New Delhi: A government announcement on the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) proposal is imminent, sources say, however the India’s military veterans have warned that they would scale up their agitation if the government’s version diluted their demands.
According to sources, the Narendra Modi government has an OROP draft ready, and an announcement may come soon as today.
According to insiders, in the know of things, the government, has accepted 98 per cent of the demands made by ex-servicemen. It will however stick to its stand of revision every five years rather than every year as demanded by the veterans. The government was willing to accept the veterans’ demand that OROP be effective from July 1, 2014, with arrears. The government is considering paying arrears in four installments, the sources said.
The lowest-ranking retired jawans, widows and the disabled are likely to accrue the maximum benefit from the announcement, sources said. With the current proposal, jawans will get a pension hike of at least 3,500 to 4,500 a month, the sources said. Widows and ex-servicemen over 70 are likely to be paid first. OROP benefits will be available to war widows, but not to those of soldiers who opted for premature retirement.
OROP will give the same pension to ex-servicemen who retired many years ago as that which soldiers of the same rank retiring now draw. There is a huge discrepancy right now. The scheme will benefit three million veterans.
On Friday, RSS joint general secretary Dattatreya Hosabele also said that they have been informed by Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah that the scheme will be worked out soon.
The government has readied the draft even its talks with representatives of the ex-servicemen remain inconclusive, despite attempts by several mediators. Informed sources said the government is under pressure over the OROP scheme in the light of the veterans’ protest for its implementation entering its 82nd day and the approaching Bihar assembly polls, and thus, it may soon announce the scheme.
The veterans however said whatever they have heard of the government’s version of the scheme so far is not acceptable to them and nothing has been conveyed to them officially.
“We will intensify our agitation if OROP is not in conformity with what we are asking,” said Maj. Gen. Satbir Singh (retd.), chairman of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, but added they were willing to make minor concessions.
Meanwhile, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of ruling BJP, said they have been assured that OROP will be worked out soon.
Sources said some mediators from the government’s side have approached the ex-servicemen and offered to arrange a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi but the veterans said they first wanted information about the government’s stand before meeting the prime minister.
Ex-servicemen began their protest here demanding implementation of OROP in June. Some have been on an indefinite fast since August 17. Relay hunger strikes in solidarity are being observed in some 60 cities.
