be around Rs 10,000 crores to Rs 12,000 crores.

The government has held extensive consultations with experts and ex-servicemen on the issue, said Parrikar, adding that the OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement.

The minister that the government has decided that the gap between rate of pension of current pensioners and past pensioners will be bridged every five years.

He further announced that the OROP will be implemented from July 1, 2014 and the base year would be 2013.

Arrears will be paid in four half-yearly instalments. All widows, including war widows, will be paid arrears in one instalment, he added.

Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners retiring in the same rank and same length of service as the average of minimum and maximum pension in 2013, announced Parrikar.

The minister also cleared that personnel who voluntary retire will not be covered under OROP scheme.

Top Defence Ministry sources said interest of those armed forces personnel who had to take VRS due to injuries will be protected.

"OROP is a complex issue. A thorough examination of interests of retirees of different periods and different ranks is needed. The inter-service issues of the three forces also require consideration. This is not an administrative matter alone," said Parrikar

In future, the pension would be re-fixed every five years, added the minister.

PM Narendra Modi has fulfilled his commitment and approved OROP for the armed forces personnel, said Parrikar, adding the Ministry of Defence will issue the detailed order soon.

Parrikar made the announcement in the presence of Army Chief General Dalbir Singh, Naval Chief Admiral RK Dhowan, Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal Aroop Raha, and Defence Secretary G Mohan Kumar.

Responding to Parrikar's statement, Major Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, who is leading the campaign, said while the veterans were satisfied with the government's intention to implement the OROP, they made it clear that the proposed benefits were not acceptable to them.

He said they disapprove of setting up of one-member judicial committee. “It should be under the Defence Minister and not given more than one month.”

He said that the veterans wanted clarifications from the government on issues like pre-mature retirement benefits and averaging of pension.

The agitating ex-servicemen will decide future course of action in response to the Defence Ministry's announcement shortly, said Singh.

He added that the ex-servicemen would not withdraw their agitation and reject the government's decision for revision of pension every five years.

According to us, the government has only accepted one of our demands and rejected six, said Singh.

Close to 26 lakh retired 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 retired personnel is based on the Pay Commission recommendations of the time when he or she retired. So, a Major General who retired in 1996 draws less pension than a Lt Colonel who retired after 1996.

 

[Hindustani78]

The Union Minister for Defence, Shri Manohar Parrikar announcing the One Rank One Pension scheme for the Ex-Servicemen, at South Block, in New Delhi on September 05, 2015. The Minister of State for Planning (Independent Charge) and Defence, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh, the three Service Chiefs, General Dalbir Singh, Admiral R.K. Dhowan and Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and the Defence Secretary, Shri G. Mohan Kumar are also seen.

 

[Hindustani78]

BJP president Amit Shah on the announcement of One Rank One Pension scheme by Government - The Hindu

BJP chief Amit Shah underlined that the decision would come into effect from the time Mr. Modi came to power.
Terming as “historic” the Centre’s decision on ‘One Rank, One Pension’, the BJP on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled the commitment he made to ex-servicemen and provided them economic security while Congress had only played a “joke” on them when in power.

Attacking Congress, BJP president Amit Shah said the pension of ex-servicemen was decreased by its government in the 70s and slammed the allocation of only Rs. 500 crore for OROP by the previous UPA government.

“In 1973 their pension was reduced from 70 per cent to 50 per cent (of salary) and the demand for OROP has been hanging fire since.... The previous Congress government in its last moments made an allocation of Rs. 500 crore for it and this was a joke with servicemen,” Mr. Shah told reporters, noting that an additional expenditure of Rs. 9,000-10,000 crore annually will go towards it.

Recalling that it was Mr. Modi’s poll promise during the 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign, he said the prime minister had fulfilled it now.

Mr. Shah underlined that the decision would come into effect from the time Mr. Modi came to power.

