Govt implements OROP, pension of ex-servicemen to be revised every 5 years: Manohar Parrikar
Government on Saturday announced the implementation of the long-awaited OROP scheme assuring an equal pension to three million military personnel retiring in the same rank.
Government on Saturday announced the implementation of the long-awaited OROP scheme assuring an equal pension to three million military personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of the date of retirement. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar announced the one rank, one pension scheme during a press conference.
Benefit of OROP will be given with effect from July 1, 2014, a date immediately after the present government assumed office, Mr. Parrikar said. OROP arrears will be paid in four half-yearly instalments; all widows, including war widows, to be paid arrears in one instalment.
Veterans, who had been holding protests across the country for 82 days, met Parrikar and said the defence minister had assured them that the government has broadly accepted the concept of OROP.
To begin with, OROP would be fixed on the basis of calendar year 2013, he said. Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners retiring in the same rank and same length of service.
The government is considering appointing a committee under a judge to go into the issue of equalisation of pension, a leader of the ex-servicemen group fighting for One Rank One Pension said after a meeting with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
After the OROP announcement Major Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh said, “It is good what govt has announced on OROP. We are satisfied. We don’t accept the decision not to give OROP benefits to those who have taken voluntary retirement.”
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