Latest little on OROP- Efforts To Remove Anomalies Underway - A New Directorate Of Veteran Welfare In The Pipe Line

Indian Military Veterans

Chandigarh: 11 May 2015-  Lt. General K.J.Singh, GOC-in C Western Command has urged the army veterans to have patience as the case for the removal of pay anomalies is already being taken up with the higher authorities and is under consideration. Replying to the queries of veterans gathered at the Manekshaw Auditorium in the premises of Chandimandir Cantonment from various place of Punjab..., Haryana, UT Chandigarh and Himachal Pradesh, he said that since the acceptance of One Rank One Pension demand will incur a huge sum of 8322 crores for the government, there may be procedural delay only but it will not take long now for it to materialize. He said that efforts are on to broad base the Army by doubling the number of commissioning from JCOs, adding that 60000 new vacancies are being created shortly in different ranks. The establishment of a new Directorate for the welfare of veterans is also on the anvil, he said.  On this occasion, Major General A.K.Singh in charge Administration informed that the matter to exempt the veterans from the toll tax is being taken up with the government. He said that Western Command has set up a helpline: 1800-180-2081 for helping out the veterans and another helpline:1800-180-5321, has been set up by PCDA Allahabad to address their financial woes. Major Gen Singh told that a job-fair shall be held at Jalandhar in September this year for providing employment to the ex-soldiers.  Among others who addressed the veterans, Brigadier Sunita Kakkar informed the veterans that the list of common drugs has been revised by the Medical Branch of Western Command and the demand and supply of medicines has been streamlined now. She listened to the grievances of veterans relating to ECHS.  Parvesh Sharma  PIB, Govt Of India