OROP Anomalies – One member Judicial Committee will submit its report in six months

OROP Anomalies – One member Judicial Committee will submit its report in six months

One member Judicial Committee has been appointed on 14.12.2015 to look into the anomalies arising out of implementation of OROP. The Judicial Committee will submit its report in six months – Defence Minister

Detailed instructions along with OROP tables on implementation of OROP have been issued on 3.2.2016. Considering the requirement for implementation of “One Rank One Pension”, the expenditure ceiling for Defence Pensions in BE 2016-2017 has been increased from Rs.69,876 crores to Rs.82,332.66 crores. Government has received representations from various Ex-Servicemen Associations and beneficiaries regarding anomalies and their dissatisfaction with the order of OROP scheme.

One member Judicial Committee has been appointed on 14.12.2015 to look into the anomalies arising out of implementation of OROP. The Judicial Committee will submit its report in six months.

The following instructions have been issued to Pension Disbursing Agencies(PDAs) for effective implementation of OROP:

• The arrears on account of revision of pension from 01.07.2014 be paid in four equal half yearly instalments. However, family pensioners including those in receipt of Special/Liberalized family pension and all Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one instalment.

• Any required information, if not available in record may be referred to Pension Sanctioning Authority(PSA) concerned who will provide the requisite information from the available records within 15 days to the PDAs.

• In case of any doubt, PDA may immediately take up the matter with nodal officers of respective PSAs, the details of which shall be notified by Pr. CDA(P) Allahabad in their implementation instructions.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Shri Devajibhai G Fatepara and others in Lok Sabha today.

Source: PIB

Opposition to notification of One Rank One Pension – Rajya Sabha Q&A on 1.12.2015

Opposition to notification of OROP – Rajya Sabha Q&A on 1.12.2015

Opposition to notification of OROP

(a) Government vide Ministry of Defence letter No. 12(01)/2014/D(Pen/Pol)-Part-II, dated 7.11.2015 has issued orders for implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) for the Defence Forces Personnel. Salient features of the OROP are as under:-

(i) 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 01.07.2014.

(ii) Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners on the basis of the average of minimum and maximum pension of personnel retired 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 pension and Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one instalment.

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

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.

The Government has decided to appoint a Judicial Committee to look into anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP.

Government has accepted the demand of ex-servicemen associations to implement OROP, payment of arrears w.e.f. 1.7.2014 and coverage of PMR cases under the scheme upto 7.11.2015. However, Certain ex-servicemen associations have been demanding for changes in methodology for fixation of pension, periodicity of its revision, coverage of future PMR cases, etc.

The Government has decided to appoint a Judicial Committee to look into anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 1st December 2015.

Authority: Rajya Sabha Official Website

Provision of PMR in One Rank One Pension: Minister Replied in Parliament on 1 Dec 2015

Provision of PMR in One Rank One Pension: Minister Replied in Parliament on 1.12.2015

Minister of State for Defence Shri.Rao Inderjit Singh replied in written form in Rajya Sabha on 1st December 2015 regarding the provision of PMR in One Rank One Pension.

He said that the “certain ex-servicemen associations have been demanding for changes in methodology for fixation of pension, periodicity of its revision, coverage of future PMR cases etc.

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.

The Government has decided to appoint a Judicial Committee to look into anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP.”

Authority: Rajya Sabha Official Website

7th CPC Pension Calculation : One Rank One Pension for the pensioners cannot be justified

7th CPC Pension Calculation : OROP for the pensioners cannot be justified

One of our reader Mr.GS Joahi writes to us regarding the pension calculation recommended by the 7th Pay Commission with an illustration as follows…

The commission recommends the following pension formulations for all pensioners who retired prior 01.01.16 :- First – All the personnel who retired prior 01.01.16 shall be fixed at pay matrix being recommended by the commission on the basis of the pay band and grade pay at which they retired at the minimum of the corresponding level in the matrix. The amount shall be raised to arrive at the notional pay of the retiree by adding number of increments he/she had earned at that level while in service at the rate of three percent. Fifty percent of total amount so arrived at shall be the revised pension.

