Letter to PM, RM and three Chiefs Titled Grant of One Rank One Pension to Defence Veterans dated 05 Jul 2012 is circulated herewith for further dissemination please.
Dated: 05 Jul 2012
Dr. Manmohan Singh
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
10 Parliament House
New Delhi -11
GRANT OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION TO DEFENCE VETERANS
Hon’ble Prime Minister,
1. This has reference of our letter dated 14.03.2012 addressed to all Members of Parliament and reply received from MoD (Pension Grievances) signed by Mr. Ajay Seth (Accounts Officer) (Copy attached).
2. We are deeply concerned at the way the welfare issues of Defence Personnel are being dealt with by the Govt. Letters to the PM are written only when all efforts to get the issues resolved have not borne results. Mr. Prime Minister Sir, we wish to inform you that we have appealed to every possible authority including your goodself a number of times on the issue. It seems that your staff does not even put up our letters to you since no reply is received which has your approval. Accounts Officers/Section Officers send the routine bureaucratic reply which does not even mention that the PM has considered and the draft of the reply has his approval.
3. One Rank One Pension (OROP) has been strongly recommended by Rajya Sabha Petition Committee and its recommendations were tabled in Rajya Sabha on 19 Dec 2011. Action Taken Report (ATR) by the Govt was due within three months ie by 18 Mar 2012 which is still awaited. The salient features of the recommendations were forwarded to all members of Parliament and others Govt functionaries. These are once again given in succeeding paras.
4. Findings and Recommendations of the Rajya Sabha Petition Committee Report on OROP:-
(a) Concept of One Rank One Pension. OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service irrespective of their date of retirement, and any future enhancement in the rates of pension be automatically passed on to past pensioners.
(b) Govt Justification to deny OROP Untenable. The Committee has not agreed with the infructuous arguments offered by the Government to deny OROP to Defense Pensioners/Family Pensioners. The committee observed that the three reasons i.e. Financial, Administrative and Legal, given by Government to deny OROP are untenable and merely a smoke screen to deny the ex-Servicemen their rightful dues. The Committee felt that such injustice to the Defence Forces is only due to bureaucratic apathy.
(c) Historic Perspective Justifies OROP. The Petition Committee observed that not only has the demand of OROP been included in the manifests of all leading political parties but it has also been repeatedly considered by all Central Pay Commission since the 3rd CPC in 1973, numerous committees like Inter Ministries Committees, Group of Ministers and Committee of Secretaries besides two Parliamentary Standing Committees on Defence of 2003 and 2010. In view of the above, the Committee felt that there is merit in the demand for OROP by Armed Forces Personnel.
(d) Bureaucratic Manipulation to Change Established Concept of Military Pensions. The Committee observed that in order to adequately compensate for the uniqueness of the armed forces as distinct from the other Govt servants, the concept of military pensions was historically better and different from that of the remaining Govt Servants. However, this was arbitrarily and without any justification changed by 3rd CPC in 1973. The Committee opined that the Govt has not been able to provide any justification for changing the established concept and reducing military pension and the decision to align military pensions with civilian pensions was an ill considered decision, which gave rise to the demand of OROP.
(e) Uniqueness of Defence Forces- No Commonality with Other Services. The Committee observed that the Govts apprehension that civilian pensioners will also demand OROP is baseless because of tougher and harsher conditions of service of the armed forces vis-à-vis the civilians and there is no commonality between the Defence Forces and other Govt services. The two cannot be equated and the armed forces deserve special dispensation.
(f) Ex Servicemen Discontent is Distressing.“The Committee is distressed to note that the defense personnel of our country have returned their service medals to the President of India because of the Governments' apathetic attitude towards them. The Committee felt that such alienation should not recur and their legitimate and fair demand of OROP be accepted.
(g) Small Financial Outlay. “The Committee noted that out of the total financial liability of Rs 1300 crores for the year 2011-12 in case OROP is implemented fully for all the defense personnel in the country, the liability for the Commissioned Officers would only be Rs 235 crores and remaining for JCOs and Other Ranks. The Committee feels that Rs 1300 crores is not a very big amount for a country of our size and economy for meeting the long pending demand of the armed forces of the country.
