The Modi Government should act on the OROP. Further delay can affect the morale of serving personnel and have security implications
Is the Modi Government ignoring the voice of ex-Servicemen, by delaying the implementation of the one-rank-one-pension schemeIJ A vocal war veteran community has mobilised public support for its demand of the OROP. The movement has not only sustained itself but also gained momentum. What began as a murmur has now grown into an agitation. Three ex-Servicemen are sitting on a fast unto death at the Jantar Mantar. Worried about the adverse impact on the Armed Forces, 10 former Service chiefs have written an open letter to the Prime Minister for intervention.
Successive Governments were aware that ex-Servicemen have been agitating for the implementation of the OROP since 2008. Interestingly, the Modi Government swept to power partly on three promises that were made to ex-Servicemen — setting up of a war memorial in the heart of Delhi; appointing a veteran’s commission; and implementing the OROP. While the Modi Government is yet to take a move on the first two, the OROP is yet to be implemented.
Over two million ex-Servicemen want a uniform pension for the defence personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement. In 2009, about 300 war veterans held a massive protest on February 8, 2009. They marched to Rashtrapati Bhavan, pressing for their demand, and even returned their medals in protest.
The Supreme Court came to their rescue in 2009, by directing the Union Government to implement the OROP. Moreover, a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence and the Rajya Sabha panel on petitions have also recommended a holistic implementation of the scheme.
After ignoring the OROP for almost a decade, the UPA, all of a sudden, changed its mind on the issue as the 2014 general election neared, and allocated Rs500 crore for the scheme. It accepted the demand after the intervention of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.
In his first full Union Budget speech last July, Minister for Finance Arun Jaitley re-affirmed his party’s commitment by allotting Rs1,000 crore to the OROP, but that allotment lapsed and no fresh allotment was made in this year’s Budget.
There were speculations that the OROP would finally be announced at the Prime Minister’s Mathura rally, but that didn’t happen. The veterans got further disappointed when Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his promise on his Independence Day speech without giving any time frame. What is the hitchIJ Apparently, the Modi Government is caught between the budgeting and the methodology of the implementation. There is a gap between the Finance Ministry and the Defence Ministry figures.
Also there is a difference in the cut-off date. The war veterans suspect that the Government is diluting its commitment to save Rs4,000 crore. They feel that the time for re-interpretation is over and a decision has to be taken and it should be taken soon. The Government also seems worried that the OROP can lead to a similar demand from civilian pensioners and paramilitary forces.
The issue has now been politicised. For instance, the issue is now moving towards the Bihar election, as some believe that Mr Modi might announce the OROP nearer the Bihar poll to get an advantage. He has already announced a mega package for the State.
Former defence chiefs fear that, if the issue is not resolved, it will adversely impact the Services. The attraction of military service can also diminish. As it is, not many youth are willing to join the Armed Forces.
Second, the Armed Forces have so far obeyed their political masters. This delay in the implementation of the OROP can change the equation and also affect the civil-military relationship.
Third, serving defence personnel have full sympathy with the ex-Servicemen and their demands, for they know that they too will join their ranks after retirement. The serving soldiers are concerned about the dignity of the ex-Servicemen. But, serving defence personnel should not be allowed to get involved in the agitation as that will complicate matters.
It is now time for action. It is good that the Prime Minister’s Office has opened a channel to the war veterans. The sooner they find a solution the better. Any delay can affect the morale of serving personnel and have security implications for the country in the medium to long-term.