“This is totally injustice because the length of service which individual served in his previous levels are not considered. For example X&Y persons completed same length of service and retired in the year of 2000. The person of X retired from 4600 grade pay (level 7) where he earned 12 increments from his last level. The person Y promoted frequently and his last promotion got just before one year of his retirement and he retired from 5400 grade pay (at level 10) where he earned only one increment at this level. As per the VI pay commission the pension of X is fixed at Rs.8250/- and the pension of Y is fixed at Rs. 10500/-.”

On the basis of VII pay commission recommendations the pension of both person are calculated as follows :-

The pension of X Person

Formula No. 1

6th pay commission basic pension – Rs.8250/-

Initial basic pension fixed using a multiple of 2.57 – Rs.21203/-

Formula No. 2

Retired at the minimum of the corresponding level in the matrix – Rs. 44900/-Individual earned 12 increments at that level while in service – Rs.64100/-

Revised Basic pension – Rs.32050/-

The pension of Y Person

Formula No. 1

6th pay commission basic pension – Rs.10500/-

Initial basic pension fixed using a multiple of 2.57 – Rs.26985 /-

Formula No. 2

Retired at the minimum of the corresponding level in the matrix – Rs. 56100/-

Individual earned 01 increment at that level while in service – Rs 57800/-

Revised Basic pension – Rs.28900/-

On the above example OROP for the pensioners can not be justified without considering the service render at his previous levels during his service. There are a lot of cases where individual promoted at higher ranks at the time of retirement where they served only for one, two or three years of service. In the above case the person who was not promoted and served more service at lower level are more beneficial than the person who are promoted and retired from higher level.

Even the pension of the person retired from higher level can not be cross the pension of person who’s pension will be fixed by OROP, if higher level retiree initial basic pension fixed using a multiple of 2.57

Kejriwal demands OROP to be implemented in its true essence

Kejriwal demands OROP to be implemented in its true essence

“Despite the fact that OROP has crossed two stages, protests by army veterans continue in New Delhi. The centre has made official announcements regarding OROP, but protests are continuing demanding the annual revision of pension.”

Equal pension for all ex-servicemen is the most important goal of the OROP scheme. This can be achieved only if pension is revised based solely on the rank and years of service, once every year. Pension revision once every five years is unacceptable. This is the bone of contention for the continuing protests.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met the protesters and expressed his support. He also harshly criticized the centre. “OROP must be implemented in its true essence. The centre’s announcements are not complete because they do not reflect the essence of OROP. The centre should refrain from fooling the army veterans. They are not begging for alms. They are only fighting for what rightfully belongs to them. It is unfortunate that these veterans who fought for the country are now being forced to protest on the streets for their rights. The centre should immediately accept and implement their demands,” he said.

Meanwhile, the army veterans had threatened to return their gallantry service medals if the government did not accept their demands. Some of the frustrated veterans tried to burn down their medals. But others restrained them.

Manohar Parrikar, the Minister of Defence, while addressing a gathering in Madurai, said that returning the medals was akin to insulting the country and the armed forces. He had also clarified that OROP was the promise of a political party, not of the central government. He added that protesting was their right and that they should approach the judicial panel committee. He made it very clear that not all the demands will be fulfilled.

Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement general secretary Group Capt V.K. Gandhi (retd) also said that until the judicial committee submits it report, the veterans could not go to court. This, he said, was a “delaying tactic”.

In an article published by the Indian Express yesterday, it was said that the veterans risk losing public support due to their immoderate position and political leadership also needs to reachout to the veterans.

The army veterans are hoping for an amicable resolution of the protests through fair negotiations with the government.

Source: http://www.cgstaffportal.in/

Long-pending issue of ‘OROP’ has been resolved, and it has been granted – Prime Minister

Long-pending issue of ‘One Rank One Pension’ has been resolved, and it has been granted – Prime Minister

The Prime Minister said that the long-pending issue of One-Rank, One Pension has been resolved, and it has been granted.

Press Information Bureau 

Government of India

Prime Minister’s Office

11-November-2015 18:11 IST

PM visits 1965 war memorials in Punjab; spends Diwali with officers and jawans of the Indian Armed Forces

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited three memorials in Punjab which commemorate some of the spectacular successes of the Indian Armed Forces in the 1965 war.

