Monthly Archives: August 2018

The Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China Saturday held a meeting along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Chushul Sector of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure peace on borders.

“A Ceremonial Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) on the occasion of ‘Diwali Festival’ was conducted at Indian BPM hut in Chushul Sector of Eastern Ladakh and at Dulat Beg Oldie (DBO) in eastern Ladakh. The Indian delegation was led by Brigadier R S Raman in Chushul and by Colonel B S Uppal in DBO. The Chinese delegation was led by Colonel Cao Guasheng in Chushul and by Colonel Song Zhang Li in DBO,” defence spokesperson S D Goswami said in a statement.

He said both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment and parted amidst feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC.

“Both sides also sought to build on the mutual feeling to uphold the treaties and agreements signed between the Governments of the two sides to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LAC,” the defence spokesman said.

He added that both the sides also sought to build on the mutual feeling to uphold the treaties and agreements signed between the governments of the two sides to maintain peace and tranquillity along the LAC.

Indian and Chinese troops, last year, locked in a three-week long stand-off in the Chumar and Demchok areas of eastern Ladakh, which was resolved by way of an understanding reached between the two sides to carry out disengagement and redeployment of border troops to restore the “status quo ante.”

ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ‘ਇੱਕ ਰੈਂਕ-ਇੱਕ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ’ ਦੇ ਫਾਰਮੂਲੇ ਤਹਿਤ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਦੇਣ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਨੋਟੀਫਿਕੇਸ਼ਨ ਭਾਵੇਂ ਜਾਰੀ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਐਕਸ ਸਰਵਿਸਮੈੱਨ ਮੂਵਮੈਂਟ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਇਸ ਨੂੰ ਰੱਦ ਕਰਨ ਕਰਕੇ ਰੇੜਕਾ ਹਾਲੇ ਵੀ ਬਰਕਰਾਰ ਜਾਪਦਾ ਹੈ। ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ‘ਇੱਕ ਰੈਂਕ-ਇੱਕ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ’ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਲਗਪਗ ਚਾਰ ਦਹਾਕਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਸਮੇਂ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਸਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਇਸ ਮੰਗ ਦੀ ਪੂਰਤੀ ਲਈ ਸਮੇਂ ਸਮੇਂ ਕੀਤੇ ਵਾਅਦਿਆਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਅਮਲ ਨਾ ਹੋਣ ਕਾਰਨ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਆਰ-ਪਾਰ ਦੀ ਲੜਾਈ ਲੜਨ ਵਜੋਂ ਮੁਲਕ ਦੀ ਰਾਜਧਾਨੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਜੰਤਰ-ਮੰਤਰ ’ਤੇ ਅਣਮਿੱਥੇ ਸਮੇਂ ਦਾ ਧਰਨਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਧਰਨੇ ਨੇ ਨਾ ਕੇਵਲ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਇਸ ਮੰਗ ਵੱਲ ਸਮੁੱਚੇ ਦੇਸ਼ ਵਾਸੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਧਿਆਨ ਖਿੱਚਿਆ ਸਗੋਂ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਇਹ ਵੀ ਅਹਿਸਾਸ ਕਰਵਾਇਆ ਕਿ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਲਈ ਹਰ ਕੁਰਬਾਨੀ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੇ ਸੈਨਿਕਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵੀ ਬੇਇਨਸਾਫ਼ੀ ਕਰ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਧਰਨੇ ਸਦਕਾ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਮੰਗਾਂ ਦੇ ਹੱਕ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੈਦਾ ਹੋਏ ਵੱਡੇ ਉਭਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਪ੍ਰਤੀ ਰੋਸ ਦੇ ਮੱਦੇਨਜ਼ਰ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੇ 5 ਸਤੰਬਰ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਇੱਕ ਰੈਂਕ ਇੱਕ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਦੀ ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਮੰਗ ਸਵੀਕਾਰ ਕਰ ਲੈਣ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਤਾਂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ, ਪਰ ਨੋਟੀਫ਼ਿਕੇਸ਼ਨ ਜਾਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਕੁਝ ਸਮਾਂ ਮੰਗਿਆ ਸੀ। ਰੱਖਿਆ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਮਨੋਹਰ ਪਰੀਕਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਐਲਾਨ ਨਾਲ ਭਾਵੇਂ ਯੂਨਾਈਟਿਡ ਫਰੰਟ ਆਫ਼ ਐਕਸ ਸਰਵਿਸਮੈੱਨ ਨੇ ਧਰਨਾ ਤਾਂ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਸੀ, ਪਰ ਕੁਝ ਮੁੱਦਿਆਂ ’ਤੇ ਸਹਿਮਤੀ ਨਾ ਹੋਣ ਕਰਕੇ ਦਵੰਦ ਬਰਕਰਾਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ। ਮਗਰੋਂ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਪਸ਼ਟੀਕਰਨ ਦੇਣ ਅਤੇ ਰਹਿ ਗਈਆਂ ਊਣਤਾਈਆਂ ਨੋਟੀਫ਼ਿਕੇਸ਼ਨ ਜਾਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਸਮੇਂ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਕਰਨ ਦੇ ਦਿਵਾਏ ਗਏ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ ਤਹਿਤ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਅੰਦੋਲਨ ਵਾਪਸ ਲੈ ਲਿਆ ਸੀ।
