The ex-servicemen of the State are not happy with the dilution of the concept of One Rank One Pension (OROP) in the notification of the Union Government.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had made the declaration of implementation of OROP on September 5 but the notification of the scheme was being delayed due to the Model Code of Conduct due to Bihar Assembly elections. With the Government notifying the much-touted scheme on Saturday the process of disbursal of revised pensions would start.
The armed forces veterans though relieved by the notification of OROP are still holding grudges. The spokesperson of United Front of ex-servicemen of Uttarakhand Brigadier KG Behl (Retired) said that many issues are still unresolved in the Government's version of OROP. He said that the average of highest and lowest pensions renders the Government's proposal as one rank three pensions and not One Rank One Pension.
Brigadier Behl was of the view that there is a need to revisit the future course of agitation on OROP now. It is worth mentioning here that veterans were planning to return their medals in protest against delay on OROP.
Another leading member of united front of ex-servicemen Colonel MM P Kala (Rtd) said basic objective of OROP is not served by the Government's version. "Our objection is not on the money but on the dignity. How can an officer commanding more men and retiring at a higher rank get less pension than the officer retiring on a lower rankIJ" he asked. However the notification also brought cheers on the faces of large number of ex-servicemen who were awaiting OROP for years. "At least this Government had guts to give OROP to us. The previous Governments did nothing more than lip service on the issue," said one of retired Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO).
The OROP means uniform pension to persons retiring on the same rank with the same of length of service notwithstanding their date of retirement. The scheme is expected to cost more than `8,000 to `10,000 to the national exchequer.