OROP notification issued, veterans call it 'unacceptable'

The government on Saturday issued the notification regarding implementation of 'One Rank One Pension' (OROP) for defence personnel.

Ex-servicemen, however, said it was not acceptable to them and they will get a legal opinion on it.

The government had on September 5 announced the modalities for implementation of OROP, and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said the notification will come after the Bihar assembly polls.

The announcement, that came a day ahead of the counting of votes in Bihar, is expected to benefit about 25 lakh military personnel.

Veterans who have been protesting for OROP, however, said this was not acceptable to them.

"This is not OROP, this is 'one rank five pension'," Major General Satbir Singh (retd) told IANS.

According to a defence ministry statement, the pension of past pensioners would be re-fixed on the basis of pension of retirees of the 2013 calendar year and the benefit will be effective with effect from July 1, 2014.

Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners on the basis of the average of minimum and maximum pension of personnel retiring in 2013 in the same rank and with the same length of service.

Pension for those drawing above the average shall be protected. Arrear will be paid in four equal half yearly installments.

However, all family pensioners, including those in receipt of special/liberalized family pensioners, and gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one installment.

In future, the pension would be re-fixed every five years, the statement read. "Personnel who opt to get discharged henceforth on their own request will not be entitled to the benefits of OROP. It will be effective prospectively."

The government has decided to appoint a judicial committee to look into anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP. The Judicial Committee will submit its report in six months, it said.

"Detailed instructions along with tables indicating revised pension for each rank and each category, shall be issued separately for updation of pension and payment of arrears directly by Pension Disbursing Agencies."

The annual expenditure on OROP would be Rs.8,000-10,000 crore at present and will increase further in future, the statement added.

While it does not exclude those who have already taken premature retirement, as per notification those opting for it in future will not get OROP.

"This will discourage youth from joining the forces," Maj. Gen. Singh said. Talking to IANS, Col. Anil Kaul, spokesperson of the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement, said: "This is not OROP. The notification that had come is not acceptable to is."
The spokesperson said they will get a legal opinion on it.

"Once we get legal opinion, we will come out with a statement. The people of the country must understand, this is not OROP," he added.