One Man Judicial Committee appointed on OROP

Judicial Commitee on OROP

DELHI HIGH COURT ORDER ON DISCRIMINATION OF TREATMENT TO OFFICERS/OTHER RANKS

Rse 11122015 Cw 55222015

AGAIN THE SAME MISTAKE IS DONE. DIPLOMA & NON DIPLOMA SEPERATED.

6.2.88 The approach adopted by the VI CPC in determining X pay is agreed with. At the same
time the incentive structure needs to have a bearing with the qualifications.

Accordingly, this Commission recommends:

i. X pay for JCOs/ORs in Group X at ₹6,200 per month for all X trades which involve
obtaining a qualification which is equivalent of a diploma recognised by AICTE. This
amount is the difference in the minimum of the Pay level 6 (corresponding to Grade
Pay of ₹4200 in VI CPC), and Pay level 5 (corresponding to Grade Pay of ₹2800 in VI
CPC).

ii. X pay for JCOs/ORs in Group X at ₹3,600 per month (standard fitment of 2.57 on
the existing X pay of ₹1,400), for those currently in X pay, but not having a technical
qualification recognised by AICTE.

FROM 2012 THE DIPLOMA & NON DIPLOMA WERE MADE EQUAL THE GOVT. MAY NOT AGREE FOR THIS RECOMMENDATION. THIS MATTER SHOULD BE TAKENUP.

7th Pay Commission Report

Seven Cpc Report

33 years linkage to pre-2006 pensioners may be removed.

27th meeting of SCOVA was held on 13.11.2015 and the important decisions taken are listed below

SCOVA meeting was held on 13th November 2015, Honourable Minister of State (PP) & Chairman SCOVA attended. Important decisions in respect of Pre-2006 Pensioners were taken

The 27th meeting of SCOVA was held on 13.11.2015. Honourable Minister of State (PP) & Chairman SCOVA attended. The following important points and decisions emerged in that meeting.

1. 9697 PPOs are still pending to be issued with Revised PPOs for Pre-2006 Pensioners.

• Health Insurance scheme for pensioners in Non-CGHS Areas: Ministry of Health has informed that after consultations with various Ministries and Insurance Companies, a scheme for Health Insurance has been prepared for employees and pensioners. An EFC Memo would be circulated soon.
• CGHS facilities to all P&T Pensioners: It was demanded that since on 22.08.2014 the Supreme Court had finally disposed of the SLP, the OMs of Health Ministry dated 1.8.1996 and 1.9.1996 must be withdrawn and all P&T Pensioners must be allowed into CGHS . Ministry of Health has informed that a proposal for extending the CGHS benefit to all P&T pensioners on par with other Government Pensioners has been sent for approval to Department of Expenditure.
• Extension of benefit of upgraded Grade Pay to Pre-2006 Pensioners of S-12 Grade: Department of Expenditure has informed that the matter is under its consideration and a response would be sent to Ministry of Pension within a week.
• Pension re-fixation to Pre-2006 Pensioners with less than 33 years of service: As the Revision Petition in theSupreme Court filed by the Government had been rejected by the Apex Court on 26.08.2015, the matter is under examination.
• Refixation of pension from 1.1.2006: It is instructed to implement the orders dated 30th July, 2015 before 31.10.2015.

If the above statement of RM is correct, there will be heavy loss to the Ex-Servicemen. The revision clause in the OROP is going to become another controversy. Even in normal notifications the Baboos interpret wrongly and make us run piller to post. When the notification itself clearly speaks 'Revision after 5 years', Definitely they are going to create proble. Come on ........ take up this issue.

OROP NOTIFICATION ISSUED

Orop Desw Mod

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA NEWS

Notification for Implementation of OROP Issued

The Government today issued the notification regarding  implementation of ‘One Rank One Pension’ in respect of Defence Forces  personnel.

Defence Forces of India have a rich history and tradition of bravery and gallantry. Defence forces have not only defend our borders with exemplary courage and valour but have also performed with fearless attitude and empathy in natural calamities and other trying circumstances. Government of India recognizes and respects their contribution.

