Allege there are seven serious anomalies in notification
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 22

Rejecting the government notification for implementing one rank, one pension (OROP) formula for the armed forces on the grounds that it was unfair and full of flaws, the United Front of Ex-servicemen has decided to take their battle to the Supreme Court.
Revealing that they would be filing a petition before the apex court within few days, Major General Satbir Singh (retd), the front’s adviser today claimed that several top lawyers have agreed to take up their cause without charging any fee. Terming the notification a “betrayal”, he said there were seven serious flaws in the order which was contrary to the defined and accepted definition of the OROP. The formula that was devised by the Defence Minister and acceptable to the veterans was later subverted by the Ministry of Finance and the Prime Minister’s Office, he added.
Non-inclusion of future pre-mature retirees in the ambit of OROP, revision of pension once in five years instead of every year, fixation of pension at the average of the minimum and maximum of the pay scale instead of the maximum, fixing 2013 calendar year instead of the financial year for implementation and appointing a one-man judicial commission with inclusion of stake holders to address anomalies are among the flaws in the government order, Major General Satbir said. “These flaws would lead to veterans losing one increment, seniors getting lesser pension and result in one rank many pensions,” he added.
Stating that they were not agitating for money, but for ethos, dignity and equality, he said the government notification was not fair and not acceptable, and the veterans’ fight for their rights would continue.

अमर उजाला, पटियाला(पंजाब)Updated @ 6:15 PM IST
examination for admission in sainik school will be 3 january
देश के सैनिक स्कूलों में छठी व नौंवी क्लास में दाखिले के लिए परीक्षा 3 जनवरी को कराई जाएगी। अकादमिक सेशन 2016-17 में दाखिले के लिए होने वाली इस परीक्षा के लिए पंजाब के पांच जिलों में परीक्षा केंद्र स्थापित किए जाएंगे।

इन सैनिक स्कूलों का प्राथमिक उद्देश्य बच्चों को अकादमिक, शारीरिक व मानसिक पक्ष से तैयार करके नेशनल डिफेंस एकेडमी, आर्मी और नेवी एकेडमी में दाखिल होने के सक्षम बनाना है।

यह रिहायशी पब्लिक स्कूल हैं, जिनमें विद्यार्थियों को 12वीं तक की शिक्षा दी जाती है। दाखिला परीक्षा पटियाला के अलावा अमृतसर, लुधियाना, फरीदकोट और कपूरथला के परीक्षा केंद्रों में ली जाएगी।

छठी क्लास में दाखिला लेने के इच्छुक उम्मीदवारों की गणित ज्ञान परीक्षा, भाषा योग्यता परीक्षा और बुद्धि परीक्षा होगी। इसके लिए कुल 300 अंक होंगे, जबकि नौंवी के उम्मीदवारों के लिए गणित, साइंस, इंग्लिश और सोशल स्टडीज की परीक्षाएं होंगी। इनके कुल 450 अंक होंगे।

olice sources said they were trying to establish whether Musa is the same commander Salahudin, who was operational chief of Lashkar in early 2000 – See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/new-let-commander-from-pakistan-has-already-entered-valley-police/#sthash.7YVPzmkZ.dpuf
LeT new operational commander Abu Musa is a Pakistani national and has recently sneaked into the Valley, police sources have said.
Two days ago, Lashkar named Abu Musa alias Hafiz as its new operational commander for Kashmir and directed all LeT members operating in the Valley to follow his orders.
The new commander was named 10 days after the killing of Abdul Rehman alias Qasim, who was killed in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Police sources said Musa has recently sneaked into the Valley and is reportedly in north Kashmir now. They added that a group of LeT members had moved to north Kashmir to bring Musa to the southern part of the Valley, where the terror group has a good presence. Officials, however, could not confirm if Musa had already been shifted.
Earlier, there were reports that Qasim’s deputy Dujhanna, who is already operating in south Kashmir, will take over as LeT commander, considering his experience and network base. But LeT has chosen to elevate Musa instead. The new commander, police sources said, has earlier served in the Valley. He goes by the nom-de-guerre, Mir Faisel and Salahudin, they added. Police sources said that they were trying to establish whether Musa is the same militant commander Salahudin, who was operational chief of Lashkar in early 2000, and operated from the forests of Bandipore. Salahudin was one of the top wanted militants at the time and reportedly crossed over to PoK after massive searches was launched against him. “We are trying to gather more details about the new LeT commander. We have already got some inputs,” said a top police officer.

