THE EXPRESS INDIA NEWS : NEWSPAPER

OROP

JCOS AGITATION AT JANTAR MANTAR : FACTS AND MYTHS

1.       JCOs who are not benefitted by OROP – II are agitating at Jantar Mantar levelling all kinds of allegations that Officers have cornered all the benefits of OROP -II. There is a need to understand how far this allegation is correct. Firstly, officers serving or retired have no role to play in manipulating the tables of OROP- II. Secondly, it is not true all officers are benefitted. There is no increase in pension in OROP – II for Lts and Capts who are SL officers, RCOs and SCO officers. Since they got their commission at very late age, they retire with less commissioned service hence do not get promoted to higher ranks.

2        *Fixation of Pension in OROP. *The policy letter dated 07 Nov 2015 on OROP clearly explains that the fixation of pension of Pre – Jul 2014 pensioners is done taking Average pension of those retired in the same rank, same length of service and same group X or Y (for JCOs) retired in the calendar year 2013. For example, if a Subedar retired in May 2004 with 30 years of service in Group Y will get the same Average pension of Subedars / MCPOs- II / Warrant Officers with same length of service of 30 years and of same Group Y. It is very important to note that Pre – Jul 2014 Subedars will get benefit only if they meet the following conditions in OROP – I w.e.f. Jul 2014.

• Subedar / MCPO-II / WO with 30 years’ service and of Y Gp should have retired in calendar year 2013.
  
  
• If not retired, then pension of Subedar / MCPO-II / WO retired with lesser length of service (say 28 years) of Y gp will be taken as the pension for pre – Jul 2014 Subedars / MCPO – II / WOs of 30 years’ service. This is to ensure no Subedar of longer length of service gets lesser pension than Subedar of lesser length of service actually retired in calendar year 2013.

(c)      It is also ensure for same length of service higher ranked pensioner gets higher pension. Say if Subedar with 28 years’ service is fixed pension same or more than Nb Sub with same length of service. This is to ensure higher ranked pensioner cannot get lesser pension than a lesser ranked pensioner.

(d)      *Concept of Average Pension. *In case two or more Subedars / MCPOs – II / WOs with service of 30 years and group of retired in calendar year 2013, then the average pension which is 50 % of (maximum pension + minimum pension) is fixed as pension of all pre – Jul 2014 Subedars / MCPOs- II / WOs.

(e)      *Below Average Hiked to Average.* In case there are Subedars / MCPOs-II / WO whose pension is less than Average retired in calendar year 2013, then their pension is equated with Average pension. Such Subedars / MCPOs – II / WOs retired in calendar year get financial benefit.

(f)      *Above Average Pension is Protected.* If there are Subedars / MCPOs-II / WOs drew higher pension and retired in calendar year 2013 will continue to get their higher pension as pension earned by longer service in the same rank of Subedar cannot be reduced. Such higher pension than Average is protected.

3.       *Why Some Pre Jul 2019 Pensioners do not get Arrears in OROP-II?  *  The Pre – Jul 2019 Subedars / MCPOs / WOs drew higher pension than what is the average pension of those who retired in calendar year 2018 in OROP – II. The reasons for this are as under:-

(a)    *Enhancement of Penson Twice for Pre – 2006 JCOs / OR.* The pension of Pre – 2006 JCOs / OR in the period of  Jan 2006 to Jun 2014 has been enhanced twice to bridge the gap in pension between Pre – 6^th CPC and post – 6^th CPC pensioners. First time it was enhanced in 2009 and second time it was further enhanced in 2012.

(b)    *Equivalization of Penson between Pre – 6^th CPC JCOs / OR and Post – 6^th CPC JCOs / OR.* The pension of Pre – 2006 JCOs / OR were made almost equal to the pension drawn by those retired in calendar year 2013. That is why they felt OROP – I from Jul 2014 was not beneficial. They are blaming 6^th CPC for fixing lesser pension. This is not true. Having got two hikes in pensions in 2009 and 2012, the JCOs / OR cannot blame 6^th CPC. Moreover, the pay and thus pensions are fixed by CPC based on the grade pay and equivalence between civilian employees and armed forces employees. It cannot be said only JCOs /OR were fixed lesser pay and hence pension by 6^th CPC.

(c)    *Officers Did not Get any Hike from Jan 2006 to 2013. * Another myth propagated is Officers got higher pension in OROP-I. There was no revision of pension for Officers between Jan 2006 and Jun 2014. Hence the pension of Officers retired in calendar year 2013 was higher and the same was given to Pre – Jul 2014 retired officers.