The Prime Minister visited the Dograi War Memorial, and the Barki War Memorial. The battles of Dograi and Barki were decisive successes achieved by the Indian Army during the 1965 war.

The Prime Minister visited Asal Uttar, the site of one of the biggest ever tank battles, where the Indian Armed Forces achieved a major victory. The battle of Asal Uttar is remembered for the heroics of Veer Abdul Hamid, who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra. The Prime Minister paid homage by laying a wreath on the memorial of Abdul Hamid.

The Prime Minister greeted and interacted with officers and jawans of the Indian Army and Air Force, at Dograi War Memorial, Barki War Memorial, and Air Force Station – Halwara.

The Prime Minister said that everyone wishes to spend Diwali with his or her family, and therefore, just as he had visited Siachen last year, he has chosen to spend Diwali with the officers and jawans of the Armed Forces this year as well. He said that as this year marked the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war, he has chosen to visit locations where the brave soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces had shed blood and made the supreme sacrifice during that war.

The Prime Minister said that the long-pending issue of One-Rank, One Pension has been resolved, and it has been granted.

Source: PIB News

Don’t return your medals : Appeal to the Veterans by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament

Don’t return your medals : Appeal to the Veterans by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament

PRESS STATEMENT

“Don’t return your medals; Engage withOne Man Judicial Committee and Government to sort out contentious issues”

November 10, 2015

Appeal to the Veterans by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament

The notification by Government of One Rank, One Pension (OROP) on November 07, 2015 is a culmination of 40 years of wait by the Veterans and Widows. The decision marked OROP the biggest and most significant welfare measure for veterans in Post-Independent India by any Government.

Some veterans and veteran organizations have expressed their dissatisfaction about this notification and I learn with apprehension of their decision to surrender their medals to express their protest. I request them not to do so.

I do accept and agree that there are certain issues in OROP that remain contentious. But I urge veterans to understand how far we have come and instead of agitating continue to engage with government including with One-man judicial committee on the issue going forward.

The political leadership of PM Modi is without doubt one of the most pro-forces and pro-veteran governments in history of India and this is something that needs to be built on as further ways to improve the cause of our Armed forces, Veterans and families.

As someone who led this issue with the Government and Parliament since 2006 and fighting for the welfare of veterans, I appeal to veterans to not to agitate but engage with government. I continue to stand by my commitment to the OROP cause and to addressing all issues affecting the veterans, our armed forces personnel and their families.

Source: http://rajeev.in/News/One_Rank_One_Pension/Nov_092015.html

Latest MoD orders on OROP published on 7th Nov 2015

Latest MoD orders on One Rank One Pension published on 7.11.2015

12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Pol)-Part-II

Government of India

Ministry of Defence

Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare

New Delhi Dated 7th Nov 2015

To

The Chief of the Army Staff

The Chief of the Naval Staff

The Chief of Air Staff

Subject: One Rank One Pension (OROP) to the Defence Forces Personnel

In view of the need of the Defence Forces to maintain physical fitness, efficiency and effectiveness, as per the extant Rules, Defence Service personnel retire at an early age compared to other wings in the Government. Sepoy in Army and equivalent rank in Navy & Air Force retire after 17/19 years of engagement/service and officers retire before attaining the age of 60 years i.e. the normal age of retirement in the Government. Considering these exceptional service conditions and in the interest of ever vigilant Defence Forces, the pensionary benefits of Ex-Servicemen have accordingly, over time, been fixed.

2. It has now been decided to implement “One Rank One Pension” (OROP) for the Ex-Servicemen with effect from 1.07.2014. OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Defence Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement, which, implies bridging the gap between the rates of pension of current and past pensioners at periodic intervals.

3. Salient features of the OROP 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 retired 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 pension and Gallantry award winners shall 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 168 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 relating to implementation of OROP 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.

7. This issues with concurrence of Finance Division of this Ministry vide their ID No. MoD (Fin/Pension) lD No.PC to10(11)/2012/Fin/Pen dated 07 November 2015.

