Around 3200 representations for addressing the anomalies on One Rank One Pension (OROP) were received from individuals / Associations which were examined and issues referred to the Judicial Committee on OROP for its recommendations. The Committee has submitted its report on 26.10.2016.

Pension Grievances Cell in the Department is receiving grievances of the pensioners / family pensioners regarding non-payment of OROP benefits and taking up the matter with the concerned offices e.g. Controller General of defence Accounts (CGDA), Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pension) and Pension Disbursing Agencies (Banks) for redressal of their grievances in a time-bound manner. Service Headquarters and CGDA also have dedicated grievances Directorates / Cells for redressal of the grievances of Ex-Servicemen. Disposal of the grievance is monitored at the highest level in the Government.

Annual Financial implication on account of grant of OROP is estimated at Rs. 7,488.70 Crore and Rs. 10,925.11 Crore towards arrears for the period of 01.07.2014 to 31.12.2015.

The status of payment to the Defence Forces Pensioners / Family Pensioners on account of implementation of OROP order, as on 27.02.2017 are as under:-

As per Government order dated 07.11.2015 on OROP, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years.

Personnel who opt to get discharged after 07.11.2015 on their own request under Rule 13(3)1(i)(b), 13(3)1(iv) or Rule 16B of the Army Rule 1954 or equivalent Navy or Air Force Rules will not be entitled to the benefits of OROP.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre in a written reply to Shri Mullappally Ramachandran and others in Lok Sabha today.

PIB

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The tenure of the committee formed on implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme has been extended by six months upto the middle of December this year.

The government recently amended the gazette notification issued last year under which the committee headed by former Chief Justice of Patna High Court Justice (Retd) L Narasimha Reddy was scheduled to submit its report by June 14.

With the extension, the implementation of OROP may take more time as the panel can submit its report by December 14, official sources said.

The government had announced implementation of OROP on November 7, 2015 to benefit over 25 lakh ex-servicemen and war widows. The OROP mandates payment of uniform pension to the armed forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement, which implies that bridging the gap between the rate of pension of current and past pensioners at periodic intervals.

The other Terms of Reference of the Committee will continue which include measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise in the implementation of the OROP as notified by the government.

The panel is also looking into the measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise out of inter-services issues of the three forces due to implementation of OROP besides implications on service matters.

The Committee is examining all other matter referred to it by the central government on implementation of the OROP or related issues.

In making its recommendations, the Committee shall take into account the financial impact of its recommendations, as per its Terms of Reference.

The panel, if necessary, may give interim reports to the government on any of the matters related to its terms of reference.

PTI

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A plea filed in the Delhi High Court has asked for the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme to be reviewed and a public hearing to take note of the grievances of ex-servicemen.

Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath have now ordered for the PIL to be listed before another Bench on Thursday.

The PIL has also sought extension of the term of the one-man commission of L. Narasimha Reddy, who was former Chief Justice of the Patna High Court. The Commission was instituted to review the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ scheme after several veterans of the Army objected to it.

Filed by ex-serviceman S.P. Singh, the PIL sought directions to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Commission “to give an effective public hearing to those affected or aggrieved by implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP)”.

According to the petition, a letter from the Ministry of Defence dated April 13, 2016, said: “Defence Forces pensioners/family pensioners, Defence Pensioners’ Associations can submit their representation, suggestions/views on the revised pension as notified, to the MoD, through post or by email within 15 days i.e. by April 29, 2016”.

‘Notice not published’

The petitioner also claimed that the notice was not published in newspapers, as a result of which most people did not know about it. It also said that the time given to submit grievances and suggestions was very little, and that asking those the scheme will affect to forward their grievances to the Ministry was “unfair and in violation of principles of natural justice”.

It also said that the mechanism for consultation only allowed written representations, which violated “the basic concept of effective hearing”.

The petition also said that the Central government did not provide the address and contact information of the Commission despite “repeated requests”, due to which those affected by the scheme would not be able to put their objections before it ahead of the mid-June deadline.

Source: thehindu

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Budget for the next fiscal needs to provide Rs 1.10 lakh crore for implementing the OROP and Seventh Pay Commission award, besides a higher allocation for the farm sector, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said today.

Addressing the Consultative Committee attached to the Finance Ministry, he also said that India has potential to grow at a much faster pace even as he exuded confidence that fiscal deficit target for current financial year will be within target.

“During the financial year 2016-17, the central government has to make provision for about Rs 1.10 lakh crore in order to meet the liabilities on account of implementation of 7th Pay Commission recommendations and One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme,” Jaitley said.

He also said that the agriculture growth in the last two years has suffered mainly due to insufficient monsoons and highest ever amount was given to the states for drought relief during the current financial year, 2015-16.

“More incentives will be given to agriculture sector for increasing agriculture production and productivity,” he said.

India, he said, continues to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but there is still potential to grow at a much faster pace.

“The world economy is passing through an uncertain and fragile situation… The silver lining is low international commodities and oil prices which in turn has helped in better macroeconomic situation of the country,” Jaitley said.