The issue of One Rank One Pension was a long standing   demand. Defence Forces had been demanding it for almost four decades but the issue could not be resolved. However, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had made a commitment to implement it for the welfare of the ex-servicemen. Accordingly the Government had announced modalities for implementation of OROP on 05.09.2015.  The Government Order by Ministry of Defence, which could not be issued due to model code of conduct, has been issued today.

Salient features of the OROP as stated in the Order are as follows: 

                     I.        To begin with, pension of the past pensioners would be re-fixed on the basis of pension of retirees of calendar year 2013 and the benefit will be effective with effect from 1.7.2014. 

                   II.        Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners on the basis of the average of minimum and maximum pension of personnel retiring in 2013 in the same rank and with the same length of service. 

                  III.        Pension for those drawing above the average shall be protected. 

                 IV.        Arrears will be paid in four equal half yearly instalments. However, all the family pensioners, including those in receipt of Special/Liberalized family pensioners, and Gallantry award winnersshall be paid arrears in one instalment. 

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

4. Personnel who opt to get discharged henceforth on their  own request under Rule 13(3)1(i)(b),13(3)1(iv) or Rule 16B of the Army Rule 1954 or equivalent Navy or Air Force Rules will not be entitled to the benefits of OROP. It will be effective prospectively.

5. The Govt. has decided to appoint a Judicial Committee to look into anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP. The Judicial Committee will submit its report in six months.  

6.    Detailed instructions along with tables indicating revised pension for each rank and each category, shall be issued separately for updation of pension and payment of arrears directly by Pension Disbursing Agencies. 

The previous Government had made a budget announcement to implement the OROP and made a provision of Rs 500  Crore.   The present Government undertook the task earnestly and realized that the actual additional annual expenditure would be eight to ten thousand crore at present and will increase further in future.   Notwithstanding the financial constraints, true to its commitment the present Government has issued the Government order to implement the OROP in true spirit.

Sitanshu Kar/                                                      

(Release ID :130325)

GOVT. HAS CLEARED THE OROP NOTIFICATION.

TODAY GOVT. HAS CLEARED THE MUCH AWAITED OROP NOTIFICATION. REVISION TO EFFECT  EVERY TWO YEARS. 

OROP Notification Expected on Monday

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The government is likely to issue the notification for One Rank One Pension (OROP) on Monday, a day after completion of the Bihar assembly poll process.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday claimed the scheme would be implemented before Diwali. The announcement comes on a day when protesting ex-servicemen decided to step up their protests and return their medals from November 9.

The government had, on September 5, announced the OROP scheme but an official notification was awaited. The government has cited the Model Code of Conduct for the Bihar polls as the reason behind the delay.

Even after the government announced the scheme, a section of veterans had continued their protest citing seven lacunae in the scheme. The threat to return medals is aimed at pressuring the government to notify OROP on Monday.

The protesting veterans accused Parrikar of ‘changing the goalpost’ frequently and claimed that “seven serious shortcomings” in the government’s model of OROP.

Even on earlier occasions, the veterans have returned their medals in protest against the delay in implementing their long-pending demand for OROP.

According to activist Commodore Lokesh Batra (retd), who had filed several of RTI applications, more than 30,000 gallantry and service medals have been returned to the President’s office since 2009.

AN IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO VETERANS

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: MG Kapoor <mgkapoor.1962@gmail.com>
To: Col.U N Mohapatra <colun.mohapatra@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, 23 October 2015 8:51 PM
Subject: Re: Legal Case in the AFT

Dear Mohapatra,

Season's Greetings.

Trust this finds you in good health.