“Every year Rs. 9,000-10,000 crore more will go to the ex-servicemen. The Modi government has given economic security to them as well the serving personnel who will retire later. BJP hails the prime minister for this,” he said.

He, however, declined to take any question. A section of ex-servicemen has objected to the contours of the OROP formulation as announced by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

In tweets, Mr. Shah said the “historic” decision is a “big step for the welfare of soldiers; the real life heroes“.

“The decision will go a long way in boosting morale of our soldiers and their families,” he said.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ex-servicemen celebrate at the India Gate after the government announced the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, in New Delhi on Saturday. PTI Photo

 

[Hindustani78]

OROP: Note of caution by 2 ex-Army chiefs | Zee News

Last Updated: Saturday, September 5, 2015 - 21:53

New Delhi: Two former army chiefs have sounded a note of caution over various provisions of One Rank One Pension (OROP) announced by the government on Saturday, with Gen (rtd) V P Malik opposing the decision to exclude those opting to retire early from the benefits.

Former Army chief General Deepak Kapoor termed the announcement as a "substantial step" taken by the Narendra Modi government but said other issues which were worrying the veterans are a "cause of concern".

"The Modi government has taken a substantial step in terms of finally declaring OROP. In principal, accepting this entire concept, they have to be lauded.

"But a number of other issues which are worrying the veterans are a cause of concern. It would have been better if those issues too could have been addressed. For the sources to say that about 98 per cent of aspirations have been met, may not be fully correct," he said.

Ex-servicemen, pressing for OROP for nearly four decades, today won a partial victory with the government announcing that it would implement it.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that OROP, that implies uniform pension for armed forces personnel retiring in the same rank with a same length of service, would be implemented from July 1, 2014 on the basis of calender year 2013.

Gen(retd) Malik noted that earlier the government was offering the base year as 2006 and there were other conditions which were not acceptable to ex-servicemen and said that he had hoped that the dispute will be resolved "amicably and gracefully" by both sides and there would be peace.

"Unfortunately, I do not agree with the kind of methodology which has been adopted in announcing this and the manner in which it has been announced, there is a lack of clarity and transparency which should have been avoided," he said.

Malik said it "intrigues" him as to why premature retirees have not been included in the OROP.

"The first thing which really intrigues me is the premature retirees not being in OROP. Officer start retiring after 20 years and most of them take premature retirement when they realise that they are unable to go up in the armed forces.

"If they have already finished their pensionable service, why should not they be in the ambit of OROP?" he asked.

Malik also questioned the logic behind the Defence Minister's meeting with ex-servicemen yesterday when the announcement was made through a "script".

"Yesterday there was a leak from Defence Ministry and even I knew what government was going to offer. After that the defence minister called the people who were on agitation to his office.

"He heard them and yet when the announcement was made, it was read out from a script which probably might have been prepared two days earlier. Where was the need to call these people hear them and yet do nothing about it," Malik said.

The General (retd) said that the demand for OROP had been accepted by all political parties, Parliament and the present government has announced it over and over again and there was a hope that the agitation on the street will stop.

"But that has not happened. The methodology that has been adopted could have been much more better. It could have inspired much more trust between each other. A clarification should have been given. That has been missing," he said.

Malik also did not agree with the government's announcement of setting up a one man judicial commission to look into the issue.

"I do not agree with one man commission. We must have a proper commission or a committee in which you have experienced people who have served in the army.

"Otherwise, as I said this elementary question of premature retirement it is totally alimentary. We do not want such mistake to occur. Not one man commission but a 4-5 man commission in which you have representative from armed forces," he said.

 

[Hindustani78]

OROP stir: Hunger strike called off by veterans after PM Modi's reassurance | Zee News

New Delhi: Shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reassured the ex-servicemen over implementation of One Rank One Pension, ex-servicemen called off their hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Sunday.

“We've ended our fast-unto-death, but if Govt does not fulfills its promise we are going to come back like a hurricane,” Major General (retd) Satbir Singh told ANI.

