The government has announced the One Rank One Pension scheme for defence veterans on Saturday. The announcement was made by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Here are the developments:
5.21 PM: We urge ex-servicemen to stop agitating since their basic demand of OROP met; ancillary issues can also be discussed: Venkaiah Naidu
5.18 PM: The entire country is happy for OROP. Modi ji deserves all the complement: Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu
4.55 PM: OROP announcement a great disappointment, provisions have been substantially diluted: Former defence minister AK Antony
4.49 PM: Launching a scathing attack against Congress, Union Minister and General (Retired) VK Singh said, "opposition should keep there mouth shut ..this is not has been done in last 42 years ..for the veterans protesting at jantar mantar i will talk to them this evening about there disappointment."
4.40 PM: We thank the government for the OROP announcement..premature retirement clause is not acceptable to us ..5 year revision clause is also not acceptable, according to us it should be every year..one member committee is not acceptable, we demand 5 member committee: Major General Satbir Singh
4.30 PM: Will withdraw fast unto death if the government withdraws decision on not including pre mature retirement and accepts the essence of OROP: Major General Satbir Singh
4.00 pm: Ex-servicemen have declared that they will continue with the relay hunger strike and protest unless there's clarity on the modalities of OROP implementation.
3.50 pm: Major General Jagi Mahil says satisfied with the government proposal but premature retirement remains a bone of contention as 50% soldiers take premature retirement
3.30 pm: Reacting to the implementation of One Rank One Pension, the BJP patted its own back, saying it is only the Narendra Modi government, which has taken the courage to implement the scheme that the veterans deserve.
3.25 pm: Think we will have to carry forward the agitation, will take a final decision: Major General Satbir Singh on OROP
3:20 pm: While the veterans accepted the implementation decision and thanked the government for the same, Major General (Retd) Satbir Singh said that they did not accept the proposal of one-man judicial panel and the five-year equaliser.
3.10 pm: Announcing the One Rank One Pension (OROP), the Defence Minister said that the base year for the implementation will be calendar year 2013, with equalisation every five years.
July 1, 2014 will be the date of effectiveness of OROP.
3.04 pm: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar addresses press conference on OROP implementation
1.43 pm: We have suggested that there should not be a one-member panel to look OROP implementation, but should be a five-member team, including three veterans, says Major General Satbir Singh. The time frame for the same must be one month.
1.10 pm: Following their meeting with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the defence veterans have said that they were assured that the basic concept of OROP has been approved, and the full announcement would be made later in press meet.
1.04 pm: Defence veterans' meeting with Defence Minister ends, likely to address media shortly
12.15 pm: Veterans divided over government proposal on OROP, says sources
11.27 am: Colonel (Retd) Pushpender Singh says the government proposal on OROP, which is expected today, is not acceptable to him.
11.15 am: If the government can give a new proposal and assure that a junior will not get more pension than a senior, we will consider it, says ex-servicemen.
11.05 am: Veterans to meet Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar ahead of OROP announcement, to address media at 1 pm.
10:46 am: Group Captain (Retd) VK Gandhi says the ex-servicemen won't accept the government proposal. He said that the veterans will intensify protest, adding that they do not want to indulge in violence.
10:36 am: BJP president Amit Shah to meet party spokespersons at 1 pm today ahead of expected OROP announcement.
10:30 am: Colonel Anil Kaul says that the veterans won't accept the proposal of the Narendra Modi government for a revision every five years. He suggested that the ex-servicemen won't relent, and may even intensify their agitation.
While the number of military veterans is over 24.25 lakh, there are nearly 6 lakh widows, too, who are entitled to lifetime pension. The current pension of defence forces is Rs 54,000 crore and it will increase to Rs 75,000 crore after OROP is implemented.
Almost 85% of military personnel retire before age of 40 but civilian employees serve till the age of 60. Only 1% of military personnel serve upto age of 60. While the number of registered ex-servicemen is 24.25 lakh and there are over 13 lakh serving military personnel. The estimated cost of OROP will be Rs 8,300 crore.
One Rank One Pension scheme has been a long-standing demand of the ex-servicemen. It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel who retire at the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.
Several retired defence personnel have been protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for One Rank One Pension. Some of them are also on fast-unto-death.
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