From: Satish Kumar Bahri Date: Wednesday, 24 September 2014 OROP (One Rank One Pension) To: Prime Minister Cc: Maj Gen BC Khanduri , Arun Jaitley , VK Singh , CAS , COAS , CNS Dear Mr Prime Minister, Soldiers have remained apolitical since independence, but our personal political preferences, like ones religion, were never worn on our sleeves. However, over the last 67 years the defence community, which has shed blood in the defence of this Nation has got disgusted with the step motherly treatment meted out to it by all the governments that came to power. Amongst them the last one was the most cussed. So the soldiers were really enthusiastic when there was speculation that an experienced administrator like you was being put up by the BJP as its prime ministerial candidate. Armed Forces being a totally secular group, unlike the pseudo secular parties, were not too enamoured by the BJP but a number of us ex servicemen met Mr Rajnath Singh in early 2013 and had informed him that we will exhort all ESM to support Mr Modis candidature for PM - and we did. The ESM rally held by you in Sep 13 was attended by me and many others and we were happy that you gave a commitment that you will grant OROP if the UPA did not. The UPA did announce it in Feb 14 and the then RM reiterated his instructions in a number of meetings for working out the details our entitlements. But the bureaucracy defiantly did nothing about it. A short history of the travails of getting OROP through this obstinate bureaucracy is given below in my mail of 15 Jul 14 to the RM and copied to you. You may be aware that the very next day, 16 Jul 14, some of us had a meeting with Mr Jaitley. Before we left his room in the Rajya Sabha he said that he will depute the CGDA to work out the details of the funds required to meet this commitment. We had immediately protested that we did not trust the CGDA and the bureaucrats to give us a fair deal. Although I had suggested in the meeting that as, a) Koshiyari Committee had given a clear definition of what OROP means b) The past and present FMs had stated in the Parliament while allocating funds for OROP in their budget speeches that the Rs 500 crs & Rs 1000 crs respectively were not the limit. it only involves replicating the pensions being paid to the new retirees to old pensioners, with similar rank and service, it should not be a major task to work out the cash outlay required for a whole year, if the government orders the payment of pensions at the new rates for three months from 1 Apr 14, as declared in the budget. Mr Prime Minister, our fears about the the CGDA have been proved right. We understand that the RM ordered the CGDA to form a committee and work out the financial impact soon after the meeting. However, not a single meeting has been arranged by her in the last two months, thereby forcing the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee to question the RM about the seriousness of the CGDA to resolve the matter. Possibly this person and her colleagues seem to get a sadistic pleasure in frustrating the ESM or, she has the backing of someone very senior to soft pedal the issue. The MOD as a whole has been fighting against the ESM on issues already decided by the two highest bodies in the land, be it the Parliament or the Supreme Court Of India. Our rank pay, revision of pension after the 6th CPC or OROP are not being implemented deliberately. The RM having dual charge and due to his health, has not been able to assert himself ie., if he wants to! So we are wondering if OROP will ever see the light of day. May I mention to you that when we met Mt Jaitley on 16 Jul 14 and exhorted him not to dilute the definition of OROP as spelt out by Koshiyari Committee, he made an odd statement that politicians, when faced by their constituents, tend to make tall promises. In view of this Mr Prime Minister, should we take your commitments with a large pinch of salt? We as soldiers do not expect such a double faced attitude from a leader like you. I would like to inform you that thanks to our concerted efforts serving personnel are also now permitted to exercise their voting rights. The expectation of an early announcement of OROP by you is turning into frustration as evident from the calls I receive from retired soldiers from Mysore, Chennai, Sholapur, Bhopal, Ramgarh, Kolkatta, Bhubneshwar, Chittorgarh, Ambala, Moga, Jullundhar, Srinagar (J&K) and many other places in the country. All ask one question - When is Modi going to give us our OROP? Sir, the elections in Haryana and Maharashtra are due very shortly and a large number of ESM and serving soldiers are going to vote in these two states. I hope the BJP is not shooting itself in the foot by delaying/denying them their due. Specially, if there is total silence from the government about its intentions. If there is a shortage of finances you must take us into confidence, so that we can suggest deferred disbursement which reduces the burden during the current year. But silence will anger the soldiers and it may result in an unpleasant surprise for the NDA. The results of bye elections in Uttarakhand, which has a large population of ESM, was only a trailer. Please do not test the patience of ex soldiers. With warm regards Lt Gen SK Bahri PVSM Chairman Alliance Of Ex Servicemen Organisations
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 03:08:07 +0000
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