One Rank One Pension: Know reason why Modi govt is delaying scheme

Behind One Rank One Pension scheme delay, worry about small hike for jawans: Indian Express

MoD sources said that the main reason behind the delay is the minuscule increase that jawans may get if OROP is implemented in its present form.

Written by Pranav Kulkarni | New Delhi | Updated: June 26, 2015 8:31 am

As ex-servicemen steadfastly press for the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP), top Ministry of Defence (MoD) sources have said that the main reason behind the delay is not funds, but the minuscule increase that jawans may get if OROP is implemented in its present form.

Sources said that the concern within the government is that the jawans may get an increase of just about “few hundred” rupees per month — a raise that may not justify the decade long OROP agitation.

The fear within political decision-makers is that OROP, if implemented in present form, may result in many dragging the government to courts, and may even create a political crisis. “It is no longer a budgetary concern. The formula to arrive at Rs 8,300-odd crores has already been approved. The real worries within South Block are political. Under the present formula, the jawans may just get about few hundred rupees of increase per month in their present pensions. This amount, the political class within the present government believes, is too small to pacify the agitation that has been spread over almost three decades,” a top Defence Ministry official said.

According to the official, the implementation — which is just short of being announced any moment, may trigger dissatisfaction and will result in soldiers dragging the government to courts and become a political issue. Citing the reason behind the small increase for jawans, the official said: “The government, in 2009, corrected the pensions of retired armed forces personnel to parity as per Sixth Central Pay Commission.

The jawans largely benefited out of the correction as the pension amounts increased. So the gap that earlier existed has largely been bridged. Rs 5000 crore has already been spent on bringing about the parity,” the official said. According to Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement (IESM) data, OROP — if implemented in its present form — will ensure an increase of between Rs 525 and Rs 1,720 to jawans in their monthly pensions by virtue of percentage of their low basic pensions. Widows will get a hike of Rs 1,500 per month. The officers are likely to get a per month pension increase between Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000.

According to sources, UPA too was worried about the political and legal consequences of these “relatively small” monthly increments after implementing OROP and had carried out “three rounds of equalisation” to work out a solution.

The MoD official said that so far, the present government, though committed, has not carried out any such equalisation. Group Captain V K Gandhi, general secretary, IESM said, “Our present demands have been agreed upon not only by officers but even by jawans. We are not willing to accept any dilution in the demands.”

New Delhi, June 26: In the midst of ongoing protest against one rank one pension by Army veterans, sources have revealed the reason why Modi government is delaying the plan. Reportedly, the government is in the favour of implementing the scheme as soon as possible, but there is a major hiccup in the way of the scheme. Read more: One Rank One Pension: PMK slams PM Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar Defence sources say that government is apprehensive about the fact that Army Jawans will be at the receiving end if OROP will be implemented in its present form.It is being said that the Centre has sufficient funds for the scheme, but biggest worry is that Jawans will get only peanuts in terms of monetary benefits if scheme will be followed upon.

The defence sources say that the Army Jawans will get a hike of only “few hundred” rupees per month in comparison to the officers and that is why policy makers are not going ahead with the plan. This little hike after a long agitation and protest will give all the Jawans a good reason to hold grudge against government. According to an Indian Express report, the Centre believes that sulking jawans may drag it to the court, leading to a big political crisis.

Expressing deep concern about the scheme, a Defence Ministry official was quoted by this daily as saying, “It is no longer a budgetary concern. The formula to arrive at Rs 8,300-odd crores has already been approved. The real worries within South Block are political. The official further said, “Under the present formula, the jawans may just get about few hundred rupees of increase per month in their present pensions. This amount, the political class within the present government believes, is too small to pacify the agitation that has been spread over almost three decades”. When prodded further why the Jawans will get such a low increment, Defence official told this to the daily, “The government, in 2009, corrected the pensions of retired armed forces personnel to parity as per Sixth Central Pay Commission. The jawans largely benefited out of the correction as the pension amounts increased. So the gap that earlier existed has largely been bridged. Rs 5000 crore has already been spent on bringing about the parity”. OROP in its present form will give a hike of around Rs 525 and Rs 1,720 to jawans while the officers will get increment of around Rs 10,000 to 20,000.