Colonel (retd) Pushpendra Singh and 13 others called off their fast unto death today and were offered food.

“We are happy with the hunger strike been called off,” Colonel (retd) Pushpendra Singh was quoted by ANI.

However, they decided to continue their protest till all the "sticky" issues are resolved.


Earlier today, Singh, who is leading the OROP campaign of the ex-servicemen, thanked PM Modi after his assurance over OROP and urged his colleagues sitting on hunger strike till death to call it off.

However, he highlighted four issues related to OROP and said that protest will continue “until four specific concerns are addressed by the government”.

"We urge all those who are on hunger strike to withdraw it as the PM has clarified on the issue of premature retirement. But our protest will continue till the government accepts four points raised by us," he said.

He said ex-servicemen may resume hunger strike again if the government fails to resolve the pending issues.

"We thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fulfilling the promise of one rank-one pension. We thank the defence minister but there are four issues to be resolved including the period of equalisation of pension," Singh said.

The ex-servicemen said revision of pension after a gap of five years as announced by the government is not at all acceptable to them, besides appointment of a one-man judicial commission to examine various aspects of one rank-one pension (OROP).

The veterans, who have been pressing for one rank-one pension (OROP) for four decades, yesterday won a partial victory with the government announcing that it would implement it, but the veterans rejected the decision and decided to continue their agitation.

The issue of whether the scheme would cover ex-servicemen who have taken premature retirement had emerged as a major sticking point.

They met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar yesterday and later said his clarification in this regard was "satisfying".

(With PTI Inputs)

Veterans to hold 'Gaurav Rally' to decide future OROP course | Zee News
Last Updated: Sunday, September 6, 2015 - 16:08

New Delhi: After getting clarity from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on the issue of Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), ex-servicemen protesting for the implementation of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme, on Sunday said that they would be organising a `Gaurav Rally` on September 12 to decide their future course of action.


"Prime Minister Modi has said that rumours are being spread on the issue of VRS. We are not being misled. In fact, the media is being misled," Group Captain V.K. Gandhi (Retired) told the media here

."The Prime Minister has said that he loves and respects ex-servicemen, and that the OROP would benefit all ex-servicemen," he added. "We will organise a rally here on Saturday, named as the Gaurav Rally, where we will decide the future course of action," Gandhi added.Prime Minister Modi had earlier said people were being misguided about the VRS policy, and added that the scheme would benefit all sections of the defence forces.

"Many people are trying to do politics. Those who didn`t do anything for 40 years, have no right to speak on behalf of the jawan," Prime Minister Modi said, while inaugurating the Badarpur-Faridabad Metro Line in Faridabad Sports Complex.

On Saturday, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar announced that the government has decided to implement the much awaited OROP scheme, and its benefit would be given to all ex-servicemen, excluding voluntary retirees, from July 1, 2014.

ANI

Prime MInister Narendra Modi speaks at the Faridabad rally in Haryana - The Hindu

Modi said that there were attempts to mislead the soldiers, but the rank-and-the-file was set to benefit the most from the announcement.

Allaying fear of veterans on one rank one pension, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said armed forces personnel who retired prematurely will be entitled to OROP. Mr. Modi also added that it was not an easy decision for his government as it could have very wide ramifications, adding that nothing mattered to his government more than the esteem of the soldiers.

Referring to OROP at the function to inaugurate Badarpur-Escorts (Mujesar) corridor of Delhi Metro, Mr. Modi said that the previous government had pegged the expenditure on OROP at Rs. 500 crore and even Koshiyari Committee had calculated it to be around Rs. 500 crore, but everyone was bewildered when the calculations begin and it came around Rs.8,000-10,000 crore. “Successive governments for four decades had failed to resolve the issue. But we had made a promise and kept our words,” said Mr. Modi, amid loud cheers.

