Railwaymen demand OROP

Railwaymen demand OROP

New Delhi: With the government giving in-principle approval to the one rank one pension scheme for defence personnel, Railway employees are now asking for similar pension benefit, arguing that their duties too are “hazardous, risky and complex”.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National Federation of Indian Railwaymen has demanded uniform pension policy for railway employees.

“On an average, 800 railway employees get killed per year in the course of duty and nearly 3,000 sustain injuries at work,” M Raghavaiah, general secretary of NFIR, said.

Railways, one of the largest employer in the country, has about 13 lakh employees.

He said over 85 per cent of railway employees work in remote locations and extremist-affected areas.

Raghavaiah appealed to scrap the New Pension Scheme in railways and grant OROP to employees “as has been agreed to in the case of retired defence personnel”.

PTI

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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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MPs demand hike in salary but widows of defence personnel get only Rs.3,500: Anna Hazare gives 2 months deadline for OROP implementation

MPs demand hike in salary but widows of defence personnel get only Rs.3,500: Anna Hazare gives 2 months deadline for OROP implementation

Anti-corruption crusader joins ex-servicemen protest: The Hindu

The ex-servicemen protesting non-implementation of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme got a shot in the arm as Gandhian activist Anna Hazare joined them at Jantar Mantar on Sunday.

Mr. Hazare, a former soldier, came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi without naming him. He accused him of ignoring the aspirations of the people and said there was an “immediate need” for the Centre and the Delhi government to “resolve their issues”.


Speaking from the dais of the United Front of Ex-Servicemen, the veteran anti-corruption crusader said “mere assurances” served little purpose and set a two-month deadline for the implementation of the scheme. “They [Mr. Modi and the BJP] told us in Rohtak that the OROP would be implemented as soon as they came to power. But nothing has happened so far. We will hold rallies in Ludhiana on August 2, in Rohtak on August 9 and in Maharashtra on August 23 to create awareness about OROP. On October 2, we will protest at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on One Rank One Pension,” Mr Hazare said.

Hits out at MPs

Criticising MPs’ demand for a hike in salary, he said they get several benefits but widows of the defence personnel get only Rs. 3,500.

“MPs want a salary hike despite the fact that they get air fare, Class AC 1 ticket in trains, a bungalow, vehicles and a salary of Rs.50,000. And we have wives and mothers of the defence personnel who get Rs.3,500-Rs.4,500. Is this justice and is this our freedom?” he wondered.

Read at: The Hindu

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