IESM Delegation Met FM Sh. Arun Jaitley on 16 July 14
I would like to inform you that yesterday, 16 Jul 14, I along with Maj Gen Satbir, IESM and Col Handa, DIWAVE and some others from IESM met the RM on the subject of OROP, due to the kind courtesy of Gen VK Singh. The gist of the meeting was that the RM emphasised that he was-

a)  committed to granting OROP, as it has been repeatedly promised by the PM and stated by him in his budget speech.

b)  the definition of OROP as stated by KoshiyariCommittee is not sacrosanct as politicians are prone to make populist commitments.

c)  wanting a definite figure of the financial effect OROP would have. He said that he wants the CGDA and DESW to work out the amount. We offered him the various figures given by different committees and that the maximum amount was in the region of Rs 9,000 crs.

When he repeated that the CGDA and DESW will form a committee along with service reps to take on this task, we clearly told him that we had no trust in the desire of the two civilian reps to resolve any matter in favour of soldiers. 

When we told him that if the pensions are paid as per the accepted definition of OROP for three months the expenditure for the year can be extrapolated. He was not willing to do even that.

Finally, when we took leave of him as a parting shot he said that we should lower our expectations.     So the mind of the RM is now known to us. 

Therefore, unless you three show a united front the ESM, current and future, can keep whistling till they turn blue.

Lt Gen SK Bahri (Retd)

Chairman 

Alliance Of Ex Servicemen Organisations.

 

IESM Delegation Met FM Sh. Arun Jaitley on 16 July 14

Dear Veterans,

IESM delegation met with FM Sh Arun Jaitley  on 16 July 14. Following members were part of the delegation.

1              Maj Gen Satbir Singh                 Chairman IESM

2              Lt Gen SK Bahiri

3              Gp Capt VK Gandhi                     Gen Sec IESM

4              Wg Cdr CK Sharma                     Treasurer IESM

5              Col Handa                                     Diwave

6              Hony Lt K Pandey                       Mem GB IESM

  Gen Sabir Singh impressed upon FM that ex-servicemen thank the Govt for granting OROP, however despite a lapse of five months since approval of OROP on 17 Feb 14, Government order for implementation is still not issued. We request that the implementation order may please be issued soon. Moreover Rs 1,500 crore allotted for OROP is not adequate for full OROP and more funds may please be released for OROP.

FM replied that the DGL is under active consideration of Govt and it will be issued once consultations are completed. He hinted that funds required for OROP is much more than expected. 

The issue was discussed for good 15 min but FM did not give any commitment about time frame for issue of implementation order. He opined that it seems he would need to order a meeting between Armed Forces HQs and Govt deptts (DESW, CGDA) to iron out the differences. It was suggested that IESM should also be consulted and permitted to give its views but FM remained noncommittal on this.

End result is that FM did not give any commitment and time frame of approval of DGL put up by Armed Forces HQs. He also did not give assurance of involving IESM and ex-servicemen in the discussion of DGL.

IESM will continue to discuss the issue with all authorities for release of implementation letter for full OROP. IESM will not accept any dilution in definition of OROP as approved by Parliament.

  It seems DESW and CGDA  have succeeded in delaying implementation of OROP for veterans but have had no objections for approving bureaucrats treatment abroad along with an escort on Govt expenses.  What a pity this is how India takes care of soldiers and veterans.
IESM is of the opinion that veterans will need to tighten their  belts for another long battle with the Govt for OROP, your Izzat and status.

 IESM           

One Rank One Pension - Update

Informed sources indicate the following: -
1. CGDA Kum Vandana Srivastava is reportedly of the opinion that the decision to call one or more meetings of the Joint Working Group, of which she is the Chairperson, is now with MoD (DESW) as there isn't any agreement on the methodology to be adopted.
2. CGDA's calculations allegedly have 1.1.2006 as the bottom line and they have produced calulations that make the initial figure of Rs 500 crore the final figure. It appears that repeated and recorded assurances of the former FM and RM that more funds would be provided have either been ignoredor misunderstood.
3. Hopefully, to factor in the Rs 1000 crore more allotted in the budget 2014-15 not perplex the CGDA's thought and calculation process.
4. PPOC has reportedly met and decided that CGDA would be requested to convene the Working Committee so that the OROP matter would/could proceed further.
5. It is also reported that Chief of Air Staff has met the Prime Minister a couple days ago and briefed him on OROP and other matters agitating the Veterans.
6. Service HQ maintain that OROP as on 31.3.2014 to be implemented from 1.4.2014 is estimated to require not more than Rs 5000 crore.

courtesy: Ariel View

Ex-servicemen reject this meagre amount of Rs 1000 crore for OROP

Dear Members,

Ex-servicemen community got a rude shock after listening to Finance Minister in his budget speech. Finance Minister has allotted a mere Rs 1000 crore for OROP for 28.5 lac  ex-servicemen and 5 lacs hapless widows. It is pertinent to remember that NDA Government and Prime Minister Mr Modi had been constantly declaring that the OROP granted by UPA was a joke on Ex-servicemen. In meeting after meeting Mr Modi asked  Ex-servicemen to vote for NDA candidates and NDA would grant real OROP to the ex-servicemen as and when NDA  would form the Government. BJP got absolute majority in recent elections and ex-servicemen were very proud and felt elated because they had voted en-block for the BJP candidates. They felt that now here is a Govt which will look after their interest and would solve their long outstanding problems. But it seems their association with BJP is going to be very short lived. 

