CHANDIGARH:
A day after Union finance minister Arun Jaitley presented the Budget in
the Parliament, defence veterans' hopes for 'achhe din' turned into
sheer ache. Hoping for an announcement from the FM on the one rank one
pension (OROP) scheme, they were an anguished lot on Sunday as they
realized that the increase in defence allocation was just good enough to
take care of the inflation factor.
Those who had pinned their hopes on minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajya Vardhan Singh Rathore's tweet on Saturday that Rs 8,300 crore for OROP was included in the Rs 22,000-crore increase in the defence allocation were also disappointed to know that the hike would only defuse the inflation element.
Experts in defence accounts department said the Budget announced 10.95% hike in the defence allocation as compared to the previous year, which would be spent on ration, salaries, allowances and procurement of equipments and weaponry. They claimed that the hike has nothing to do with the implementation of OROP, which requires around Rs 8,000 crore.
Also, in 2014-15 Budget, the increase in allocation was 12.75% more than 2013-14.
"It seems the politicians are doing a 'double speak' to hoodwink the gullible faujis," said defence veterans.
The statement made by the finance minister after the Budget that the issue of OROP is pending as the method of calculating pension is stuck between the armed services and the defence ministry has added to the retired personnel's woes.
Brig K S Kahlon (retd), President of All India Defence Brotherhood (Punjab), said the "entire drama" since Saturday shows that the government has not taken OROP issue seriously and it is making another attempt to delay it. "Pulse of the veterans is that they should unite together again and protest on the roads against the government till the OROP is not implemented," he said.
"I have never seen such ambiguity on an issue even the Prime Minister had promised. If they don't have any funds, they can issue bonds but maintaining silence frustrates and demoralizes the veterans," said Air Marshal Randhir Singh (retd). http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
Those who had pinned their hopes on minister of state for information and broadcasting Rajya Vardhan Singh Rathore's tweet on Saturday that Rs 8,300 crore for OROP was included in the Rs 22,000-crore increase in the defence allocation were also disappointed to know that the hike would only defuse the inflation element.
Experts in defence accounts department said the Budget announced 10.95% hike in the defence allocation as compared to the previous year, which would be spent on ration, salaries, allowances and procurement of equipments and weaponry. They claimed that the hike has nothing to do with the implementation of OROP, which requires around Rs 8,000 crore.
Also, in 2014-15 Budget, the increase in allocation was 12.75% more than 2013-14.
"It seems the politicians are doing a 'double speak' to hoodwink the gullible faujis," said defence veterans.
The statement made by the finance minister after the Budget that the issue of OROP is pending as the method of calculating pension is stuck between the armed services and the defence ministry has added to the retired personnel's woes.
Brig K S Kahlon (retd), President of All India Defence Brotherhood (Punjab), said the "entire drama" since Saturday shows that the government has not taken OROP issue seriously and it is making another attempt to delay it. "Pulse of the veterans is that they should unite together again and protest on the roads against the government till the OROP is not implemented," he said.
"I have never seen such ambiguity on an issue even the Prime Minister had promised. If they don't have any funds, they can issue bonds but maintaining silence frustrates and demoralizes the veterans," said Air Marshal Randhir Singh (retd). http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
Now, we all veterans understood the intention of union government. They keep on confusing on OROP and they use to talk ambiguously. They are leader, at the time
ReplyDeleteof election, they may commit anything for their chair afterwards they never bother their commitments. फौज लड़कर अपने देश के लिय जन न्योछावर करती रहे और मस्ती ये लोग करते रहे। साथ ही फौज के नाम पे इनकी राजनीति भी चमकती रहे। यह सरकार भी वैसी ही है जैसे पहली सरकार थी।
Sir, it does'not meean OROP is not included in the hike. OROP is part of the Defence Expenditure Thanks-JCR
ReplyDeleteIt become difficult to assume that whom to believe now? Political class are rulers whereas Executive are for implimeention of the decision, but it seems that it has got reversed. Whatever we listen from our honourable Minister are of same concept. Simply we believe and fooling ourselves. It need to understand that we all veteran are standing in the last row in utility que.
ReplyDeleteAs OROP is at the last stage and honourable, SC has given 3 months time to implement to GOI, we need to struggle at Junter Manter again. Jai Hind.
Sir,
ReplyDeleteThere is no question of the equality in our nation . Methodology is not a mean for OROP but only applied for the self interest of the Honorable Leaders of today or tomorrow especially have ruled in the past .
Orop should be implemented but people driving it don't deserve it as they have already abused government policies a lot. We Dont think these retired col should be dependent on pensions provided by govt by deducting taxes from common man. Does anyone of you have ever visited Mr Bahls home in palam Vihar ...plz visit and you will know where govt money is being used ...How can one ask for more pension after doing import export business in Russia and getting lakhs via renting his property and evading taxes applicable on his income.
ReplyDelete