OROP Implemented! Ex-servicemen have their way

New Delhi, Sept 5: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar proved to be a lucky charm for the ex-servicemen protesting at Jantar Mantar.

Their protests have borne fruits after about four decades when Defence minister Manohar Parrikar said that the One-Rank-One-Pension would be finally implemented, despite a financial burden that the government has to face, given the fallacies and miscalculations of the previous government.

After much dilly-dallying and several rounds of negotiations, the government decided to give in to the demands of the servicemen. Much to the satisfaction of the ex-servicemen, the government agreed to most of their demands, barring a few which include equalization of pension once in two years, issuing the upper limit of the pension slab and not calculating an average etc.

[Read: OROP announced: Veterans may continue stir]

What Manohar Parrikar said

Accepting that the government has accepted the concept of OROP and will be implemented with effect from 1st July 2014. This is what he said:

• Proud of the devotion to duty and bravery of the soldiers
• As mentioned by the previous government that the exchequer drawn for the purpose would be Rs 500 crore, which is a wrong estimate. The cost of it would be amounting to Rs 8000-10000 crore.
• The present government took time to fulfill its promise because of the legacy of errors and administrative fallacies left behind by the previous government.
• Will be implemented from 1st July 2014, but the arrears would be paid in 4 half yearly installment. However widows would get the benefit immediately.
• Pension would be refixed with immediate effect for the same rank. An average of the pensions would be done and provided for. However, those who are drawing a pension above the average would be protected.
• Pension would be refixed in five years in future

OneIndia News