I wonder why you have forwarded the message to me, since I am myself am advocate and a very senior advocate, practising now for over 32 years.
I would have pleaded veterans case without charging fee had I been convinced of the cause TO MOVE THE AFT AT THIS STAGE. I learn the case is regarding the grant of OROP. If it be so, Brig Vidyasagar is doing the greatest DISSERVICE to the veterans cause and is undoing the efforts of the UESM and of all the persons associated with it and in particular the UNTIRING EFFORTS OF MAJOR GENERAL SATBIR SINGH AND GROUP CAPTAIN VINOD GANDHI. He is perhaps acting at the behest of the BJP leaders or else thr BJP leaders are using him. He is giving an excuse to the BJP Govt (Jaitley and Modi) to say, "Now that the case is subjudice, let's await the verdict before we issue the Notification".

Further, Brig Vidyasagar is being ill advised by Brig Srivastava. The aggrieved person (each veteran in this case) is first required to make a representation to the Government of his demand. It is only after the expiry of six months of such a representation,   in case the Government does not pass any order, that the aggrieved person can move the AFT. Yes, if the Government passes an Order, the person, if aggrieved by such Order, can move the AFT.

So, you cannot move the AFT immediately and if you do, the AFT would direct the applicants to first make representation to the Government.

Also, if and when such an OA (as such petitions are termed) is filed, the first thing that the Govt lawyer would say is, "the matter is under active consideration of the Government and is soon going to issue the Order".

Therefore, my advice is it is only prudent to await Govt Notification and only after studying it, move the AFT, if still aggrieved.

After the Notification is issued the Government cannot at least backtrack from that Order and can only improve upon it, if at all.

Please ask Brigadier Vidyasagar the number of members of HIS ESM, lawyers fee and only thereafter decide the contribution. This is to dispel his personal interest in the matter.

We are informed the Govt may issue Notification soon after the Bihar elections.

Please be informed, if we are aggrieved by such Notification I would do the case without charging any fee, if Maj Gen Satbir Singh and the Organising Committee of UESM asks me to move the AFT.

So I would request you all, including Brig Vidyasagar, NOT to undo the years long efforts of Major General Satbir Singh and his Team.

Hope you all prevail upon Brig Vidyasagar in this regard,

With best wishes,

MG

OUTCOME OF SCOVA MEETING HELD ON 13.10.2015 ON 33 YEARS LINKAGE PRORATA REDUCTION.

Standing Committee of Voluntary Agencies (SCOVA) held on 13th October, 2015

2. Extension of the benefits of DoP&PW OM No.38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 28-1-2013 read with OM dated 30-7-2015 to pre-2006 Pensioners with less than 33 years of service.
K P&T PA while sending items/issues for inclusion in the Agenda for discussion in the 27th Meeting of SCOVA had requested that the issue of grant of modified parity in pension between pre and post 2006 Pensioners may be reviewed in its entirety , keeping in view the recommendations of 6th CPC, and the provisions of OM dated 28-1-2013 read with OM dated 30-7-2015 may be further liberalised and modified to extend the benefit to all pre-2006 Pensioners with less than 33 years of service , thereby ending pro rata reduction in pension for less than 33 years of service. It was also suggested that modified parity should be made applicable to all pre-206 pensioners irrespective of placement of the post from which they retired in a higher pay scale subsequent to their retirement, either from 1-1-1996 under 5th CPC or from 1-1-2006 under the 6th CPC, since several posts were placed in Higher Pay Scale under 5th and 6th CPCs and the Pensioner who retired from the same posts prior to their up gradation have been denied the benefit of modified parity in pension with reference to the Upgraded Pay Scale on par with those who retired from the Upgraded Posts.

However, the 2nd fresh Agenda item of the meeting notified by DoP&PW, did not deal with grant of modified parity in respect of pensioners retiring from upgraded posts and the item was confined to pro rata pension for less than 33 years of service.

When the item was taken up, the JS(PP) informed that the matter is sub judice and therefore cannot be discussed. Pensioners’ Associations wanted early resolution of this long pending grievance. The Secretary, (PP) intervened to say that the case was with DoE and the process of consultation is happening and he hoped to find a solution in about 2 months time.