ਦੋ ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਮਗਰੋਂ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਮੰਗਾਂ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਨੋਟੀਫ਼ਿਕੇਸ਼ਨ ਜਾਰੀ ਕਰਨ ਨਾਲ ਵੀ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀ ਸੰਤੁਸ਼ਟ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਏ ਜਾਪਦੇ। ਜੰਤਰ ਮੰਤਰ ਵਿਖੇ ਧਰਨਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਦੀ ਜਥੇਬੰਦੀ ਇੰਡੀਅਨ ਐਕਸ ਸਰਵਿਸਮੈੱਨ ਮੂਵਮੈਂਟ ਨੇ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਨੋਟੀਫ਼ਿਕੇਸ਼ਨ ਨੂੰ ਰੱਦ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਨੋਟੀਫ਼ਿਕੇਸ਼ਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਦਾ ਆਧਾਰ ਕੈਲੰਡਰ ਸਾਲ 2013 ਦੀ ਥਾਂ ਵਿੱਤੀ ਸਾਲ 2013 ਹੋਣਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ। ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਹੁਕਮਾਂ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਇੱਕ ਰੈਂਕ-ਇੱਕ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ ਪੰਜ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਵਾਲੀ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਬਣ ਗਈ ਹੈ। ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੇ ਇਹ ਹੁਕਮ ਪਹਿਲੀ ਜੁਲਾਈ 2014 ਤੋਂ ਲਾਗੂ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਥਾਂ ਇੱਕ ਅਪਰੈਲ ਤੋਂ ਲਾਗੂ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਕਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਦੂਜੇ ਪਾਸੇ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦਾ ਦਾਅਵਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਨੋਟੀਫ਼ਿਕੇਸ਼ਨ ਨਾਲ 25 ਲੱਖ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਸੈਨਿਕਾਂ ਅਤੇ ਮਰਹੂਮ ਜਾਂ ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਸੈਨਿਕਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਪਤਨੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਲਾਭ ਮਿਲੇਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਭਵਿੱਖ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਰ ਪੰਜ ਸਾਲ ਬਾਅਦ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਨਿਰਧਾਰਿਤ ਕੀਤੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ। ਨੋਟੀਫ਼ਿਕੇਸ਼ਨ ਤਹਿਤ ਸਵੈ-ਇੱਛਾ ਨਾਲ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਲੈਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਰੈਂਕ-ਇੱਕ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਦਾ ਲਾਭ ਨਾ ਮਿਲਣਾ ਵੀ ਇੱਕ ਵਿਵਾਦਤ ਮੁੱਦਾ ਮੰਨਿਆ ਜਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਇਲਾਵਾ ਨਵਾਂ ਪੈਨਸ਼ਨ ਫਾਰਮੂਲਾ ਵੀ ਵਿਵਾਦਾਂ ਦੇ ਘੇਰੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਹੈ।
ਰੱਖਿਆ ਮੰਤਰਾਲੇ ਨੇ ਭਾਵੇਂ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਨੋਟੀਫ਼ਿਕੇਸ਼ਨ ਨੂੰ ਹਾਂ-ਪੱਖੀ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ ਲਾਗੂ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਵਿਸ਼ਵਾਸ ਦਿਵਾਇਆ ਹੈ, ਪਰ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀ ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਸੰਤੁਸ਼ਟ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਪਦੇ। 5 ਸਤੰਬਰ ਨੂੰ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਮੰਗਾਂ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਨ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਐਲਾਨ ਅਤੇ ਹੁਣ ਦੋ ਮਹੀਨਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਸੋਚ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਮਗਰੋਂ 7 ਨਵੰਬਰ ਨੂੰ ਇਸ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਜਾਰੀ ਕੀਤੇ ਗਏ ਨੋਟੀਫ਼ਿਕੇਸ਼ਨ ਨਾਲ ਵੀ ਜੇ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀ ਸੰਤੁਸ਼ਟ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਏ ਤਾਂ ਇਹ ਕੇਂਦਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਮੰਤਰਾਲੇ ਦੀ ਅਸਫਲਤਾ ਹੀ ਮੰਨੀ ਜਾ ਸਕਦੀ ਹੈ। ਜੇ ਇਸ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀ ਮੁੜ ਸੰਘਰਸ਼ ਦਾ ਰਾਹ ਅਖ਼ਤਿਆਰ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ ਤਾਂ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਇਸ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਤੋਂ ਭੱਜ ਨਹੀਂ ਸਕਦੀ। ਸਾਬਕਾ ਫ਼ੌਜੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਮੰਗਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਸਬੰਧਿਤ ਵਿਵਾਦਮਈ ਮੁੱਦਿਆਂ ਬਾਰੇ ਆਪਣਾ ਪੱਖ ਤਰਕ ਨਾਲ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਮੰਤਰਾਲੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਪੇਸ਼ ਕਰਨ ਤਾਂ ਜੋ ਢੁਕਵਾਂ ਹੱਲ ਨਿਕਲ ਸਕੇ।

Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 7

The Central Government tonight notified the much-awaited One Rank One Pension (OROP) for ex-servicemen, a move that comes less than 12 hours before counting of votes for the Bihar assembly elections.
Giving out details of the OROP, Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said: “The government today issued the notification regarding implementation of One Rank One Pension.”
Salient features of the OROP include revision of pension every five years. The protesting ex-servicemen had demanded that revision be done every two years.
Notably, the issue of giving pension to those opting for premature retirement (PMR) has been settled but could have long term repercussions.
Deciding on the issue of PMRs, the MoD has said those who opt to get discharged henceforth 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 shall be effective prospectively, meaning officers and jawans who took PMR in the past shall be benefitted but those opting for PMR now onwards will not get the benefit. It also means there will be fewer PMR applications, straining existing housing and infrastructure as officers will stay on. An officer is allowed to opt for PMR after 20 years of service or by the time he is 43 years of age. Some opt out when superceded.
On pensions to the entire lot of retirees, the notification says, “Pension of (all) the past pensioners would be re-fixed on the basis of pension of retirees of calendar year 2013 and the benefit will be effective with effect from July, 1, 2014.”
Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners on the basis of the average of minimum and maximum pension of personnel retiring in 2013 in the same rank and with the same length of service. Pension for those drawing above the average shall be protected.
Arrears will be paid in four equal half-yearly instalments. However, all the family pensioners, including those in receipt of Special/Liberalised family pensioners, and Gallantry award winners shall be paid arrears in one instalment.
The government has also decided to appoint a Judicial Committee to look into anomalies, if any, arising out of implementation of OROP. The Judicial Committee will submit its report in six months.
“Detailed instructions along with tables indicating revised pension for each rank and each category, shall be issued separately for updation of pension and payment of arrears directly by Pension Disbursing Agencies,” Sitanshu Kar said.
The issue of OROP was a long-standing demand. Defence Forces had been demanding it for almost four decades but the issue could not be resolved. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made a commitment to implement it for the welfare of the ex-servicemen. Accordingly, the government had announced modalities for implementation of OROP on September 5. The Government Order by Ministry of Defence, which could not be issued due to model code of conduct, has been issued today, a statement of the MoD said.

