A group of ex-servicemen — who have been on a relay hunger strike to demand the early implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme from the last 19 days — met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar here on Thursday who has assured them of the NDA Government’s “unequivocal commitment” in implementing the much-awaited welfare scheme.
A six-member delegation of the United Front of Ex-Servicemen (UFESM) met Parrikar and Army chief Genaral Dalbir Singh Suhag, however, they were not satisfied with the Minister’s assurance . “The question of calling off the relay hunger strike does not arise unless a date for implementing it is announced and that too without dilution,” said UFESM spokesperson Colonel Anil Kaul (retired).
The Minister told the delegation that the file pertaining to the OROP with various observations regarding resolutions of complexities had been received by him but he had not been able to study it. Another meeting is likely to take place with the Minister either on July 6 or 7, he said.Meanwhile, another leader associated with the OROP agitation Major General Satbir Singh(retired) said the veterans will wait for Government’s decision on the OROP till July 15 and then take the protest to next level in which local ex-servicemen organisations all over the country will resort to demonstrations and other peaceful ways of voicing their grievance.
Close to 22 lakh ex-servicemen and over six lakh war widows will benefit from the scheme likely to cost Rs 8,300 crore every year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured the veterans that the Government will implement the OROP.