Col RP Chaturvedi has very nicely, freely and
frankly amplified his thought process on non-implementation of One Rank One
Pension (OROP) to the Armed Forces veterans, Even after its announcement by PM designate Narendra Modi at Rewari Rally and by the
NDA on assumption of office various authorities are dilly dallying the whole process on some
pretext or other and have so far been denying the veterans, the fruits of their sacrifices committed during their long tenures in the Defence Forces. The RM who had been giving expected dates of issue of
Government orders off and on, seems to have been thoroughly let down not only
by the concerned ministries who have displayed least inclination to fulfill
PM’s promise in giving OROP to the highly expectant veterans but also by the
bureaucracy itself who seem to be bent upon opposing and sabotaging the
implementation process on most unjustified arguments now being given by the
Raksha Mantri. The NDA obviously has yet to live upto fulfilling PM’s oft
repeated promise of OROP to the veterans.
One Rank One Pension (OROP) is perhaps the
longest playing Reality show in India today. It even beats popular cinema,
including the phenomenal ‘Dil Wale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge' (DDLJ) being screened
at the Maratha Mandir, Mumbai for over twenty years. OROP however differs from
DDLJ in its vibrancy. The political paradigm, the legislative cast, and the
level of the latter’s honesty of intent keep changing. There is one constant;
the Babu, lying in ambush, watchful of any improvement in the Fauji's service
conditions, pay or perks, and ever ready to scuttle such effort. This may
appear a harsh pronouncement, but Babudom's demonstrated apathy towards the Faujis
does not inspire confidence in Fauji mind. Need evidence? There is enough to
write a book.
The current legislative cast centre stage is,
Defence Minister, Finance Minister and the Prime Minister. The verbal jugglery
and contradictory public statements of these three keep stoking the suspense
and confusion around the implementation of OROP-somewhat like the Finale' of TV
Reality shows when winner is announced. Him? Me? Him? Me? OROP? No OROP? When
OROP? How OROP? Twisted Definition masquerading as OROP- Kaddu being passed off
as Mango? Dhak Dhak ! Dhak Dhak! Dhak Dhak! NDA Government's assumption of
power in 2014 raised expectations that implementation of OROP would be one of
the first items to be ticked off the new government's 'To Do' list, specially with
Mr Modi's oft repeated and apparently passionate commitment to its early
implementation. The hopes were raised further when Mr Arun Jaitley assumed dual
charge of Ministries of Defence and Finance, as he could have synthesized the
two ministries to act in concert for early implementation of OROP.
Unfortunately Mr Jaitley failed our expectations. His apathy and lack of
sincerity about the subject demonstrably stood out during a meeting with
ex-servicemen (ESM) soon after assuming office. Walking in an hour late for
this scheduled meeting, the Defence cum Finance Minister went through the
meeting without making eye contact with participants and left them with two
insights.
One. That promises made during elections are not
meant to be honored-hinting that NaMo's commitment to Faujis about OROP was
just an election ploy. Really? But we Faujis-men of honor, took our prospective PM seriously, assuming him to be
ethical (Pran Jayein par vachan na Jaye). The meeting left the veterans
confused if Mr Jaitley had got it all wrong or whether PM was indeed
unethically promising something he knew he would not honor.
Two. Continuing to avoid eye contact, Mr Jaitley
asked the shocked veterans to "Lower your expectations" regarding
OROP. Hullo? Veterans are not beggars looking for alms. Expectations? OROP is a
term precisely defined by several Parliamentary Committees over decades, AFTER
hearing all stake holders including MoD and other ministries and departments.
“OROP IMPLIES THAT UNIFORM PENSION BE PAID TO THE
ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL RETIRING IN THE SAME RANK WITH SAME LENGTH OF SERVICE
IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR DATE OF RETIREMENT AND ANY FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS IN THE
RATE OF PENSION TO BE AUTOMATICALLY PASSED ON TO PAST PENSIONERS. THIS IMPLIES
BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN RATE OF PENSION OF CURRENT PENSIONERS AND PAST
PENSIONERS AND ALSO FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS IN THE RATE OF
PENSION TO BE AUTOMATICALLY PASSED ON TO PAST PENSIONERS.” So what does 'lowering of expectations' mean?
Is Mr Jaitley suggesting a change of definition?
Reinventing the wheel? How illogical. If you want a Mango shake, and are served
a Pumpkin Shake, and told it is 'Mango Shake', would you call it Mango Shake?
It stays Pumpkin shake. Not a Mango Shake. Amazing, this simple point missed Mr
Jaitley’s legalistic mind. Change of definition does not stay OROP and is NOT
acceptable to Faujis. Period. This was the 'Dhakka Start' we had with the First
Defence Minister of NDA 2014, who showed little empathy for his watch, little understanding of issues involved, and little
ability to control, guide or steer the well-entrenched and obstructionist
MoD bureaucracy, congenitally hostile to Faujis.
