OROP: Army veterans say half promises fulfilled, may protest at Jantar Mantar

New Delhi, Feb 4: After the detailed instructions and tables for One Rank One Pension scheme were issued by the government, the Army veterans seems unsatisfied as they plan to meet at the Jantar Mantar on Thursday.

The veterans will meet in New Delhi to decide on their future course of action as they feel that some anomalies still remain.

"We are thankful to the government for enhancing pension but not

," the ex-servicemen association was quoted as saying in a IndiaToday report.

"Centre has only fulfilled half of it promises and the government order is silent on issue of equalised pension," veterans body further said.

The annual expenditure for the 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP) scheme has been estimated to be around Rs.7,500 crore, the defence ministry said on Wednesday.

The arrears from July 1, 2014 -- the date of implementation as announced by the government -- till December 31, 2015, will be approximately Rs.10,900 crore, the ministry said in a statement.

The statement said 86 percent of the total expenditure on account of OROP will benefit Junior Commissioned Officers (JCOs) and other ranks.

"The government of India had taken the historic decision to implement OROP in November 2015. This fulfilled the long standing demand of the defence forces personnel after 42 years benefited over 18 lakh ex-servicemen and war widows," the statement said.

The government order said that the payment of arrears and revision of pension under OROP is to be made by the Pension Disbursing Authorities in four instalments, except for family pensioners and pensioners in receipt of gallantry awards who will be paid arrears in one instalment.

The government had in November last year taken the historic decision to implement OROP, "fulfilling" the long standing demand of defence personnel after 42 years.

The move that will benefit over 18 lakh ex-servicemen and war widows had been rejected by a section of the veterans who are still protesting saying there are a number of "lacunae" in the scheme.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)