JOIN USThe Prime Minister’s Office is literally burning midnight oil to finalise the implementation package for the one rank, one pension (OROP) scheme, which may be announced soon to avoid collision with declaration of dates for the Bihar Assembly elections.
The government’s formula is implementing OROP from July 1, 2014; taking 2013 as the base year for calculation and revising pension every five years. The arrears will be paid in four instalments while widows will get it at one go. A committee will be set up to review the disbursement process.
According to a Defence Ministry estimate, rolling out OROP will require about Rs 8,300 crore every year. The arrears would cost about Rs 10,000-12,000 crore.
The veterans protesting for the last 82 days in the national capital and other cities, however, refused to accept the five-year cycle. They are ready to concede two or maximum three years, arguing that OROP, as per the Bhagat Singh Koshiyari panel's report, has annual revision.
Interestingly, while presenting their views before the panel, the Army, Air Force and Navy had suggested five-year revision because annual equalisation would be impractical.
However, the government has not come out in the open explaining the package and the rationale behind the proposal. The information flow from the government’s side is through selective media leaks.
“There are reports that the government may soon unilaterally declare the implementation of OROP. If it is as per our terms and conditions, then we will welcome it and thank the government. If not, then the unilateral declaration is unacceptable to us. We will intensify our protests,” said Maj Gen Satbir Singh (retd), chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen movement and one of the principal negotiators from the ex-servicemen’s side.