A letter from Brig Mahalingam and further followed by a letter from Lt Gen SK Bahri PVSM to the Defence Minister,
Dear All,
Military Pension is a concept
devised by the bureaucracy with some intent. The concept must be viewed with
caution by the leaders of the Veteran’s community presently engaged with the
Government on the issue of OROP.
As it seems, the nomenclature of
the proposal suggests that the Government is likely to lay down a Pension Band
like the present Pay Band. The point that is likely to be missed out is,
equating the pension of the Veterans of the past with the pensions of soldiers
retiring from service today with equivalent rank and service. As a result the
Pension Band is likely to be much below the Pension applicable to personnel of
the same rank and length of service retiring today. The implication
would be, even if the pension band, say for a Brigadier retiring with 25 years
of service is Rs 2000 per month with an increase of Rs 25 for every 6 months
increase in service, it would fit in with the definition of OROP. In other
words, the Pension Bands may be delinked from Last Pay Drawn.
The bureaucracy may be banking on
cashing on this interpretation to circumvent OROP. Once announced the
Government will go whole hog to mislead the general public to claim that the
Veteran’s demands have been fully met as the pension from then on would be same
for persons of the same rank with same service irrespective of their date of
retirement. .
It appears to me that instigated
claims of CAPFs demanding OROP, the JCOs and OR getting less increase due to
OROP etc. are being generated to create friction amongst ranks and files of the
army as well as the Veteran’s community. It would also enable the Government to
create a belief amongst the civil population that OROP indeed is a complicated
process. On this very pretext of allegedly being able to examine the issue of
OROP comprehensively to include CAPF and other Police Forces, the issue may be
palmed off to 7th CPC. The larger aims and approach of the
Government (read bureaucracy) explains the delay in implementing OROP.
If you study this carefully, it
may be a sinister plan something similar to the 3rd CPC. This
will reduce the pension of the present retirees delinked from their Last Pay
Drawn. In the long run, the pensions of the Defence Community will be hit very
hard.
The purpose of writing this mail
is to caution those handling the issue including the Service HQ of the likely
pit falls. Even after the Government makes the announcements, the experts from
the Veteran’s community and the Service Headquarters need to study the letter
carefully before claiming success or expressing happiness over the issue. We
should remember how the Rank Pay was skirted even after the Government letter
was issued.
Incidentally, along with OROP, we
need to insist that a rep from each service and the Veteran’s community need to
be included in the committee working out the details of the scheme. It is time
the Service HQ and the Veteran’s community also insists that similar
representation is accepted in the 7th CPC before it is too late to mend things.
I sincerely hope and pray that my
assessment is totally wrong and misconceived. I would be happy if the
Government proves me wrong by implementing OROP, the way it was conceived and
perceived.
Regards,
Brigadier V Mahalingam (Retired)
Dear Mr Defence Minister,
Reference the trailing mail from Brig Mahalingam.
A few days ago a team, including me, from IESM met the FM due to
the kind courtesy of Gen VK Singh. Col Rajyavardhan Rathore was also present.
During this meeting the FM came up with the suggestion of a base pension for
each rank and an additional amount for each year of service, in lieu of OROP.
We asked him as to how and who will fix the base pensions, to which he said
that the 7th CPC could do it. He also offered that he would accept a retd Lt
Gen as a member in the CPC. We insisted that this should not be done, as
firstly, pensions as per the Koshyari Committee be paid from 1/4/14 till the
award of 7th CPC is announced. Thereafter, the salaries of the serving
personnel may be fixed by the 7th CPC and consequently our pensions will follow
as per rules. We would however, like that the 7th CPC restores the differential
of pension as existing prior to 3rd CPC, which affects the largest number of
ESM. The increase of civilian pensions without a corresponding increase in our
pensions was patently unjustified and against all norms of justice.
Secondly, as the FM had offered to include an officer from the
Services, I feel we should push for it even though it is late. The advantage
would be that we could be warned by him of any underhand deals being done by
the bureaucrats, to our disadvantage. We should also insist that we be not
classified as shudras and be equated with the Class A
services. You being the appointed guardian of the Defence Forces have a duty
towards them, which you have been executing very well so far. So please
continue.
Thirdly, the demand of CAPF is a red herring intended to muddy
the waters, so that the government can put hurdles in resolving the issue of
OROP.
With warm regards.
Satish
Bahri
Lt Gen SK Bahri PVSM
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