Ex-servicemen continue relay fast in Delhi
Even as Delhi was lashed by heavy rain on Friday, around 60 ex-servicemen sat on a relay fast at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, while scores of others supported them to demand the implementation of the OROP scheme for retired defence personnel.
A day after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s fresh assurance on One Rank One Pension (OROP) and the Supreme Court fixing a six-week deadline for implementing similar pension for major general-ranked officers, the protesting veterans said not much had changed.
“The Supreme Court order is only regarding the major generals who went to court over difference in pensions after the 6th Pay Commission…but the major generals have rejected it unless the OROP is implemented for all,” Col. Anil Kaul (retd), spokesman of the United Front of Ex-Servicemen Morcha (UFESM) told IANS.
Asked if there was any communication from the central government on the OROP issue, he said there was no information since Parrikar’s assurance of “good news” on Thursday.
“We have not been contacted by anyone. The protest will continue,” he said.
The protest by ex-servicemen over OROP continued for the 27th day on Friday. Since June 15, the veterans have been holding a relay hunger strike.
The ex-servicemen are demanding that the government give a date for implementation of the OROP. They also demanded that the nature of the scheme should not be changed.
Currently, the pension for retired personnel is based on the pay commission recommendations in force when the personnel retired.
This leads to a difference in pensions of officers of same rank who retire on different dates.
With OROP, retired personnel would draw the same pension as officers and jawans of the same rank retiring now.
They would also be entitled to a year’s back pensions at the new rate, which would be a windfall for pensioners.
OROP will benefit 25 lakh ex-servicemen. It is expected to cost the government around Rs.8,500 crore.
IANS
Suresh Babu says
It seems that goverment is not at all interested to provide OROP. Their aim seems to be to drag the issue till the next pay commission which is not at all accepted by Ex-servicemen. Since the same has become a burning issue the credit of the goverment is decreasing day by day and the morale of serving soldier is also affecting. Goverment should not waste a single minute to implement OROP.
sn vali says
Once OROP is released as agreed by Govt. I may join Nation Building move and give up gas subsidy!
JOHN SAMUEL says
OPEN THE EYES OF THOSE BLIND RULERS IN THE THRONE OF GOVT OF INDIA BY MAKING LIGHTENING ATTACK AND THREATENING FIRE IN AND AROUND THE PARLIAMENT. WAKE UP THE SLEEPING D EAF RULERS BY CREATING THUNDEROUS GUN FIRE IN AND NEAR THE BUNGALOWS THEY SLEEP WITH THEIR PETS AND FAMILIES.
NO MORE PATIENCE; WE REACHED THE DEPTH OF IT. NO MORE HEARING WE BECOME DEAF OF THEIR FALSE PROMISES AND ASSURANCES. WE NEED MONEY TO DAY, WHO KNOWS HOW LONG WE LIVE; WE SACRIFICED OUR BEST YOUTH FOR THE NATION WITH THE HOPE OF DEFENDING AND PROTECTING THE PEOPLE EXPECTING THAT THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF US AT THE AILING AGE. WE ARE AT THE LAST BREATH. NO MORE TIME TOSIT AND TALK.
WE NEED MONEY BY ONE RANK ONE PENSION.
JOHN SAMUEL says
THE MOST HIGH RANKING RETIRED OFFICERS OF THE ARMY IN INDIA FEEL AND SUFFER LOSS OF JUSTICE TO THEM. WHAT A PRESTIGE TO THAT COUNTRY? WHAT MORE SHAME IS TO COME TO THAT NATION?
THE SUPREME COURT OF THE COUNTRY FELT THAT THE HIGH RANKING OFFICERS ARE SUFFERING INJUSTICE FROM THE GOVT WHAT WOULD BE THE CONDITION OF THE POOR LOW RANKING SOLDIERS? IT SHAME IF THE RULERS ON THE THRONE HAVE NO COMMONSENSE AND HUMANITY TO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION CREATED BY THEM THROUGH INJUSTICE.
WHY THE HIGH RANKING OFFICERS APPROACHED THE SUPREME COURT LEAVING ALONE THE MOST LOW PENSIONED RETIRED PERSONNEL OF OTHER RANKS IN THE SAME ARMY WHEN THEY SERVED TOGETHER IN THE SAME TERRAIN AND DIFFICULT CONDITIONS AND THREATENING OF NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES FORCES AND TERRORISTS?
SAD! IF THE RETIRED OFFICERS EVEN AFTER STRIPPED DOWN THE UNIFORM DISCRIMINATE THE POOR SOLDIERS WHO WIPED AND TREATED THE HIGH RANKING OFFICERS WHILE IN UNIFORM.
WE WANT NO MORE APPOINTMENT, NO MORE PROMISES AND ASSURANCES FROM THE RULING GOVT.
WE WANT IMMEDIATE, MEANS IMMEDIATE, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE THE ALREADY ACCEPTED ONE RANK ONE PENSION FORMULA WITH RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT BECAUSE WE RAISED AND IT WAS ACCEPTED IN THE PAST SINCE EIGHTIES.
THOSE WERE IN UNIFORM ARE ONE. AND THEY ARE ONE EVEN OUT OF THE UNIFORM, NO MATTER HOW HEAVY BADGES OF RANK THEY HAD ON THEIR SHOULDERS ALL ARE “EX-SERVICEMEN”.
ashokraj says
Please let us not disturb the ex-servicemen in political field. He may be busy with his own issue and charge sheets against while on service that includes present COAS johrat decoitary cases and all. They are sleeping under the political blanket. Let us not disturb them and they don’t have time also to fight for them as well as us.
AG says
Honorable Minister for External Affairs Veteran General (retd.) VK SINGH inrelation to EX-SERVICE MEN is RISTEDAR, as luckily he became minister he had take a traditional constitutional oth that he will not do any favours to any RISTEDARS, may be that is the only reason he has not taken any initiative. Other wise whole country watched him how active he is whether it is against govt.fault regarding his D.O.B issue or to convincing THE Great ANNA Hazare shahab to break his fasting agitation at Ramlila, Delhi.
We are proud of our veteran GENERAL SHAHAB.
KC BALI says
The Supreme Court order to implement OROP, though pertains to only Major Generals, who have filed legal cases, yet OROP cannot be implemented only for Major Generals but it has to be for all ranks. Let us wait for six weeks also. Hope, it comes true.
B KPandey says
If its case of our MPs than there is no issues raised by any one and passed by parliyament.MPs are not thinking for our Armed forces who always ready for our country not in uniform but also always ready after retirement also.
If our ex serviceman joined any other dept there also you can see there dedication for there job and they are appreciated by local and social personel .
Subramaniyan says
Just becoming an MP or an MLA who are called public servants, are entitled for highest salary (now they are fighting for 100% increase) and pension for life whereas defence personnel after completing their full service are denied their legitimate pension for which retired defence personnel are fighting for more than forty years. This clearly indicates that the Government is encouraging our youth generation to join in Politics for getting more salary than choosing Civil Services or Defence Services. This is time for our Govt that a time bound reply should be given for the reason of delay and issuing Govt Order on implementation of One Rank One Pension Scheme for Retired Defence Personnel.
VBS Shekharan says
I have been wondering and trying to understand as to Why our Honorable Veteran Gen. VK Singh Saab is Staying away from this issue. Whereas i very strongly feel that His intervention will certainly fetch a positive result in this tussle !
kalra says
Something seriously wrong with our so called Democratic System. Why armed forces have to move courts to get justice whereas the political class get, whatever they want, instantly?