(h) Recommendation.
(i) “Keeping in view all the above factors, the Committee strongly
recommended that Government should implement OROP in the defense forces at the earliest”.
(ii) Applicability for Future Increases. “The Committee further recommends, for future, the pay, allowances, Pension, family pension, etc. in respect of the defense personnel should be determined by a separate commission so that their peculiar terms and Conditions of service, the nature of duties they are required to perform, etc., which are quite different from the civilian work force, are duly taken into account while taking decision on the same”.
5. This is an important demand of the Defence Forces and has been strongly recommended by almost all PMs, all political parties, three parliamentary committees on Defence. It is not understood as to why the same has not yet been accepted by the Govt? The fact that this issue remains unresolved for a long time and is still being persisted by the Defence Veterans and the three service HQs indicate the importance and genuineness of the demand. This has been duly analysed by the Rajya Sabha Petition Committee which found it totally justifiable demand and strongly recommended its sanction and implementation. The reasons so for given by the Govt and the Committee of Secretaries headed by the Cabinet Secretary to deny the OROP have also been strongly rejected by the Petition Committee. .
6. Sir, the Defence Veterans are getting restless due to total apathy and disregard being shown to them. It also adversely affects the serving defence fraternity since most of them have veteran kiths and kins and the fact that they would also be veterans in due course of time. OROP is a concept which in the form of Military pensions existed till 1973 when the 3rd Central Pay Commission clubbed the Defence Personnel with other Civilian Central Services; a decision which the Petition Committee felt was unwise. The Defence Personnel have suffered thrice over; one they were denied their system of Military Pensions, (the pension of Defence personnel were reduced while that of Civilians Counterparts were increased. The highest pension of civil servant till 1970 was Rs 416.50 Pm/- while that of Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) it was Rs 1000 Pm/. In 2006, pension for both is Rs 45000/- pm, which means while the pension of Defence highest rank has increased only 45 times, that of civilian highest rank it has increased 108 times). There is just no justification for the same. Thirdly, while Non Functional Upgrade (NFU) has been granted to Group A Central Services and IPS, the same has been denied to the Defence Officers and for other ranks, the Third Assured Career Progression (ACP) sanctioned by the 6th CPC award for all Govt employees, has been denied to the soldier Sepoy who is being compulsorily retired after 15/17 years of service. These are glaring and serious issues of injustice and need to be resolved immediately.
7. OROP is just and fair demand which must be sanctioned immediately. This affects over two million defence veterans and over three lacs widows. The IESM Governing Body is compelled to decide that incase the OROP is not sanctioned by 15 Aug 2012, the protest Movement across the country will be intensified. Sir, this decision though very painful has been forced on the Defence Veterans since concerted efforts for the last over four years have been nullified by the Govt Apathy towards the welfare of Defence Veterans.
8. We earnestly, request you for your personal indulgence and grant of OROP to the Defence Personnel immediately to stop any further alienation, demoralization and anguish to the defence fraternity.
With Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian Ex Servicemen Movement
Mobile: 9312404269, 0124-4110570
Mobile: 9312404269, 0124-4110570
Email: satbirsm@gmail.com
Copy to :-
Gen Bikram Singh, - With request for collective intervention
PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC
Chief of the Army Staff to address the serious shortcomings
Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Army) and consequent injustice to the
South Block, New Delhi-110011 defence forces. OROP must be got sanctioned at the earliest.
Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma, PVSM, AVSM, ADC
Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and
Chief of the Naval Staff
Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Navy)
South Block, New Delhi-110011
Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne, PVSM, AVSM, VM
Chief of the Air Staff
Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Air Force)
Vayu Bhawan, New Delhi-110011
Sir, these politicians undrstand only language of Military Dictatorship and not of democratic one. Give them some lesson before 15 August, 2012.
