29 Jan 2018
JANTAR MANTAR PROTEST
MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE TO JAWAN
Dear Friends,
1.
960
days today since we launched Protest Movement at JM & at other locations
across the country to get Justice to the Soldiers. Actual OROP as our first objective remains far
away. Govt has not fulfilled its
assurance given to the soldiers by PM.
Instead of correcting the OROP Anomalies which have cascading effect on
our Pay, Pensions and Status, Govt has set out to defame, degrade and destroy
our Protest Movement. One Man Judicial
Committee (OMJC) Report on OROP which was submitted to the Govt on 26 Oct 2016
has neither been made public nor implemented.
After making claims for over two years that OROP has been implemented,
Govt has now accepted that full OROP has not yet been given. What the Govt has implemented is one time
increase in pension and not full OROP.
2.
A
Sepoy with 17 years of service and his widow are getting, Rs 4296 and Rs 2548
per month less pension respectively than what should be entitled to them if
full OROP is implemented. These figures
will keep on increasing since the OROP anomalies have cascading effect on our
pensions and status viz other Govt Services.
It is for interest to everyone that other democracies of the world pay
15-20 percent more salary and pension to their soldiers than what India pays to
it soldiers. International Kaleidoscope of
pay and pensions is under:-
Edge in Pay and Pensions of defence
Forces vis-a-vis Civilian Employees
|
Ser No
|
Countries
|
Notional
Edge in salary as service pay or special allowance for military service
|
Pension Scale with notional
edge for military service
|
|
(a)
|
U.S.A
|
Approx 15 to
20%
|
50 to 75% of last pay drawn
fully protected against inflation. For
civil services the scale is 33.75% of pay as pension.
|
|
(b)
|
United Kingdom
|
10%
|
Uniform pension as revised
irrespective of rank and date or retirement.
|
|
(c)
|
Australia
|
#2608 PA
military allowance
|
76.5 percent of day
|
|
(d)
|
Japan
|
12 to 29% on
graded scale
|
70 percent of pay
|
|
(e)
|
West Germany
|
5 to 10%
|
75% of pay
|
|
(f)
|
Yugoslavia
|
15%
|
85 % of pay
|
|
(g)
|
Nigeria
|
5%
|
80% of pay with national edge
of 10% over civil scales.
|
|
(h)
|
France
|
15%
|
75% of pay.
|
|
(j)
|
Iraq
|
10%
|
70-75% of pay.
|
|
(k)
|
Pakistan
|
10-15% with
other allowances
|
50-75% of pay with service
element military pension
|
|
(l)
|
India
|
Nil
|
50% of pay and same is
depressed by 6 to 24% in respect of Lt Col & below ranks constituting 90%
of the manpower strength of the Armed Forces.
|
3.
Not
only
this serious disparity, the Govt has restricted financial assistance for
education including professional education to the Children of Martyrs to Rs
10000/- per month, a schemes which was introduced after the 1971 WAR of full financial assistance for their
education including professional and higher studies. This is retrograde step for the pay and
pensions of soldiers.
4. We
thankfully accept that the present Govt has accepted the Concept of OROP;
however, there are anomalies in its execution which remain to be
corrected. The present Govt would have
got the credit of honouring its assurance to the soldier, had it implemented
full OROP as per the definition given in the Govt Executive orders dated 26 Feb
2014.
5. The approved definition of OROP by two
Governments is given below.
(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”.
(b) Shri
Bhagat Singh Koshyari RAJYASABHA COMMITTEE ON PETITIONS DATED 19 DEC 2011:-
“ 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”
(c)
Report
of Committee of Secretaries on OROP 30 June 2009. Relevant
Extract is as under :-
“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”
(d)
Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in
a written reply to Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Rajya Sabha dated 02 Dec 2014
(Release ID :112372)
“The principle of One
Rank One Pension for the Armed Forces has been accepted by the Government.
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 enhancement in the rate of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.”
5. I had the opportunity to meet the
present RM on 15 Nov 2017 in her office in a very cordial environment and
briefed her in detail about the anomalies in the implementation of OROP and other
important Issues of Welfare of Defence Personnel are as under.
(a) Implementation of Actual One Rank One
Pension (OROP).
(b) Pensions of Defence Widows.
(c) Pensions of Defence Reservists.
(d) Ensuring Second Career for the early Defence
Retirees till the age of 60 years through the Act of Parliament.
(e) Improvements in Medical care Scheme
ECHS. The medical procedures which have
been introduced in the Country be on ECHS Procedure list within, six months of
their being operational in India.
(f) Dire need to have Veterans Hospitals on the
line of other Democracies.
(g) Need to enhance ECHS Budget to efficiently
manage Super Specialty Care for the Defence Personnel and their dependents.
(h) Need to have Covenant Act of Defence Forces
on the lines of UK & other countries.
(j) Need to expedite construction of Martyrs
Memorial at India Gate. Long delays have
already been caused.
(k) Need to enhance rates of Disability Pension
for Defence Personnel.
6. Having given the details, I would
request all members of the defence Family to “Join in” to continue our struggle
to get “Respect and Justice” to the soldiers and for restoration of status in
all respects as existed on 26 Jan 1950.
7. You are aware that the Govt has to
implement Actual OROP and the opposition has to raise the issues of disparities
and shortcomings that exist. We had
supported BJP in 2014 when the party had assured us of implementation of full
OROP if it came to Power. Now, since BJP has not implemented full OROP, we have
requested opposition ie (Cong and other Parties) to assist in getting actual OROP
for the Welfare of Soldiers. We neither
joined BJP in 2014 nor we have joined cong now.
Some ex- servicemen for the reasons best known to them are making
subjective comments that the IESM Leadership has joined Congress. It is for from truth. IESM and Jantar Mantar Protest Movement is
for the Welfare of Defence Family and not for joining any Political Party.
8. We appeal to all Ex-Servicemen to
strengthen the Protest Movement at Jantar Mantar and other locations in the
Country by Continuing to be part of it.
Every Ex-serviceman in and
around NCR is requested to visit Jantar Mantar atleast once a week to Showcase
Solidarity to the Cause of Soldiers. Likewise,
ESM at other locations are requested to conduct meetings at their respective
places in support of Respect, Justice, Status, Actual OROP and Removal of
Anomalies of 6th & 7th CPCs.
With
regards,
Yours Sincerely,
Maj
Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd)
Advisor
United Front of Ex Servicemen and Chairman IESM
Mobile:
09312404269, 0124-4110570
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