The 7th Pay Commission in November recommended increase in remuneration of about one crore government employees and pensioners which is estimated to impose an additional burden of Rs 1.02 lakh crore in 2016-17. The new pay scales, subject to acceptance by government, will come into effect from January 1, 2016.

The government had last year announced that it will implement OROP under which a uniform pension would be given to armed forces personnel retiring at the same rank with the same length of service. The scheme would be implemented from July 1, 2014.

PTI

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Unsatisfied with the detailed instructions and tables for One Rank One Pension scheme issued by the government, protesting military veterans today vowed to continue their agitation.

“OROP tables short-change widows, reservists, battle casualties, havildars, subedars and subedar majors. The Jantar Mantar protest will continue and legal options will be exercised,” Col Anil Kaul (Retd), spokesperson for the protesting ex-servicemen said.

The statement came after veterans met today at the Jantar Mantar to decide on the future course of action.

The veterans body has said that anomalies remain in the scheme announced by the government.

The main complaint is that instead of giving the highest pension at one rank, government has decided on giving the average pension of a rank which “nullifies” the meaning and definition of OROP.

The annual recurring financial implication of OROP at the current rate will be approximately Rs 7,500 crore, the government said yesterday as it issued detailed instructions for the scheme.

The government also issued OROP tables which said that the arrears from July 1, 2014 to December 31, 2015 would be approximately Rs 10,900 crore.

86 per cent of the total expenditure on account of OROP will benefit the Junior Commissioned Officers and other ranks.

The total increase in the defence budget for pensions is estimated to go up from Rs 54,000 crore (BE 2015-16) to around Rs 65,000 crore (proposed BE 2016-17), thereby increasing the defence pension outlay by about 20 per cent.

The government order said that the payment of arrears and revision of pension under OROP is to be made by the Pension Disbursing Authorities in four instalments, except for family pensioners and pensioners in receipt of gallantry awards who will be paid arrears in one instalment.

The government had in November last year taken the decision to implement OROP, “fulfilling” the long standing demand of defence personnel after 42 years.

The move will benefit over 18 lakh ex-servicemen and war widows.

PTI

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New Delhi: With the government giving in-principle approval to the one rank one pension scheme for defence personnel, Railway employees are now asking for similar pension benefit, arguing that their duties too are “hazardous, risky and complex”.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, National Federation of Indian Railwaymen has demanded uniform pension policy for railway employees.

“On an average, 800 railway employees get killed per year in the course of duty and nearly 3,000 sustain injuries at work,” M Raghavaiah, general secretary of NFIR, said.

Railways, one of the largest employer in the country, has about 13 lakh employees.

He said over 85 per cent of railway employees work in remote locations and extremist-affected areas.

Raghavaiah appealed to scrap the New Pension Scheme in railways and grant OROP to employees “as has been agreed to in the case of retired defence personnel”.

PTI

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New Delhi: The recent One Rank One Pension (OROP) announcement has to take it toll on Seventh pay commission report for central government employees.

The Government has announced the One Rank One Pension scheme for the Ex-Servicemen. The estimated cost of One Rank One Pension (OROP) on arrears alone to the exchequer would be Rs 8000 to 10000 crore at present, and will increase further in future.

Seventh pay commission will definitely bring also toll on the exchequer as government has to manage OROP’s expenditures before Seventh pay commission expenditures.

Experts say that Central government’s salary bill will rise by 9.56% to Rs 1,00,619 crore after Seventh pay commission will come into effect.

Pay commission report will be out in a few months. As the Pay Commission merges existing DA with basic salary of government employees, the annual pension costs will go up substantially; and that will rise further depending upon the actual pay hike that is considered.

Officials of the finance ministry argue that the next Budget will not be badly affected since there is a cushion provided by, for instance, low oil prices—the OROP arrears and pay commission are not to be paid out at one go, but will be paid in installments.

This OROP announcement will be affected Seventh pay commission report badly, especially in salary hike and increasing allowances,” said a pay panel official.

“We have to look financial health of government before submitting our report. We have to save financial position of government to run the nation smoothly. We are not only to work for pay hike.” he added.

TST

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Government Announces One Rank One Pension Scheme for Ex-Servicemen

The Government has announced the One Rank One Pension scheme for the Ex-Servicemen. This was announced by the Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar here today. The following is the statement of the Defence Minister:

“Government of India respects its Defence Forces and Ex-Servicemen for their valour, patriotism and sacrifices. The Government is proud of their devotion to duty and bravery. Our forces, besides vigilantly and gallantly defending the nation, have displayed exemplary standards of courage and bravery in natural calamities, law and order situations and other difficult circumstances.