MINIMUM PENSION- LINKAGE OF 33 YEARS BEING TAKEN UP IN SCOVA MEETING TODAY

Fresh Agenda Items for 27th SCOVA Meeting

KINDLY GO THROUGH AND SUGGEST CHANGES IF ANY. REQUEST EVERY ONE TO WRITE SAME LETTER.

I REQUEST EVERY ONE TO WRITE SAME LETTER BASING ON THE TABLES POSTED BY ME IN THE LAST POST. YOU WILL FIND PAY OF EACH RANK AND GROUP OF AIR FORCE. OR CLICK HERE

HOW THE MINIMUM PENSION CALCULATED BY PCDA IN CIRCULAR 547

Release of additional instalment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners due from 1.7.2015

Release of additional instalment of Dearness Allowance to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief to Pensioners due from 1.7.2015

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, has approved release of an additional instalment of Dearness Allowance (DA) to Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to Pensioners w.e.f. 01.07.2015. This represents an increase of 6 percent over the existing rate of 113 percent of the Basic Pay/Pension, to compensate for price rise.

This will benefit about 50 lakh Government employees and 56 lakh pensioners.

The increase is in accordance with the accepted formula, which is based on the recommendations of the 6th Central Pay Commission (CPC). The combined impact on the exchequer on account of both Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief would be in the order of Rs. 6655.14 crore per annum and Rs.4436.76 crore in the financial year 2015-16 (for a period of 8 months from July, 2015 to February, 2016). 

MINIMUM PENSION ORDERS FOR PBORS AND COMMISSIONED OFFICERS ARE ISSUED BY MOD w.e.f.1.1.2006

D(pen-pol2-3-Sep-2015

IS REALLY OROP BURDEN IS 8300 CRORES?

SO FAR THE GOVT. HAS BEEN CLAIMING THE BURDEN OF OROP AS 8300 CRORES WHICH IS THE DIFFERENCE OF PENSION PAID SO FAR AND PAYABLE AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF OROP. WHEREAS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY APPROVED THE MINIMUM PENSION OF PRE 2006 RETIREES WHICH  'IN NO CASE LESS THAN 50 % OF POST 2006 PAY OF SAME RANK WITH SAME SERVICE'. THE DEFENCE MINISTRY OFFICIALS HAVE CLEVERLY MISINTERPRETED THE SAME BY ADDING A CLAUSE  'SUBJECT TO 33 YEARS OF SERVICE AND PRORATA REDUCTION. THEY HAVE ALSO MISINTERPRETED THE 'MINIMUM PAY DRAWN IN PAY BAND' AS 'MINIMUM OF PAY BAND' AND CHEATED US. THE SAME WAS CORRECTED BY THE ARMED FORCES TRIBUNAL CHANDIGARH AND LATER CONFIRMED BY APEX COURT. AS A RESULT, THE GOVT. IS FORCED TO PAY THE MINIMUM OF 50% OF PRESENT PAY OF RANK TO ALL VETERANS. THE DEFENCE MINISTRY HAS ISSUED ORDERS TO COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS AND YET TO ISSUE TO THE JCOS/ORS. DEFINITELY THE CALCULATIONS OF OROP WERE MADE BEFORE THIS IMPLICATION.

 IT,S HERE THE ACTUAL QUESTION COMES. WHETHER THE GOVT. HAS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION OF THE DUES PAYABLE ON ACCOUNT OF APEX COURT ORDER WHICH ROUGHLY  MAY RUN INTO 6000 CRORES+. (IE. EACH VETERAN@20,000 pa X 30,00,000 PENSIONERS) IF THE SAME IS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION THERE WILL BE ONLY 2300 CRORES PAYABLE ON ACCOUNT OF OROP.

I REQUEST THE EXPERTS ON THIS MATTER TO LOOK INTO THIS ASPECT, IF IT IS TRUE THEN THE GOVT CLAIM MAY BE PROVED WRONG. 