SATARA (Maha): Hundreds of people from all walks of life on Thursday converged at a small village here as the mortal remains of Colonel Santosh Mahadik, who laid down his life battling militants near LoC in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, were consigned to flames with full military honours.

The 39-year-old martyr’s body was brought to Pogarwadi village in Maharashtra’s Satara district this moring where his last rites were performed.
The body was kept for sometime at his mother’s house in the neighbouring Aaray village where defence minister Manohar Parrikar paid homage to him. A large number of villagers from various communities gathered at the cremation site to pay their respects to the martyr.

With teary eyes, the mourning villagers bid adieu to their son who made them proud and shouted slogans like “Col Mahadik Amar Rahe” as his mortal remains were consigned to flames.
Earlier, his mortal remains wrapped in the tricolour were brought in a procession escorted by Army personnel.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis had paid tributes to Col Mahadik in Pune last night when the the Army officer’s mortal remains were brought there en route to his native Satara district.
Col Mahadik, the Commanding Officer of 41 Rashtriya Rifles, was critically injured during an operation in the Haji Naka forest area of Kupwara near the LoC in Kashmir on Tuesday. He succumbed to his injuries at a hospital later.

अंबाला, (कमल मिड्ढा) : देश की रक्षा और बहादुरी के लिए सैनिकों को दिए जाने वाले मेडल बने मजाक। बहादुरी के प्रतीक माने जाने वाले मेडल कागजों में ही उलझ कर रह गए। मेडल लौटाने जिला मुख्यालय पहुंचे वन रैंक वन पेंशन की अधिसूचना से नाराज पूर्व सैनिक। पूर्व सैनिक जहाँ मेडल लौटने का दम भर रहे हैं वहीं प्रशासन ने सिर्फ कागजों में ही लिए पूर्व सैनिकों के मेडल।
पूर्व सैनिक मेडल लौटने की बात कर रहे हैं तो स्थानीय प्रशासन लेने के लिए तैयार नहीं है। अंबाला में भी कुछ ऐसा ही नजारा देखने को मिला। यहां मेडल लौटने के लिए पूर्व सैनिक पूरे जोर शोर के साथ उपायुक्त कार्यालय पहुंचे और जमकर सरकार के खिलाफ नारेबाजी की। ये सरकार निकम्मी है,ये सरकार झूठी है,हमारी मांगें पूरी करो, साढ़ा हक़ एेथे रख़…. जैसे नारे लगा रहे। ये कोई और नही,बल्कि देश के लिए अपनी जान तक न्यौछावर करने वाले पूर्व सैनिक हैं। दरअसल, वन रैंक वन पेंशन की अधिसूचना जारी होने के बावजूद सड़कों पर दीपावली के दिन झंडे उठाकार उतरे पूर्व सैनिक इसे मोदी सरकार का छलावा बता रहे हैं। पूर्व सैनिक एसोसिएशन का आरोप है कि सरकार ने सही तरह ओ आर ओ पी लागू नहीं की। यही वजह है कि उनके अधिकांश साथियों का कोई लाभ नही मिल पाएगा। अंबाला में मेडल लौटाने पहुंचे पूर्व सैनिकों से प्रशासन ने कागजों में तो मेडल ले लिए, लेकिन असली तौर पर मेडल लेने से इनकार कर दिया।
OROP के नोटिफिकेशन के विरोध में अंबाला की सड़कों पर उतरे पूर्व सैनिकों ने मोदी सरकार के ख़िलाफ़ नारे लगाते हुए जमकर रोष प्रकट किया। पूर्व सैनिको ने अपने मेडल इकठे कर जिला प्रशासन को सौंपने को भरपूर कोशिश की, लेकिन प्रशासन ने मेडल नहीं लिए। इसके बावजूद पूर्व सैनिक मेडल लौटाने का दम भरते रहे। सैनिकों ने कहा कि जब तक सरकार OROP को पूरी तरह लागू नहीं करेगी तब तक विरोध प्रदर्शन जारी रहेगा।
OROP को लेकर सरकार और पूर्व सैनिकों के बीच गर्मा रहे विवाद में शुरू हुई यह मेडल वार कहां जाकर रुकेगी इसका अंदाजा लगाना अभी मुश्किल है, लेकिन मेडलों का इस तरह से बहादुरी के प्रतीक मेडलों का तिरस्कार कितना सही है यह अभी भी एक बड़ा सवाल बनकर खड़ा है।

