OROP Row: Ex-servicemen may accept government terms: Asian Age News

OROP Row: Ex-servicemen may accept government terms:  Asian Age News

 

OROP Row: Ex-servicemen may accept government terms, Final solution you will see in few days,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar told a television channel.

The contentious issue of one rank, one pension controversy may soon be resolved even as the agitating ex-servicemen and the government appeared to have ironed out some major differences on the issue. The defence veterans stated on Wednesday that they may accept revision of pension once in two years instead of one year as demanded by them.

War veteran Maj. Gen. Satbir Singh (Retd) said they have got positive signals from the government for the last few days but stopped short of saying there was a breakthrough.
Maj. Gen. Singh, who has been leading the protest in Jantar Mantar for the last 80 days, said the issue was non-negotiable and both the elements of the OROP concept cannot be interfered. An agreement can be reached once we know what is on the platter (offer by the government), he said, adding effective date of revision must be from April 1, 2014. Independent MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who has been mediating on the issue, said it was time veterans must return home with honour and grace by reaching an early settlement. He urged them to accept the revision of pension every three years.

Meanwhile, not in the best of health yet undeterred, Colonel Pushpendra Singh (Retd) on Wednesday resumed his fast-unto-death demanding prompt implementation of one rank, one pension scheme at Jantar Mantar here hours after he was discharged from the Army hospital. Colonel Singh, one of the ex-servicemen fasting in demand of the immediate implementation of the OROP scheme, was hospitalised Monday last — the ninth day of his fast after his medical report showed increased ketone levels.

Colonel Singh was admitted to the ICU of Army Hospital Research and Referral, from where he was discharged on Wednesday. Hours later, he returned to the protest site to join his fellow ex-servicemen, whose agitation entered the 80th day on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the government today refrained from setting a timeline for resolving the OROP issue but said it is committed to implementing the promise, expressing confidence that a solution “acceptable to all” will be found “very soon”.

“We will deliver OROP sooner than later to the satisfaction of all. We will do what is justifiable, what is convincing. After all, we are doing justice to society as a whole. I am not a jyotishi (astrologer) to tell you the exact date.

Final solution you will see in few days,” Union Minister Prakash Javadekar told a television channel.

Read at Asian Age

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Salary Accounts under Defence Salary Package – BPMS urges for extension to the Industrial / Non-Industrial Civilian Employees

SALARY ACCOUNTS UNDER DEFENCE SALARY PACKAGE (DSP)

ARMY/NAVY/AIR FORCE RASHTRIYA RIFLES (RR), ASSAM RIFLES AND GENERAL RESERVE ENGINEERING FORCE (BORDER ROADS ORGANISATION) GREF-BRO

Salary Accounts under Defence Salary Package offers many concessions in service charges for serving as well as retired Defence personnel of Army/ Navy/ Air Force/Indian Coast Guard/ Assam Rifles, as well as Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and GREF [Border Road Organization (BRO)] having their Salary/Pension accounts with SBI.

Available in four variants, namely Silver, Gold, Diamond and Platinum categorized on the rank of the personnel of Army, Navy ,Air Force, Assam Rifles, RR and GREF (Border Road Organization). PBORs are categorized in Silver Variant, Officers are categorized under Gold, Diamond and Platinum Variants.

Features of DSP

>> Convenience of Anywhere Banking at

• The largest network of more than 16,000 Core Banking Branches Extensive alternative channels.
• 53,000 plus ATMs of State Bank Group
• Free Internet Banking, Mobile Banking

>> Complete gamut of Banking Services including:-

• Unique Lifetime Account Number;
• Zero Balance Account facility with no penal charges for non-maintenance of minimum balance;
• Auto sweep (in & out) facility (on request)-Surplus amount in Savings bank account beyond threshold balance is transferred automatically into Term Deposits (multi option deposits) in multiple of Rs.1000/- and vice versa
• Free Personal Accident Insurance (Death) Cover to Primary Salary Package Account
• Free personalized Multi City Cheques
• Free Drafts*/RTGS*/NEFT*
• Free Core Power: Anywhere banking facility with the widest network of more than 16,000 branches. Free updating of pass-books at any branch
• Easy overdraft up to 2 months’ salary repayable within 6 months
• SMS Alerts
• Free Debit Cards
• Domestic cards for Silver Accounts, Gold Debit cards for Gold and
• Diamond Accounts and Platinum Debit Card for Platinum Accounts.
• Maximum daily withdrawal of Rs. 40,000 on Domestic Cards, Rs. 50,000 on Gold Cards and Rs. 1,00,000 on Platinum Cards.
• Various Personal loans like Home loan/ Auto loan/ Xpress Credit loan, etc. at attractive terms
• Demat facility, 3-in 1 Trading Account available
• Systematic Investment Plan in Mutual funds
• Range of other value added benefits

*Conditions apply

---

BPMS writes a letter to MoD for extension of facilities of Salary Accounts under DFS to the Defence Civilian Employees:-

BHARATIYA PRATIRAKSHA MAZDOOR SANGH

(AN ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF DEFENCE WORKERS)

(AN INDUSTRIAL UNIT OF B.M.S.)

(RECOGNISED BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOVT. OF INDIA)

CENTRAL OFFICE: 2-A, NAVEEN MARKET, KANPUR – 208001, PH & FAX : (0512) 2332222

REF: BPMS / MOD / 186 (8/1/R)

Dated: 09.05.2015

To,
The Secretary,
Govt of India, Min of Defence,
South Block, DHQ PO,
New Delhi – 110011

Subject: Extension of facilities of Salary Accounts under Defence Salary Package to the Industrial / Non-Industrial Civilian Employees.