UPDATE ON MINIMUM PENSION FROM 1.1.2006 - BY MAJ.NAVDEEP

Chain mails are floating referring to a circular issued by the PCDA(P) stating that the MoD has issued orders concerning the implementation of the decision of the Supreme Court regarding grant of arrears from 01-01-2006 rather than 24-09-2012. The news is incorrect. The said circular only concerns defence civilian pensioners based on the letter issued for civilian pensioners by the Department of Pension and Pensioners’’ Welfare (DoPPW). It may kindly be understood that the PCDA(P) has no authority to issue circulars on its own till the time the MoD issues a Government letter to the said effect. However, the good news is that the MoD is also working on the same and the letter should be out soon. Some added time after the issuance of the DoPPW letter was expected to be taken by the MoD since there are certain additional issues to be addressed by the MoD over and above the ones in the DoPPW letter and a mutatis-mutandis letter could not have been issued. For example, the MoD is to add the Military Service Pay (MSP) also in addition to the elements in the civil letter and then unlike civil pensioners, separate tables would have to be ultimately prepared by the Defence Accounts Department for various ranks and different categories which are not applicable on the civil side. Moreover, the benefit of the upward revision would be differently applied to ranks other than Commissioned Officers since they had been granted pensions based on the maximum of 5^th CPC scales fitted into the 6^th CPC pay bands with effect from 01-07-2009 while officers and all civil employees were granted pensions based on minimum of pay of the pay bands. The comprehensive letter alongwith comprehensive tables would definitely be issued in due course and we would have to be a little patient about the same.

PCDA ISSUED CIRCULAR 144 IMPLEMENTING W.E.F. 1.1.2006 INSTEAD OF 24.9.2012 FOR DEFENCE CIVILIANS

Revision of pension of Pre-2006 pensioners – PCDA Circular on 14-08-2015

OFFICE OF THE PR. CONTROLLER OF DEFENCE ACCOUNTS (PENSIONS)
DRAUPADI GHAT, ALLAHABAD- 211014

Circular No: C-144

No:-GI/C/0198/Vol- V/Tech
O/o the Pr.C.D.A. (Pensions)
Draupadighat Allahabad -211014
Dated: 14-08-2015

To,
The Treasury Officer
The PO- Master, Kathua, Srinagar (J&K)
The PO- Master, Campbell Bay (Andman & Nicobar)
The Defence Pension Disbursing Officer
——————————
Pay & Accounts Officer
——————————
Military & Air Attache, Indian Embassay, Kathmandu, Nepal (through Gorkha Record
Officer, Kurnaghat, Gorakhpur)
Director of Accounts, Panji (Goa)
Finance Secretary, Gangtok, PO-l, Thimpu Bhutan
The General Manager (Nodal Officer, PSBs)
All Managers, CPPC of Public Sector Banks.
All Managers, CPPC of Authorized Private Banks.

Subject: Revision of pension of Pre-2006 pensioners – reg.
Reference: This office Important Circulars No. 102 bearing no. GI/C/0198/VOL-IV/Tech dated 11-02-2013.

Attention of all pension disbursing authorities is invited to above cited circular wherein instructions had been issued for implementation of GOI, Ministry of P,PG and pensions, Deptt of P&PW OM No. 38/37/08-P&PW(A,) dated 28 January, 2013 and this order was applicable w.e.f 24.09.2012. Now, GOI, Ministry of P, PG and pension, Dept of P&PW have further issued orders under their OM No. 38/37/08 P&PW (A) dated 30.07.2015, that “the pension/family pension of all pre-2006 pensioners/family pensioners my be revised in accordance with this Department’s OM No. 38/37/08-P&PW(A) dated 28.1.2013 with effect from 24.9.2012.”

(2) In case the consolidated pension/family pension calculated as per Para 4.1 of OM No.38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 01-09-2008 is higher than the pension/family pension calculated in the manner indicated in the OM dated 28.01.2013, the same ( higher consolidated pension/family pension) will continue to be treated as basic pension/ family pension.

