TALKING GRIEVANCES With the central government issuing the one rank one pension notification recently, shouldn’t ex-servicemen call off the OROP agitation instead of threatening to intensify their protest over a few sticking points? Doesn’t returning meda

FOR

Diluted OROP no relief to veterans, will do more harm
The Modi government has released OROP in a diluted form which will do more harm to the soldiers than providing any relief. The major flaw is that this OROP will not be applicable to those soldiers who quit their service pre-maturely due to some reasons. The frequency of revision and fixing of benchmark of pension are other issues. It is a serious anomaly that goes against the post-Kargil military reforms that have helped bring down the average age of field commanders. In seeking a solution to the outstanding issues, appointing yet another committee to look into the grievances will amount to nothing but a travesty of justice.
CAPT AMAR JEET KUMAR, SAS Nagar
Recent OROP notification has several anomalies
The armed forces have always remained apolitical. The veterans only seek to get the OROP in letter and spirit as promised by Narendra Modi as a prime ministerial candidate during the 2014 election campaigning on a number of occasions. The recent OROP notification has several anomalies as highlighted by the veterans, but to no avail. Parliament had also passed the OROP on two occasions — first, during the UPA rule and then by the NDA regime. Even defence minister Manohar Parikkar had allocated a budget of `8,300 crores in February this year for the purpose, but now they are throwing crumbs at ex-servicemen. The truncated OROP will cost the government just `3500 crore.
COLONEL SK SOOD (RETD), Panchkula
Govt’s attitude adding fuel to fire, failed to meet pre-poll promise
Nobody wants to fight the government of the day, forget about the harried veterans. By not meeting the pre-poll promise and not implementing the unambiguous decision of Parliament and the Supreme Court for implementing the recommendations of a committee the NDA leadership has forced the veterans to hit the streets. After lot of dilly dallying and lame excuses for the delay, what has now been dished out is a complete negation of everything that the veterans have been fighting for.
SC LUTHRA, Manimajra
Agitation a symptom of a larger malaise
I believe the OROP agitation is a symptom of a larger malaise, i.e. neglect of the defence forces by successive governments. The defence forces have been systematically downgraded over the period of time. The service chiefs do not have the authority to undertake the responsibilities that they have been charged with. The authority rests with bureaucratic structure of the ministry of defence (MoD), which does not have the requisite professional competence to take decisions on matters related to national security. There is an urgent need for a full and meaningful integration of the service headquarters with the MoD so that the basic principles of management are not violated to the detriment of national security planning, procurement, and execution. The structures give an impression of the soldier being treated as a ‘paid mercenary’ rather than the only professional partner in ensuring national security.
WG CDR JP JOSHI (RETD), Zirakpur
Delay in implementing OROP affecting morale of ex-servicemen
Today’s serving soldier is tomorrow’s veteran. Our demand is parity in pension and that is at no stage a junior in rank and length of service should draw more pension than his senior. If the government wants to resolve this long-standing issue it should do it once and for all. The government knows that the Supreme Court accepted the OROP in1982. Delay on the part of the government in accepting the actual OROP, and implementing it is affecting the morale of the ex-servicemen community. When the government did not pay attention to the OROP demand, protest rallies followed.
COL CT ARASU (RETD), Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu
Government has divided veterans on the issue
The government by announcing the OROP notification has succeeded in dividing the veterans. Some anxious veterans are in a hurry to compromise on the issue. There are people who want to belittle the entire ex-servicemen community. They will have to stand in front of the oneman committee pleading for their case. The government took 30 years to resolve the issue but not to the satisfaction of veterans. The honorable SC has already decided in their favour.
PS BAJWA, via email
Diluted OROP insult to real heroes, govt sending wrong message
It is a matter of shame to the entire country that its war veterans are protesting for their rights. What kind of message we are trying to send across the world? The Centre spent thousands of crores on the Swachh Bharat Mission but when it came to our war veterans they cite shortage of funds. Successive governments have been befooling ex- army officers for the last 40 years. The Centre needs to fulfill their demands. To burn or return the medals will send a wrong message. Medals are conferred on the soldiers for their service and gallantry and returning these is disrespect to the nation.
GAGANDEEP JASSOWAL, Chandigarh
Complete misunderstanding of OROP concept must
I am deeply hurt by what Brig Ravi Bains said on the issue. It is clearly apparent that there is complete misunderstanding of the OROP concept. The veterans have been compelled to launch the agitation. And continue, they will. All we demand are honourable post-retirement considerations for selfless sacrifices and hardships we undergo in the prime of our life. Nearly 95% of these men retire before the age of 40 and majority of them are forced to seek jobs. Political leaders belittle the role played by these men.
COL NIRMAL SINGH (RETD), Panchkula
Modified parity and not OROP
The government’s recent OROP notification cannot be termed real OROP. Right in the beginning, the veterans would be granted pension less than that of their counterparts with the same rank and the length of service. For example, a pre-1996 retiree jawan with 17 years of service gets a pension of `5,196 while a recent retiree gets a pension of `7,605. As per the recent government notification he is likely to get `6,000 approximately which is lower than that of a recent retiree by `1,605 which is considerable. Same would be in the case of all offecers, JCOs and other ranks. This difference would keep increasing till 2018.This is against the very definition of OROP. At best, this can be termed as modified parity.
BRIG JOGINDAR SINGH (RETD), via email
Ex-servicemen’s agitation is more about honour
The ex-servicemen’s agitation even after issuing of notification is more to do with honour and slight meted out to them by the government. The fundamental issue of OROP has been settled. I identify with the fraternity which feels that pension should be equalized every year. Now, it is just a matter of little amount. The future premature retirees are not entitled to OROP. I think that once you are entitled to pension, you should get OROP.
LT GEN HS PANAG (RETD)
Learn to honour the soldier, protest peaceful way to draw attention
If we look at the OROP agitation as a battle between the government and the ex-servicemen then we are on a wrong track. It is a peaceful way of drawing the government’s attention to our 40-year-old demand of one rank one pension, which the present PM promised to fulfill before the general elections in 2014. The protest is more about our honour than money. They are forced to take up such small jobs because they can’t run their households with the meagre pension they get.
COL RD SINGH (RETD), Ambala Cantonment

