Modi assures ex-servicemen, says government committed to 'One Rank One Pension'

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posted on 9 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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The scheme has been hanging fire for the last 33 years and veterans feel let down by the Modi government.

New Delhi: Finally breaking his silence on the ongoing controversy over 'One-Rank-One-Pension' (OROP) for retired defence personnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said government is committed to the proposal and there is no doubt over it.

Miffed over the delay in the roll-out of OROP, defence forces veterans plan to hold a massive protest in the national capital on June 14. Indian ex-servicemen have decided to march to Red Fort on August 15. They have threatened that they will encircle Red fort on Independence Day if their demand of OROP is not fulfilled. The scheme has been hanging fire for the last 33 years and veterans feel let down by the Modi government.

Reaching out to ex-servicemen, Modi had in a Lok Sabha poll rally said, "If Atal Bihari Vajpayee had come to power in 2004 then the One Rank One Pension problem wouldn't have come up. He would have given retired officers and serving officers the means to live with dignity."

Despite the Prime Minister's assurances, the scheme continues to elude ex-servicemen.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, too, had stepped in and sought time to implement the scheme as it involve huge amount. "After taking charge as Defence Minister, I was told that the amount kept aside is Rs 22,000 crore. We have held detailed discussions on this. This is the first time that the Armed Forces and ministry have unanimously agreed on this. We will give OROP as soon as possible, but since such a huge amount is involved, it will take time," Parrikar said.

OROP has been a long-standing demand of the over two million ex-servicemen of India. It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to the defence personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.

The scheme is estimated to cost around Rs 8,600 crore initially and subsequently several crore rupees annually.

Currently, all pre 2006 (the year the 6th pay panel recommendations became effective) pensioners receive lesser pension than not only their counterparts but also their juniors.