ReplyDeleteJAI HIND JAI JAWAN
letters add ressed to the prime minister are replied by a accounts officer . Earliar the armed forces were equated with ias and ips now even grde -2 crpf and coast guard officers have been given a higher grade . what more insult can be heaped on the solder sailor ,airman. THE ARMED FORCES SLOGAN WELFARE OF SUBORDINATES COMES FIRST IS HOLLOW OTHERWISE HOW GENERATIONS OF SERVICE CHIEFS HAVE ACCEPTED THE OROP
ReplyDeleteWHICH AUTOMATICALLY INCREASES THEIR PENSIONS BUT THEIR JUNIORS LANGUISH IN PAIN AND POVERTY. NOT ONE
HAS SET A EXAMPLE LIKE A CIVILAN MP MR SHEKHAR WHO HAS REFUSED THE MP SALARY HIKE TILL OROP IS IMPLEMENTED
It is not the time for fighting between Officers and Other Ranks, but to get OROP implemented by the present Congress Govt. who is going under the political, economic and ESMs pressure. It is ironic that while denying OROP in 2008 they have stated 3 conditions for not tenability of demand of OROP. One Technical.Two Legal. Three Financial. Give them tit for tat. Or let one Hitler of India to take birth in Army Generals in India to level the Politicians and MOD Babus/Beauracratics.Jai Hind. Jai Jawan.
DeleteDear Ashok, OROP will not be given by letters etc., it has to be earned by the dictatorship like Hitler ( Someone from Armed Forces listening?)only in INDIA.
ReplyDeletecopy of this letter should be sent to the President of India also who is our supreme commander as well published in all national news papers so that at-least the nation will know the problems of their armed forces.
ReplyDeleteMehar
Sir, India is a democratic country where every vote is counted and it has a value. Retired defence personel should pledge to the party full support which looks after their welfare. This requires to be cordinated by the heads of organising welfare agencies. One must remember soldier worth is appreciated in battle field and not in peace time. Therefore, wait for the time when people will say again JAI JAWAN
ReplyDeletecol lamba yours views are high level of thinking only officers of armed forces are getting very less pay and pension, jcos and jawans are getting pay/pension more than their capacity and regards the govt of india and quit satisfied,Now govt of india should think about the officers of armed forces,they are all in all and others personnel of armed forces are not doing anythink. all assissance required to civil authorities , officers of armed forces are giving,when they failed in their above mentioned fields, only officers are working,so govt of india should regards the officer ranks for increase of their pay/pension by giving them one rank one pension, thanks reply
ReplyDeleteI feel very pity up on you. You think only about officers. The officers exists because of other ranks.
DeleteVery Positive development: Finally, a time-bound committee to look into, and implement the resolution of anomalies affecting defence personnel and veterans
ReplyDeletePrime Minister’s office has directed the constitution of an anomalies committee to look into many vital anomalies affecting serving and retired personnel and also their families.
The best part of the directions signed this week is that the committee is to submit its recommendations within a month and the implementation of the accepted recommendations may also be announced on 15 August 2012, thereby marking a radical signal of positivity.
Though chunk of the bureaucracy in the Ministry of Defence was not inclined to let any such committee come through,
this has been possible due to multiple channels of Track-II diplomacy and the stellar efforts of the Chairman COSC and the Pay Cells of the three services
evoked direct response from the Raksha Mantri who then took it upon himself to get this committee approved from the Prime Minister personally and directly without being blinded by comments of lower bureaucracy of the MoD.
Howsoever we may view the development, many important issues such as Non-Functional Upgradation, enhancement of pensions of widows, One Rank One Pension, enhancement of Grade Pay of Lt Cols / Cols / Brigs, universalisation of scales, grant of HAG+ to all Lt Gens, removal of pay anomalies of other ranks etc have been listed in the charter of the committee.
It is however surprising that while the PM had directed that the constitution of the committee may be publically announced, the same has not been done by the staff at MoD till date despite the fact that the directions were conveyed by special courier (by hand) to the MoD for immediate action by the PMO.
MY EFFORTS OF SIX MONTHS & OYHERS FINALLY GOT A POSITIVE SHAPE
1.FINALLY PM HONOURED ALL MY REQUESTS SUPPORTED BY MOD
2. PMO HAVE ACK ALL
3. REST HOPE VERY VERY POSITIVE WITH IN A MONTH 15/8/2012
the armed forces must put their foot down and have the threechiefs of personnelco-opted in the committee and three retired exservicemen of pay commission cellstogether with major navdeep singh supervising and advising the service and retired members.only then some justice will appear to be done otherwise a few peanuts will be thrown to the senior ranks and others left in lurch. the armed forces system lacks collective bargaining and the babus willdivide and rule and the whole nation will watch
ReplyDeletedebates on tv channels amongst foolish forces trying to berate each other.
