Friday, April 10, 2015

'One Rank One Pension' rollout just weeks away


April 10, 2015 12:23 IST
Military veterans are finally set to get their dues following Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's assertion that the 'One Rank One Pension' scheme is just weeks away from being implemented, reports Nitin Gokhale.
The long-pending 'One Rank One Pension,' scheme meant 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, is now weeks away from actual implementation, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said.
Speaking to this correspondent in Delhi on Thursday, April 9, the minister said: "All hurdles, including a political clearance on its financial implications, have been removed. Now the actual calculation and administrative details are being worked out. We are sure to get the scheme rolling in the next few weeks."
Admitting that there is huge scepticism over the implementation of the One Rank One Pension scheme, Parrikar said: "This time we have ensured that nothing goes wrong."
The long-standing demand has been an emotive issue with defence pensioners for almost half a decade with many of them even marching in protest several times to Rashtrapati Bhavan between 2008 and 2010 to return their gallantry medals. While the United Progressive Alliance government tried damage control at the very fag end of its tenure by making a budgetary provision of Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) in the interim budget of 2014-2015, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley too announced the Modi government's commitment to grant the pension at the earliest.
Parrikar, who took over as defence minister from Jaitley, made the issue one of his top priorities. He, however, needed to get everyone -- the armed forces and the bureaucracy -- on the same page and arrive at a figure acceptable to all.
Now the calculations are being done.
In a statement, Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh said the move is likely to cost somewhere between Rs 7,500 crore to Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 75 billion to Rs 100 billion). Singh told Parliament in early March: 'The modalities for implementation have been discussed with various stakeholders and are presently under consideration of the government. Financial implication could be calculated once the modalities are finalised and approved by the government.'
With Parrikar now categorically making the announcement, military veterans are keeping their fingers crossed on an issue that has agitated them for a long time.
(Source-Rediff.mail)

13 comments:

  1. I am fed up to read this statement again and again.

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  2. From 4 to 6 weeks in Dec,then to March, it seems your own stated deadlines have no sanctity?

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  3. A good omen just beckons on ex defense personnel, finally the anxiety is over. within weeks OROP will roll out. thank you parikar well done we are grateful to you. now we have become at par with civilians standard. of course time has been consumed inordinately. patience fetches good fruit

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  4. There is still ambiguity in Flash Flash Fladh OROP News that file is now with the PM and DM saying on 09 Apr that all hurdles have been removed. But now actual calculation and administrative details are being worked out for implementation. Let us believe them and continue waiting as heitherto for some ( how many - not known ) more weeks. It is aptly said ' Hope sustains the Life ' .

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  5. It is good news no doubt. But what is the actual calculation. and Administrative details. Again it may take few weeks . PCDA has to prepare the Circular ant Tables after MOD issues an order. We are left with no other go than wait .
    Sgt.S.kanthiah, Exwel trust.

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    1. Sir , infantry in army comes under which group X or Y.

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  6. Be positive on OROP. The actual Achhe din Aane waale hai.

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  7. Few weeks or 3-4weeks seems a worn out (5gramophone )

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  8. For calculating DA and implementing they take minimum Two to three months, imagine now to calculate OROP how much time they would take, keep your fingers crossed

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  9. Dear,

    I hope the statement made by Defence Minister Mr Manohar Parikkar is totally is a pre-planned programme as some states are facing the Assembly Election in near future hence they might have planned to announce the OROP in paper and not in actual to attract the vote of maximum Ex Serviceman. I request every body belongs to that state please do not give any single vote either to Congress or to BJP and its Alliances . Please give it to third as you desires

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  10. Congratulation for the implementation one rank one pension

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  11. After approval orop then pcda will take months for fitment table and circular orders...keep waiting

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  12. "Achhe din Aane waale hai"-this is what we are listening from the day BJP came in power !!!....So lets see how long we have to wait for "Achhe din Aane waale hai."

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