One rank-one pension scheme to be rolled out soon, Manohar Parrikar says

[Hindustani78]

Last Updated: Monday, July 20, 2015 - 20:08
Ex-servicemen to carry out run to press for OROP | Zee News


New Delhi: The ex-servicemen community will carry out a run on Kargil Victory Day on July 26 seeking 'One Rank One Pension', an issue for which they have been protesting for over a month.

"It will also be step one in the escalation of the ongoing protest. The run will commence at 5.45 AM from DSOI Dhaula Kuan and terminate at Jantar Mantar, venue of the relay hunger strike by ex-servicemen," a statement by the United Front of Ex-Servicemen said.

The run will be led by Indian Army blade runner Maj DP Singh (Retd).

45 MP's led by TMC leader Derek O'Brien are likely to visit those undertaking protest at Jantar Mantar, the statement added.



PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
21-July, 2015 13:33 IST
Status of Implementation of OROP

The principle of One Rank One Pension for the Armed Forces has been accepted by the Government. The modalities for implementation were discussed with various stakeholders and are presently under consideration of the Government. It will be implemented once the modalities are approved by the Government.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to Shri Neeraj Shekhar and others in Rajya Sabha today.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
22-July, 2015 13:50 IST
Demand of One Rank One Pension by paramilitary forces

There have been some requests demanding One Rank One Pension on the line of demand in Defence Forces. There is no proposal under consideration of the Ministry on the issue.

Proposals regarding granting of Para Military Service pay and enhancement of casual leave at par with Army have been received in this Ministry. The same have been referred to the 7th Central Pay Commission for consideration.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply to a question by Smt. Rajani Patil and Shri A.K. Selvaraj in the Rajya Sabha today.

****

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
24-July, 2015 16:23 IST
One Rank One Pension Scheme

Government is aware that Ex-Servicemen Associations have been agitating for implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme from 2008 onwards.

The policy of “One Rank One Pension” has been adopted by the Government to address the pension disparities, in the budget 2014-15.

The modalities for implementation of OROP are under consideration of the Government. It will be implemented once the modalities are approved by the Government.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in a written reply to Dr. Shashi Tharoor and Shri Ninong Eringin LokSabha today.

 

[Hindustani78]

Govt working on OROP: Venkaiah Naidu | Zee News
Last Updated: Sunday, July 26, 2015 - 18:55

Bengaluru: Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said that the Modi government holds the armed forces and their families in highest esteem and it is working hard on the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.


"It is a very important issue. That should be settled... we are working on that in principle ... We hold our armed forces in highest esteem, their families also," Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said.

He was commenting on social activist Anna Hazare's protest at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on the issue.

Hazare today accused the NDA government of not fulfilling even a "single promise" including implementation of OROP scheme.

All issues cannot be resolved in a year and people have to understand NDA had "inherited bad economy and it is under repair", Naidu told PTI here.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Hazare today accused the NDA government of not fulfilling even a "single promise" including implementation of OROP scheme.

It is true that the NDA has failed to live up to expectations in many areas......

 

[Hindustani78]

It is true that the NDA has failed to live up to expectations in many areas......

At present more than 24.16 pension accounts - and growing - are active throughout the nation that received close to Rs 51,000 cr per year. Out of these, 18 lakh pensioners are serviced through banks and the MoD pays Rs 960 a year to the banks as transaction fees for each account.

"If all pensioners are brought under the centralised PDA system where MoD will credit pension in pensioners Bank accounts through NEFT/RTGS, saving of Rs 180 cr could be achieved," the note says.

Officials said that to start with, all new pensioners in the Navy and Air Force will get disbursements through this new system directly into their bank accounts. Pensioners will need to indicate a joint bank account of their choice along with their Aadhar number. The Army, which has the largest chunk of pensioners, will get the new system by August.

 

[Hindustani78]

A former Sikh army soldier wears a headband around his turban during a protest in New Delhi, India.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
30-July, 2015 16:43 IST
Removing Anomaly in Pensions of Ex-Servicemen

Removal of anomaly, if any, in the pension being given to the various categories of ex-servicemen is a continuous process. Such anomaly is redressed, as and when it comes to the notice of the Government.

The policy of “One Rank One Pension” has been adopted by the Government to address the pension disparities. The modalities for implementation of OROP are under consideration of the Government. It will be implemented once the modalities are approved by the Government.

A Pension Grievance Cell exists in the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare. Grievances received by this Cell are examined and redressed in coordination with the agencies concerned in the matter. A system of holding Pension Adalat is in place to provide a credible forum for redressal of grievances of the defence pensioners. Officers concerned of every organisation involved remain present in the Adalats and the grievances are redressed on the spot. A computerized pension enquiry project “Suvigya” has been developed by the Controller General of Defence Accounts (CGDA). It is an online pension enquiry system which would enable the ex-servicemen to know their entitlements of pension. A pensioners’ grievance cell exists in the Office of Principal Controller of defence Accounts (Pension), Allahabad.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to Shri D.P Tripathi in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, 30 July 2015.

Ministry of Defence
30-July, 2015 16:45 IST
Submission of OROP Proposal

The policy of “One Rank One Pension” has been adopted by the Government to address the pension disparities. The modalities for implementation of OROP are under consideration of the government. It will be implemented once the modalities are approved by the Government.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to Shri Anil Desai in Rajya Sabha on Thursday, 30 July 2015.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ex-servicemen to intensify agitation, seek meeting with PM over OROP | Zee News

Last Updated: Sunday, August 2, 2015 - 23:10
New Delhi: Ex-servicemen, who are demanding early implementation of the 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP) scheme, on Sunday said their agitation will be intensified and they will seek an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a press release, Col. Anil Kaul, media advisor of the United Front of Ex-Servicemen (UFESM), said that ex-servicemen were coming from almost all states to join the relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

He said agitations were being organised in 65 more towns across the country.

