OROP: Will PM Modi give Independence Day gift to Army veterans?

New Delhi, Aug 11: Army veterans who have been protesting for One Rank One Pension scheme since months now, have fresh hope that it will be announced on the occasion of the Independence Day.

It is being presumed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce much delayed scheme on August 15. Report says a file regarding the same has been sent to the PMO for the final approval.

As per the TOI report, army veterans are having two views regarding the same. One section of it firmly believe that pension scheme will be announced on the occasion, while other has negative feeling of it.

"The file, after some heated disagreements between the finance and defence ministries, has finally reached the PMO", one group of the ex servicemen was quoted by the TOI.

As the scheme has crossed many deadlines since it was first announced by the Modi Government when it came to power in May last year, a section of veterans remain unconvinced for the scheme.

However with heavy heart, they say that let's wait till the August 15.

If Government will not announce OROP on the occasion we will go by our planned rally in Bihar where Assembly election is scheduled at the end of the year, veterans say in sulking tone.

Maha Sangram Rally in the State is already planned by the ex servicemen if Government will not oblige them.

Dismayed over the lackadaisical approach of the Government, Army veterans have been relaying hunger strike at the Delhi's Jantar Mantar since April this year.

Similar protest and hunger strike have been reported from other parts of the country also. The grudge of the army personnels is that why government is not giving specific date for the scheme.

OROP' implies equal amount of pension for having served in the same rank and also having rendered the same length of service.

For an example, a Sepoy who retired in 1995 would get the same amount of pension as the one who retired in 1996.

OneIndia News