OROP – UFESM WRITES TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

OROP – UFESM WRITES TO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

Dear Veterans,

Letter to Members of Parliament regarding One Rank One Pension (OROP) dated 11 Jan 2016 is enclosed herewith for your information and widest circulation please.

With Regards

Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd)
Advisor United Front of ESM & Chairman IESM

UNITED FRONT OF EX –SERVICEMEN (UFESM)
ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

Dear Members of Parliament,
You are all aware of the issue of One Rank One Pension of Armed Forces. This issue is being debated since 1984 and finally OROP was strongly recommended by Koshyari Committee in 2011

As per Koshyari Committee Report, and the deposition by Secretary (ESW), Ministry of Defence, before the Committee One Rank One Pension is defined as.

Definition
“One Rank One Pension implies that uniform pension be paid to the 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 to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners”.

The above definition of OROP has been accepted by both houses of the Parliament. Honourable Supreme Court has also ruled in favour of OROP in many judgments. The same definition was included in the Executive Order of the Govt of India for the Implementation of OROP vide its letter No- 12(01)/2014-D (Pen/Pol) dated 26 Feb 2014 (Copy enclosed).

The One Rank One Pension which has been announced on Sep 5, 2015 and notified on Nov 7, 2015 is not the real OROP. It has many anomalies illustrated below which if not corrected will completely destroy the definition of OROP approved by the Parliament.

1. Revision every 5 years instead of every year: This defeats the very concept and definition of OROP.

Illustration: 20 YEARS OF SERVICE FOR THE FOLLOWING 2 SEPOYS:
Sepoy A and Sepoy B join army on 1 July 1991
Sepoy A- retires in Nov 2011- Rs.4000/- as basic wage. Pension = Rs.2000/-.
Sepoy B – retires in March 2012- Rs 4500/- as basic wage (Increment as per Jan 1st). Pension = Rs. 2250/-
A is getting Rs 250+ DA = Rs. 600/- less than B and having served for the same length of service of 20 yrs.
Loss incurred – Rs.7200/- per year or Rs 36,000/- in 5 years.

2. Govt has announced that Benefit of OROP will be effective with effect from 1.7.2014: Instead of 01 Apr 2014, thereby causing a loss to the ESM of 2100 Crores that is presuming annual expenditure of Rs 8400/ crore on OROP.

Illustration: All articles approved in any budget are applicable from 1st April each year. Hence OROP should also be effective from 1st April 2014.
By making it effective from 1st July 2014 government is putting ESM at a loss of Rs.2100/-Crores for three months

3. Govt has announced that Base year for award of OROP to be the calendar year of 2013 instead of Financial Year of 31 March 2014.This defeats the definition of OROP and puts the old pensioners at loss as compared to the present pensioners. This will also mean that a pensioner holding senior rank will get pension less than his junior rank.

Illustration: if Base year for pension is likely to be 2013 as against 31 Mar 2014 when OROP is applicable from 1st April 2014. This put a soldier behind by one year / annual increment which is Rs. 500/-. However if the effective date for implementation is planned to be 1 July 2014 then the pension should be based on 30 June 2014.

4. Fixation of pension as the mean average of the pay band instead of the top level: This adds insult to injury and defeats the definition of OROP. Puts the old pensioners at loss as compared to the present pensioners.

Illustration: By making it the mean of the year 2013 the defence personnel retiring with pension above the mean will be at disadvantage. This would require application of protection clause for a large number of retirees.
Supposing A soldier retires in 1980 on completion of 20 years of service.
OROP means his pension should be brought at par with the pension of the soldier retiring on 31st March 2014 with 20 years of service. By taking mean of min and max pension of 2013, the soldier will be put to financial loss. This loss can only be calculated once pension tables are declared by CGDA.

5. One person judicial committee instead of a five person committee: This commission will not have representative from ESM but will have a member from IAS as secretary. Hence, it is expected that the recommendations of the committee will be influenced by IAS lobby (based on inputs from the IAS lobby). Recommendations of 7 CPC are indications wherein Armed Forces have not been given due justice. However announcement of judicial committee by GOI along with the notification is a clear indication that GOI is sure that this notification is faulty and will not be accepted by the Defence Fraternity.

In the age of smartphones and Social Media, no person is left unaware of the happenings in any part of the country. The serving members of the Armed forces are well aware of the acts of the government and the Protest Movement by the Ex-Servicemen at Jantar Mantar and across the country. The present Prime Minister made a promise to the Armed Forces at Rewari before the General Elections in 2014 that his Government will deliver OROP on taking oath of office if elected to form Govt. Implementation of OROP was also included in the President address to both houses of Parliament when the NDA Govt took over. That promise has not been fulfilled by this Government even after one and half year.

