'It seems to us that bureaucracy is again at its best machination to delay, dilute and finally destroy our most legitimate, already sanctioned scheme of OROP.'
The letter the Veterans sent the prime minister.
Dated: 25 Oct 2015
Hon'ble Prime Minister,
Jai Hind!
1. Today is the 133nd Day of our Protest Movement 'Relay Hunger Strike' at Jantar Mantar and other locations in the Country for Non Implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP), the assurance given by you to the Defence Fraternity when you started your LS Election Campaign at Rewari on 15th Sep 2013.
2. The announcement made by RM on 05th Sep 2015 regarding the Implementation of OROP is NO OROP and has seven serious shortcomings. If implemented without the removal of these shortcomings, this will kill the very definition of OROP which has been approved by two Parliaments, strongly recommended by the Koshyari Committee and promised by you to ESM and Armed Forces Personnel. Sir you even promised the serving soldiers grant of OROP at the highest battle field in the world on Diwali day.
3. OROP stands sanctioned by your Govt but not yet implemented. By delaying it for the past 16 months after your Govt came to power, gives us no confidence and is a cause of serious concern to us for having been left out and not cared for. We are deeply hurt and anguished on this stepchild treatment by the Govt.
4. It seems to us that bureaucracy is again at its best machination to delay, dilute and finally destroy our most legitimate, already sanctioned scheme of OROP. It is surprising that Govt has accepted the definition of OROP as approved by Koshiyari Committee but in the same breath has imposed conditions thereby completely destroying the definition. This is the paradox disturbing the ESM and forcing them to sit at JM opposing this announcement.
5. RM has been changing 'goal post' every now and then. On 5th Sep 2015, he said the Notification will be issued in one month’s time. Later, he said it will be issued before Navratri and now says, the notification will be issued after Bihar Elections. It is a sanctioned scheme of the Government for the Defense personnel and issuing of Notification to our mind, is not barred by the Election Commission. This unnecessary dilly dallying on the announcement is adversely affecting morale of Armed Forces Personnel as they see their future at JM. It is giving them a feeling that they are being treated as stepchild in India and Government will probably not give justice to Armed Forces Personnel and Ex-servicemen.
6. We do not at all like to be on the roads demanding OROP Implementation. Sir, 'JIS DESH KE SAINIK SARKON PAR US DESH KA DURBHAGYA HAI.' We request our Prime Minister to issue instructions for the implementation of OROP exactly as per the approved definition without any Dilution at the earliest please.
7. May we also request you for a meeting which we have sought many times earlier also but it seems our request might not have been brought to your knowledge?
Yours Sincerely,
Col Inderjit Singh Chairman UFESM/Maj Gen Satbir Singh, SM (Retd) Advisor UFESM and Chairman IESM
IMAGE: An Indian Vet at the OROP protest.
