A complete reference blog for Indian Government Employees

Sunday 6 September 2015

Ex-servicemen disappointed with OROP; protests to continue

Ex-servicemen disappointed with OROP; protests to continue

“Six of our demands have been rejected; the government has accepted only one demand – we are not happy, the protests to continue”.
The ex-servicemen’s United Front have said that they are only partially pleased on the announcement made by the government. They have announced that the protests will continue; a massive rally planned on September 12.

According to the current positions, disputes are on about three issues:

1. Revision of pension once in every two years instead of the government’s decision to revise pension once in every five years.

2. The scheme will be effect from 1.4.2014 instead of July 1, 2014

3. A five-member committee instead of a one-member committee, and the report to be submitted in 30 days.

A review of OROP scheme

Based on the recommendations of the Third Pay Commission in 1973, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had revoked the One Rank One Pension scheme. During the year, the salaries of government employees were increased from 33 percent to 50 percent.

Based on the last drawn salary, the armymen’s pensions were decreased from 70 percent to 50 percent.
The Fourth Pay Commission of 1986 rejected the demands for increasing the army pension.

The Sharad Pawar Committee in 1991 rejected the demand, but agreed to revise the pension once.
The Fifth Pay Commission of 1996 rejected the demand of the ex-servicemen.

Sonia Gandhi asked that the pension revision be included in the election manifesto of 2002.

The Sixth Pay Commission of 2006 rejected the pension demand; ex-servicemen began to protest in the open.

In 2008, a relay fast was held at Jantar Mantar by the ex-servicemen. They decided to return the medals and gallantry awards to the government. The government ignored them.

In 2009, the then President Pratibha Patil refused to meet the ex-servicemen. They handed over the medals and awards to the Rastrapati Bhavan staff.

In 2011, the ex-servicemen pension demand was presented to the Rajya Sabha committee.

The then Defence Minister AK Anthony and the then Finance Minster Pranabh Mukherjee rejected the demand saying that the scheme would require an additional Rs.8000 – 9000 crores and that the government did not have such funds to spend.

In 2013, Narendra Modi took part in a massive rally organized by the ex-servicemen in Haryana’s Rewali and expressed his support to the One Rank One Pension scheme.

As soon as Modi indicated his support, the UPA government woke up and announced that it would implement OROP from April 2014 onwards. Rs.500 crores was allocated for this purpose.

Even after the BJP-led Modi government took charge at the centre, confusions and delays continued to prevail. But the prime minister was firm on implementing OROP.

The ex-servicemen began fasting at Jantar Mantar once again in July, thus stepping up pressure on the government.

On September 5, the centre announced the implementation of One Rank One Pension. 
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Government Announces One Rank One Pension Scheme for Ex-Servicemen

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.”


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