Govt set to notify OROP based on own formula

NEW DELHI: The government is likely to notify the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ (OROP) scheme, but as per its own definition. This could possibly include a compensation for soldiers retiring before age of 40 and a fixed tenure for revision of pensions to equalise them as per ranks and years of service.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 2

The government is likely to notify the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ (OROP) scheme, but as per its own definition. This could possibly include a compensation for soldiers retiring before age of 40 and a fixed tenure for revision of pensions to equalise them as per ranks and years of service.

It will take into account the very basic criteria that the pensioners get compensated for having “sticking their neck out” for defending the country and don’t feel let down.

The Bihar Assembly elections are also driving the government to finalise the OROP. Today another meeting was held on the matter to bridge the gaps.

The government formula was listed out by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley two days ago when he laid down a few ground rules for implementing the OROP, a pre-poll promise made down the BJP.

He ruled out any annual pension revision. In the talks between the government and the ex-servicemen, the government had proposed that the hike in pensions — to make them equal for same rank and same length of service — would be done once in five years.

The Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) at first agreed for a biennial (once in two years) equalising of pensions, but later withdrew the concession and demanded an annual equalisation. But indications are that a middle path may be worked out on tenure for revision of pensions.

Sources said the Government has made its best offer to the veterans and wants to tread a path that does not open a pandora’s box with similar OROP-type demands from other services like paramilitaries.

The system of equalising the pension is crucial as the OROP entails same pension for all those who retired in the same rank with equal length of service. Ex-servicemen sitting in Dharna have been asking for the OROP without dilution of the recommendations made by the Bhagat Singh Koshyari Committee.

Koshyari, who headed the Rajya Sabha Petitions Committee, said in December 2011: “Uniform pension be paid to 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 be automatically passed on to the old pensioners”.