Little wonder OROP stayed in cold storage during
Mr Jaitley's part time, disinterested and casual stewardship (?)
of MoD. Veteran disenchantment with the NDA consequently started
growing. Mr Manohar Parrikar's appointment as Defence
Minister towards end 2014 was welcomed with a collective sigh of relief by the
Veteran community. An unassuming, hands on, modest, hard
working and result oriented man, Mr Parrikar has been an extremely
successful Chief Minister of Goa over two terms. Alumni of Indian
Institute of Technology Mumbai, he possesses a scientific
tamper, a remarkable clarity of mind in getting to the crux of
issues, and excellent
peoples skills.
Within weeks of assuming office he got to grips
with the long pending issues gathering dust in MoD, including OROP, by
not just listening to the 'ghisa pita' MoD briefings, but also by
interacting closely and extensively with stake holders - in case of OROP,
with ESM. He thus got a better balanced picture of the situation, and then
applied his technical and analytical skills to work a way
around the obstacles, of which there are plenty in his ministry. Despite
every argument 'against' OROP having already been heard by
successive Parliamentary and Defence committees and being either rejected
or resolved, the Babus of the parent ministry of Faujis never
tire of pulling them out and presenting them as fresh logic against OROP
time and again! Mr Parrikar has painstakingly worked with a
sense of purpose to fulfill the BJP’s commitment of implementing
OROP. His resolve is a welcome change, and in contrast, to the argument
that election promises are just hoax. Veterans believe NaMo‘s
commitment to OROP is real; and feel Mr Parrikar is much more
closer to PMs Line of Thought than Mr Jaitley is.
Despite Mr Parriikar's clearly visible efforts
and resolve, while OROP is YET to be implemented and the case file keeps
shuttling leisurely from Finance Ministry to other ministries – we
are familiar with this bureaucratic delay tactic- a regular confusing
Tamasha is played out in media daily, with contrary signals of the 'announcement'
being just 'three days away' or ' just there'. There are
also (laughable) rumors
of the OROP issue being addressed to the 7th CPC
for resolution. Hullo!! Are you kidding? Do Legislative
decisions/ award get addressed to Pay Commissions for 'resolution'? CPC has
different terms of reference as any professional knows. So such
irresponsible and tension inducing 'maza lene wali khabar' from portals of
power are certainly malicious. No marks guessing who is playing
games.
The daily Nautanki resembles the 'Mutt and
Geoff' technique of interrogation of suspects, which involves one
interrogator roughing up and being tough towards the prisoner, while the
other is sympathetic, soft, friendly; ensuring one or the other
'breaks his will'. The OROP drama has its own Mutt and Geoff, and while the
Veteran community has so far played along, now the idea of being taken for a
political Mutt and Geoff Drama, is dawning on most. Far from
‘breakng Veteran will’ it’s strengthening it.
There are also Red Herrings floated around, like
'If you give OROP to Faujis, EVERYONE will ask for it'. While this
obstructionist and illogical idea has been put across ad nauseam
and killed repeatedly by various Parliamentary Committees on OROP, let me
re-explain. 97% of Faujis are compulsorily retired between
age 35 and 42, to keep a young profile in the Defence forces (That is
the reason that soldiers are referred to as 'Jawan'. Oddly, term
'Jawan' also gets used by the ignorant, to refer to anyone in
uniform- CRP, BSF etc, where the right term is 'constable'). Faujis
don’t' get to serve till 60 like other government employees. Consequent
monetary loss to Faujis as compared to their civilian counterpart is minimum 60
Lacs at age 60. It is partly to address this that OROP is needed for Faujis. If there are any other departments or forces that
send people home before superannuation, compulsorily, the same could be applied
to them, but aside from that, it is a reasoned demand approved for Faujis by
all political parties.
Shockingly the 'All will Ask for it' logic does
not get extended to the Parasitical and one of its kind illogical
and unjust loot in the world, called 'Non Functional Financial Upgrade'
(NFFU). Self served by civil services to themselves at the officer
level (Non Officer Civil employees are not covered), this
parasitical dole implies that if your batch mate is promoted, you, despite not
being promoted, will start drawing the same salary as him even if you
continue to poodle fake in the lower job. Nuances vary, with IAS
having 2 year lead over others; which the others are now fighting to get
parity over this loot of tax payer's money for rewarding mediocrity.