Kaul said the agitation has entered its next phase. Its intensity will be increased and marches will be taken out in various parts of the country.

"The UFESM has decided to increase the intensity of the agitation. Ex-servicemen will boycott government functions," the release said.

It said UFESM will seek a meeting with the prime minister at the earliest and if a meeting was not granted, its members will return another tranche of gallantry medals.

It said UFESM was considering moving court if the goverment does not approve OROP "as per its approved definition" by August 15.

At present, the pension for retired personnel is based on the Pay Commission recommendations at the time the personnel retired. This leads to a difference in pension for officers of same rank who retire on different dates.

IANS

 

[Hindustani78]

Union Cabinet to decide on `one rank, one pension` for HC judges | Zee News
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 4, 2015 - 20:19

New Delhi: The Union Cabinet is likely to take a call on Wednesday on the long-pending demand of high court judges of `one rank, one pension`.

According to the Law Ministry proposal which is on tomorrow's agenda of the Union Cabinet, a bill is proposed to rectify an anomaly as per which judges selected from the Bar get lesser pension than those elevated from state judicial services.

The proposal to amend the High Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1954, comes more than a year after the Supreme Court ruled that such a discrepancy must be removed.

According to the apex court ruling, if the service of a judicial officer is counted for fixation of pension, there is "no valid reason" as to why the experience at Bar cannot be treated as equivalent for the same purpose.

"...We accept the petitioners' claim and declare that for pensionary benefits, ten years' practice as an advocate be added as a qualifying service for judges elevated from the Bar."

The apex court ruling delivered by a bench headed by the then Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam on March 31, 2014 had also said that "one rank one pension must be the norm in respect of a Constitutional office."

"The amendment bill is based on the Supreme Court judgment...We are only implementing the judgement," a senior government functionary said.

The apex court ruling came on a clutch of petitions filed by former judges of various high courts as well as by the Association of the Retired Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts elevated from the Bar.

PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

New Delhi: A report claimed on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi may announce the implementation of 'One Rank, One Pension' on August 15.

The Times of India reported that the PM could make the announcement on implementation of OROP during his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the historic Red Fort.

Demanding the implementation of the OROP, military veterans have been on a relay hunger strike for the last 57 days.

Some of them now believe the announcement could be made on August 15 as "the file, after some heated disagreements between the finance and defence ministries, has finally reached the PMO", the daily reported.

The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already accepted the demand for One Rank, One Pension in principle. At present, the deadlock is over the finer details of the scheme and the same are still being worked out.

Implementation of the OROP was among the promises the BJP had made in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in May last year.

 

[Hindustani78]

Former service chiefs appeal to President on OROP | Zee News

Last Updated: Thursday, August 13, 2015 - 23:30
New Delhi: Government is looking at a "middle path" in resolving the "ticklish issue" of 'One Rank One Pension' demand of ex-servicemen, officials sources said.

'OROP' scheme may put a huge burden on the exchequer because of the need to revise the pensions every year and so the government is in discussions with the ex-servicemen community towards finding a middle path, they said.

Meanwhile, four former service chiefs have written an open letter to President Pranab Mukherjee requesting his intervention in the issue.

Expressing concern over the delay in rolling out 'OROP' scheme, they said, "It is with a sense of deep anguish that we are writing to draw the attention of the Supreme Commander to the dismal spectacle of our veteran soldiers, driven to undertake public protests and demonstrations to press their demand for the - long overdue grant of OROP".

The letter was written by General S F Rodrigues Admiral L Ramdas, Admiral Arun Prakash and Admiral Sureesh Mehta.

They said that the denial of OROP is merely the last straw that has exhausted the veterans' patience.

It appears to be the culmination of a process by which successive Pay Commissions have been used to whittle down the financial and protocol status of the military over the years vis-a-vis their civilian counterparts, the letter said.

It added that the decline in the status of military in India "has been orchestrated" to make it "subservient to the bureaucracy".

The former chiefs said there does not seem to be adequate realisation that this development "has the potential for inflicting long-term damage to India's proud and apolitical military ethos".

No one in the political or bureaucratic establishments seems to have recognised that veterans retain a strong umbilical connection with serving personnel because the two constitute one extended family, it said.

Referring to the on-going protests by ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar, the report said anything which denigrates or humiliates the veteran also hurts the self-esteem of the serving soldier - because he sees himself as tomorrow's veteran, the four retired chiefs said.

"Thus, the recent developments have not only triggered a process of politicisation of the Indian military, but also served to inflict grave damage on its morale and self-esteem," the letter stated.

It said that since no administration has deemed it appropriate to convey the actual reason for the interminable delays, there is a growing feeling in the rank and file that the senior armed forces leadership has not done enough to pursue their cause.

"An erosion of confidence such as this could inflict severe damage on the officer-jawan relationship. This is a sacred trust, built on a 350-year old tradition, which we will find very difficult to rebuild," it said.

It said the factors mentioned above have the potential to cause immense damage to India's military edifice and hence, to our national security.

PTI

 

[saurav]

This must be one of the many stupid moves by Modi Govt. You just can not delay such emotive issues for so long. Likewhise the special status for states will also haunt him.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ex-servicemen shout slogans at a protest in New Delhi. Former employees and officers of Indian defense forces have been protesting against what they call a discriminatory pension policy under the 'One Rank One Pension' banner.