Rajeev writes to the Defence Minister on Additional Points – Anomalies in One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme – March 01, 2016

RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
RAJYA SABHA

Member of Standing Committee on Defence
Member of Consultative Committee on Defence
Member of Central Advisory Committee for the National Cadet Corps
Co-Chairman, vigilance & Monitoring Committee, Bangalore Urban District
Vice Chairman, National Military Memorial Management Trust, Bangalore

01 March 2016

Dear Raksha Mantriji,

Sub: Additional Points – Anomalies in One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme

Further to my letter to you dated 23 February 2016, with the subject “Anomalies in One Rank One Pension”, I am enclosing herewith a second representation with additional points on the change in definition of the OROP Scheme in various letters issued by the Government, and also anomalies in particular ranks that go against the principle of OROP.

The same may be annexed with my earlier representation and also find place in your Ministry’s reference to the One Rank Judicial Committee.

The attached list of issues requires immediate attention and revision in order to fully implement OROP in its true definition.

Sincerely,
sd/-
RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR

Click to view the Annexure: Additional Pionts: Anomalies in OROP Scheme

ADDITIONAL POINTS : ANOMALIES IN ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP) SCHEME

A. CHANGE IN DEFINITION OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION:

PI refer to:

1. MOD letter no 12(01/2014-D (Pen/Pol) dated 26 February, 2014
2. MOM of the meeting chaired by RM on 26 February, 2014 to discuss OROP
3. Response by MOS Defence, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh to my Parliamentary Question No. 962 dated 02 December, 2014 on ‘Implementation of One Rank, One Pension (OROP)’
4. GOI Press Release dated 05 September, 2015
5. GOI letter no 12(1)/2014 dated 07 November, 2015 and
6. GO1 letter no 12(01)/2014-D (pen/pol)- Part- 11 dated 14 December, 2015

a) One Rank One Pension (OROP) implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This implies bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners, and also future enhancements in the rate of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.

I. On 26 February, 2014, the Government vide letter No 1 2(01 /2014-D (Pen/Pol) accepted the principle of One Rank One Pension as defined above.

II. Minutes of the meeting chaired by the Hon’ble Raksha Mantri on 26 February also contained the above definition of OROP.

The reply given by Minister of State for Defence Shri Rao Inderjit Singh to a question raised by me in Parliament on 02 December, 2014 also gave the above definition of OROP.

However, in subsequent letters and press release issued by the Ministry of Defence, the definition of CROP was altered as follows:

b) One Rank One Pension PROP) implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement. Future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This implies bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners at periodic intervals.

I. In the Press Release dated 05 September, 2014, the definition of OROP was altered from the accepted definition mention in letter dated 26 February 2014. “…future enhancements in the rate of pension to be automatically passed on to the post pensioners” to ‘.. this implies bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners at periodic intervals.”

II. The Government of India letter 12(1)/2014 dated 07 November, 2015 also defined OROP as “this implies bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners at periodic intervals.’

III. The Ministry of Defence Notification No. 12(01)/2014-D(pen/pol)-Part-11 announcing the appointment of the Judicial Committee to look into removal of anomalies that may arise of out implementation of OROP also repeated the definition as “OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Defence Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement, which implies that bridging the gap between the rate of pension of current and past pensioners at periodic intervals’.

It is essential that the definition of (DROP be maintained in its true form in order to successfully implement the scheme. Failing to do so will deprive past pensioners and widows of equivalent pension as present retirees thereby violating the very principle of One Rank One Pension.

B. ANOMALIES EFFECTING PARTICULAR RANKS:

The pensions of ranks – Hon. Naib Subedar, Major and Lieutenant Colonel – require to be relooked at.

a) Pension of Havildars granted with rank of Hon. Naib Subedar in view of their exemplary service, are not granted pension of Naib Subedar, instead he continues to draw the pension of a Havildar. This makes the Hon. Ranks merely ceremonial. It is required that this anomaly be corrected and pension of Naib Subedar be granted. Similarly, this must be accepted as a principle and it should be applicable to all Hon. ranks in case of NCOs and JCOs.

b) PCDA (Pensions) Circular No. 555 Dated 04 February, 2016 with the subject ‘Implementation of One Rank One Pension to Defence Pensioners’, Para 11(a) states: “The officers retired on or after 1.1.1996 in the rank of Major and who have completed 21 years of service have been allowed the pay of Lt. Col. Accordingly, pension of these officers have been revised by issue of Corr. PPOs. It is therefore, requested to revise the pension of post- 96 Army Officer with rank Major and its equivalent in the Air Force and Navy who have completed 21 years.”