8. Hindi version will follow.

sd/-

(K. Damayanthi)

Joint Secretary to the Govt. of India

Click to view the order – MoD orders for One Rank One Pension on 7.11.2015

Authority : http://www.desw.gov.in/

No problem with OROP to paramilitary, raise retirement age to 60

No problem with OROP to paramilitary, raise retirement age to 60

Ex-servicemen demanding the for One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme here on Monday said they have no problem with the paramilitary forces also asking for it, but then they would also demand that the retirement age of soldiers be raised to 60.

“As far as we are concerned, all have the right and will be rather happy. But we would then demand government to permit us to serve till 60 years of age,” Group Captain (retd.) VK Gandhi, general secretary of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement told IANS at Jantar Mantar here.

“Soldiers are forced to retire at 40 (years)… A person who retires at 40 years, gets Rs 8 crore less than one who retires at 60 years,” he said.

While the retirement age for civil servants is 60 years, 85 percent of the soldiers are compulsorily retired aged between 35 to 37. Another 12 percent to 13 percent soldiers aged between 40 to 54, as per estimates.

Read more at : http://www.business-standard.com/

One Rank One Pension : Why not immediately notify the OROP for family pensioners and POTSs?

One Rank One Pension : Why not immediately notify the OROP for family pensioners and POTSs?

WHY NOT IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE OROP FOR FAMILY PENSIONERS & POTOs?

We might have all read an article couple of days ago appeared in Business Standard newspaper indicating that the due to weak financial position, the union government is mulling with the idea of pushing the implementation of OROP to next fiscal year, which means the implementation might be delayed at least by 5-6 months.

In my personal opinion both the previous and present governments have mishandled the OROP issue and they have perhaps failed to understand the real issues involved in their proper perspective. As suggested in my previous write up if the government would have chosen to introduce an element of age on retirement, in OROP, the expenditure on account of OROP would be less than half the currently estimated expenditure of 8300 crores per annum.

Going by the charts put out by various ESM blogs it appears that if OROP is implemented, every officer will be benefitted ten times more than the POTOs. Considering that there are ten times more POTO veterans than the veteran officers, the total expenditure on account of OROP will be divided equally between the officers and POTOs. So, if the age limit is introduced in OROP, then the GOI can save approximately 4000 crores every year. Anyway it would be difficult to do now and in any case, it can’t be done over night! This needs tremendous political will and high calibre administrative skill.

Therefore, in the present situation, the least that the government can do is to notify the implementation of OROP for Widows and POTOs immediately and pay the first instalment of arrears without much delay.

Needless to emphasise that the POTOs are those who retire at an young age of 33-37 years in public interest and therefore they are the one who deserve OROP the most. It was their pension which was drastically reduced from 75% to 50% in 1973 and it is for this very reason alone, they are eligible for OROP.

How can those who have served to the maximum permissible age or service, resulting in their pension increase by an additional 30%, agitate to claim OROP? Under what rules and on what logic??

Interestingly, the minimum amount of pension plus DR that an officer at the lowest rank is expected to receive under OROP is more than two months salary of a sepoy. What an irony! How much more Pension do they need to lead a decent life in their 60s, 70s & 80s?

In response to my last article published in this blog, one of the senior veterans mailed to me stating that the OROP is not meant to rectify the anomaly but meant to bridge the gap between the past and present pensioners. I have no reason to differ with him, rather I am in full agreement with him.

No doubt that the concept of OROP is exactly the same. But the concept is completely different from the reasons. The concept of OROP is applicable to all pensioners including para military personnel and civil pensioners. But the reasons are unique to each group. What did we do while demanding OROP? We have built up a strong justification for extending this benefit exclusively to military veterans by citing the three cardinal reasons, which I have elaborated in my last article.

In the absence of these strong and genuine reasons no government would have agreed to grant OROP only to military personnel. The agitating veteran leaders knew it more than anybody else. They also knew very well that unless they piggy back on these reasons which are applicable only to NCOs & JCOs, they have no chance of getting OROP at all. After all they have had no valid reasons of their own for such a demand. Therefore these reasons were articulated effectively and continuously in public platforms. The leaders have so cleverly and forcefully articulated these reasons in every available platform that public at large started believing that these reasons are true to all military veterans including the officers. I salute our leaders for this dubious achievement!