Sounding a note of caution, Mr. Modi said that there were attempts to mislead the soldiers, but the rank-and-the-file was set to benefit the most from the announcement.

Without naming anyone, Mr. Modi said that those who had been rejected by the people were making attempts to obstruct the growth of the country. He said that “development” was the one-point agenda of his government.

 

[Hindustani78]

Prime Minister's Office
06-September, 2015 15:58 IST
Armed Forces Veterans greet PM for OROP


Armed Forces Veterans welcomed and greeted Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for yesterday’s announcement of OROP during the inauguration function of the Badarpur-Faridabad Metro Line at Faridabad today. They presented flowers to the Prime Minister and thanked him.

***

 

[Hindustani78]

OROP: Issue more or less resolved, says Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar | Zee News
Last Updated: Sunday, September 6, 2015 - 18:08

New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday that the one rank-one pension (OROP) issue was more of less resolved:


“Issue more or less according to me is resolved. Have you ever seen 100% things are fulfilled to everyone’s satisfaction,” Parrikar said.

“When I became Defence Minister I realized that OROP definition means around 8000 crore of financial burden,” the Defence Minister added, as per ANI.

“OROP as a principle accepted, full financial requirements fulfilled, there might be few issues which we’ll automatically address,” Parrikar pointed out.

At the same time he stated that the OROP was an assurance given by the BJP and the party had kept the assurance.

The Union Minister further said that most of the veterans were happy about implementation of OROP.

Welcoming the government's decision to implement OROP, agitating ex-servicemen today announced withdrawal of their hunger strike but decided to continue their protest till all the "sticky" issues are resolved.

The ex-servicemen said revision of pension after a gap of five years as announced by the government is not at all acceptable to them, besides appointment of a one-man judicial commission to examine various aspects of one rank-one pension (OROP).

Addressing a press conference here, Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, leader of the association leading the agitation, said the protest will continue till four specific points raised by the ex-servicemen are not accepted by the government.

"We urge all those who are on hunger strike to withdraw it as the PM has clarified on the issue of premature retirement. But our protest will continue till the government accepts four points raised by us," he said, as per PTI.

He said ex-servicemen may resume hunger strike again if the government fails to resolve the pending issues.

The veterans, who have been pressing for OROP for four decades, yesterday won a partial victory with the government announcing that it would implement it, but the veterans rejected the decision and decided to continue their agitation.

The issue of whether the scheme would cover ex-servicemen who have taken premature retirement had emerged as a major sticking point.

They met Parrikar yesterday and later said his clarification in this regard was "satisfying".

(With Agency inputs)

 

[Hindustani78]

Colonel (Rtd.) Pushpendra Singh celebrates with his family member after breaking their fast to withdraw hunger strike following governments decision to implement One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

Wait for final OROP order for clarity: Manohar Parrikar | Zee News
Last Updated: Monday, September 7, 2015 - 22:18

Mumbai: With confusion surrounding who among the retirees will get the benefits of One Rank, One Pension, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday asked all those concerned to wait for the final order, which will "explain it properly".


"You have to wait for the final order (on OROP) which will come. Why is there so much excitement till then? The PM has made it amply clear that those who are being allowed to retire through proper procedure will not be (adversely) impacted. You need to wait for the exact wording," he told reporters on the sidelines of an Engineers' Conclave.

He also clarified that the concept of 'Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) does not exist in the Armed Forces.

"In the Armed Forces even if you apply, you may not get voluntary retirement, unlike (in) civilian (service), where you can get it. In the Armed Forces, you can be refused. There are many people who because of health reasons apply and the Armed Forces also want them to retire and, if that happens before the minimum service requirement, then they don?t get pension.

"We will explain this properly, no one should unnecessarily create confusion on it," Parrikar said.

Parrikar said many things needed to be considered before Rs 8000 crore is sanctioned for implementing OROP.