EFFORTS OF SIX MONTHS FINALLY GOT A POSITIVE SHAPE
ReplyDelete1.FINALLY PM HONOURED ALL MY REQUESTS SUPPORTED BY MOD
2. PMO HAVE ACK ALL MY CASES OF PAY & ANOMALIES EXTRA.
3. REST HOPE VERY VERY POSITIVE WITH IN A MONTH 15/8/2012
Description: https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSvV5ADTNPKlOahdE7VWLRBc_Ow9tJlaw6NMN8kSEgUUaHN0GMb
Committee to look into pay and pension related issues of defence services Friday, July 13, 2012
The Government has decided to constitute a Committee, for which Cabinet Secretary will be the chair person to look into pay and pension related issues of relevance to defence services personnel and ex-servicemen. The other members of the Committee will be:
(i) Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister
(ii) Defence Secretary
(iii) Secretary, D/o Expenditure
(iv) Secretary, D/o Ex-Servicemen’s Welfare
(v) Secretary, D/o Personnel and Training
The Committee’s ‘terms of reference’ will be to look into the following issues relating to:
(i) Defence services personnel:
Common pay-scale for in-service JCOs/ORs
Initial pay-fixation of Lt. Col/Colonel and Brigadier/equivalent
Review and enhancement of grade pay
Placing of all Lts General in HAG+ scale
Grant of non-functional up gradation (NFU) to armed forces personnel
(ii) Ex-servicemen:
One-rank one-pension
Enhancement of family pension
Dual family pension
Family pension to mentally/physically challenged children of armed forces personnel on marriage
The Department of Expenditure will service the Committee. The Committee may co-opt any other member. The Committee will finalize its recommendations and submit its report to the Prime Minister by 8th August, 2012.
AT TIME OF LATE CHIEF MINISTER PUNJAB KARION THERE USE TO BE ONE IGP ASHWANI KUMAR
ReplyDeleteLATER ON PUNJAB SPLIT INTO PUNJAB, HARYANA, UT CHANDIGARH THUS NUMBER INCREASED THREE TIMES.
AT TIME OF COAS MALHOTRA POLICE WENT ONE RANK UP SO IGP BECAME DGP & LOT OF PROMOTION IN CHAIN
AFTER SOME TIME POLICE DID ORGANISATION CHANGE JAIL/ADM/CRIMINOLGY EXTRA SO NUMBER FURTHER INCREASED
AFTER 6TH CPC DIG PLACED ABOVE COL WHO WAS INITIALLY A JUNIOR TO LTCOL
NOW SEE AMOUNT OF DGP ADDL DGP & IGP FLOATING ARROUND IN VISHAL PUNJAB[HARYANA PUNJAB UT].1/1/2006
Col. Lamba Sir, I think you are trying to take credit for Committee set up by PM for 15.08.2012. The report is to be given on 08.08.2012 and not on 12.08.2012 as reported by you. Donot try to differentiate in Officers and Jawans, all this extra services of flood, naural calamities etc are not performed by the defence officers only. They do it with the help of PBORs/JCOs/Jawans, hence OROP is a just demand of all veterans.You people are bringing problems of minor nature at the time of OROP implementation by the Govt. every time i.e. oensions of Maj. General, Lt. Col, Brig etc. for personal interest of Chairman IESM/IESL etc. Hence the Govt. gets time to delay it. Hence the right demand of veterans is pending for 3 decades. Shooting at own feets by the Higher Officers of Armed Forces. You need to blame yourself only for degradation of officers by High ranking Army officers only due to wrong pride of being Generals. Wish you and us all the best for OROP.
