The
Government today issued the notification regarding implementation of ‘One Rank
One Pension’ in respect of Defence Forces personnel.
Defence
Forces of India have a rich history and tradition of bravery and gallantry.
Defence forces have not only defend our borders with exemplary courage and
valour but have also performed with fearless attitude and empathy in natural
calamities and other trying circumstances. Government of India recognizes and
respects their contribution.
The
issue of One Rank One Pension was a long standing demand. Defence Forces had
been demanding it for almost four decades but the issue could not be resolved.
However, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had made a commitment to implement
it for the welfare of the ex-servicemen. Accordingly the Government had
announced modalities for implementation of OROP on 05.09.2015. The Government
Order by Ministry of Defence, which could not be issued due to model code of
conduct, has been issued today.
Salient features of the OROP as stated in the
Order are as follows:
I.
To begin with, pension
of the past pensioners would
be re-fixed on the basis of pension
of retirees of
calendar year 2013 and the
benefit will
be effective with
effect from
1.7.2014.
II.
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.
the average of minimum
and maximum pension
of personnel retiring in 2013 in the
same rank and with the same length of service.
III.
Pension for those drawing above the average shall be
protected.
IV.
Arrears will be paid in four equal half yearly
instalments. However, all
the family pensioners, including those in receipt of Special/Liberalized family
pensioners,
and Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in
one instalment.
V.
In future, the pension would be re-fixed every
5 years.
4. Personnel who opt
to get discharged henceforth on their own request under Rule
13(3)1(i)(b),13(3)1(iv) or Rule 16B of the Army Rule 1954 or equivalent Navy or
Air Force Rules will not be entitled to the benefits of OROP. It will be
effective prospectively.
5. The Govt. 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.
6. 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 previous Government had
made a budget announcement to implement the OROP and made a provision of Rs
500 Crore. The present Government undertook the task earnestly and realized
that the actual additional annual expenditure would be eight to ten thousand
crore at present and will increase further in future. Notwithstanding the financial constraints, true to its commitment the present Government has issued
the Government order to implement the OROP in true spirit.
constraints, true to its commitment the present Government has issued
the Government order to implement the OROP in true spirit.
If no retirees in a particular Rank in 2013 ,also 2012,2011 etc with a particular length of service or close by service, in which way the pension will be decided?
ReplyDeleteThe IESM must give the scales applicable under various options for all ranks to understand the short comings in the notification on OROP. Without these, all are following the leaders blindly. Will the IESM come out with facts?
ReplyDeleteSir,
ReplyDeleteThis is unjustified. OROP should be made applicable to future PMR also,fixing of pension based on average of minimum and maximum of scale of pay instead of maximum of pay as agreed earlier and revision of pension every five years also not agreed. Totally the DGL prepared in Apr 2014 should have been issued with certain modification.Veterans are very much disappointed.