Highlights of OROP Notification

Highlights of OROP Notification :

Central Government today issued the notification regarding implementation of ‘One Rank One Pension’ in respect of Defence Forces personnel.

Highlights of the OROP as stated in the Order are as follows:

Benefit over 25 lakh veterans and war widows

Pension of past pensioners would be re-fixed on the basis of pension of retirees of 2013 & the benefit will be from 1 July 2014.

Who opt to get discharged on their request would henceforth not get OROP benefits
Pension will be re-fixed as per average of min & max pension of personnel retired in 2013 in same rank & same length of service.

Pension for those drawing above the average shall be protected.

Arrears will be paid in four equal half yearly installments.

All family pensioners including those getting Spl/Liberalized family pension & Gallantry award winners to get arrears in 1 installment.

In future, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years.

Personnel who opt to get discharged, now on, on their request will not get benefits of OROP. It will be effective prospectively.

Judicial Commission will be constituted to iron out the anomalies which shall submit its report in 6 months

OROP tables based on 2013 will be made available very soon.

OROP Protest Team Splits; No Change in Agitation Plans, says UFESM

OROP Protest Team Splits; No Change in Agitation Plans, says UFESM

“The joint action organization that went on a fast unto death and relay fasts demanding the immediate implementation of OROP has split.”

The United Front of Ex-Servicemen Movement (UFESM), which stood united and showed the kind of determination that made even the stubborn Centre fall on its knees, has now split. It is worth mentioning here that the split in the veterans group had occurred after the success of the protest.

There are plenty of ex-servicemen’s associations in India. Around 40 such associations had united to launch the protests demanding OROP. Three months ago, these associations came together and stepped up their protests.

UFESM began its relay fast in Jantar Mantar, which soon caught the attention of the entire nation. The relay fast became fast unto death at one stage, demanding the immediate implementation of OROP. One could say that almost all the newspapers and mediahouses in the country were in support of the ex-servicemen who were demanding the OROP scheme.

The centre, which was dragging the issue for various reasons, at one point, came under attack from all quarters, and had no choice but to announce the implementation of OROP.

On September 5, the Minister of Defence announced the OROP scheme. As soon as the announcement was made, the UFESM ended its fast-unto-death protests. Yet, there were some clauses that UFESM was not happy with, and said that relay fasts against those clauses would continue.

Meanwhile, the team under the leadership of Balbir Singh announced yesterday that it was quitting the UFESM. They have accused lack of discipline and unity, and the politicizing of the issue to be the reasons for their decision to quit. The aim of the protests was to make the government announce the OROP, which has been achieved. Protests could also be held against some of the sticking anomalies in the OROP, but that will have to wait until the Government implements the order in writing, says Balbir Singh.

But, UFESM has announced that, as planned earlier, the EKTA Rally procession will be held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in Saturday.

Source: http://www.cgstaffnews.in/

One Rank One Pension: A new wave of expectation rises; Announcements expected in 48 hours

One Rank One Pension: A new wave of expectation rises; Announcements expected in 48 hours

Although there is no official confirmation from the government, the ex-servicemen’s United Front are ready to accept the demand if it comes with a once-every-two-years pension revision, instead of five.”

Implementation of One Rank One Pension : After crossing multiple hurdles the One Rank One Pension scheme is stuck at one final block. The Government has clarified that it was impossible to revise the pension each year. It is ready for a revision once every five years. But, there are talks that the Government would relax its stand and agree to revise the pension once every two years.

“There is no confirmation from the Government side, but if they agree to revise the pension once every two years, we will accept the term” Major General (Retd) Satbir Singh, who is heading the protests, said.

Sources claim that a section of the ex-servicemen are not ready to accept the once-every-two-years revision. They want to call a general body meeting and discuss it.

Months, weeks, and days have gone. The announcement from the government is now expected in 48 hours. But, there is always the question of whether one should or shouldn’t trust these news.

Many wonder why the demand, that had remained pending for years, suddenly gained momentum and force now. Plenty of reasons are also being attributed to it. Here are the two most important ones –

1. The fact that Modi had voluntarily offered to implement the OROP if he is voted to power. OROP was also included in his election manifesto.

2. Defence pension has not been revised for more than seven years, since the recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission came into being. Thousands of army personnel who had retired before 2006 have not been given any pension revision until now. The Government’s refusal to heed to the countless talks, cases, and judgements of various courts has brought the crisis to this stage.

Source: 7thpaycommissionnews.in