Medals are a recognition of the sacrifice done by the armed forces for the nation. Burning and returning them is an insult to the nation and the defence forces. MANOHAR PARRIKAR, defence minister
Terming war veterans’ attempt of burning their medals as an insult to the nation and armed forces, defence minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said the onus lies on the protesting exservice personnel to prove that there was no political motive behind their One Rank, One Pension (OROP) stir.
“If I say something, it will become an allegation. Let them prove that it is not political,” he said when asked if he saw a political link attached to the continuing agitation despite the government’s notification on the OROP scheme. “Medals are a recognition of the sacrifice done by the armed forces for the nation. Burning and returning them is an insult to the nation and the defence forces,” Parrikar said. He added “Medals have nothing to do with service conditions whereas OROP is about service conditions. It does not say you are entitled for medals, it talks about service conditions like your pay and entitlement.”Stating that the BJP had fulfilled its electoral promise of implementing the OROP, Parrikar asked the ex-servicemen to approach a judicial body if they had any grievances.
“Let them put the demands before the judicial committee, they will address it,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the minister unveiled the first phase of the commissioning of Boeing P-8I Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft fleet at the Naval Air Station ‘INS Rajali’ here, about 85 kms from Chennai.

The first phase was marked by the induction of the eight P-8I planes along with the completion of aircraft equipment testing, trials and crew training for all the eight aircraft. In the next phase, four more such aircraft would be inducted ,making it a fleet of 12 high-tech surveillance planes. Dignitaries from the field of defence were in attendance during the event.

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 9

Even as ex-servicemen have expressed their dissatisfaction over the terms of the ‘one rank, one pension’ (OROP) scheme, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today ruled out any more concessions on OROP.
Parrikar said “This is democracy. Everyone has the right to demand. But the maximum… their main demand for same pension for same rank has been given. Rest is everything that we had declared (on September 5). Out of that, the confusion about VRS has been removed,” Parrikar said on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi. VRS is known as pre-mature retirement (PMR) in the forces.
The minister said the “basic core issue” had been addressed and if there was a problem, the judicial commission would look into that. He was replying to questions on veterans being unhappy with the OROP notification issued by the government on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Air Force Chief Arup Raha said the government had given directions on the OROP issue and everyone should accept it.
He said if anomalies were still persisting, these could be sorted out in due course of time. The notification does not include 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.
Ex-servicemen, who have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi since June, rejected the notification. Maj Gen Satbir Singh (Retd), Chairman of Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement spearheading the protest, had said, “The notification will not be acceptable to the rank and file. It is not one rank, one pension but one, rank, five pensions”.

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.

Ex-servicemen and their families at the veteran ‘Sampark Sammelan’ in Jammu.

Our Correspondent

Jammu, November 15

Army’s Tiger Division organised a mega ex-servicemen meet in the Satwari Cantt area of Jammu on Friday.

The Army is observing 2019 as the ‘Year of next of kin’ aimed at resolving their grievances and disseminating useful information about different welfare schemes of the Government of India. A large gathering of 800 next of kin and 400 ex-servicemen assembled at the veteran ‘Sampark Sammelan’ which was inaugurated by Maj Gen Sharad Kapur, GOC, Tiger Division accompanied with Mukesh Kumar, IG, Jammu.

To assist the next of kin and ex-servicemen, a number of mobility, medical equipment such as wheelchairs, crutches, walking sticks, and hearing aids were distributed. The programme was organised with support of the Red Cross Society, Department of Social Justice Government of J&K, Rotary Club, Jammu, and a number of NGOs.