New Delhi: Soon after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday announced One-Rank-One-Pension Scheme, the veterans said they do not accept it in its current form.
Leader of agitating ex-servicemen Major Gen (retd.) Satbir Singh addressed mediapersons soon after Parrikar's announcement and said they have objection over the government's version of OROP. He added that the govt only accepted one demand and neglected other six.
The veterans have decided to continue the agitation but have ended the hunger strike.
Ex-servicemen rejected the government's proposal to review the pension every five year. Satbir Singh said, “This is one rank five pensions and not one rank one pension as we have been demanding.”
He said it was conveyed to the Defence Minister in the meeting earlier in the day that no junior should get more pension than senior and that there is nothing like Voluntary Retirement Service in defence forces.
Veterans also rejected the govt's decision to constitute one member judicial committee. He said that the govt's decision to constitute a one member judicial committee is unacceptable to them.
He demanded that a five-member committee should be constituted including three veterans, one serving member and one appointed by defence ministry.
The duration of the committee should be at max one month and not six months as decided by the govt, demanded the retired army personnel.
The veterans also objected to the decision not to include defence personnel who take voluntary retirement or VRS. Satbir Singh added that 40% of the personnel take voluntary retirement for different reasons who will not benefit from the OROP.
Ahead of government's announcement of OROP, Singh said government had broadly accepted the concept of the scheme and that they would study the details after it is made public.
Earlier, Parrikar announced that, the government has taken a decision to implement the One Rank One Pension, despite of huge financial burden it will put on the exchequer.
Benefit of OROP will be given with effect from July 1, 2014, a date immediately after the present government assumed office, Mr. Parrikar said.
OROP arrears to be paid in four half-yearly instalments; all widows, including war widows, to be paid arrears in one instalment, announced Parrikar.
To begin with, OROP would be fixed on the basis of calendar year 2013, he said. Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners retiring in the same rank and same length of service.