(3) All other conditions as given in OM No. 38/37/08-P&PW (A) dated 1.9.2008, as amended from time to time shall remain unchanged.

(4) All pension disbursing authorities are therefore, requested to revise the pension/family pension in affected cases in terms of Govt. OM No. 38 /37/08-P&PW(A) dated 28-01-2013 w.e.f. 01.01.2006 instead of 24.09.2012. Payment made w.e.f. 01.01.2006 will be adjusted against the arrears now being paid and these cases may be reflected in the monthly account sent to this office as ‘change item’.

(5) Where the PDAs are in doubt in regulating the payment of revised pension/family pension under these orders, the cases with full details of pensioner/family pensioners and PPO No: etc may be referred to Audit Section of this office for advice and further action.

sd/-
(Subhash Kumar)
A C D A (P

AS PER THE LATEST ORDER OF DOPT ISSUED FOR CIVILIANS, IF IMPLEMENTED TO VETERANS THE MINIMUM PENSION

MINIMUM PENSION TO BE FIXED AS PER LATEST ORDERS OF  DOPT
Rank	Pay band	Gr.Pay.	MSP	X gp pay	Total	Minimum Pension from 1.1.2006
X' GROUP
LAC	7490	2000	2000	1400	12890	6445
CPL	7720	2400	2000	1400	13520	6760
SGT	9300	2800	2000	1400	15500	7750
JWO	10740	4200	2000	1400	18340	9170
WO	12560	4600	2000	1400	20560	10280
MWO	13770	4800	2000	1400	21970	10985
Y' GROUP
LAC	7050	2000	2000	0	11050	5525
CPL	7490	2400	2000	0	11890	5945
SGT	8040	2800	2000	0	12840	6420
JWO	10460	4200	2000	0	16660	8330
WO	12280	4600	2000	0	18880	9440
MWO	12560	4800	2000	0	19360	9680
HFO/HFL	15600	5400	6000	0	27000	13500

MINIMUM PAY BAND FIXED FOR THE RANKS OF AIR FORCE
Group	LAC	CPL	SGT	JWO	WO	MWO	HFO/HFL
X Group	7490	7720	9300	10740	12560	13770	15600
Y Group	7050	7490	8040	10460	12280	12560	15600

Raj Kadyan hopeful of announcement on OROP scheme on Aug. 15

New Delhi, Aug. 11 : Defence expert Lieutenant General (Retd.) Raj Kadyan on Tuesday said he was hopeful that the government would make an announcement on implementation of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme on August 15.

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Kadyan, along with a delegation of ex-servicemen, had met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to discuss the OROP issue yesterday.

“The meeting with the Finance Minister was very positive, he is a patient listener. We put forth our points, we asked about the status where it stands today. He has one or two issues of worry from his side to which we adequately responded. We made it very clear that no dilution in the definition that has been worked out by the Koshyari Committee and accepted on the floor of the Parliament will be acceptable to ex-servicemen,” Lieutenant General (Retd.) Kadyan told ANI.

“He then clarified that it is matter of days not months. If I go by my own assessment on this, we can hope something to come on 15th August, we are very hopeful. Otherwise the agitation will continue,” he added.

The One Rank, One Pension scheme has been a long-standing demand of ex-servicemen. It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel, who retire at the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement. (ANI)

Click below for news 

https://youtu.be/wwBvqm6K0Vc  

PM LIKELY TO ANNOUNCE DATE OF OROP ON AUGUST 15

File Photo.

NEW DELHI: Agitating military veterans, on a relay hunger strike for the last 57 days, are now hoping that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce the long-delayed implementation of one rank, one pension (OROP) from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15.

Some ex-servicemen say there "are concrete indications" that the government will announce OROP on Independence Day since "the file, after some heated disagreements between the finance and defence ministries, has finally reached the PMO".

PRE-2006 PENSIONERS-ORDERS ISSUED FOR MINIMUM 50% OF PENSION OF PRESENT PAY

GOOD NEWS-ORDERS ISSUED TO REVISE PENSION FROM 1.1.2006 TO 24.9.2012 to Pre-2006 pensioners.

