State-level OROP rally in city on October 18

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 4

Ex-servicemen will hold a massive rally in the city on October 18 against the dilution of the one rank, one pension (OROP) recommendations made by Bhagat Singh Koshiari Committee. Maj Gen (retd) Satbir Singh will address the rally that would be held at Dusshera ground near the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

According to Brig (retd) AS Minhas, around 4,000 to 5,000 ex-servicemen from all over the state are expected to attend the rally. “The Union government has distorted the recommendations suggested by the Koshiari Committee which has disappointed the ex-servicemen who were struggling since long. To ignite the agitation further, we have decided to hold the rally,” said Brig (retd) Minhas.

Points of contention between govt and ex-servicemen

The government has decided to implement OROP under which there would be revision of pension every five years as against one year demanded by the ex-servicemen.The base year would be the calendar year 2013 for calculation of OROP and it will be implemented from July 2014. The veterans had been demanding that the scheme be implemented from April 1, 2014. The government said that ex-servicemen, who have taken voluntary retirement, would not be eligible for the scheme. However, the veterans have demanded OROP benefits for those who have taken premature retirement. The government is setting up a one-member judicial committee to work out details of the implementation of OROP which will file a report in six months. The veterans have, however, demanded a five-member committee under the Defence Minister which will include an ex-serviceman too.