They did not stop at it. They were worried that their bluff will one day be called off. So they took full control of the agitation into their own hands and started dictating it. Simultaneously, they established back-channel contacts with the political leaders and bureaucrats to negotiate a deal favourable to them before it is too late. They have succeeded to some extent in this endeavour as well.

But, we now know of all these manipulations and we are not going to take them silently anymore. We will defend our justify and demand what is due to us with all our might and strength.

It would therefore be desirable if the officers who are not eligible for OROP on the basis the three reasons articulated by themselves, encourage the GOI to notify the OROP immediately at least for POTOs & Widows and refrain gracefully from further agitation so that the already existing gap between the officers and ORs in the perception of OROP does not widen any further.

The veteran community of NCOs and JCOs on their part should mobilise members for AFVAI and strengthen it so that we are never ignored or marginalised from now on.

Sgt MPKaran

President

Karnataka Chapter, AFVAI

Source: http://afvaindia.blogspot.in

OROP : Notification is likely to be issued before Diwali

One Rank One Pension : Notification is likely to be issued before Diwali

Defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said the government will issue a long-awaited notification that will clarify the specifications of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme after the Bihar assembly elections.

The notification is likely to be issued before Diwali.

Click to continue reading : www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Implementing One Rank One Pension, Seventh Pay Commission recommendations will not lead to cash crunch: Jayant Sinha

Implementing OROP, 7th Pay Commission recommendations will not lead to cash crunch: Jayant Sinha

The Minister of State for Finance, Jayant Sinha, has said that implementing the One Rank One Pension scheme for military pensioners and the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission will not bankrupt the nation.

The Union Minister of Finance Arun Jaitley had a meeting with the financial experts in New Delhi yesterday. Following the meeting, Mr. Jayant Sinha spoke to the mediapersons. He said –

“We are managing the country’s finances very well. Experts have appreciated our efforts. The government’s financial condition is very stable. Therefore, there wouldn’t be a cash deficit even if the government implements the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. Similarly, the government can very well manage the additional cash burden incurred by implementing the One Rank One Pension scheme for the military.

Implementing the OROP will result in additional expenses of Rs.8000-10,000 crores this year. The 7th Pay Commission’s recommendations will be submitted to the government in December this year. Giving increments to the Central Government employees will result in additional expenses to the Government. He confirmed that the government can comfortably manage these expenses.

A lot of important issues, including financial burdens, increasing employment opportunities and agricultural outputs, were discussed at the pre-Budget consultation. Some of the leading names in financial management in India had participated in the meeting. It is normal for governments to hold such meetings prior to the annual budget, but it is unusual that such a meeting was held with six months to go before the next Budget is due. Sinha said that the valuable suggestions that were given by the experts have made the meeting worthwhile, and have convinced them that holding such meetings in advance was a good move.

A number of useful suggestions were given on the schemes that have to be implemented in the current and the next Financial Years. The meeting also paved way for the joint implementation of many a schemes, he said.

Discussions on agriculture and the issues related to it took up most of the time at the meeting. “We discussed a number of suggestions on how to improve our agricultural production. We talked about financial deficits and ways to reduce expenses and austerity measures. We had also discussed public investment options and the importance of making them profitable.

“The other most important topic that we had talked about was the Ministry of Finance. We had discussed the need for increasing the loans offered to farmers, and to the micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, and the necessity for increasing job opportunity for youngsters. We had also discussed the steps that need to be taken to boost the large-scale and production-based industries, which are among the biggest sectors that offer employment.”

OROP : A proud daughter of a proud Artillery Veteran writes to Prime Minister Modi

One Rank One Pension : A proud daughter of a proud Artillery Veteran writes to Modi

A letter to the PM – One Rank One Pension – By Shalini.

Dear Mr.Prime Minister,

For Your Information Sir.