Pension Revision From 1-1-06

ISSUE OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATES BY ECHS

ECHS HAS ISSUED ORDERS  TO ISSUE MEDICAL CERTIFICATES FOR THE BENIFICIARIES. FOR ORDERS CLICK THE LINK PROVIDED

http://echs.gov.in/images/pdf/med/med141.pdf

Behind One Rank One Pension scheme delay, worry about small hike for jawans

MoD sources said that the main reason behind the delay is the minuscule increase that jawans may get if OROP is implemented in its present form.

The fear within political decision-makers is that OROP, if implemented in present form, may result in many dragging the government to courts, and may even create a political crisis. (Source: PTI)

Written by Pranav Kulkarni | New Delhi | Updated: June 26, 2015 8:31 am

As ex-servicemen steadfastly press for the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP), top Ministry of Defence (MoD) sources have said that the main reason behind the delay is not funds, but the minuscule increase that jawans may get if OROP is implemented in its present form.

Sources said that the concern within the government is that the jawans may get an increase of just about “few hundred” rupees per month — a raise that may not justify the decade long OROP agitation.

The fear within political decision-makers is that OROP, if implemented in present form, may result in many dragging the government to courts, and may even create a political crisis. “It is no longer a budgetary concern. The formula to arrive at Rs 8,300-odd crores has already been approved. The real worries within South Block are political. Under the present formula, the jawans may just get about few hundred rupees of increase per month in their present pensions. This amount, the political class within the present government believes, is too small to pacify the agitation that has been spread over almost three decades,” a top Defence Ministry official said.

According to the official, the implementation — which is just short of being announced any moment, may trigger dissatisfaction and will result in soldiers dragging the government to courts and become a political issue. Citing the reason behind the small increase for jawans, the official said: “The government, in 2009, corrected the pensions of retired armed forces personnel to parity as per Sixth Central Pay Commission.

The jawans largely benefited out of the correction as the pension amounts increased. So the gap that earlier existed has largely been bridged. Rs 5000 crore has already been spent on bringing about the parity,” the official said. According to Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) data, OROP — if implemented in its present form — will ensure an increase of between Rs 525 and Rs 1,720 to jawans in their monthly pensions by virtue of percentage of their low basic pensions. Widows will get a hike of Rs 1,500 per month. The officers are likely to get a per month pension increase between Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.

According to sources, UPA too was worried about the political and legal consequences of these “relatively small” monthly increments after implementing OROP and had carried out “three rounds of equalisation” to work out a solution.

The MoD official said that so far, the present government, though committed, has not carried out any such equalisation. Group Captain V K Gandhi, general secretary, IESM said, “Our present demands have been agreed upon not only by officers but even by jawans. We are not willing to accept any dilution in the demands.”

One Rank One Pension: Madras High Court Notice to Centre on Petition by Ex Serviceman

MADURAI:  The Madras High Court on Friday issued notice to the Centre on a petition seeking a direction to issue a notification to implement the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme within a stipulated period.

Acting on the petition by ex-serviceman S Chinnadurai, Justice S Vaidyanathan ordered notice to the Cabinet, Finance and Defence secretaries and sought their reply within two weeks.

The petitioner contended that 90 per cent of the ex- servicemen are living below the poverty line.

Previous governments had already announced OROP and allocated Rs. 500 crore for it. On May 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also assured that OROP would be implemented by the government but no timeframe had been given, he alleged.

The Indian ex-servicemen movement had also sent a memorandum and he had also submitted a representation.

     

Mr Chinnadurai said it was mandatory on the part of the government to implement OROP before the fiscal 2014-15 after announcing the scheme.

The delay in implementing the scheme would demoralize serving soldiers and ex-serviceman and adversely affect the integrity of the country, he said.

He said that armymen, who sacrificed the better part of their youth for the country, were not even getting proper jobs after they retired between 30 and 40 years of age.

Read at NDTV

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