The Union Government should remove the seven shortcomings in its draft of One Rank One Pension (OROP) and issue a government notification. The President of All India United Front of Ex Servicemen (UFESM) Major General Satbir Singh (Rtd) said this while addressing mediapersons on Sunday.
He said that there are many contradictions in what has been announced by the government and what actually comprises of OROP. Singh was of the view that government has created avoidable confusion by including the term VRS similarly the concept of equalization after five years is also not acceptable to Ex Service Men (ESM). He said that average of pay scale concept for OROP is against the defence minister’s assurance of 'Top of the pay scale concept'. Singh further said that the one man commission proposed by the government too is not acceptable; he suggested that government should instead appoint a five member committee which should have three ESM, one serving member and one person nominated by Defence Minister. The armed forces veterans are of the view that OROP should be kept independent of Central Pay Commission (CPC) and the concept of OROP should be in perpetuity.
The President of UFESM said that the Defence Minister while declaring OROP on September 05 had said that the government would bring notification within a period month which is ending on October 04. “ If the government fails to bring notification by this date then the ESM would intensify their stir and would expose the government in every part of the country,” he said. Singh said that the delay in OROP could be dangerous as almost 70 percent of the serving armed forces personnel are sons/ daughters of ESM. He said that armed forces personnel has first right on OROP as 85 percent of them retire before the age of 35 and are thus bereft of benefit of pay commissions which personnel of other services get. Singh said that there is wrong belief which paints the armed forces of the nation as an economic burden. Giving some examples he sought to clear this misconception and said that with a strong army the economy of the nation prospers.
Earlier in the day the President of the UFESM addressed a rally of armed forces veterans at Parade ground. In it Major Gen Satbir Singh was welcomed by garlands by a team of all ranks constituting the army, Air force and navy. In his address Singh explained about his talks with government officials and the delay which are taking place in OROP despite the announcement of government on September 05. large number of ESM participated in the rally.