05 Nov 2014
Politics of the India is forcing normally well-disciplined and patient ex-servicemen to resume their agitation for OROP.
OROP is more than 30 year old demand of ex-servicemen. This demand became necessary when rank wise pension of ex-servicemen was discontinued and armed forces of India were clubbed with central Government employees in 1973 and their pensions were reduced to bring at par with central Government employees. Ex-servicemen had been demanding OROP since then. Central Government did not agree to this most genuine demand despite OROP being recommended by Parliamentary Committee on Defence on more than one occasion.
Realizing the neglect by Politicians/bureaucrat combine, Ex-servicemen decided to form a movement to press home their demands. INDIAN EX-SERVICEMEN MOVEMENT (IESM) was formed on 13 Aug 2008 to put across their demands and agitate (much against their precedents and training) for acceptance of their demands. In-fact politicians forced the normally peaceful and silent force to agitate for their genuine demands because of their willful neglect Ex-servicemen.
IESM agitated for their demands, OROP being one of the most important demands. IESM gave memorandums to Government listing four demands. Government did not pay attention to these peaceful memorandums. IESM was then forced to escalate the agitation and deposited 22000 Gallantry medals to the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces the President of India to convey their disappointment with ex-servicemen policies of the Government. Memorandums signed in their own blood were given to President of India, ex-servicemen sat on relay hunger strikes and rallies were organized all over India to press for approval of OROP and other demands. Agitation/Rallies were supported by more than 25000 live members of IESM and lacs of associate members. More than 50 ESM organizations joined hands with IESM and supported the rallies/agitation planned by IESM.
UPA 2 Government finally approved OROP in the budget presented on 17 Feb 14 and allotted Rs 500/ crores for OROP. On 24 Feb 14 then Defence Minister Sh AK Anthony presided over a meeting and ordered MOD and CDA to issue instructions and ensure payment as per the approved definition of OROP given below
“OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement, and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This implies 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”.
Despite clear instructions from Defence Minister, MOD did not issue notification for payment of OROP.
During the election campaign, BJP leaders also promised OROP for ex-servicemen as soon as BJP Government would be formed at center. It is very important to note that BJP PM designate Sh Narendra Modi started his campaign on 15 Sept 13 (Precisely one day after being nominated as PM designate) in an ex-servicemen rally at Rewari. He roared to say that Congress Government has done nothing for ex-servicemen. He further questioned congress government and demanded a white paper on their sincerity for grant of OROP. He had also assured ex-servicemen that had BJP party been in Government, OROP would have been reality by now. Ex-servicemen accepted these promises made by BJP politicians on their face value and voted en-bloc for BJP.
Finance cum Defence Minister Sh Arun Jaitley, in his first budget on 10 June, put a stamp of approval on OROP (already approved by UPA Govt) for ex-servicemen and allotted further Rs 1000/ crores for OROP, and promised more funds as per requirement. Honorable Prime Minister has confirmed at more than three occasions that OROP for ex-servicemen is his commitment to Armed Forces and ex-servicemen and sufficient funds have been catered for OROP in the budget for 2014-15.
Seven months have passed since approval of OROP and notification of OROP has still not been issued. Ex-servicemen are exasperated and losing confidence in politicians/bureaucrats. OROP is commitment of Prime Minister, approved by two Parliaments and agreed by all political parties of India but it has still not become reality and is still a mirage. Ex-servicemen are where they were! Most disappointing situation, but true!Disappointed with the step motherly treatment meted out to them by the Government, IESM has decided to resume agitations and has planned to deposit more of Gallantry medals to convey their disappointment with Government.
IESM plans to start relay hunger strike from 3rd December 14 at Jantar Mantar (start of Indo Pak war in 1971). A jatha of ex-servicemen will sit on hunger strike every day till 16 December 14 (surrender of Pakistan army to Indian Army in 1971, glorious day in the history of Indian Armed Forces). A mega rally will be organized on 7th December Sunday at Jantar Mantar. A tranche of medals will be returned to the President of India on 16 Dec.
IESM REQUESTS ALL EX-SERVICEMEN TO
- JOIN AGITATION FOR OROP IN LARGE NUMBERS.
- IESM STATE UNITS ARE URGED TO SEND JATHAS OF 15 MEN EVERYDAY FOR SITTING ON RELAY HUNGER STRIKE FROM 3 DEC TO 16 DEC 2014.
- ATTEND MEGA RALLY IN LARGE NUMBERS ON 7 DECEMBER 2014 SUNDAY. RALLY WILL START AT 1000H AT JANTAR MANTAR NEW DELHI
- RETURN THEIR GALLANTRY MEDALS TO BE DEPOSITED WITH THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA ON 16 DECEMBER FOR SAFE CUSTODY. Ex-servicemen are requested to resolve their local problems and join the agitation in VERY LARGE NUMBERS.
DEAR EX-SERVICEMEN DELHI ELECTIONS ARE DUE SOON AND YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL PARTIES. PLEASE USE YOUR VOTE JUDICIOUSLY AND FORCE POLITICAL PARTIES TO LISTEN TO YOUR DEMANDS.
