GRANT OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

Indian Military Veterans

20Feb 2014

Shri AK Antony
Hon’ble Raksha Mantri
Ministry of Defence
New Delhi-110011

GRANT OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

Dear Shri AK Antony,

1. The defence fraternity is thankful to the Govt especially you in person for accepting the Principle of OROP to all defence personnel on 17 Feb 2014 during the Vote-on-Account presentation in Parliament. This long justified demand which had been denied for four decades has finally been accepted. The credit for the same goes to the present Govt and the Chairman Chief of Staff Committee General Bikram Singh, who have jointly made it possible.

2. The details that followed the budget announcement of grant of OROP have raised certain questions about its implementation. “One Rank One Pension” implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service in the same group irrespective of their date of retirement and any future enhancement in the rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners”. (Please refer Para 2.1 of Report of the Committee on One Rank One Pension and related issue dated 30^th June, 2009).

3. Further, since OROP has been granted prospectively with effect from 01 Apr 2014, it implies that pensions of all ranks of Army, Air Force and Navy will be brought up to 01 Apr 2014 and all past pensioners of all ranks with same years of service will receive the same pension as all ranks with same years of services who will retire as on 01 Apr 2014. The question which has arisen is about the allotment of funds of Rs 500 crores for OROP. If OROP is to be implemented as per the above correct definition, then this amount of Rs 500 crores is way too inadequate. There is a need to clarify whether this amount is only the initial allotment and additional funds as required will be made available at the time of implementation of OROP?

4. Shri Raksha Mantri, we would like to ask you and your leaders to clarify can the Govt make a statement in open platform that “pensions of past defence retirees will be equal to that of a person with same rank and length of service and same group retiring wef 01 Apr 2014”.

5. The above commitment from the Govt is essential to instill confidence amongst the defence fraternity that OROP will be implemented holistically as per the above accepted definition and no deviation will be allowed to be creep in later. Our experience with the bureaucrats of MoD has not been satisfactory as they have tinkered with the recommendations and intentions of the previous CPCs and also the decisions given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. These innocuous looking changes in the execution of the orders have resulted in financial loss to the Ex-servicemen as well as lowering of status of serving defence personnel as compared to their civilian counterparts. The situation had been so bad that the Chiefs of integrated HQ had to approach you for your personal intervention for their legitimate dues. You are therefore requested to ensure that this does not happen in the case of implementation of the OROP sanctioned during the budget on 17^th Feb 2014.

6. It is pertinent to mention that the above definition was duly accepted by the Rajya Sabha Petition Committee on OROP which submitted its report to the Rajya Sabha on 19 Dec 2011. The relevant excerpts of definition are 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. 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”.

7. May we request you to kindly ensure implementation of OROP in full as per the above accepted definition and additional funds may accordingly be allotted by the Govt. We request for confirmation of the same.

With regards,

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SMChairman IESM
Mob: +919312404269, 0124-4110570
E Mail ID: satbirsm@gmail.com

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Smt Sonia Gandhi President, Indian National Congress & Chairperson UPA 10 Janpath, New Delhi	For information and action please
Shri Rahul Gandhi Vice President, Indian National Congress 12, Tughlak Lane, New Delhi-110011	-do-
Shri Jitendra Singh Raksha Rajya MantriC-1/14 Lodi Garden New Delhi - 110 003	-do-
General Bikram Singh, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC Chief of the Army Staff & Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Army) South Block, New Delhi-110011	You are requested to jointly impress upon the Govt to holistically implement the OROP as per the above accepted definition.
Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM, ADC Chief of the Naval Staff Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Navy) South Block, New Delhi-110011	-do-
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC Chief of the Air Staff Indian Air Force Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi 110011	-do-