It is surprising that despite Parliament approving OROP in working budget on 17 Feb 14, Government order for its execution is still not issued ( A very good example of efficiency of DESW and MOD entrusted to look after welfare of Ex-servicemen and widows). It is no surprise that some forces inimical to Armed Forces and Veterans are busy overtime to deny full benefit of OROP to Ex-servicemen and widows. 

Ex-servicemen were elated and hopeful that they would take back gallantry medals (deposited with The President of India) with great Pomp and show asap the Government order for implementation, covering full range of OROP, is released by the GOI. Ex-servicemen are crestfallen after Finance Minister  Mr Arun Jaitley's budget speech and will have to resort to deposit of more gallantry medals with The President of India. 10000 more gallantry medals are already available with IESM and these would be deposited soon with The President of India. 

IESM requests all ex-servicemen organisations to come together and demonstrate their strength and Vote power. Political parties should not forget that elections for  few states assemblies of India are due within next few months and vote of ex-servicemen will be a deciding factor in these elections. 

IESM requests the Government that implementation order covering full range of OROP, as defined by Sh Bhagat Singh Koshiari committee, should be released as early as possible (preferably within one week) and more funds as required to cover full range of OROP may be released by the Govt.

IESM is planning a mega rally in Delhi to put across the litany of woes of Ex-servicemen and widows. Details of the rally would soon be released to environment. All ex-servicemen are requested to tighten their belts for a long drawn battle on this great betrayal by the Government.

 Regards

Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM
L - 48, Sector - 25,
NOIDA. 201301

Grant of Ex-servicemen status to recruits boarded out on Medical grounds with disability pension.

No. 12(1)2005/D (Res-I)

Government Of India

Ministry of Defence

Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare

D (Res-I)

****

New Delhi, the 07th July, 2014.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject:  Grant of Ex-servicemen status to recruits boarded out on Medical grounds with disability pension.

The undersigned is directed to refer to Office Memorandum of even number dated 18.03.2013 wherein it was reiterated that such recruits who were boarded out/released on medical grounds and granted medical/disability pension will be covered under the category of ex-servicemen for all practical purposes as per the OM dated 01.02.2006 w.e.f. 01.02.2006.

2. Representations have been received from individuals and associations with the request that the matter may be re-examined and the benefit of ESM may be extended to those ex-recruits who were boarded out/released prior to 01.02.2006 on medical grounds with medical/disability pension.

3. The matter has been examined and with the approval of the competent authority, it has been decided that such recruits who were boarded out/released on medical grounds and granted medical/disability pension will be covered under the category of ex-servicemen for all practical purposes as per the OM of even No. dated 01.02.2006 irrespective of the date of boarding out /release.

(Supriyo Mukherjee)

Under Secretary (Res-1)

http://desw.gov.in/sites/upload_files/desw/files/pdf/D-Res-I-7th-july-14.pdf
 

Implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme: Govt Statement on 08.07.2014 in Rajya Sabha

Implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme: Govt Statement on 08.07.2014 in Rajya Sabha

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF  DEFENCE

RAJYA SABHA

NO  168 DR. T. SUBBARAMI REDDY

ANSWERED ON  08.07.2014
      Implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme

Will the Minister of DEFENCE be pleased to satate :-

(a) the status of implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme (OROP) for the ex-servicemen;

(b) whether orders have been issued to the concerned pension authorities for re-calculation of pension of ex-servicemen on the basis of OROP;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) if not, the reasons for the delay in implementing the scheme and by what time it is expected to be implemented covering all the ex-servicemen?

 ANSWER

  MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE 
                               (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

(a) to (d): 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.

LETTER TO PM BY IESM

Sub: ISSUANCE OF GOVERNMENT ORDER FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

 Hon’ble Prime Minister,

1.  We the ex-servicemen were elated to hear your speeches and your promise to deliver on OROP. May we remind you that UPA Govt had approved OROP in its dying moments but were under pressure from anti OROP lobbies within Government and hence did not issue implementation letter. Three months have passed and one presentation to Raksha Mantri Sh Arun Jaitley on concept of OROP but the file has not even moved an inch from where it was in Feb 14. As usual there are lobbies in South Block who do not want to give full OROP as approved by Koshiari committee and also approved by Parliament in its budget presented on 17 Feb 14. DESW and CGDA are offering bargains on the basic principle of OROP, which have been rejected by the ex-servicemen family outrightly. Any dilution in the definition of OROP will once again result in denying the OROP as per the approved defination and therefore,  is not acceptable to ex-servicemen.Definition of OROP as approved is given below. 

  “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”

 It further implies that Pensions of past defence retirees will be equal to that of a person with same rank and length of service retiring wef 01 Apr 2014, and future enhancement in the rates of pensions will be automatically passed to the past pensioners.

  2.  Our hopes of OROP have been rekindled by your statements of Good Governance and delivering on your promises. We also know that you have the courage and conviction to over-rule the anti Defence Forces lobbies.  Over 30 Lac ex-servicemen and widows are requesting your personal intervention and are looking towards an efficient Government which has determination to deliver on all promises made before and during the election. 

Ex-servicemen family is hoping to see the implementation letter before budget. 

 With regards,

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Chairman IESM
Mob: +919312404269, 0124-4110570
Email ID: satbirsm@gmail.com
28th June2014