IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

Indian Military Veterans

19 Jul 2014

Sh Arun Jaitley
Hon’ble Raksha Mantri
Ministry of Defence
South Block, New Delhi-110011

Sub: IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

Dear Sh Arun Jaitley,

We are grateful for granting us the meeting with you on 16 July 2014  with regard to issue of Implementation letter for OROP.

Sir, your contention that the gap between the calculations made by the Service HQs and the officials of MoD namely CGDA, PCDA, Secy DESW is very large, due to which there was delay in issuing the Govt Letter; is a serious cause of concern for the Defence Fraternity. Since, there is only ONE Definition of OROP as approved by the Parliament and therefore, there has to be only ONE calculation, irrespective of small or large gap.  It is simple Mathematics. As pleaded by us, there cannot be two calculations. These gaps have been designed to find a way to deny full benefit of OROP to ex-servicemen. A point to be noted here is that had OROP been granted 25 years back there would not have been any gap now. Sir, we are not after money and not asking for back dated payment, it is the principle of seniority in Armed Forces which we cherish. As per this principle, a senior rank person should not draw pension/ pay less than rank lower than him. It is a simple principle we need to maintain hence we cannot afford any violation with OROP principle.

Sir, in case X and Y Groups are to be granted OROP as per their respective Groups, the funds required will be 4500 – 5000 Crores, as per calculations correctly carried out by the Service HQs.  And in case all Defence Employees are to be granted ‘X’ Group rates of pensions, then the amount required would be 6500-7000 Crores as per the calculation made by PCDA.

The funds required for the two options are not too large for the Nation to pay justified pensions to the Retired Soldiers, who have given their life and comforts of life for national security.

The CGDA/PCDA/DESW should not be allowed to dilute the definition of OROP or coin their own definition or understanding of OROP. Their calculations, based on datum line 01.01.2006 pensions rates, are totally against the  approved definition which requires the OROP to be calculated based on the rates of pensions as on 01.04.2014, the date from which OROP has been sanctioned and future enhancements are to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This was duly discussed in the meting chaired by you on 12^th June 2014. The M1 and M2 Models by CGDA, PCDA, and DESW were out-rightly rejected.

Sir, ex-servicemen are fighting for a principle, any dilution of definition of OROP will not be acceptable to the Ex-Servicemen. It has to be full OROP as per the definition already approved by the Parliament.

In view of the foregoing, please expedite issue of Govt Letter for the implementation of OROP as per the DGL prepared by the Service HQs.

With regards,

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

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Shri Rao Inderjit Singh Raksha Rajya Mantri C-1/14 Lodi Garden New Delhi - 110 003	For immediate action to issue the Implementation letters of OROP please.
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	May we request you to jointly pursue the matter with the Govt for issue of Implementation letter as suggested above at the earliest please.
Admiral RK Dhowan, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, 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-