Respected Sir,

With due regards, your attention is invited to Section 6. of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 which stipulates that all wages shall be paid in current coins or currency notes or in both provided that the employer may after obtaining the written authorisation of the employed person, pay him the wage, either by cheque or by crediting the wages in his bank account.

It is worth to mention here that the Head of Departments / Head of Offices of the defence installations under Army, Air Force, Navy, DDP, DRDO etc. have successfully convinced all the industrial & non-industrial civilian employees to draw their wages in bank account and has got the salary account opened in nationalized bank including State Bank of India,

Further, State Bank of India grants some privileges/facilities to the holders of salary accounts under Defence Salary Package, which are mentioned in annexure of this letter. But it is painful to note that the same benefit is not being extended to civilian employees of the same defence installation.

Therefore, you are requested to take necessary action so that the industrial / non-industrial civilian employees of defence installations may also get the benefits of Salary Accounts under Defence Salary Package.

Thanking you.
Sincerely yours

Annexed: As mentioned

(MUKESH SINGH)

Secretary/BPMS

Member, JCM-ll Level Council (MOD)

Source: http://bpms.org.in/documents/salary-fqb1.pdf

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One Rank One Pension Scheme to Cost Exchequer Rs. 7,500 – 10,000 Crore

‘One Rank One Pension’ Scheme to Cost Exchequer Rs. 7,500 – 10,000 Crore

NEW DELHI: Implementation of ‘One Rank One Pension’ scheme, the long-standing demand of Armed Forces veterans, is likely to cost the exchequer Rs. 7,500 crore to Rs. 10,000 crore, Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh said today.

The government has already made it clear that One Rank One Pension (OROP) will be implemented with effect from April 1, 2014, the Minister of State for Defence told reporters in Chandigarh.

He said that the Defence Ministry had recently forwarded to the Finance Ministry the cost which the scheme’s implementation would entail.

“It is likely to cost us somewhere between Rs. 7,500 crore to Rs. 10,000 crore,” he said, adding that the previous UPA government had made a mere announcement with regard to OROP.

“During the past four to five months, we have gone deep into this. We have calculated the entire cost now,” he said.

On being asked about Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohmmad Sayeed’s statement that his government will proceed with phased removal of AFSPA after consulting the Army, Mr Singh said that it is true that the Army has expressed its reservations about it.

The Army had yesterday said it was against any move to dilute the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Jammu and Kashmir.

“One thing is clear that there cannot be any unilateral decision on this,” he said.
He said that gradual withdrawal is everybody’s hope, “though that can only be possible when peace returns to the state.”

Responding to another question, Singh said that he would like the PDP-BJP coalition in Jammu and Kashmir to be given a chance to deliver.

“Before people start taking potshots at us, I would say let we be given a chance to deliver. If we fail, then may be, people have the right to criticise,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Singh said that more Sainik Schools would be set up in various states of the country so that students could be trained to become competent officers to serve the Armed Forces which faces a shortfall of 7,500 officers.

He said that efforts will also be made to woo people to join the Army in areas where joining the force was a tradition.

Source: NDTV

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Defence ministry has already finalised the OROP (One Rank One Pension) scheme: Parrikar

Defence ministry has already finalised the OROP (One Rank One Pension) scheme: Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said, “The defence ministry has already finalised the OROP (One Rank One Pension) scheme. However, certain financial and administrative procedures will be followed. The first positive thing is that it has been prepared properly. It involves an amount of about Rs. 8,000 crore.”
The text of The Hindu news article “India to train defence personnel of 38 countries”

India to train defence personnel of 38 countries: Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said India was planning to export defence materials and training military personnel of at least 38 countries.

“At least 38 countries are sending their defence personnel for training in India. We are encouraging them. We are giving them more slots. We are also considering supplying some sort of defence materials through export or through line of credit to the countries so that they can depend on India for their defence,” Mr. Parrikar told reporters at the sidelines of an international conference in Bhubaneswar.

Mr. Parrikar, however, said he would not be able to reveal names of the countries which are sending their personnel for training due to security reasons.

Quoting a shloka from Sanskrit scripture, Mr. Parrikar said, “A goat is sacrificed in the altar and no one dares to kill a lion. We will build our position of strength.”

However, Mr. Parrikar said, India does not want to dominate any other country but increase its own strength through partnership and friendship.

Replying to a question, the Defence Minister said, “We are organising a naval exercise in Vishakhapatanam where international fleet will participate… It will be a spectacular show of basic exercise of infrastructure.”
Asked whether China is also participating in the exercise, Mr. Parrikar said, “We are yet to send invitation. It’s an open matter. Once the list is prepared, you can know.”

On Blue Navy, Mr. Parrikar said the concept of Blue Navy will come to practice when India posts 30/40 ships at about 300/400 nautical miles from the coast.

Mr. Parrikar said, “The defence ministry has already finalised the OROP (One Rank One Pension) scheme. However, certain financial and administrative procedures will be followed. The first positive thing is that it has been prepared properly. It involves an amount of about Rs. 8,000 crore.”

About the proposal from Odisha government on a Kalinga regiment, he said, “You cannot raise a regiment by caste or region… I would ensure that defence presence is felt more in Odisha so that you can get more people trained, get more people in the army and employment,” he said.

Read more at: The Hindu

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