OROP SHAM(E)

Today is another historic day like 14 Aug 2015. On that day first time in the history of any country in the world, veterans of armed forces on protest at Jantar Mantar were manhandled by police and NDMC workers. Today the whole community of serving and retired service personnel have been shoved, manhandled, shamed and disrespected.

In a typical politico-bureaucratic move the Govt has today announced their "acceptance and implementation of OROP" with following conditions:-

1) Base yr of 2013

2) 01 Jul 2014 as date of implementation as it is post their taking over on 26 May 2014.

3) Average of minimum and maximum pension for each rank to be given safeguarding interest of those getting higher than average.

4) Not applicable to those who took pre-mature retirement.

5) 5 yearly review for equalization.

OROP as defined by all Govts incl this one even today , by the Khoshiaty committee and the Supreme Court is "Uniform pension to be paid to armed forces personnel  retiring in same rank with same length of service regardless of their date of retirement with future enhancement in rates of pension automatically being passed on to past retirees" 

Keeping in mind the definition accepted base year and date of implementation are a matter of administrative detail and it doesn't matter which date is finalized. However logic of date being post taking over of present Govt smacks only of political opportunism not worth commenting upon.

However balance three issues are contradictory to accepted definition of OROP and defy the very basis of need of OROP. Points to be kept in mind are:-

1) OROP is needed because of service conditions in which armed forces personnel function... steep pyramidal organisation denying career progression which causes early retirement including those who seek pre-mature retirement POST qualifying service which entitles them to pension equal to a regular retiree of same rank with same yrs of service. Hence the red herring of OROP not being made applicable to those seeking pre-mature retirement equating them to VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme) in which an employee is given lump sum money (Golden Handshake) without pensionory benefits is an ABSOLUTE EYEWASH to portray armed forces personnel as greedy SOBs who are leaving forces for greener pastures and still want more pension in the garb of less service rendered. Truth is farthest from this. Most of premature retirees move out AFTER 20 yrs of service due to domestic/ financial / legal or lack of promotional avenues in the services. They are AUTHORISED to draw pension and hence OROP must be applicable to them. That the Govt willingly lets them go because it saves huge amount in terms of foregone pay and perks for the balance number of years before superannuation is not being spoken about. Those who are medically boarded out due to battle injuries before qualifying service do not get regular pension hence the blatant lie of the Govt in this regard that they will be included in OROP needs to be understood clearly. Hence Govt's attempt to create classes within the Class of veterans as part of "Divide and Rule" policy must be highlighted and rejected vehemently.

2) All Govt employees other than armed forces are entitled to ACP (Assured Career Progression) thrice in their service which gives them higher salary. Secondly they get NFU (Non Functional Upgrade) which means every time an employee gets to a higher grade of pay all those  of his / higher seniority get that higher grade of pay. This results in all of them getting the MAX of the pay grade / band. Armed Forces personnel do not get NFU. However the Govt has announced that it shall give average of minimum and maximum pension drawn in each pay grade / band for armed forces when fixing it as part of OROP. Why this differentiation when already denied ACP and NFU? It must be fixed at Maximum of each Grade / Band for each rank.

3) OROP means one pension for each rank. Every year increment is paid to serving people increasing their last pay drawn resulting in higher pension for retirees of that year. If Pension Equalization is not done every year then OROP is denied to all those who have retired till last year. Hence revision every 5 years has no meaning / logic. There is no administrative or logistical difficulty (nightmare as yold by Govt) in doing yearly review as is being done for DA (Dearness allowance) and NFU. It's all software based and calculated within no time. A facade of administrative impracticality is being created just to hoodwink the general society.

Why is Govt bent on discouraging, dividing, disappointing, demeaning and downgrading own armed forces personnel is not understood by me. Why must the civil service personnel have so much apathy and mistrust of uniformed personnel that they behave in the manner not even British administrators behaved with Indians? Can't they see that civil-military relations and trust is on the brink of being broken? Serving personnel are watching all the drama and despite grave provocation and inaction by top brass of armed forces there has been no untoward incident in the country....unlike others who would have by now burnt a few vehicles and stopped a couple of trains and highways. Before the sentry on guard at LOC whose father / brother is sitting at Jantar Mantar loses complete faith in his Govt and decides to take matter in his own hands, it would be in the benefit of this country that normal citizens, civil servants and the politicians all alike realize the folly of cutting the roots of the tree they are sitting on and reverse this Sham(e) of announcement on OROP done with only elections in Bihar in mind. Any one who thought this is in response to hunger strike by veterans need to get his mental faculties examined.

Jai Hind.