A war widow at the age of 78 has to walk 18 km every month to collect her martyr husband’s pension of Rs .13/- (Rupees Thirteen only). The Freedom Fighters of Colonial India and their widows get a better pension than what is given to the Retired Military population. Even the laborers could get their daily wages hiked with time but the war widow stands where her husband left her. Have we lost all dignity, sense of respect and basic common sense for humanity? Where are we? Rs 13/- as monthly pension and a Kg of onion, Rs 50/-. For God’s sake……. Do we still need to talk ?

Our Flag does not hover because the wind moves it, it flutters with the last breath of each soldier who died and with each breath of the soldier who lives protecting it. You don’t get to deliver a speech on the Independence Day just because you are the PM, it is because of the human shield that sweats and freezes throughout the prime of their lives.

One speech you made to the tens of thousands Ex-Servicemen at Hissar, where you committed to implement One Rank One Pension (OROP), if elected, allowing you to tap into the vote bank of the services – retired, in-service, war widows and of course their families. You should dedicate your present electoral victory to the Services. Was it just voting bank politics, Sir? Gen VK Singh (Retd) stood testimony to your promise and more than you the personnel’s believed their Gen who is now a part of your Govt. Let the men not lose faith on their roaring Gen and let your politics not make him a scapegoat please.

Mr. Pradhan Sevak of the country. as you proclaim yourself to be, kindly refrain from politicizing the Services, the only Deptt committed to the country and its people. High time you and your team including your squad of so called highly efficient bureaucrats save yourself from the mockery you have brought on your kindselves.

Let’s try solving the issues.

If budget is an issue, reduce some of the frills that the politicians and the bureaucrats enjoy sitting in air conditioned offices with all the luxury possibly available.

If you are afraid that other retired from Govt services will claim for the same then let them commit one child per family to the Indian Military. A great way to make up for the shortage of Defense personnel. Let us make national service a must in the country. A stronger Military with more head counts is never bad.

If that is still difficult, please esteemed politicians and bureaucrats get yourself back packed and perched in Kargil, Jaisalmer, Cherrapunji, Tawang, Siachin or in the Arabian Sea for a month each with the men, like the men and then let’s do some talking.

Let there be some humility and respect by the Govt and the Police force while managing our Military veterans at peaceful protest with utmost dignity. When you fail to discharge your duties efficiently, that has often happened, be it a natural disaster or an internal security issue; the only alternate available is the forces for help. They did and have come to your rescue without fail. Our neighbours have a very drastic history of Military Coups since 1958 & have been successful thrice in doing so. Let’s not forget we have an active force of 1325000 personnel, with approximately 60K retiring each year. Let’s us not create conducive environment for more trouble within the country.

The Military of the country cannot be taken on a ride for votes and then just left. High time seriousness be taken on the mature and highly sensitive protest that is going on at the Jantar Mantar and India Gate for two months now. The men there have served selflessly be it insurgency, internal security issues, disaster mitigation without any reservations. They have been decorated for their gallant and then just forgotten …not acceptable.

Mr. PM, please shun talks – time to act and show and prove that what the Congress failed and kept washing their hands off has finally been given life by you.

Let the slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ echo till eternity and your name be added to it. Let the soldiers remain to be our pride.

Jai Hind. Jai Jawan.

Regards.

Shalini. A citizen of the country.

A proud daughter of a proud Artillery Veteran

The concept – One Rank One Pension (OROP)

“bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners, and also future enhancements in the rate of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. In armed forces, equality in service has two components, namely, rank and length of service. The importance of rank is inherent in armed forces as it has been granted by the President of India and signifies command, control and responsibility in consonance with ethos of service. These ranks are even allowed to be retained by the individual concerned after his/her retirement. Hence, two armed personnel in the same rank and equal length of service should get same pension irrespective of date of retirement and any future enhancement in rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.”

Source: http://ex-servicemenwelfare.blogspot.in

One Rank One Pension : UFESM plans to return 10000 gallantry medals to Prime Minister

One Rank One Pension : UFESM plans to return 10000 gallantry medals to PM

Major General Satbir Singh(Retd.), leader and adviser of the United Front of Ex-Servicemen, says that the action will bring to the people’s notice that the Centre has not fulfilled our demands on One Rank One Pension.