ReplyDeleteYours faithfully
Anonymous
Sir,
ReplyDeleteHony Lt rank given after retirement to a Sub Maj may also please be considered for financial benefit under OROP please
Ex SM/Hony lT RAJINDER KUMAR
EMAIL - rajinder.chhibber@yahoo.com
Sir,
ReplyDeleteI salute you and your valuable views. But these Babus never understand the words of gentle man. In our country, till the time army revolt like in British time, these Babus who think themselves real ruler of the country will not give an ear to the soilders of the nation who actually keep awak for 24x365 on our porouse borders and they sleep peacefully in the AC room.
The days are not far now, to prove true the words of Great Chnakya to Chndragupta Maurya about his army.
Sir, keep posting such motivating comments for the knowledge and itegration of all soilders of the nation to snatch the right. It is very true that right has to snatch and could get by begging.
Yours colleagues
Dear Col Anand,
ReplyDeleteYou are doing a fabulous job for your country and for your men in uniform. I am an ex Jawan. Officers on retirement should join you and ask for good welfare for active/serving people as well as ex service personnel. If our active soldiers are looked after well, automatically our numbers will increase a lot, and we all would follow the leaders for doing good deeds towards the entire defence forces.
Prem Singh Negi Hav,
11 August 2012
It is with great pain to read from the media that this being the second case of grave indiscipline in the army which took place in this year. We have never heard such an incidents in the history of independent India ever before. Incidents of Solders engaging in a fist with officers can never be tolerated with, whatever may be the reason for that. Our army is unique in the world for its structure& discipline. The cause of indiscipline started after the implementation of 6th pay commission which has been prepared with a civil structure & disregard to military requirements .The hierarchy of discipline persisted for other ranks earlier was the JCO who acted as a link between officers & other ranks, then the Havildar was the link between JCO , NAIK & SEPOY. The Naik was the link between havildar & solders. Hence a perfect system of chain of discipline was followed. The military management structure consists of officers at top management & the JCO’S at the middle management. The officers were kept much distanced from the soldiers whose approach can be made only through intermediaries; The school of military management has created it with a great thought since ordinary solders with less education are always subjected to momentary emotion & feeling. The sixth pay commission has violated above basic principle of division of responsibility of armed forces envisaged by the school military managent. In context the need for a separate pay panel for defence forces need not be emphasised. The sixth pay panel has neglected the hierarchy in other ranks, for instance they have equated the havildar who was a link between the JCO & Naik to sepoy in their pay scales. This can be confirmed from the pay band of the other ranks. Hence the channel of responsibility& discipline was damaged by the sixth pay panel which needs to be repaired. This is the main cause that leading to gross indiscipline. There should not be a direct channel between officers & solders without the above intermediaries. Let us hope that the ministry of defence under the able leadership of our honourable minister Mr.A.K.ANTONY will take appropriate steps to maintain the reputation of our armed forces in the eyes of the world
ReplyDeleteYou said it. Very correct. Let us hope for the best.
Delete1. I am humbly requesting your kind honour, that the case may be re-examined, also requesting to take some necessary action by which the benefit of IIIrd ACP may be made applicable to those PBOR who were retired after implementation of 6th CPC, so that those PBOR who were retired in between 01 Jan 2006 to 31 Aug 2008, should also get a little bit financial benefits
ReplyDelete2. If such benefit is awarded, I am being a retired NCO, I am expecting that your intervention may yield a good result to me and my fellow PBOR, who were deprived of the promotion after rendering exemplary & distinguished service.
3. I shall ever been grateful to you for this act of kindness.
Thanking you in anticipation,
Yours faithfully,
(Faujdar Ojha)
DEAR READERS
ReplyDeleteONE OF THE MOST USELESS UPA GOVERNMENT IS AT PRESENT AT INDIA WHICH IS SHAMEFUL TO ALL INDIANS. AS PER OPINION OF WASHINGTON EDITOR THE COMMENTS PASSED BY HIM TO PRIME MINISTER MAN MOHAN SINGH IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT AS HE DO NOT WANT TO STAY AT INDIA . I FOUND THAT HE IS ALWAYS AT OUT SIDE INDIA. THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT IS NOT GOOD FOR INDIAN ARMED FORCES EXPECIALLY FOR BELOW OFFICER RANKS. THE MAIN WILLIAN IS PATTI CHIDAMBARAM AS FINANCE MINISTER . HE IS A CORPORATED SIDED MINDED MAN AS HE IS ALWAYS SIDE WITH AMBANI BROTHERS, PREMJI, ETC ETC. AS PER MY KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF THE MAIN BASTERED IS IAS / IPS IRS/IES/ ICS CATEGORIES IF FOUND SOME BODY KILL THE BASTERED IAS OFFICERS ON THE SIGHT. ONE DAY INDIA WILL GOES TO ANY OTHER COUNTRY AS HAPPENED BEFORE 1947.IF INDIAN ARMED FORCES STRIKE FOR THEIR BENEFITS THAT DAY THE NATION WILL GOES TO HELL THAT DAY IS VERY NEAR. ALL TERRORIST GROUPS ARE EAGERLY WATCHING TO ATTACK INDIA. REMEMBER BASTERD IAS OFFICERS .