Tell me, which corporate would pay a guy higher salary for
doing same lower work just because his colleague gets promoted? Government
of India does this. Its like all life Happy Hour. And there are
provisions to rise to be equivalent of a Lieutenant General at retirement
time, even if you mark time all your life. Just stick around and
enjoy, maybe work if inescapable, and enjoy the fruits of your
friend’s promotion. Wow! Can it be any better?
And mind you, this NFFU Club is ONLY for Civil
Services Officers. Forgotten is the lower bureaucracy who have no
such system. There is a strong case to squash NFFU totally- its anybody's guess
how much money goes into this parasitical scheme.
With above mind set, little wonder similar divide
and rule suggestions keep appearing for 'selective application of
OROP' to certain ranks/groups. This divide and rule tchnique has never
got us anywhere as a nation, and yet Babudom keeps coming up with
such pearls of unimaginative ideas. OROP as a principle is a
universal system applicable to ALL defence personnel. Officer Men
mix is undeniably the sole battle winning factor that fetches results.
One cannot split them. Sadly, the Fauji has to explain, fight, go
to court, and still not have OROP till the Almighty calls. Many have
died waiting for OROP. Many more would likely do the same, as Mr
Jaitley advises to 'lower expectations' and scrutinize till cows
come home. Finance can afford the luxury of 'time being limitless'. For
others, it is limited. As indeed it would be individually even
for the minister. The THIRD legislative cast on OROP stage is PM Modi
(NaMo earlier in this narrative). An extremely sharp man with a
vision for India, he has risen from grass root levels of political
pyramid and learnt lessons along. His views have been consistently
developed, refined and self tested. He has deep rooted understanding
and intuitive insights into political maneuvering. I personally believe
the BJPs loss in Delhi elections was more an effort at 'AAP
Mukti' as the preceding strategy of 'Congress Mukt Bharat'. Had it not
been so, the many almost juvenile blunders would not have been
made in Delhi. No Sir, NaMo is too smart for that.
With a firm hand on affairs of state, while
policy is clearly centralized, execution is largely delegated but
closely monitored. NaMo has an excellent sense of timing and PR.
The large emotional issue of OROP is clearly a card that can be
played again and again, normally before elections.
So when does the OROP card get played? It’s
anybody's guess, but 2019 seems long way off. There will be multiple
opportunities, like during Bihar elections or Bengal or UP elections. Or both?
A multi-use will be attempted.
The veteran community is closely watching this
with concern. In an era of connectivity and an active media, secrets,
intrigue and double speak is difficult to conceal. The Fauji finds
NaMo's volte-face to a commitment that catapulted him to power
difficult to come to terms with. They are aware that last minute , perhaps
mellowed down/ watered down version (Mango and Kaddu? ) of OROP may be
announced closer to some sensitive timing, to garner support/ votes. First, it
must be clear that OROP is a defined concept and needs implementation in letter and spirit. Dilution will NOT be
acceptable to Faujs. Second. A 'Fail Safe' time line needs to be defined-
Kargil Divas seems good, 26 July, by which time 'Money iin Bank' with OROP
credits must be affected. This is a Legislative award, already
been cleared in parliament and money set aside for it. All that
remains is not so much an "Announcement" but the issue of
implementation letter by MoD, on which the CGDA can credit money to pension
accounts. Necessary tables are ready with Service Headquarters. How come fresh
tables are being talked about? Reiniventing the wheel? Whichever way, beyond
the ‘Fail Safe’ time line, a confirmation of betrayal would be assumed by ESM organizations
that OROP has not been given. No last minute announcements would help change
the situation.
It would therefore be most desirable for the PM
to conclude the OROP story now, by clearing the implementation of OROP to slip
into veteran bank accounts NOW, in the manner of "Ja Simran Ja, Apni
Zindagi Ji Le", when Amrish Puri lets go of Kajol's hand to grasp
Shahrukh's on the moving train in DDLJ.
Really, the train is steaming off. Many Veterans
have already 'Gaddi Chadh Gaye' waiting for OROP, and many are
boarding every minute. Why delay Mr PM? And Why ‘Doodh mein Mainganen Daal Rahe
ho’ Jaitley Saab'?
With Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi,
it is word of my heart.
ReplyDelete1. Thanks to Col RP Chatur-vedi for this heart touching article of ex-servicemen/veterans lives.After going through 60 to 80/90 rounds around the Sun, we are ourselves fooling by believing politicians and IAS officers who never want that defence veterans draw pension more than them with less service than them..2. I had been to Jantar Mantar ist assembly, where I found all leading veterans for publicity and and showing their faces on TV and not for concerted efferts for task in hand. 3. Please avoid such leaders. 4. All ESM organisations to come together and plan simultaneous gher bandi to Parliament House, South/North Blocks, HSC/HCs and DCs Officers in all states.5. Plan it, Govt will announce OROP immediately.
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