We have planned to return our gallantry medals to the government if it intentionally continues to delay implementing the OROP scheme without making the modifications that we have sought for. This time, we won’t be returning them to the President. We will hand them over to the Prime Minister himself!

Ex-servicemen who have been conducting relay hunger strikes at Jantar Mantar for the past 115 days demanding the implementation of OROP have decided to hand over 10,000 gallantry medals to the Prime Minister as a sign of their protest. They have written a letter to Narendra Modi in this regard. This was informed by Retired Major General Satbir Singh, who also is a prominent member of the protest committee.

Although the Centre had, on September 5, agreed in principle, to implement OROP, ex-servicemen are continuing to protest because they are frustrated that seven very important clauses have not been added to the scheme. “We are planning to return the medals to him because PM Modi had promised during the elections, that he will implement OROP. Also, we want the people to know that though OROP was announced, our demands have not been accepted,” he said.

At the time of accepting the demand, on September 5, the Government had said that it will issue proper orders within a month. More than a month has passed, but there are no signs of the orders.

Meanwhile, the United Front of Ex-Servicemen has announced that it will hold a massive rally in Jalandhar on October 18 to protest against the Government’s reluctance and delay in implementing the OROP. While replying to a question, Brigadier Amarjit Singh Minhas said that only 2 percent of the ex-servicemen are happy with the OROP announcement. Seven important demands, including annual revision of pension, year of implementation, one-man commission, and inclusion of soldiers who have taken premature retirement, have not been accepted by the Government.

Spotlight of One Rank One Pension

Spotlight of One Rank One Pension

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.

Government Announces One Rank One Pension Scheme for Ex-Servicemen

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.

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.

One Rank One Pension announcement likely on Friday (28.8.2015)

One Rank One Pension announcement likely on Friday (28.8.2015)

“There is speculation that an OROP announcement could come as early as Friday, August 28, the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war with Pakistan”.

OROP – Fasting protesters admitted to the hospital

Retired servicemen from the armed forces are on a fast-until-death protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding the implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme.

One of the protesters is Retired Colonel Pushpender Singh, who has been fasting for eight days. His health condition worsened and he was examined by a doctor who said that he had to be rushed immediately to the hospital. The former Colonel was taken to the military hospital.

He was replaced by Saheb Singh at the protest. Major Singh and Ashok Chauhan are the other protestors who are fasting until death for the implementation of One Rank One Pension.

Prior to being rushed to the hospital, Pushpender Singh said, “I don’t want to go to the hospital, but I’m forced to because the doctors are worried that it might affect the functioning of my brain. I shall resume my fast after my discharge from the hospital.”

Astronomical Expectations on One Rank One Pension Once Again!

Astronomical Expectations on One Rank One Pension  Once Again!

“Ever since news has surfaced that official announcement on the One Rank One Pension scheme will be made on August 15, expectations have started to soar again.”

There is a general feeling that time has come for the implementation of the One Rank One Pension scheme, which has been a long-time dream for more than 30 lakh ex-servicemen all over the country. But the readers might remember that expectations ran high once before too – on May 25, 2015. Everybody thought that Modi would make the announcement on the occasion of the first year celebrations of his coming to power at the centre. After attending the huge rally at Mathura, Modi uttered not even a word about OROP.

But, according to various sources, it looks as if the Government is giving serious thoughts about implementing the policy this time. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may announce implementation of very long delayed One Rank One Pension scheme on August 15 when India celebrates its 69th Independence Day.

It is worth noting that for more than 50 Days, the UFESM has been spiritedly conducting a relay fast protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The retired armed forces personnel are preparing to take their agitations to the next level. They are planning to campaign against the BJP in the Bihar poll. If Modi fails to make any announcement on Independence Day, their protest is sure to take a new turn. But, media reports claim that it wouldn’t come to that.

After meeting the Minister of Finance yesterday, Lt General (retd) Raj Kadyan, who heads the Indian Ex-servicemen Movement, said that he has faith in the serious attempts being made by the current government. “After patiently hearing our demands, the Finance Minister said that we wouldn’t have to wait for months, but only for a few more days,” he said. There is a general belief that the minister had hinted at August 15.

