It has been taking too long to settle the issue
The complexity of the one-rank-one-pension scheme for retired defence personnel is clear from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reluctance to set a deadline for its finalisation and implementation. In his Independence Day speech on Saturday, the Prime Minister merely repeated the assurance he had given from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15 last year: That his Government was committed in principle to the scheme. The protesting ex-Service personnel at Jantar Mantar in Delhi were left disappointed as they clearly expected more.
There is no clarity on what the complications are that have held up the scheme, just as nobody in the Government seems to know how soon those would be resolved. Meanwhile, various figures are being floated in the media regarding the financial outgo the Government would have to bear to meet the obligation if the scheme is implemented in the form and shape it exists on paper as a framework. The amount mentioned in the earlier weeks was close to Rs8,500 crore, and now it has gone up to Rs20,000 crore. Whatever the sum, it is obviously large enough for the Government to give it sleepless nights and make it consider methods that could lower it.
While it is to be admitted that the Modi Government inherited the scheme from the Congress-led UPA regime, which had apparently done no homework on the matter but had merely announced the plan, it has had more than a year to work out the details. The Bharatiya Janata Party had aroused tremendous expectations in this regard, with Mr Modi, in the lok Sabha poll campaign mode, repeatedly assuring former defence personnel that, if voted to power, his Government would move swiftly to implement the scheme.
later on, Minister for Defence Manohar Parrikar issued positive statements, giving the impression that the OROP scheme's announcement was round the corner. But when nothing materialised, and the delays were accompanied by more and more ‘technical' explanations, resentment began to set in. Mr Modi must be realising the political cost of the delay, as well as the damage it can do to his image as a go-getter. He must now ensure that the issue is settled before it can do further harm.
Meanwhile, the agitating retired soldiers must refrain from politicising the matter. Organisers of the protest in Delhi did well to show Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi his place when the latter arrived there wearing an OROP cap to express his solidarity. People there wondered why his party had disrupted Parliament and not raised the OROP matter on their behalf. But news reports that certain protesting personnel have threatened to take their agitation to Bihar in the backdrop of the forthcoming Assembly election there, to ‘expose' the Prime Minister, is disturbing. An expansion of the protest to take on political hues is ill-advised. Not only will such a move divide the movement but it will also provide a chance to politicians to exploit their grievance.