It is a common knowledge that more than 70% of serving soldiers are relatives of the Ex-servicemen. Ill treatments of veterans will have direct de-motivating effect on the serving soldiers.

It is also noteworthy that there is shortage of 30% in the Armed Forces. Policies adopted by the government have led to a situation where the youth of today is de-motivated to join the Armed Forces. Clearly, this shall lead to more reduced number than existing today. These deficiencies are serious nature and have direct bearing on National Security.

May we request you to ponder over the situation and think about the security of India in coming years. May we also request you to ask for serious discussion in Parliament on National Security and nail the Government so that every Indian is educated about the fraud being played on the nation by the GOI. May we also ask you to raise questions in the Parliament and ask the government to Implement One Rank One Pension (OROP) after removal of the seven shortcomings pointed out and issue fresh Notification exactly as per approved definition of OROP.

With Regards
Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd) 
Advisor United Front of ESM & Chairman IESM
Tele No : 0124-4110579,09312404269
Email : satbirsm@gmail.com

Source:    http://indianmilitaryveterans.blogspot.in/    &     http://ex-servicemenwelfare.blogspot.in/

‘One Rank One Pension’ has been resolved, and it has been granted – Prime Minister

‘One Rank One Pension’ has been resolved, and it has been granted – Prime Minister

 November 12, 2015  Maha  OROP, OROP latest order, OROP NEWS, OROP notification, OROP table Edit Post

Long-pending issue of ‘One Rank One Pension’ has been resolved, and it has been granted – Prime Minister
The Prime Minister said that the long-pending issue of One-Rank, One Pension has been resolved, and it has been granted.

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Prime Minister’s Office

11-November-2015 18:11 IST

PM visits 1965 war memorials in Punjab; spends Diwali with officers and jawans of the Indian Armed Forces

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today visited three memorials in Punjab which commemorate some of the spectacular successes of the Indian Armed Forces in the 1965 war.

The Prime Minister visited the Dograi War Memorial, and the Barki War Memorial. The battles of Dograi and Barki were decisive successes achieved by the Indian Army during the 1965 war

The Prime Minister visited Asal Uttar, the site of one of the biggest ever tank battles, where the Indian Armed Forces achieved a major victory. The battle of Asal Uttar is remembered for the heroics of Veer Abdul Hamid, who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra. The Prime Minister paid homage by laying a wreath on the memorial of Abdul Hamid.

The Prime Minister greeted and interacted with officers and jawans of the Indian Army and Air Force, at Dograi War Memorial, Barki War Memorial, and Air Force Station – Halwara.

The Prime Minister said that everyone wishes to spend Diwali with his or her family, and therefore, just as he had visited Siachen last year, he has chosen to spend Diwali with the officers and jawans of the Armed Forces this year as well. He said that as this year marked the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war, he has chosen to visit locations where the brave soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces had shed blood and made the supreme sacrifice during that war.

The Prime Minister said that the long-pending issue of One-Rank, One Pension has been resolved, and it has been granted.

Source: PIB News

 Leave a comment  OROP, orop latest orders, OROP Notification, orop table

One Rank One Pension : Why not immediately notify the OROP for family pensioners and POTSs?

One Rank One Pension : Why not immediately notify the OROP for family pensioners and POTSs?

 November 3, 2015  Maha  one rank one pension, OROP, OROP NEWS, OROP notification, OROP table Edit Post

One Rank One Pension : Why not immediately notify the OROP for family pensioners and POTSs? One Rank One Pension : Why not immediately notify the OROP for family pensioners and POTSs? WHY NOT IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY THE OROP FOR FAMILY PENSIONERS & POTOs? We might have all read an article couple of days ago appeared in Business Standard newspaper indicating

» Read more :- www.cgepn.in

OROP – Implementation only after Bihar Polls

OROP – Implementation only after Bihar Polls

 October 13, 2015  Maha  OROP

One Rank One Pension : Implementation only after Bihar Polls

Implementation of ‘One Rank One Pension’ After Bihar Polls: Manohar Parrikar

The One Rank, One Pension for retired military personnel will be implemented after the Bihar elections, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Sunday.

He also said that contentious issues including those related to premature retirement had been resolved, conceding that the inclusion of the phrase Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) in the declaration announced by his ministry in September had triggered confusion.

“I think I will have to wait up for the Bihar elections. Because Election Commission is in no mood to give permission to actually issue the order. This is my understanding. I will not like to be in part of controversy,” Mr Parrikar said during a public interaction near .

