Saturday, April 9, 2016

Veterans' cautious nod to OROP provisions - Times of India

Dehradun: With the first increased salary for pensioners under the One Rank One Pension (OROP) system starting from last month, Army veterans in the city say they are happy with the hike, although quite a few feel that the promises made under the system in the beginning had still not been completely delivered and the government should have done more. 

"We are thankful that OROP has turned into a reality but still all the conditions have not been met. We had asked for revision of the scheme every year but the government wants to do it every five years, which essentially kills the whole point of having OROP. Also, they have taken 2013 as the base year for calculating pension amount, whereas it should have been 2014. But taking the average of lowest and highest pensions in 2013 is also wrong. Why take the average at all? The arrears are being given from July 1, 2014 but we had asked them from April 1. Although we are happy, the provisions of OROP as discussed initially should have been maintained," said Brig (retd) K G Behl.

Col (retd) S C Tyagi, however, is quite content with the outcome. "This scheme has been pending since 1973, but no one bothered about it till now and it is a very good gesture on the part of the government. The monetary benefit is significant. People thought that those soldiers who were seeking voluntarily retirement will not get the benefits of the scheme. Not only they will get the benefits, we also stand to gain from the 7th Pay Commission," he said.

Echoing these thoughts, Brig (retd) B N Singh said, "I am glad that something has been done and a step has been taken in the right direction both for serving and retired soldiers. This has gone a long way in uplifting the morale of the armed forces. The government has taken care of two of our basic requirements - medical facilities and OROP. Although all our conditions might not have been met, we are still grateful to the government and hopeful that in due course of time all our requirements will be fulfilled."

"The execution of OROP is not completely satisfactory, though overall it is fine. Essentially it is not the money that matters but respect for the soldiers, which has been overlooked and is a cause of pain for us," said Col (retd) D S Bhandari, a veteran in the city. According to the scheme, pension arrears to widows and gallantry award winners will be paid in one go and others will get arrears in four equal installments starting from July 1, 2014. 

(Source-Times of India)

14 comments:

  1. Diversity .people think differently on differing perceptions of a issue or event. Naturally - human.
    This, phrase of orop coined post 1.1.1973 due to different pensions of a rank at that point of time " live example of that Maj Gen" was simply Not acceptable and thus that strong objection
    and protest to DM from Haryana ( that Maj Gen also from Haryana) movement of orop - beginning.
    This happening after so long a struggle .at some 75%, is no big deal for year and half. It is blindly imposed on old rank basis without factoring so many revisions in GOI & military in terms of length of service ,revision of ranks ,increments....etc to a soldier.
    On critical analysis it is far from resolution of real issues.
    Of course ,money matters,parity too,status and izzat.Rights -legitimate - not some sort of sympathy or meharbani.
    Yes ,people received some money .simple thanks are good enough .need not close eyes to reality and real issues.
    Another view ,it is simply at minimum of base year 2013 ,from July 2014 , - an increment for a year and half pensions at 2013 level ,otherwise normally available at every pay Comm on ,say 1.1.2016 as at 1.1.2016.
    7 CPC in what shape and what manner would be applied to soldier ,serving & retd is of course is awaited and to be seen before a final expression.

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  2. Pse add to ibid " at min of 2013 which will be different figures after implementation of CAT judgement on dispensing with 33 yrs service stipulation for every one for pensions at 50% of last pay drawn.

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  3. It is sad that some of the ex servicemen have either not understood the reasons for the struggle for O R O P or they are following the party line of a particular political party. The struggle is not for the money which all the ex servicemen have got . It is for the status of services which has been eroded with the concerted efforts of certain people since independence. We have been treated as a second rate citizen by the successive govts. Earlier all of us were ignorant the way we were treated in all spheres. To day with the computers and I T, things are in public domain and we have become little aware how our status has been lowered. Defence services are unlike any govt service with 0900 hrs to 1700 hrs working schedule. Defence services work 24 x 07 x 365 schedule, where ready obedience is the Key to successful execution of any task assigned and where there are no runners up. Wish the TOI should have interacted with wide base of ex servicemen in Dehradun where a large number of them live, for a true picture on OR OP.

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  4. With this OROP given to the ESM, the officers got fair deal specially the senior ranks. The work horses were totally neglected and are paid poorly. Poor show by the government and these officers who are set to end the silent agitation.

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    1. I do not thing the the analysis of Mr Mahoran are correct. The pension of any govt servant ,irrespective of rank /position he held prior to his retirement depends upon length of his service, his basic pay, gd pay , msp etc . A person retiring with lesser years of service , lower rank and lesser basic pay will certainly not get the pension of his seniors. In case of the officers the the figures of arrears may look big but are based on the certain rules. These issues are very sensitive hence should not be published without proper analysis.

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    2. The disparity between jco/OR and officers for OROP is huge and can not be justified. I agree with Manohar.

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    3. The only way is to make the pay structure as banking and insurance sector. Then there will not be any race or professional jealousy. Is there any expert to do this in near future?

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  5. Dear sir,

    All pre poll promises have yet to be fulfilled, somewhat we have been given though many of the genuine demands are left, particularly in respect of JCOs/OR categorisation of X and Y group which is non existent in the case of officers group. no body is here to highlight and moot this point, DM must understand this lacunae and attempt to resolve it

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  6. Where is orop for those pre-2006 pensioners who held the rank for less than 10 months? Is it not one rank many pensions?

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  7. Where is orop for those pre-2006 pensioners who held the rank for less than 10 months? Is is not one rank many pensions?

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  8. Where is orop for those pre-2006 pensioners who held the rank for less than 10 months? Is it not one rank many pensions?

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  9. The mission of orop in its expanded form meant for lower ranks. Mean time there is no mention any where to club xyz gp together and give deserving amt of pension. Instead there was strong signals from JM spread accross the country that the orop is for higher ranks. The result was also matching. Where the strength of the pensioners high the benifits is restricted. This can be analysed through the orop table of 04 feb this year.So more homework is required to make pension xyz groupless to achieve the actual orop like officers.

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  10. We thank GOI for implementation of revised pension. However it can not be termed as orop,it can be called as ormp for jcos/ors.If convinced, one man commission may recommend for prop as agreed/passed in parliament in its true spirit.Let's wait and watch. We also need to give credit to all ESM associations for their selfless and continued struggle which has resulted this revision.

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  11. Sir,
    Full pension for pre 2006 pensioners drinking of 33 years service requirement for full pension issued by DOPPW GOI on 06.04.2006. And PCDA issued circular based on DOPPW on 08.04.2006 for Defence civilians pre 2006 pensioners.
    But till date full pension for pre 2005 Exservicemen & drinking of 33 years of service for full pension is not yet issued by MOD GOI and PCDA. What is the problem in issuing similar order for pre 2006 Exservicemen ? Are they thinking it is for civilian pensioners only ? Till date it was denied. Now it is very difficult for them to accept even after Supreme court order and DOPPW orders.

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