OROP- Why is this issue refusing to die down?

The trigger on Wednesday was the death of former army jawan, Ram Kishan Grewal who is alleged to have committed suicide.

Bengaluru, Nov 3: The issue relating to One Rank One Pension has once again hogged headlines. New Delhi witnesses a lot of drama on Wednesday with several leaders being detained and later released. The trigger on Wednesday was the death of former army jawan, Ram Kishan Grewal who is alleged to have committed suicide.

It has been alleged that Grewal had come to Delhi to protest against the government's backtracking of the implementation of OROP. The OROP was announced on September 6 2015, but several ex-servicemen say that it has failed to address their concerns. Let us take a look at what the complaints are and why this issue refuses to die down.

Why has the OROP issue not been resolved as yet:

• The veterans say that the scheme should be made effective from April 1 2014 and 2015 as the base year. Currently the scheme is effective July 1 2014 with 2013 as the base year.
• The veterans have been asking for a review annually, but the government says it would be done once in five years.
• The veterans want the findings of the single member judicial panel set up the government to be made public. The panel was set up to look into the various aspects of OROP.
• At first the government had said that soldiers who took voluntary retirement would not be entitled to OROP. Those who retired before the plan came into force would be entitled to OROP would be entitled, the government also said. Nearly 40 per cent retire early and the points raised by the government had become a bone of contention.
• The first instalment of the arrears has been paid. The arrears would be paid in four half yearly instalments. The cost to the exchequer would be around Rs 10,000 crore.

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