Yesterday, a discussion was held with the ex-servicemen association at the Prime Minister’s Office. No landmark decisions were made, but the members had reportedly said that the Prime Minister will announce a positive decision on August 15.

In other words, nearly three-million ex-servicemen and war widows in the country are hopeful that the Prime Minister’s address to the nation on Independence Day will have some definite answers on the question of OROP.

Source: www.cgstaffnews.in

Implementation of OROP : Modi may declare on 15th August 2015

Implementation of One Rank One Pension : Modi may declare on 15th August 2015

More than 25 lakh veterans all over the country are expecting the announcement of OROP on 15th August 2015.

Media reports are highlighted that the PM Modi may announce implementation of long pending demand of OROP Scheme on August 15 when India celebrates its 68th Independence Day.

The relay hunger strike of Ex-Servicemen has completed the 57th day today at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Protests are also being held by ex-servicemen in many parts of the country. The series of protests is jointly organized by 30 ex-servicemen welfare organizations, under the leadership of Chairman of IESM, Maj. Gen. Satbir Singh.

More than 30 lakh veterans including war widows all over the country are hoping that their pensions will be revised based on the 6th Pay Commission, and that pensions will be issued based on their ranks and the number of years that they had served.

OROP protests likely to intensify

OROP protests likely to intensify

“UFESM is not ready to believe the assurances given by all the forces that constitute the power at the Centre that the scheme would be implemented.”

This is because such assurances have been given for a number of years by a number of parties and nothing had happened. Therefore, this time, the UFESM is not ready to bow down.

Either the plan has to be announced, or the Prime Minister has to announce the date on which the plan will be implemented. Else, as per the current scenario, the protests are going to intensify.

In more than 60 cities across the country, protests are being held demanding the implementation of the OROP scheme. Ex-servicemen from all over the country are arriving in New Delhi to participate in the relay fast protest that is being conducted at Jantar Mantar.

The UFESM has announced that ex-servicemen shall henceforth boycott all the government-organized functions. They have also decided to go to the court after hearing the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech to find out the Government’s stand on the issue.

Armymen are being granted pensions and retirement benefits based on the current pay commission’s recommendations at the time of their retirement. Since the pension calculations are revised once every ten years, the OROP scheme seeks to remove the resultant anomalies.

Latest News OROP – ESM TO CHANGE COURSE OF ACTION

ESM TO CHANGE COURSE OF ACTION

Hunger Strike still continues at Jantar Mantar and the next course of action is declared today for 26th July day of Kargil Vijay. The AFVAI General Secretary Nb Sub G S Sidhu explained the current status of the protest…

Dear Veterans,

To day being 37th day of HS at JANTAR MANTAR, 10 widows and 10 veterans Including Lt gen LAL SINGH ,6 vets fm BIHAR and 1 fm total 27 sat on HS. Approx 30 Offrs of 3 SQD of NDA now highly decorated and another 300 vets were in audience.

HON LT NAR SINGH sir with 11 vet including ex MLA Ex Cpl BHARAT SINGH CHHOKAR fm SAMALKHA Haryana also were at JM. Wing Comdr VINOD NEBB hero of 1965 and 1971 war and in both War veer chakras awardee came second time with his family.

Col INDERJIT SINGH,LT GEN BALBIR SINGH,MAJ GEN SATBIR SINGH,BRIG KARTAR SIGH and myself addressed gathering.

SBI Bank parliament branch Manager with his staff also extended their support to our HS and also donated Rs 5000/-.

Some decisions were announced for 26 July day of KARGIL VIJAY.

1. Marathon run lead by Maj D P SINGH will b org.Route will b finalised tmw.

2. UFEXM and all Offrs Maj gen and above will write a DO LETTER on 26 July and every After 5 days to resign COAS and all Army Cmdrs and this will b continued till they Resign if OROP is not implemented with in few days.

MPs gherao is also consideration.

No MP from any party come to JANTAR MANTAR as they were suppose to come today.

Nb Sub G S SIDHU

Gen Secy AFVAI

Source: www.ex-airman.blogspot.in