Govt presents no-please-all OROP

KV Prasad

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 5

The Centre’s decision today to fulfil ex-servicemen’s long-pending demand for one rank, one pension (OROP) received a less than enthusiastic acceptance from veterans who refused to end their agitation over disputing aspects, including exclusion of premature retirees.

Conceding to the nearly four-decade parity claim, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar emphasised: "Despite the huge financial burden, given its commitment to the welfare of ex-servicemen, the government has taken a decision to implement the OROP....Prime Minister Modi has fulfilled his commitment and approved OROP for Armed Forces personnel. The Ministry of Defence will soon issue a detailed government order.”

The government’s decision to roll out the welfare measure from July 1, 2014, with 2013 as the base year for fixing the first pension under it was greeted by the ex-servicemen as a satisfactory step but put question marks on six other elements of the scheme. Having expressed unhappiness over elements of the scheme, the ex-servicemen met the Defence Minister later this evening and returned satisfied after the government expressed intention to revisit the exclusion clause. As for the continuation of the form of protest, the decision would be taken tomorrow. Earlier, Major General Satbir Singh (retired) of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement had said at Jantar Mantar where veterans are holding protests and hunger strikes for the past 80 days: “The government accepted just one of our demands and rejected six.” The agitation should continue was the prevailing mood.

The Defence Minister said the annual expenditure for OROP would be between Rs 8,000 crore and Rs 10,000 crore; pension will be re-fixed for all retiring on the same rank and with the same length of service as the average of minimum and maximum pension in 2013. Those drawing pensions above the average will be protected, he emphasised. The arrears bill, estimated to be between Rs 10,000 crore and Rs 12,000 crore, will be paid in four half-yearly instalments but all widows will get the arrears in one instalment; in future, the pension would be re-fixed every five years and personnel who voluntarily retire will not be covered under the OROP, he said adding that those who opted out due to injuries would be protected.

The Minister said since OROP was a complex issue, a thorough examination of interests of retirees of different periods and different ranks was needed. The inter-service issues of the three Forces also require consideration. This is not an administrative matter alone. Therefore, it has also been decided that a one-member judicial committee would be constituted that would give its report in six months.

Since 46 per cent personnel opt for premature retirement, the ex-servicemen want clarification on their exclusion; expressed disappointment over announcement of single-member judicial commission demanding it be expanded to five with three of the fraternity as members and reduction in report timeline from six months to one; and rejected five-year pension review insisting it be done every two years.

The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress began to spar, with BJP chief Amit Shah accusing the Congress of having reduced ex-servicemen pension in 1973 from 70 per cent to 50 per cent of the salary. "The demand for OROP has been hanging fire since...the previous Congress government in its last moments made an allocation of Rs 500 crore for it and this was a joke,” he said.

The Congress fielded former Defence Minister AK Antony who characterised key component of OROP as “betrayal” to the cause of ex-servicemen, accused the government of doing politics over the scheme and "substantially diluting" its provisions.

Major points of divergence

What govt gave

• OROP to be implemented from July 1, 2014
• Those who took VRS not to be covered
• Pension review after five years
• One-member judicial panel to look into interests; submit report in six months

What veterans want 

• Not satisfied with the government's announcement 
• Premature retirees should also be included in the scheme
• Review the pension after every two years
• Include 3 veterans and one serving officer each of military and Defence Ministry; report in a month