अरक्कोणम, 13 नवंबर (एजेंसी)

रक्षा मंत्री मनोहर पर्रिकर ने पूर्व सैनिकों के मेडल जलाने की कोशिशों को राष्ट्र और सशस्त्र बलों का अपमान बताते हुए आज कहा कि पूर्व सैनिकों को साबित करना चाहिए कि एक रैंक एक पेंशन (ओआरओपी) आंदोलन के पीछे कोई राजनीतिक उद्देश्य नहीं है।
यह पूछे जाने पर कि क्या सरकार के ओआरओपी योजना पर प्रतिक्रिया एवं अधिसूचना के बावजूद जारी आंदोलन के पीछे उन्हें कोई राजनीतिक संबंध दिखता है, रक्षा मंत्री ने कहा, ‘मैं कुछ कहूंगा तो यह आरोप बन जाएगा। उन्हें साबित करने दीजिए कि यह राजनीतिक नहीं है।’ उन्होंने एक दूसरे सवाल के जवाब में कहा, ‘मेडल सशस्त्र बलों के बलिदानों के लिए राष्ट्र द्वारा दिया जाने वाला सम्मान है। उन्हें जलाना या लौटाना राष्ट्र और रक्षा बलों का अपमान है।’ पूर्व सैन्यकर्मियों द्वारा ओआरओपी अधिसूचना के अपनी मांगों के अनुकूल न होने के आधार पर असंतुष्टि जताने के बाद रक्षा मंत्री की यह टिप्पणी आयी है। सरकार ने शनिवार को देश के 24 लाख से अधिक पूर्व सैनिकों और 6 लाख शहीदों की पत्नियों के लिए ओआरओपी योजना औपचारिक रूप से अधिसूचित की थी।

Our Correspondent
UNA, NOVEMBER 9
The Una unit of the Indian Ex-services League today expressed resentment over the Union government’s notification on one rank, one pension which was not in lines with the OROP definition accepted by the government in Parliament.
As per a press note issued here by Lt SP Sharma (retd.), general secretary of the District Ex-services League, a meeting of veterans from all three services was held here. All members unanimously expressed anguish over the notification, claiming that most of the veterans would not get any relief.
Sharma said the inclusion of voluntary retirement clause in the notification was wrong since this did not apply to the armed forces due to the peculiar nature of the services. He claimed that since the services need to maintain a young profile of officers and other ranks, early retirement was an accepted norm.
The general secretary said the OROP should be implemented in its true spirit. He said their unit has expressed solidarity with ex-servicemen protesting at Jantar Mantar, adding that the protests should continue till the notification was amended.