AGAINST
Soldiers fighting shamelessly for petty considerations
Both sides are lacking open-mindedness with the confrontation acquiring new proportions. It is sad that defence personnel, who having fought for national honours, are now fighting shamelessly for petty material consideration. Old retirees are all for parity in pension with the new ones, but what would they say aabbout theirs having got pension decades more than the others. Moreover, how would defence retirees respond to many of them getting absorbed in lucrative civil positions, and their entitlements for canteen concessions? What if civilians too come agitating for OROP or lucrative adjustments on defence posts? It looks undignified and shameful for defence personnel quarrelling for few bucks.

AGAINST

MPS CHADHA, SAS Nagar
Notification takes care of veterans’ basic demands
The OROP notification the government has come out with takes care of the basic demands of veterans. Other things are also soldier-friendly. The most important issue that has been highlighted is that the pensioners who retired long back stand to benefit more than others and deservingly so. The agitation should be brought to an end immediately and benefits announced be implemented at the earliest. The negotiations can continue in a systematic manner without political meddling into the issue.
PRITHIPAL SINGH, Chandigarh
No rationale behind continuing stir after OROP notification
The common man is unable to understand the reasons behind continuation of agitation by ex-servicemen after the OROP notification by the central government on Diwali eve. Logically speaking, ex-servicemen can approach the commission or committee appointed by the government to hear their grievances, if any.
VD KALRA, Panchkula
Veterans should have waited for outcome first
The OROP agitation launched about six months ago was uncalled as the government had made a statement on accepting the demand. Ex-servicemen as disciplined soldiers needed to trust this, and should have awaited the outcome. Any such decision is not free from complications and not that simple as it may appear to be. It may have repercussions and disturb the existing structured pension pattern creating more problems for the government. Now when OROP has been notified and is being implemented and the government has announced a one-man judicial commission to look into grievances. Therefore, there is no point continuing with the agitation.
DS BANATI, SAS Nagar
Some protesting for publicity
The decades-long struggle of veterans brought results when the NDA government notified OROP implementation on Diwali. No government in the past gave a serious thought to the issue. The UPA-2 announced `500 crore for OROP which was mere tokenism. Innocent veterans came from all parts of country contributed money amounting to crores. It is a holy protest by some unholy veterans at Jantar Mantar for money and self glorification. It should end and the veterans should join talks.
VEDPAL RATHEE VETERAN, Rohtak
Start caring for our paramilitary forces also
With the central govt issuing the one rank one pension notification, I feel that the ex-servicemen should call off their stir, not because they have got what they have asked for but at least a beginning has been made. The matter can be solved amicably. It is high time that we as a nation start caring for our paramilitary forces, state police forces and other departments engaged in the security of our people.
SUMEET SETH ZIRAKPUR
Returning medals disrespect towards nation
The Union government has already implemented the OROP scheme. Returning medals and holding agitations only shows disrespect towards the nation. The ex-servicemen should negotiate with the government in a proper manner on the modifications required by them in the scheme.
BHANU MADAN, Chandigarh
Credit goes to NDA govt for taking OROP decision
The OROP agitation is decades old and the previous governments have been deferring the decision on it. It was the NDA leadership promised to solve it during the General Election and they have done it, even as the grievances remain. Credit must be given where credit is due. Defence people must accept it with all magnanimity. For pending issues, a one-man judicial commission is in place to set the things right. They must behave like true soldiers and gentlemen and stop the agitation.
DEVINDER GARG, Chandigarh
Agitation has not achieved anything
The agitation has not achieved anything. The government has given what it has been saying all along and announced it at a time which suited them. The continued agitation has brought us down in the eyes of the public and alienated the media. I do not understand the purpose of agitation. If we keep agitating, the government will not talk to us. Burning the medals is sacrilege, as there is Ashoka emblem on it.
LT GEN RAJ KADYAN (RETD), ex-army deputy chief
Veterans should withdraw the ongoing agitation
As a veteran I myself feel the pain and anguish over the way the OROP scheme has been handled by the central government. After indulging in lip service for long, the government finally announced a diluted OROP which is unacceptable to the veterans in its present form. Some of the pending issues are of minor nature and can be resolved through a constructive and positive dialogue. The government should take the initiative and start a dialogue with the veterans who should also withdraw the agitation which is losing support and is now becoming counterproductive.
COL ASHOK SHARMA (RETD), Rupnagar

