OROP: Holi Gift for ex-servicemen! Modi govt to give their dues by Holi under OROP scheme

New Delhi, Mar 21: It seems government has a very good Holi gift for all ex-servicemen.

If reports are to believed then teh ex-servicemen will receive their arrears by Holi under the OROP (One Rank One Pension) scheme.

"We are expecting to cover almost entire population by Holi. That would be a real colorful Holi for the ex-servicemen," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told ANI.

He also said that he is thankful to all the banks and defence department as they have worked very hard to disburse 2,293 crores by March 17.

Veterans protesting for implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) today welcomed the release of first part of arrears and said they have raised some anomalies in OROP scheme with Defence minister Manohar Parrikar who asked them to take up the issue with the judicial commission set up for the purpose.

Welcoming the release of first part of the arrears, Major Gen (retd) Satbir Singh, chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) said they have highlighted four serious flaws in the OROP scheme announced by the government, before Parrikar.

State Bank of India on March 14 released arrears worth Rs 1,465 crore to 7.75 lakh defence pensioners under One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme.

"As per government guidelines, first instalment (1/4th of the total arrear amount up to February, 2016) to service pensioners and full amount of arrears to ‘family pensioners' and ‘gallantry award' pensioners will be paid on 14th March, 2016," SBI chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya said.

OneIndia News