The announcement comes a day after Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had assured ex-servicemen on OROP implementation before Diwali.
The defence Ministry issued the official notification for One Rank One Pension (OROP) for ex-servicemen late on Saturday evening. The government has reversed its contentious proposal to exclude ex-servicemen who had sought premature retirement from the ambit of OROP, but has not conceded the demands for an annual equalisation of revised pension, for pegging the pension to the maximum of the current pensioners, and for appointing an expert commission with serving military personnel and ex-servicemen representatives.
According to the notification, the government will pay the arrears of OROP in four equal half-yearly installments. However, all family pensioners, including those receiving special or liberalised family pension and gallantry award winners, will get their arrears in a single installment. The pension of past pensioners would be fixed on the basis of the pension of retirees of 2013, and the benefit will be granted from July 1, 2014.
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had announced on Friday that the notification would be issued before Diwali.
The notification, which was to follow Parrikar’s formal announcement of the acceptance of OROP on September 5, was delayed after the Model Code of Conduct for the Bihar assembly elections came into effect.Ex-servicemen who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi since June, rejected the notification issued by the defence ministry. “This is not OROP. At best, it is a one-time increment. We totally and outrightly reject it. It reflects a lack of maturity on the part of the political leadership of the government,” Wing Commander (retd) C K Sharma, treasurer of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM), told The Sunday Express. On Friday, Group Captain (retd) V K Gandhi, IESM general secretary, had announced that ex-servicemen across the country would return their medals at prominent locations in their cities on November 9-10. The veterans had also announced that they would observe a Black Diwali this year. OROP means military personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service would get the same pension, irrespective of their date of retirement. Currently, a Colonel who retired earlier — under the mandate of earlier pay commissions — receives lesser pension than a Colonel who retired after the Sixth Pay Commission came into vogue in 2006. With the Seventh Pay Commission scheduled to submit its report by the end of the year, this difference would have increased further. The demand for OROP had been accepted by the Koshiyari Committee in its report to Parliament in 2011. At an election rally in Rewari in 2013, Narendra Modi, who was then the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, promised the implementation of OROP. In his first budget in July 2014, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced an allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for OROP, but that amount lapsed at the end of the last financial year. As protests by ex-servicemen intensified this year, with some veterans going on an indefinite hunger strike, the defence ministry considered various formulae for OROP. The proposal forwarded by Parrikar to the finance ministry entailed an expenditure of around Rs 8,300 crore this year. That proposal was modified during the announcement made by Parrikar in September, when it excluded veterans who had sought premature retirement. The veterans protested the exclusion, saying that keeping premature retirees out of OROP would exclude 70 per cent of military pensioners. That clause has been removed in the notification, but the government has said that the benefit of OROP will not be extended to military personnel who seek premature retirement now on. The government has, however, stood its ground on other demands of the ex-servicemen. The veterans wanted equalisation of pension every year, or at least every two years, but the government has notified that it would happen only once in five years. They had wanted the revised pensions to be fixed at the maximum of the pension being received by current retirees, but the government has announced that only an average of the maximum and minimum will be given. But the pensions of those who are receiving a higher pension than average will not be reduced. The government has also notified the appointment of a judicial committee to look into anomalies of OROP. The panel will submit its report in six months. The veterans had wanted representation from the military and ex-servicemen in the committee, and its report within 90 days.

