For many ex-servicemen the wait has been a long
one. Their demand and fight for One Rank One Pension will become a reality
soon. Sources tell OneIndia that the
defence ministry is working over time to ensure that the same is implemented in
quick time.
Manohar Parrikar, the defence minister of India was recently quoted as saying
that the announcement of its implementation would be made in 4 to 8 weeks.
Significance of
OROP
It is an equal demand for
pensions. If an officer has retired last year and there is an increase in the
pensions the following year owing to enhancements by the pay commissions then
it is implemented only prospectively. Basically if an officer has retired in
1990 in the current scenario he is not entitled for an enhanced pension if the
same is implemented during the later years.
The argument has been
that the pension for officers of the same rank should remain the same at all
times. This the ex servicemen had demanded as the costs of living was going up
and the hike in pensions should benefit all and not just those who have
recently retired.
Red tape
The government has time
and again assured the ex servicemen that the OROP will be implemented. It was
promised during the elections and even the Prime Minister had said that he was
blessed to be the one implementing it.
However there are certain
teething issues that the government is facing on this front. Several ex
servicemen say that they have done the rounds of various offices several times.
However there has never been any clear response. They also have stated several
times that the government or the political class needs to step on the gas pedal
to push this issue through.
Budgetary
allocation
Government sources say
that the finance minister had already allocated Rs 1000 crore for the OROP.
This itself is an indication that the government is committed to the cause. We
agree there have been delays but work is on in full throttle now to dismantle
all those bureaucratic hassles which had slowed down the process.
The government says that
unlike the previous regime we will not just make announcements and then forget
about it. There are 24 lakh pensioners and all of it has to be taken into
consideration.
There was also a bit of a
delay as when the government took over it had appointed one man to handle both
defence and finance. However now with the new defence minister taking charge
this issue is being exclusively looked into. All bureaucratic hassles have been
wiped out and an exclusive team is working on it, sources in the ministry
informed.
Source : Ex-servicemen Welfare blog.
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