NEUTRAL

Accept benefits and pursue matter through negotiations
Wait for final report by judicial commission
Having fought bravely on all fronts, the ex-servicemen deserved OROP, which would not have come soon had they not resorted to agitation. The returning of bravery medals may not have been necessary but it may have been thought so as the government was delaying OROP on one pretext or the other. However, they should accept the presently offered benefits and continue pursuing the matter by negotiations.
MANJEET SINGH ISHAR, SAS Nagar
Pursue OROP issue with commission, call off protest
The one rank one pension agitation is not about money alone. It is about ensuring justice to a soldier retiring in the prime of his life. Though the soldier has again been shortchanged by an insecure bureaucracy that led to the defence minister announcing a diluted OROP recently, the rallies, street protests and returning of medals should stop now. Such protests don’t behove a disciplined veteran. Our representatives should instead take up the pending demands with the one-man judicial commission. Let us be magnanimous and trust the government.
LT COL NS YADAV (RETD), Panchkula Notwithstanding some shortcomings in the notification issued by the government, OROP is a reality. The definition as enunciated in Koshiyari committee report falls short when the notification talks of pension correction every five years as against every year. The second major issue of no OROP for future pre-mature retirees is presumptuous. The government is playing a psychological game with soldiers who seek pre-mature retirement on genuine grounds.

COL AVNISH SHARMA, Chandigarh
Everyone says that we should not call off the agitation unless all the seven demands are met. The government did not stand by its commitment. It is betrayal of trust. If one cannot trust the Prime Minister of this country whom shall we trust? It (the recent notification on OROP) is totally unacceptable.
Brig Kiran Krishan (retd),
convener, Indian Ex-servicemen Movement The government has accepted the OROP. Whatever they have given we should accept it but we should continue our fight for more. Returning medals will not achieve anything. They are awarded for exceptional service and bravery. Rather than returning medals, we should focus on getting more from the government.
Bhim Sen Sehgal, chairman,
All India Ex-servicemen Association Burning of medals is an offence and insult to their sanctity and value. Service honour and medals are very precious and close to our hearts. We are rather planning to take back our deposited medals, once the OROP issue is settled. Some politically motivated people leading the ex-servicemen are misguiding and misrepresenting the veterans for their personal gains
.It is not about money alone
BRIG BS GILL, Chandigarh
It has to be OROP in the purest form as recommended by the Koshiyari Committee and passed by two Parliaments and directed by the apex court. And it is not about money alone but about restoration of military pride and rightful place in the civil society. There are seven major anomalies in the diluted OROP notification.