OROP ******************** From: Satish Kumar Bahri To: COAS ; CNS ; CAS Sent: Subject: OROP Dear Chiefs, It is 19 Apr 14 today and there is still no news about OROP. From the enquiries I am receiving it is evident that the ESM are getting restive at not getting any news about it. They understand that it is not easy for the govt (bureaucracy!) to give in without a fight against OROP. The Babus have tried all kinds of filibustering for nearly 30 years to frustrate soldiers. I am sure that DESW will make full use of Mr Harbans Singh a reemployed JS, to cause as much delay as possible and ensure that the simple soldiers are done out of their legitimate dues, as much as possible. He is an old fox who has mentioned to an ESM, who had retired as an ambassador, that every thing is permitted in love and war. I know there is no love between us so we are virtually fighting a war with a dept which is ostensibly looking after our welfare! Having closely watched the machinations of the bureaucracy during the 4th CPC I am sure they are once again up to some mischief. In 1986 the CPC award for soldiers was announced 4 months later than their civilian colleagues, all because the Services were not happy with the award, specially for JCOs and OR. Mr VP Singh and Mr Arun Singh were then RM & RRM respectively. Mr VP Singh had moved to MOD from Finance Ministry so he had prolonged meetings with Fin & Def Secys to straighten out the kinks and finally they got a promise that the letter will be issued as discussed before midnight. Next morning the Services got the letter without the amendments agreed on earlier. Mr VP Singh was livid and gave a deadline of noon the same day to the two Secys for issuing the revised letter. This was told to me by the ex RM himself after he had resigned on the Bofors issue, when we travelled together by air from Pune to Delhi. He also stated that the Services had suffered maximum damage after the 3rd CPC. Dont we know now? Knowing the Services mind set of getting a job done at the earliest and being diffident in claiming our dues, as though we are the guardians of our nations treasury, I would suggest that we do not try to solve the bureaucracys problem by giving out our expectations. The Babus have cheated us before and we should not get cheated again in our desire to get over this hurdle as early as possible. Dont we remember us getting a measly Rs 70 as separation allowance and Rs 150 as high altitude allowance while staying in a bunker at 12,000 ft, when they collected 25% of their basic pay while staying in a bungalow at Bomdila/Towang, with their families. In 1969 the civilians gave themselves a raise without telling us about it. It was eventually sorted out in 1970. Similarly why should we not claim MSP for HAG+, Army Cdrs and Chiefs? They have earned it and so they must get 50% of it, like others. Is the pay/pension of our civilian counterparts going to be a limiting factor for ever. So my dear Chiefs, please do not show your hand till they expose theirs, so that we do not put ourselves in a straight jacket. Let the Babus produce the tables for our pensions during your discussions and then we can fight for anything they miss out, as the definition of OROP is very clear. A couple of months delay will be acceptable to the ESM as the atmosphere will hopefully change after 16 May 14! With warm regards Lt Gen SK Bahri (Retd) A3/502 World Spa East Sector 30/41 Gurgaon 122001 Tele 0124 4143180/181 Mob +91 981000 2800
Posted on: Sat, 19 Apr 2014 17:25:33 +0000
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