SREE KUMAR KK
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteA Time bound high level committee studied the cases and submitted their report to the PM on 27 Aug 2012, but what happened after that, is that case thrown in to cold storage instead of PM considering it. When will PM find time to see those committee reports. The PM already promised many things but never honoured his own promises. The politicians and bureaucrats say yes for every thing but when the time comes to give it they say No. A person who says yes and do nothing later is not at all a person and no question they become gentlemen or even men.
Dear Sir's
ReplyDeleteNo hope of OROP from this corrupt Government & the corrupt Bureaucracy. Our Leader's Of IESM & IESL has to sit together and to review their plan's to go ahead for this justified demand of OROP with a new action plan, we are a disciplined big organization and has got power in our hands, than why to cry like a child for OROP to this corrupt leaders of so called democracy, they are only LOTTO this country & doing nothing at this stage we defense people can not become a watch Dog to the Nation ?
With Regards
Dr Amar Singh Yadav (Retd JCO Arty)
A Nationalist
TS/NK SURESH DUTT ARMY NO. 13872998.... 511 ASC BATALIAN ME IMAANDAARY SE NOKRI KARKE ITEM 13(3)(1) SE PAPER BANAYE GAYE..PAR ... AB TAK PENTION KE LIYE DOUD RAHA HU COURTS ME...Sachaai or Imaandaari ko 15 saal daba kar rakha gaya... by asc records... ASC RECORD Jhoot kahta raha ki local discharge hain... or jab bina kaagzo ke main supreme court tak haar chuka tha...to RTI act 2005 ka pata chala.. jiski madad se pention papers to ASC RECORD Ko bhejne pade... par ab EVIDENCE ko undekha kiya ja raha hai... court ke chhkkar, wakeelo ki fee, or case dismiss... SIRF ISLIYE KYOKI supreme court se haar ho chuki..par koi ye dekhne ko tyaar tak nhi ki evidence to ab aaya hai through rti2005 act.. AB judge kahte hain ki rti2005 se aise agar aapka evidence aa gaya to hum aise kitne logo ke case reopen karein?
ReplyDeleteapni kursi or nyaay ko bhula chuke ye judge...
High court me jo judge hain wo aise darte hain jaise ki unko koi faansi de dega sach padhne se... koi padhne tak ko tyaar nhi... rastrpati...or.. ak antony... ye to letters ke javab tak nhi dete...
mere kadam mera saath nhi de pa rahe...kyoki main andha ho chuka ratina me blood se or pair bhi katne ki nobat par hain... diabties ki wajah se...
Sirf ab Insaaf ke liye ladte ladte marne ka raasta bacha hai... main jaanta hu ki mujhe mere bharat me insaaf milna mushkil hai... mere liye shyad hi koi awaz saath de.. damini par pura desh ekjut hokar kuch khaas nhi kar paaya.. to mujh akele andhe aadmi ko koun insaaf dega..
aakhri saanse na jaane kab aa jaaye isliye ye lekh likh raha hu,,, jisko padh kar judges, president, defence minister ko SHARM aa sake... un Gaddaro ke khilaaf main koi kaarwahi to nhi maang raha jo meri zindagi me itna dard bhar gaye,,,, main to bas mout ya insaaf chahta hu...
words by EX NK SURESH DUTT
WRITTERN by- son of ARMY SOLDIER- 9953640777 DELHI