Mandi, November 8
Retired personnel of the armed forces have appreciated the Central Government for issuing a notification regarding nearly 45-year-old demand of one-rank one-pension (OROP) scheme.
In a statement issued here today, Honorary Commissioned Officers’ Welfare Association of Himachal Pradesh president Capt Jagdish Verma (retd) said the implementation of the scheme would benefit more than 25 lakh ex-servicemen and their families.
Capt Verma said all members were obliged by the Centre for issuing the notification regarding OROP and making it a reality. He further stated that today was a historical day and more than 1.45 lakh ex-servicemen are going to benefit. — TNS

Ajay Ramola
Tribune News Service
Mussoorie, November 22

This lake is the eye of the mountain, jade green, placid, unwinking, and also unfathomable. Whatever goes on under the high and stony brows is guessed at. It is believed that one or another of the blind mountain lakes is bottomless. Often they lie in such deep crains of broken boulders on mountain tops that one never gets quite to them or gets away unhurt. It stuns one with its clean water and the view of the mighty Thaliasagar peak.
Kedartal is known as the emerald glacial lake and Shiva’s lake as well. An avid trekker and photographer says the mirror reflection of the Thaliasagar peak in the lake is an unforgettable sight for any tourist here. The view of Meru, Bhrigupanth and Jogin peaks overpowers and numbs your senses.
Kedartal in the Hindu mythology is regarded as Lord Shiva’s contribution to the Bhagirathi, a source stream of the Ganga. The glacial lake melts and descends mountains as Kedar Ganga that finally joins the Ganga at Gangotri, 17 km away, which is the starting point of the Kedartal trek. The trail follows Kedar Ganga through Bhoj Kharak and Kedarkharak to finally frost at Kedartal.
Uttarkashi district boasts of several natural lakes that are situated in the foothills of various snow-laden peaks. One such lake Kedartal is one of the finest high altitude Himalayan lakes situated at around 4,912 metre from where one can catch a breathtaking close view of Thaliasagar, Brighupant and Jogin group of peaks.
One can encounter a good variety of high altitude fauna e.g. Bharal (blue sheep), Goral, Himalayan black bear with a great variety of birds. The trek is a bit strenuous, but the rewards are very high. The 10-day trip involves a drive to Gangotri and the trek to Kedartal punctuated with a breath stopping close view of Greater Himalayan peaks i.e. Thaliasagar (6,904 m), Brigupanth (6,772 m) and Jogin group of peaks.
The Kedartal trek starts from Gangotri. The trek from Gangotri to Bhoj Kharak is 8. 5 km and it takes about 6 hours to reach on foot. From Bhoj Kharak to Kedar Kharak, it is a 4 km trek and it takes around 3 to 4 hours to reach there. The Kedar Kharak to Kedartal trek is about 5 km and it takes 3 to 4 hours to reach Kedartal. The best season for trekking to Kedartal is late June till July but it can also be done in September and the first week of October.
The steep climb to Bhoj Kharak starts from the camp at Gangotri and after an ardous one-hour climb, one reaches Bhoj Kharak traversing through Kedar valley. The complete trek is along Kedar Ganga that is dotted with fir (cedus) and Bhoj (birch) tree forests.

Tehri lake

The biggest lake in the state is Tehri lake that is around 45 sq km in area and provides a breathtaking view of the hydroelectric dam considered as the marvel of modern engineering. Various sports activities are proposed in the lake that could make it a major tourist attraction. It can be reached from Rishikesh as well as from Mussoorie.
There are many other lakes in the state, namely Bhimtal, Sat Tal and Nainital, which are far easily accessible for tourists who are unable to trek on high mountains. The government wants to promote trekking to these lakes in the winter as well. However, it will have to provide facilites at various points en route to these tourist places to sustain the interest of tourists.

Roopkund

Roopkund is another high altitude glacial lake that lies in the lap of Trishul massif and is famous for the hundreds of human skeletons found at the edge of the lake. Roopkund has attracted attention because of the human skeletal remains that are visible at its bottom when the snow melts. There are many theories and opinions, both spiritual and scientific, attempting to explain the existence of these skeletons, which date back to the ninth century.

Homekund

Another lake that is an important tourist destination for altogether different reasons is Homekund, which is approached via Sutol or Roopkund after crossing the Shila Samudra glacier. It is a small lake encompassing a view of the Trishul and Nanda Ghunti base camps.