A letter to Min of Defence by Brig CS Vidyasagar

Dear Mrs Damayanthi Garu, 1. Few Single ladies have complained to me that they were not paid OROP arrears in full i.e. one instalment. On little bit of investigation I found the reason is absolutely wrong clarification issued in Circular 557 (clarification No: 3). I am aghast how DAD personnel of PCDA (Pensions) Allahabad quote in their new circular 557 at Clarification no 3 the meaning of Family pensioners incorrectly interpreting para 17 of Circular 555 which reads as under: - 17.1 No arrears on account of revision of pension shall be admissible for the period prior to 01.07.2014. Arrears on account of revision of pension from 1.7.2014 till date of its implementation shall be paid by the Pension Disbursing Agencies in four equal half-yearly installments. However, all the family pensioners including those in receipt of Special/Liberalized Family Pension and all Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one installment. 2. Madam, when Circular 555 clearly mention all family pensioners I am shocked and surprised DAD personnel do not understand simple English Language which said All Family Pensioners. This clearly indicates to any sensible person that DAD personnel are not only professionally in-competent to give any advice on Defence Pensions as they lack ground knowledge nor they understand simple & plain English. There are three types of family pensioners as under:- (a) Ordinary Family Pensioner. The wife of a deceased Ex-Serviceman or Serving soldier whose death is not attributable to military service. (b) Special Family Pensioner. The wife of soldier who died while performing military duty. © Liberalised Family Pensioner. The wife of soldier who is martyred in operations. 3. I draw your kind attention to para 2 (iv) of Min of Def letter No: 12(1)/2014//D(Pen/Pol) – Part II dated 07 Nov 2015 on OROP which reads as under:- iv. Arrears will be paid in four equal half yearly instalments. However all the Family Pensioners including those in receipt of Special /Liberalised Family Pension and Gallantry Award winners shall be paid arrears in one instalment 4. Madam, this again clearly indicates DAD personnel of PCDA (P) Allahabad do not read Govt of India letters before they give any clarification (which I proved that they are neither capable nor competent to give clarifications). My request to you Madam, unless you take to task these irresponsible DAD personnel, your Ministry will get bad name and adverse publicity. 5. Banks have not paid Ordinary Family Pensioners arrears in one instalment based on false clarification given by DAD personnel of the rank of SAO or AO. I am sure PCDA (Pensions) Allahabad who is an IDAS officer or his deputy another IDAS officer has neither seen the draft Circular 557 or they do not know difference between All Family Pensioners and types of family pensioners. My request to you is to get all draft circulars approved by Min of Def (ESW) so that such silly and stupid mistakes do not occur. 6. My one more request is kindly make the authority to give any new circular or clarification not below the level of Addl CDA as the low level officers like AOs and SAOs are not capable of even reading Govt letters and interpreting (though no such interpretation is required). 7. My last request is to issue instructions to PCDA (Pensions) Allahabad to immediately cancel Circular 557 and also institute an inquiry as to who has issued the circular 557 and how is the clarification given thereby violating para 2 (a) Govt of India Min of Def letter dated 07 Nov 2015. 8. Govt of India, Ministry of Defence have done whatever they could on OROP. But these low level accountants by giving false clarifications spoil image of ministry and more over sully image of hard working Hon’ble Raksha Mantri. Now a day, with awareness due to internet, any one can or will lodge a complaint with Hon’ble PM or Hon’ble RM and you will be wasting your precious time which you could have used to solve so many grievances of Ex-Servicemen and Family Pensioners. 9. I am extremely sorry to intrude into your precious time but for the seriousness of the mistake committed by DAD personnel in depriving Ordinary Family Pensioners OROP arrears in one instalment. If arrears are not paid in one go these single ladies who constitute 90% of family pensioners, then the money you have placed at the disposal of banks for current financial year will lapse as unspent balance and it will have to be surrendered. Then this will add additional burden on OROP for the financial year 2016-17 inviting avoidable criticism from Min of Fin (Def). Regards, Brig CS Vidyasagar (Rtd) 9493191380 __._,_.___