OROP benefit for over 15 lakh defence pensioners: Ravi Shankar Prasad

New Delhi, April 6: A total of Rs.2,861 crore has been given to 15.91 lakh defence forces' pensioners under the 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP) scheme till March 31, union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Thursday.

The union cabinet had earlier approved the OROP scheme for ex-servicemen.

"After the cabinet approval, the government will pay Rs.10,925.11 crore as arrears, in addition to Rs.7488.7 crore as annual financial liability," Prasad told reporters here.

Prasad said the government had fast-tracked the process to clear the OROP backlog for the remaining beneficiaries and it will be cleared soon.

IANS