The issue of “One Rank One Pension” (OROP) has been pending for nearly four decades. It is a matter of deep anguish that the various governments remained ambivalent on the issue of OROP. In February 2014, the then Government stated that OROP would be implemented in 2014-15, but did not specify what OROP would be, how it would be implemented or how much it would cost. An estimated Rs. 500 crore provided for OROP in the budget presented in February 2014 by the then government was not based on any thorough analysis. It is pertinent to mention that the then Minister of State for Defence in 2009 had, in reply to a question, informed Parliament that there are administrative, technical and financial difficulties in implementing OROP. It is for these reasons that the present government took some time to fulfil its promise.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has, on various occasions, reiterated the Government’s commitment to implement OROP for Ex-Servicemen under military pension. As stated above, the previous government has estimated that OROP would be implemented with a budget provision of a mere Rs. 500 crore. The reality, however, is that to implement OROP, the estimated cost to the exchequer would be Rs. 8,000 to 10,000 crore at present, and will increase further in future.

The Government held extensive consultations with experts and Ex-Servicemen. The main argument for OROP is that the Defence personnel retire early and thus are not able to get the benefits of serving till normal retirement age. Despite the huge fiscal burden, given its commitment to the welfare of Ex-Servicemen, the Government has taken a decision to implement the OROP.

In simple terms, OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement. Future enhancements in the rates of pension would be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This implies bridging the gap between the rate of pension of current and past pensioners at periodic intervals.

Under this definition, it has been decided that the gap between rate of pension of current pensioners and past pensioners will be bridged every 5 years.

Under the OROP Scheme:

The benefit will be given with effect from 1st July, 2014. The present government assumed office on 26th May, 2014 and therefore, it has been decided to make the scheme effective from a date immediately after.

Arrears will be paid in four half-yearly instalments. All widows, including war widows, will be paid arrears in one instalment.

To begin with, OROP would be fixed on the basis of calendar year 2013.

Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners retiring in the same rank and with the same length of service as the average of minimum and maximum pension in 2013. Those drawing pensions above the average will be protected.

Personnel who voluntarily retire will not be covered under the OROP scheme.

In future, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years.

It is estimated that the expenditure on arrears alone would be ten to twelve thousand crores of rupees. Apart from the fact that the previous government had provided for only Rs. 500 crore in the budget, it is noteworthy that the Koshiyari Committee had accepted the estimate of Rs. 235 crore as additional financial burden to implement OROP. The present government has accepted OROP in true spirit without being constrained by these inaccurate estimates.

OROP is a complex issue. A thorough examination of interests of retirees of different periods and different ranks is needed. The inter-service issues of the three Forces also require consideration. This is not an administrative matter alone. Therefore, it has also been decided that a One Member Judicial Committee would be constituted which will give its report in six months.

Prime Minister Shri Modi has fulfilled his commitment and approved OROP for Armed Forces personnel. Ministry of Defence will soon issue detailed Government Order.”

NAo/NM/RK

PIB

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Anti-corruption crusader joins ex-servicemen protest: The Hindu

The ex-servicemen protesting non-implementation of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme got a shot in the arm as Gandhian activist Anna Hazare joined them at Jantar Mantar on Sunday.

Mr. Hazare, a former soldier, came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi without naming him. He accused him of ignoring the aspirations of the people and said there was an “immediate need” for the Centre and the Delhi government to “resolve their issues”.

Speaking from the dais of the United Front of Ex-Servicemen, the veteran anti-corruption crusader said “mere assurances” served little purpose and set a two-month deadline for the implementation of the scheme. “They [Mr. Modi and the BJP] told us in Rohtak that the OROP would be implemented as soon as they came to power. But nothing has happened so far. We will hold rallies in Ludhiana on August 2, in Rohtak on August 9 and in Maharashtra on August 23 to create awareness about OROP. On October 2, we will protest at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on One Rank One Pension,” Mr Hazare said.

Hits out at MPs

Criticising MPs’ demand for a hike in salary, he said they get several benefits but widows of the defence personnel get only Rs. 3,500.

“MPs want a salary hike despite the fact that they get air fare, Class AC 1 ticket in trains, a bungalow, vehicles and a salary of Rs.50,000. And we have wives and mothers of the defence personnel who get Rs.3,500-Rs.4,500. Is this justice and is this our freedom?” he wondered.

Read at: The Hindu

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“For more than four days now, the relay fast protests by the ex-servicemen have been on in New Delhi demanding the immediate implementation of the OROP scheme.”

All over the country, in 20 cities, the relay fast protests by ex-servicemen, seeking the immediate implementation of the One Rank One Pension scheme have entered its fourth day.

Meanwhile, the Central Minister, VK Singh, who was in Hyderabad yesterday, has told the PTI news agency that the OROP scheme will definitely be implemented.

Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh, “I’m very confident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will definitely fulfill all his promises. Steps are on to implement the scheme. Some confusion regarding the calculations has to be sorted out. The Modi government will very soon address the needs of the ex-servicemen. Please do not lose hope,” he added.

According to sources, the United Front of Ex-Servicemen has told a leading newspaper announced yesterday that the OROP scheme will be announced in another few days.

The ex-servicemen have managed to draw the attention of the entire country and the media to their cause through the protest. But they are still waiting for a sign from the Government that their demands have been heard.

Source: 7thpaycommissionnews.in

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