The above provisions have created two separate pensions for the rank of Major one pre-1996 retiree Majors and another for post-1996 retiree Majors with the same length of service.

II. The above provisions have been added in continuation to Government of India (MoD) letter No 1(13)/2009/D (Pen/Pol) dated 24 September 2012 and PCDA (P) Allahabad Circular No 14 dated 02 January 2013 wherein Majors, who retired on or after 01 January 1996 with 21 years or more were granted pension of Lt Col by issue of Corr. PPOs.

III. These Majors were granted pension of Lt. Col. as they were payed the pay of Lt.

Col. under the provisions of SAI 2/S/1998 during the currency of 5′ Central Pay Commission.

It goes against the principle of One Rank One Pension that the rank of Major be on two different pension scales. This anomaly should be corrected and all past retiree Majors with 21 years or more of service must be treated at par and paid uniform pension.

Click to read another letter to the Defence Minister on the Delay in Disbursal of Pension to Widows and/or Next of Kin of Martyred Soldiers – March 01, 2016

Click to read the response letter from Defence Minister – March 03, 2016

Click to read the letter to Defence Minister on the Anomalies in One Rank One Pension Scheme on 23.2.2016

IESM LETTER TO RM ON OROP ANOMALIES

OROP Tables for JCOs/ORs including Honorary commissioned officers

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• Latest MoD orders on One Rank One Pension published on 7.11.2015

“There is speculation that an OROP announcement could come as early as Friday, August 28, the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war with Pakistan”.

OROP – Fasting protesters admitted to the hospital

Retired servicemen from the armed forces are on a fast-until-death protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, demanding the implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme.

One of the protesters is Retired Colonel Pushpender Singh, who has been fasting for eight days. His health condition worsened and he was examined by a doctor who said that he had to be rushed immediately to the hospital. The former Colonel was taken to the military hospital.

He was replaced by Saheb Singh at the protest. Major Singh and Ashok Chauhan are the other protestors who are fasting until death for the implementation of One Rank One Pension.

Prior to being rushed to the hospital, Pushpender Singh said, “I don’t want to go to the hospital, but I’m forced to because the doctors are worried that it might affect the functioning of my brain. I shall resume my fast after my discharge from the hospital.”

Source: www.7thpaycommissionnews.in

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More than 25 lakh veterans all over the country are expecting the announcement of OROP on 15th August 2015.

Media reports are highlighted that the PM Modi may announce implementation of long pending demand of OROP Scheme on August 15 when India celebrates its 69th Independence Day.

The relay hunger strike of Ex-Servicemen has completed the 57th day today at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi. Protests are also being held by ex-servicemen in many parts of the country. The series of protests is jointly organized by 30 ex-servicemen welfare organizations, under the leadership of Chairman of IESM, Maj. Gen. Satbir Singh.

More than 30 lakh veterans including war widows all over the country are hoping that their pensions will be revised based on the 6th Pay Commission, and that pensions will be issued based on their ranks and the number of years that they had served.

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Status of Implementation of OROP

The principle of One Rank One Pension for the Armed Forces has been accepted by the Government. The modalities for implementation were discussed with various stakeholders and are presently under consideration of the Government. It will be implemented once the modalities are approved by the Government.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to Shri Neeraj Shekhar and others in Rajya Sabha today.

Source: PIB News

Read our exclusive article on OROP…

Justification of One Rank One Pension – What is the real status of OROP?

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NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reiterated his government’s commitment to implement the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme for ex-servicemen, but sought time to resolve its complexities.

Attacking the previous governments for “playing politics” over the issue for the past 40 years, he said OROP was “a complex issue, a vexed issue. You have been patient for 40 years. Give me some time to address it.”

In his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address, Modi said various departments were working to resolve the complexities as “it is not a simple matter” and added that “running commentary” through the media on the details of the progress will not help.

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