IESM THANKS ALL MEMBERS FOR GRACIOUSLY DONATING FOR FLOODS VICTIMS IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR. FUNDS, RECEIVED AS DONATION, HAVE BEEN DULY PASSED ON TO J & K FLOOD VICTIMS.
DONATIONS FROM MEMBERS TO SUPPORT AGITATION FOR OROP WILL BE APPRECIATED BY IESM.
ALL ESM ORGANISATIONS ARE REQUESTED TO JOIN THE AGITATION AND UNITE FOR OROP AND SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO GOVERNMENT.
Regards
Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM
L - 48, Sector - 25,
NOIDA. 201301
Tele no 01204313951
Mobile 09810541222
Pls see IESM latest NEWS on http://www.iesm.in
OROP is our right. Dilution in OROP will NOT be accepted.
(Source- BC Vasundhara blog)
Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM
L - 48, Sector - 25,
NOIDA. 201301
Tele no 01204313951
Mobile 09810541222
Pls see IESM latest NEWS on http://www.iesm.in
OROP is our right. Dilution in OROP will NOT be accepted.
(Source- BC Vasundhara blog)
The call to exercise voting rights judiciously in the coming assembly elections though belated should affect out come in close contest in J&K, Jharkhand and Delhi . Veterans are all respected in all countries but in India whereas there is utter disdain and disrespect .Almost invisible veterans must get together and show the depth of their strength for a strong Army that is being undermined from within .God bless India and the Indian Armed Forces
ReplyDeleteThe call to exercise voting rights judiciously in the coming assembly elections though belated should affect out come in close contest in J&K, Jharkhand and Delhi . Veterans are all respected in all countries but in India whereas there is utter disdain and disrespect .Almost invisible veterans must get together and show the depth of their strength for a strong Army that is being undermined from within .God bless India and the Indian Armed Forces
ReplyDeleteDear sirs. This is right step w r going to take. Till when we shall be befooled by these politicoans. I only wish n request our gen secy or d president exmen to publish it in many newspapers for vide publicity so that all our brothers living in far flung areas knows about it for good success
ReplyDeleteIt seems that once again we are at the startimg line for a fresh start. We shall mow fight this out with a complete unity. Lets again fight a war and this time against our own men who are teying to bully us.
ReplyDeleteThis is not sufficient Gp Capt Sir. Returning medals we hv done many times. e did it for the first time sometime in 1985 or so. 2008 was perhaps the third time, or the second time, may be. The medals are as worthless to them as they are for us. As harmless also. That is why so far OROP has not moved a single inch. Instead of Congress party taking us for a ride, BJP is betraying us. Anyway we are alwas at the dirty end of the stick.
ReplyDeleteuse news paper media and opposition party for vide publication for government policy for one rank one pension demand for armed force . during election what they have said and after selection what they have done for indian armed force
ReplyDeletewe all serving/ retired personnel, jointly should protest the govt at all levels and give ultimatum to govt that if its not this time we are going to be ignored forever. BJP WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A PATRIOTIC PARTY IF THEY DONT DO IT THEN NOBODY WOULD DO IT .
ReplyDeleteJAI JAWAN
ReplyDeleteJAI HIND
Sir, I'm recently retired from Navy. I feel abolishing colonial era rules in the defence system needs to be addressed at the earliest. My heart was bleeding when an Army jawan explained his daily routine at an officer's home. Why we are still following British rules of slavery on jawans. Who will stop this. An uniformed jawan must feel proud of serving the nation rather than feeling humiliated by superiors.
ReplyDeleteSir, OROP is not any thing extra but only parity with what is entitled to the present day / fresh retiree. pensioner. Actually we honestly deserve 75% minimum of the last pay instead of 50% as we physically are present on duty for 24 hours a day 7 days a week as against 8 hours a day 5-6 days a week and that too hundreds or thousands kilometers away from home and dreading thebullets of the enemy coupled with hostile environment and body harming unhealthy climate.this means our service should count THREE TIMES OFTHE Civilian counterparts and in that there is no any concession by thegovernment. Service of all officers andother ranks should count onthis pattern.
ReplyDeleteIf this agitation programme does not succeed how abt persuading all the three service chiefs to resign if their pension will not be affected by resignation?
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA They will not do that will try like our ex general v.k and if success then they also will tell lie like our ex personnel or politicians will try to take out all benefits they do not bother for men in defence
DeletePm wand promise must be keep by the vanaras people about swacha bharat
Deleteke liea jo kam bola ohh karne ke liea but PM HIM SELF IS NOT KEEPING HIS PROMISE BEFORE ELECTION HE SAID HE WILL FULFILL OROP IF HE IS IN POWER now months gone again he give false information to the poor defense personnel their family and the nation that he has fulfilled his promise that orop is fulfilled with out paying a single pise to them so how he can expect that nation will keep promise SO jai hind and keep listing all wrong information promise giving by our great politicians / ex officers/ Pm/ politician general and die before getting that ji hind dhoka bharat
during war enemy is the main target for soldier. but when their own brother acting like enemy. then what will be the solution for them. synchronise news paper media for non implimentation one rank one pension on true defination. take out negative sense for their own promotion and give the soilder right . when they left chair they should feel that in life during service one good work done by them.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate this . W e should access to serving our sons/brothers and relatives
ReplyDeleteso that they help the rally too. Thanks