Read more at: NDTV

Department of Posts – Issuing copies of ACR / APAR to retired officers

Department of Posts – Issuing copies of ACR / APAR to retired officers

 October 13, 2015  Maha  OROP Edit Post

Issuing copies of ACR / APAR to retired officers – Department of Posts

No.25-13/2015-SPG
Government of India
Ministry of Communication and IT
Department of Posts

New Delhi, dated 29th Sept, 2015

To

All Heads of Circles
Director, RAKNPA, Ghaziabad/ PMGs/ A11 Directors PTCs Department of Posts.

Subject : Providing copies of ACRs/ APARs to retired officers.
Madam/ Sir,

I am directed to forward a copy DOP&T’s Office Memorandum No. 21011/1/2005-Estt (A) (Part.III) dated 2nd April, 2012 on the above subject.

All head of Circles/ Units of Department of Posts are requested to bring the above guidelines to the notice of all concerned.

Yours faithfully,

(Manoj Sharma)
Assistant Director General,,(SGP)

OROP row: Veterans boycott 1965 war golden jubilee celebrations

New Delhi: Agitating ex-servicemen on Friday boycotted the golden jubilee celebrations of the 1965 war after rejecting Government's latest offer on resolving the vexed issue of OROP over which they started protests 75 days ago.

"Whatever they have finally offered is not acceptable to us. Yesterday what was told to us is nowhere close to the definition" that had been decided and accepted by Parliament," Maj Gen Satbir Singh (Retd), Chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement said.

They were saying it will be done after five years which is totally incorrect because it will defeat the very definition of OROP," Satbir said.He said that the ex-servicemen have turned down government's offer to increase pension every five years instead of doing it annually.

"We are also firm on our stand that the base year has to be 2013-14 and that payment should begin from April 1, 2014. OROP should not be left to the 7th Pay Commission and the definition has to be the same as accepted by Parliament," he said.

Government is insisting that 2011 be made the base year while making it clear that there will be no three per cent annual increase. It also wants payment to begin from April 1, 2015, which has been rejected by the veterans.

Unhappy with the prolonged delay by the Government in setting a timeframe for OROP, the veterans boycotted Friday's golden jubilee celebrations of the 1965 war with Pakistan.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar drew flak from the veterans for his remarks that Government needs "some time" to fill "small gaps" for implementation of OROP.

"Now the small gaps are being filled. Give it some time for completion. In principle, the Prime Minister on August 15 (Independence Day Speech) has given his approval. Now, PMO is directly involved...then by saying that do it in these many days will not help. "All efforts are being made to solve the issue," he said.

The protesters said they are "disheartened" by Parrikar's remarks to reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

"What Raksha Mantri said, I'm rather disheartened. He is now saying that there are gaps. He cannot say anything that is totally different than what was told to us all these days," Satbir said.

"Hundreds of veterans who participated in the 1965 war joined the protest and boycotted the Golden jubilee program organized by the government," a statement by the United Front of Ex-Servicemen, the umbrella organisation of veterans leading the OROP protest, said.

"Notable amongst the 1965 war veterans (who joined the OROP protest on Friday) were Brigadier D P Nayar who had participated in Hajipir operation and Wing Commander Vinod Nebb (Vir Chakra) who brought down one enemy aircraft in Punjab sector," the statement added.

However, the Defence Ministry in the evening released pictures showing certain veterans at the wreath-laying ceremony organised at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate.

A delegation of ex-servicemen on Friday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh who assured them that necessary action will be taken by the government which has already in-principle accepted their demand.

"Work is on to find out a solution but it needs some more time", he told the veterans, official sources said.

Satbir said the veterans have requested a meeting with the Prime Minister.

"I am sure Prime Minister is the last word and he had assured us....we tell him the correct position. All the wrong information fed by the babus would be thrown away and what is right will be accepted," he said.

Asked if the veterans are going to give an ultimatum, he said they are soldiers and hence don't believe in setting deadlines.

"If Prime Minister says that give us another 1 or 2 days, 5 days, 1 week or 10 days... anything but let him look into our eyes and say so," he said.

Army chief Dalbir Singh Suhag on Thursday had met representativces of ex-servicemen at his South Block office but there was "no forward movement", they later said.

Close to 22 lakh retired servicemen and over six lakh war widows stand to be the immediate beneficiaries of the scheme, which envisages a uniform pension for the defence personnel who retire in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.

Currently, the pension for retired personnel is based on the Pay Commission recommendations of the time when he or she retired. So, a Major General who retired in 1996 draws less pension than a Lt Colonel who retired after 1996.