PERMENANT SQUAWKERS CONGRESS: GOVT’S OROP PACKAGE A ‘BETRAYAL’ TO EX-SERVICEMEN SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 06

[samlove]

Former Defence Minister A K Antony

Former Defence Minister A K Antony charged the government with doing politics over OROP, “substantially diluting” its provisions and “ridiculing” ex-servicemen. Congress Saturday described key components of government’s announcement of ‘One Rank One Pension’ as a “betrayal” to the cause of ex-servicemen.
Former Defence Minister A K Antony charged the government with doing politics over OROP, “substantially diluting” its provisions and “ridiculing” ex-servicemen.
Attacking the government’s decision to keep out of OROP those ex-servicemen who had opted for VRS, he said it was sad because 90 per cent of service personnel retire between 35 to 40 years of age, losing lakhs of rupees.
“There is no comparison of those in Defence forces with those in other services”, Antony told reporters here.
Former Union Minister Kapil Sibal said that Congress was against the provision of revision of pension every five years announced by the government. He also faulted it for not adhering to the equalisation principle. Antony took exception to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s remarks that OROP was being implemented for the first time in four decades by his government.
“The Defence Minister is doing politics,” he said insisting that UPA government had announced acceptance of OROP last year and had even provided a token amount of Rs 500 crores and constituted an expert committee.
Replying to a question as to what was the estimate of the financial impact of the erstwhile UPA on its acceptance of the OROP demand, Antony merely said that an expert committee was constituted.
Asked whether government’s decision has opened up a Pandora’s box as OROP announcement would lead to demands from other central security forces, Sibal said that the party would react only after the Prime Minister makes his stand clear in the matter.
Read: Ex-servicemen whose premature retirement valid, legal will get OROP benefits, says Rathore
He steered clear of a question whether Congress would participate in a rally being called by the agitating ex-servicemen in the national capital soon.
Both Antony and Sibal targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalling that he had promised OROP within 100 days of coming to power.
Antony said that between 2004 to 2012, Congress government had increased ex-servicemen’s pension on three occasions leading to a net financial outflow of Rs.7,000 crore.
“This immensely benefitted ex-servicemen and bridged the pension gap”, he added.
Former Minister of State for Defence Jitendra Singh alleged government has played “fraud” on ex-servicemen by “substantially diluting” the provisions of OROP. It is a “mockery” of those who have given their youth to safegaurd the nation, he said.
In a statement, he wanted the government to “rectify the mistakes.”

 

[samlove]

The veterans know who is a friend and who is a foe. How could the Military men forget your love of Veterans, when you refused to pay the monthly dues to the Hero among Veterans ; the Hero of Bangladesh war of 1971, Field Marshal Manekshaw. Ultimately after a decade, it was President Abdul Kalam who intervened and got the dues released. But by then, FM Manekshaw was already on the deathbed. When he died, you did not feel it right to attend his funeral too. The less we talk , the better for us.

Your party betrayed and looted the nations for decades. Nothing except looting has been done by your your regimes.

 

[PARIKRAMA]

OROP is a complex issue. Even though NDA gov had approved it now still the cost to exchequer is huge.. At 8k-12k Cr per year estimates and perhaps more when we try and bring in some partity to other central forces too...

It is vital as fam members and ppl who serve our Country needs to be given the security (financial) which they deserve.

Unfortunately Political parties make it a mockery of gigantic proportions. Congress is talking and blabbering utter nonsense here. A file sent to a committee and 500Cr allotment will do what? Who has got 500 Crs? Which veteran or which survivor fam has benefitted from tht 500 Cr? Perhaps better check the 'netas' individual account to know the whereabouts of Rs 500 Cr

There are real touchy and sensitive topics like

• Voluntary/Premature retirement is a very touchy topic.
• The pension revision every 5 years vs every year.
• The payment in 4 installment (we know the delays in normal pensions only at times..)
• The pension quantum to be now refixed for all (parity point and who gets what at what rank)
• The judicial committee constitution and time frame for submitting report

These are strong discussion points. Political parties should refrain from politicizing over these points and trying to win brownie points. OROP paves way for a much bigger revolution for all central forces and perhaps later State forces also as it becomes the base for bringing in the financial security angle for all personnel who served in Country's dfence in Central or State level.

But then perhaps i am accepting too much from Congress.. Good Rahul Gandhi had not opened his mouth yet.. God knows what will he utter on this topic...

 

[Pulsar]

OROP is a complex issue. Even though NDA gov had approved it now still the cost to exchequer is huge.. At 8k-12k Cr per year estimates and perhaps more when we try and bring in some partity to other central forces too...

Agreed, but consider this:

1. OR retire between the ages of 35-40yrs while their counterparts in the paramilitary forces and central government including peons retire at 60-62 yrs. So then, they lose 20-25 years of pay and allowances, and higher pensionary benefits and gratuity which are calculated on the number of years of service. The government gains massively instead!

2. The babus - bureaucrats - had awarded themselves NFU (Non Functional Upgradation) in the 6th pay commission which translates to OROP. Meaning that even if one bureaucrat in the batch is promoted to the next higher pay band, the entire batch is brought at par whether they deserve it or not!! The defence services were left out of this!

3. The pensions of all armed forces personnel were reduced from 75% of last pay drawn to 50% in 1973, a 'gift' given to them by the Congress government headed by Indira Gandhi after winning the 1971 war!! What an irony! A despicable act perpetrated by our great politicians and bureaucrats who raised their own pension from 30% to 50%!

Add all this up, and how much has the government saved? Therefore the Rs10,000 crores that is bandied about is peanuts. Think of how much the government has saved instead!