Upbeat at over 13 lakh military veterans getting their new monetary entitlements under 'One Rank-One Pension' scheme, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said most of the rest will get their new pension by Holi.
"Over 13 lakh pensioners have got OROP benefits already. In total, we have released Rs 2,300 crore till Match 17. Most of the rest will be paid by Holi" Parrikar told reporters in New Delhi.
He said it is possible that about 10,000 out of the remaining over 7 lakh pensioners, might not get their dues cleared by Holi but they should not panic as the money will be received by first or second week of April.
"There are over 1000 branches (of banks) doing the job and, if someone does not do their job properly, it may get delayed," he said speaking to reporters here.
In a statement, defence ministry said government accords utmost importance to the welfare of ex-servicemen and has kept its promise with regard to the "historic decision" taken on September 5 to implement the more than four decades old demand of OROP.
"Payments have begun to the concerned in record time," the ministry said.
"More than two-thirds of the ex-servicemen have now been paid the OROP arrears. Payments have now reached the accounts of 13.02 lakh pensioners amounting to about Rs 2,293 crore.
This amount has been released through Defence Pension Disbursing Offices, the State Bank of India and the Punjab National Bank," it said.
As on March 17, the DPDOs have released an amount of about Rs 606 crore to about 3.20 lakh defence personnel.
The SBI has as released up to March 17 an amount of Rs 1,337 crore to 7.75 lakh pensioners which includes family pension cases.
The PNB has released as on March 17, an amount of about Rs 350 crore to about 2.07 lakh pensioners which also includes family pension cases.