"A lot of things have to be considered before sanctioning Rs 8,000 crore...It is not a matter of Rs 8. There were a lot of issues involved with it, why blame someone? It is very easy to say that give it (money), but when one has to give the money, it is not easy," he said.

He was asked whether differences between bureaucracy and the political leadership had delayed the announcement.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday said those who had had to quit the defence forces prematurely would also be entitled to OROP benefits.

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

'Revise pension of ex-servicemen with every pay revision' | Zee News

Shimla: Former Chief of Integrated Defence Staff Lt Gen Hardev Singh Lidder today appealed to the government for revising the pension of ex-servicemen with every pay revision as in the case of other services to resolve the 'one rank, one pension' row once and for all.

"There is no VRS for jawans who are discharged after completion of 20 years to keep the army young and given pension on the basis of pay drawn at that particular time and thus suffer injustice. Either the government should raise the retirement age or revise the pension after every pay revision," he said.

Earlier, the jawans were getting 70 per cent pension on retirement which compensated them to some extent but it was reduced to 50 per cent during the regime of Indira Gandhi while on the other hand, the pension of other services was also increased to 50 per cent after 20 years of service which is a "travesty of justice", he claimed.

There was no cogent reason for different retirement age for army personnel and the age of superannuation should be uniform irrespective of the fact that whether they get promotion and higher ranks, Lt Gen (retd.) Lidder said adding that this pattern is being followed in civil services.

He said that it was an irony that there had never been any representative of Armed forces in successive pay commissions and their fate was decided by the bureaucrats, who had no idea of the functioning of army and the problems and hardships faced by them.

"The proposed committee to be set up to resolve residual issues should consist only of army officers to ensure that justice was not denied to ex-servicemen struggling for OROP for past 40 years," he said.

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Last Updated: Wednesday, September 9, 2015 - 19:57
OROP issue: Veterans' umbrella group breaks, one faction dissociates | Zee News

New Delhi: The umbrella organisation leading the agitation for 'One-Rank, One-Pension' (OROP) split on Wednesday, just three days ahead of a planned rally, with a key faction dissociating itself from the grouping, citing "lack of cohesiveness" and suggesting politicisation of the movement.

"We have informed the United Front of Ex-Servicemen Movement (UFESM) about our decision to withdraw from the grouping. The movement is no longer cohesive," said Lt Gen (Retd) Balbir Singh, President of Indian Ex-Servicemen League.

Singh, who was one of the key negotiators from the veterans' side in talks with the government over OROP, said he was against the rally being organised on Saturday at Jantar Mantar.

He claimed that his group has about 4.5 lakh members and none from his side would be participating in the rally. Altogether, there are around 26 lakh ex-servicemen.

He said constitution of his organisation maintains that its activities will be apolitical "but with rally being planned in Bihar, we felt this is against our own constitution".

He was referring to a grand rally planned by the UFESM in poll-bound Bihar for which no date has been fixed yet.

"Protests can continue after that if need be. Meanwhile, our grievances against the OROP announced by the government should be pursued before the one-man judicial commission that will be set up... We should wait for the final written order that will be issued by the government," he told PTI.

Meanwhile, undeterred by the withdrawal, UFESM said the rally will go on.

"It is an attempt by the government to break us. We will not be deterred and the rally will go on as planned," said Col (Retd) Anil Kaul, the media advisor to UFESM.

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, who is leading the agitation under the banner of UFESM, could not be reached for comments.

The government had last weekend accepted the 43-year-old demand to remove disparities in pensions but a few sticking points continue to exist.

The main concern of the protesting veterans relates to extension of benefits to premature retirees, annual revision of pensions as against the five-yearly review granted by the government and the method of re-calculation.

Another point that Maj Gen (Retd) Balbir is objecting is the government's decision to set up a single-member judicial committee to look into various aspects of OROP. This committee is supposed to submit the report in six months.

However, the veterans want a five-member panel with a one month deadline for submission of report.

PTI