(d)    *Different Fitment Factor for Officers & JCOs /OR.* Another myth being propagated is officers are given higher fitment factor by 7^th CPC of 2.82 whereas JCOs / OR are given fitment factor of 2.57. All are given the same fitment factor whether one is an officer or JCO /OR. Even the Central Govt civilian employees whether they are Officers or subordinates were given the same fitment factor of 2.57.

(d)    *Benefit of Average Pension Not Given to Those pensioners Retired in the period Jul 2014 to Dec 2015.* Those who retired in the OROP period till Jun 2014 were given the benefit of lesser pension than Average pension being hiked to the level of Average pension. Thus, many such JCOs /OR till 30 Jun 2014 got financial benefit as their lesser pension due to lesser number of increments was hiked to the level of Average pension. But the same benefit is not given to those who retired in the period of Jul 2014 to Dec 2015. The pension of such retired personnel in the period Jul 2014 to Dec 2015 in 7^th CPC got fixed at Pension in Dec 2015 (lesser than OROP beneficiaries) x 2.57. Thus, such Post Jul 2014 to Dec 2015 pensioner got lesser pension w.e.f. Jan 2016. The OROP beneficiaries having got their pension same as Average pension got higher pension in 7^th CPC which came to Pension in Dec 2015 (Average pension of OROP-I) x 2.57. Thus, most of the JCOs got much higher pension in Jan 2016 compared to the pension of those retired in calendar year 2018.

(e)    * Average Pension of Those Retired in Calendar year 2018 is Lesser than Pre – 2016 Pensioners. * Those who retired in calendar 2018 were in service in 2014 and their pay was much lesser till 2015. Even when their pay got enhanced by 2.57 fitment factor of 7^th CPC and with increments @ 3% per year, the pay hence pension in calendar year 2018 is lesser than pension of those enjoyed benefit of OROP – I.

(f)    *PCDA (Pensions) in Reply to RTI Query. *. PCDA (Pensions) Prayagraj in reply to queries filed under RTI Act 2007 informed that the Pre – Jul 2019 pensioners will be eligible for benefit of OROP- III due from Jul 2024.

(g)    *Pension is Reduced. * It has been clarified both in the letter of Min of Def (ESW) dated 20 Jan 2023 and Circular 666 of PCDA (Pensions) Prayagraj that if the pension of those retired prior to Jul 2019 is higher than that given in pension tables of OROP -II, the pension will not be fixed  to the disadvantage of the pensioner. They will continue to draw their higher pension. Therefore, it is a myth to say that pension of JCOs has been reduced. Pension once fixed cannot be reduced.

(h)    *Everyone Should Get Higher Pension. *. OROP is not same as Central Pay Commission where every employee of Central Govt gets increase in pay hence pension by a fitment factor of say 2.8 or 2.9 in 8^th CPC. OROP envisages the pension of those earlier retirees being less shall be equated with pensioners retired later whose pension is generally higher due to increase in pay by Central Pay commission. In few cases, the JCOs might be drawing higher pension though retired much earlier than the current retirees. In such case such JCOs may get higher pension only in next OROP.

*Demand for Equal MSP*

4.The MSP is military service pay to compensate for harsh working conditions in the Armed Forces compared to civilian Central Govt employees. Even Britishers used to give higher pay to Armed Forces personnel for this very reason. That extra pay was converted as MSP by later Central Pay Commissions. Hence the MSP or extra pay prior to Aug 1947 was based on the rank. Officer used to draw higher Extra pay compared to JCOs / OR. Pay cannot be same for all. The same formula of different pay is given to Officers and subordinates in Central Civilian employees.

*Demand of Same Disability Element for All. *

5.     The disability element is not fixed by Min of Def. It is fixed on the recommendation of Central Pay Commission. The rule is same for both Armed Forces personnel and Civilian Central Govt employees. For 100% disability, the disability element is 30% of Last Reckonable Emoluments. Therefore, disability element of a Maj Gen is higher than Lt Col. Similarly, the disability element of Sub Maj is higher than Havildar. The Armed Forces cannot have different rules of disability element.

*Same Benefit Irrespective of Rank*.

6.     *The gallantry award* monthly monetary allowance is same whether it is won by an Officer or a JCO or a NCO or a Sepoy.

7.     *Constant Attendant Allowance. * It is same for any disabled soldier who suffers 100% disability whether the disabled soldier is an Officer or a JCO or a NCO or a Sepoy.

     Any Veteran needs any further  clarification on above facts can consult other Ex-Servicemen Organization like IESL,IESM or TSEWA

Writer is President cum Gen Secy of All India Ex-Servicemen Sanjha Morcha and Dir(Hony) Veterans Association Ontario and member of Indo-Can Veteran Association.