Justification of One Rank One Pension – What is the real status of OROP?
Why is the Government hesitant to implement OROP? – Is economical burden on the exchequer the only reason?
“When the body and spirit are hale and healthy, our soldiers
dedicate their life for the safety of the country. Once the body has
worn out and the soldiers retire, they want a secure life. What’s
unreasonable about this?
“The 35-year-long demand might look unreasonable at the first
glance. But, if the request is studied in depth, the urgency and
necessity to implement it can be understood.”
IESM claims that civilians and CRPF cannot demand to be included in this scheme.
The moment a young man or woman enters a government service, his/her
future is secure until the age of 57-60. The government pays them
salaries, promotions and regular incentives and increments.
Post-retirement, there is always the pension. But, the soldiers who join
the Army, Navy, and the Air Force, opt for retirement at the age of 37.
At the time of retirement, they are offered meager pensions. Is it
right to use the same yardsticks to compare the two?
Typically, a man’s most crucial period, in terms of family
responsibilities and duties, is between the ages of 40 and 60. “This is
also the time when we are left in the middle of nowhere,” they say. The
reason? Compulsory retirement with meager pension.
The reason why compulsory retirement is given at the age of 37 is
that the army wants young blood. 90% of the soldiers who retire after
completing 15 to 17 years of service are usually Jawans. They leave
their families behind and work in dangerous and hostile regions, with no
guarantee to life. Work conditions are tough and so is the pressure. As
a result, they frequently suffer from depression, and stress. Increased
casualties, denial of fundamental rights …their miseries are endless.
Such is the nature of work in the Army.
The reason for their meager pensions is that the number of years that
they had worked is comparatively less. Let’s consider two young men of
the same age, who begin working at the same time – one joins the
government services, and the other joins the army. The difference
becomes obvious if you compare their financial status at the age of 40
and 60.
Compulsory retirement after just 15-17 years of service at age 37
years means that the soldier is effectively denied salary earnings of 25
years which other government employees (including the police forces)
receive because they retire at age 57/60 years.
The chances of an ex-serviceman, who was not handicapped during
service, finding employment in government services, are very low. It is
even worse for others.
What is ‘One Rank One Pension’?
Instead of taking into account the calendar year in which the soldier
retires, OROP fixes the pension on the basis of the rank and the number
of years the soldier had served, to calculate his pension. Any future
enhancement in the rates of pension, it would benefit all the
ex-servicemen. This is the most important feature of the scheme.
The pension drawn by soldiers who had retired earlier much less
pension, when compared with the pension received by those who had
retired recently – this is why the OROP scheme was first put in place.
There is a gap of ten years between each Pay Commission. Based on the
rising cost indices, salaries and pensions are hiked considerably.
Older defence personnel should also benefit from it – this is the main
objective of OROP.
Pay Commissions are constituted in order to revise the salaries and
incentives of the existing government servants. It doesn’t apply for
generally retirees – this is the argument put forth by detractors. The
age of retirement, in this case, for CRPF Police is 57, and 60, for
Central Government employees. “Is it right to compare us, who receive
pay and perks after 3 or 4 Pay Commission revisions, with Armed Forces
personnel who are given compulsory retirement at 37?” they ask.
More than 25 lakh veterans all over the country are hoping that their
pensions will be revised based on the 6th Pay Commission, and that
pensions will be issued based on their ranks and the number of years
that they had served.
Expense to the Exchequer
The Ministry of Defence, in its report dated 17 February 2015 to the
Ministry of Finance, said that the scheme would cost Rs.8300 Crores to
Rs.43,000 crores of Defence pensions. Add this to the money being spent
on pension, and the number comes to Rs.51,000 crores.
When did the demand grow strong? : It began as a
tiny murmur around the time when the Fourth Pay Commission submitted its
report. The voice grew louder when the 6th Pay Commission was
implemented. The armed forces, the largest employer, was not represented
in any of the Pay Commissions.
During the 2004 elections, the Congress party promised to implement the OROP scheme.
In 2008, when the UPA government rejected the scheme, more than
20,000 veterans gathered under the IESM banner, and returned their war
and service medals, signed with blood, to the government.
They then explained the justness of their demands to the Prime
Minister and the finance minister and have since then been trying to put
pressure on the government to implement the scheme. Protests and
meetings are being conducted regularly by the IESM all over the country.
In 2013, due to the pressure from Member of Parliament, Mr. Rajeev
Chandrashekar, and the IESM, the demand was accepted by the
Parliamentary Committee on defence.
In 2014, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Narendra Modi promised to
implement the OROP, if voted to power. While presenting the budget in
July, there was a mention of OROP.
During the celebration rally at Mathura, on May 25, 2015, the country
waited to hear about OROP, but Modi spoke not a word about it.
Everybody, including the Prime Minister, finance minister, and the
defence minister spoke eloquently about implementing OROP, adding to the
hope. Months passed, but nothing materialized.
Making fervent promises in the election campaigns and not doing
anything about it for more than 13 months is seen by many as delay
tactics. Now, ministers are openly saying that there are lot of
complications and practical difficulties in implementing it. This is the
reason why open protests have started.
For nearly three weeks now, relay fasts are being
conducted at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Protests are also being held by
ex-servicemen in many parts of the country. The government keeps giving
vague assurances that OROP will be implemented, but the IESM demand a
definite date by which OROP would be implemented.
Only time will tell if the scheme will ever be implemented, or if the protests will continue indefinitely.
Source: www.cgstaffnews.in
