OROP Protest Team Splits; No Change in Agitation Plans, says UFESM

OROP Protest Team Splits; No Change in Agitation Plans, says UFESM

“The joint action organization that went on a fast unto death and relay fasts demanding the immediate implementation of OROP has split.”

The United Front of Ex-Servicemen Movement (UFESM), which stood united and showed the kind of determination that made even the stubborn Centre fall on its knees, has now split. It is worth mentioning here that the split in the veterans group had occurred after the success of the protest.

There are plenty of ex-servicemen’s associations in India. Around 40 such associations had united to launch the protests demanding OROP. Three months ago, these associations came together and stepped up their protests.

UFESM began its relay fast in Jantar Mantar, which soon caught the attention of the entire nation. The relay fast became fast unto death at one stage, demanding the immediate implementation of OROP. One could say that almost all the newspapers and mediahouses in the country were in support of the ex-servicemen who were demanding the OROP scheme.

The centre, which was dragging the issue for various reasons, at one point, came under attack from all quarters, and had no choice but to announce the implementation of OROP.

On September 5, the Minister of Defence announced the OROP scheme. As soon as the announcement was made, the UFESM ended its fast-unto-death protests. Yet, there were some clauses that UFESM was not happy with, and said that relay fasts against those clauses would continue.

Meanwhile, the team under the leadership of Balbir Singh announced yesterday that it was quitting the UFESM. They have accused lack of discipline and unity, and the politicizing of the issue to be the reasons for their decision to quit. The aim of the protests was to make the government announce the OROP, which has been achieved. Protests could also be held against some of the sticking anomalies in the OROP, but that will have to wait until the Government implements the order in writing, says Balbir Singh.

But, UFESM has announced that, as planned earlier, the EKTA Rally procession will be held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in Saturday.

Source: http://www.cgstaffnews.in/

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Seventh Pay Commission report will be ‘Badly affected’ following recent OROP announcement

7th Pay Commission report will be ‘Badly affected’ following recent OROP announcement 

New Delhi: The recent One Rank One Pension (OROP) announcement has to take it toll on Seventh pay commission report for central government employees.

The Government has announced the One Rank One Pension scheme for the Ex-Servicemen. The estimated cost of One Rank One Pension (OROP) on arrears alone to the exchequer would be Rs 8000 to 10000 crore at present, and will increase further in future.

7th Pay Commission will definitely bring also toll on the exchequer as government has to manage OROP’s expenditures before Seventh pay commission expenditures.

Experts say that Central government’s salary bill will rise by 9.56% to Rs 1,00,619 crore after Seventh pay commission will come into effect.

Pay commission report will be out in a few months. As the Pay Commission merges existing DA with basic salary of government employees, the annual pension costs will go up substantially; and that will rise further depending upon the actual pay hike that is considered.

Officials of the finance ministry argue that the next Budget will not be badly affected since there is a cushion provided by, for instance, low oil prices—the OROP arrears and pay commission are not to be paid out at one go, but will be paid in installments.

This OROP announcement will be affected Seventh pay commission report badly, especially in salary hike and increasing allowances,” said a pay panel official.

“We have to look financial health of government before submitting our report. We have to save financial position of government to run the nation smoothly. We are not only to work for pay hike.” he added.

TST

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