New OROP rules to benefit superseded men in uniform?

According to the notification issued by the defence ministry on November 7, all military officers and jawans opting for PMR from now onwards -- without exception – will not be eligible for OROP benefits. Text resize:AAA NEW DELHI: The government is now examining whether it should slightly relax the norms for denial of one rank, one pension (OROP) benefits to all military personnel who seek premature retirement (PMR). Though the final decision will be taken after defence minister Manohar Parrikar returns from his ongoing visit to the US on December 12, sources said the "thought process" was that OROP could be granted to superseded officers who take PMR after continuing in service for four additional years. Similarly, jawans and junior commissioned officers will get OROP if they have served three additional years after being overlooked for promotions. "But officers who opt for PMR without being passed over for promotions will not be eligible for OROP," said a source. According to the notification issued by the defence ministry on November 7, all military officers and jawans opting for PMR from now onwards -- without exception - will not be eligible for OROP benefits. This has led to tremendous unease in the armed forces, who bank upon hundreds of officers and thousands of jawans taking PMR every year to keep themselves young and fighting fit. "The entire cadre management of the forces, which have a steeply-pyramidal promotional structure, is dependent on these officers and jawans taking PMR after finishing their pensionable service. This ensures recruitment of young and fresh blood," said a senior officer. "If the superseded officers and jawans stay on in service to ensure they get OROP, they will block vacancies and reverse all the measures being implemented to reduce the age profile of the forces," he added. The government was earlier also forced to clarify that military personnel who had in the past opted for PMR would get OROP but fresh cases would be kept out of its ambit. In other words, it would be effective only prospectively. Incidentally, it will cost the government an additional Rs 8,000-10,000 crore every year to implement OROP for the over 24 lakh ex-servicemen and six lakh widows around the country, as was reported by TOI earlier