Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar announced the implementation of the long-awaited One Rank One Pension or OROP scheme for defence veteranson on Saturday. Government has decided to implement OROP under which there would be revision of pension every five years as against two years demanded by the ex-servicemen. The base year would be calender year 2013 for calculation of OROP and it will be implemented from July 2014, Parrikar said. The estimated cost to implement the scheme would be Rs.8,000-10,000 crore.

Parrikar said, “OROP is a complex issue. A thorough examination of interests of retirees of different periods and different ranks is needed. The inter-service issues of the three forces also require consideration. This is not an administrative matter alone”.

Defence veterans reject One Rank One Pensionn, call it a betrayal:

Reacting to the announcement, leader of the agitating servicemen Maj. Gen. Satbir Singh (retd) said that while the veterans were satisfied with the government’s intention to implement OROP, the proposed benefits were not acceptable to them.

Expressing dissatisfaction over government’s proposed benefits under OROP ex-servicemen said, “ We do not accept the decisions not to give OROP benefits to those who have taken premature retirement. We also disapprove setting up of one-member judicial committee. According to us, the government has accepted one of our demands and rejected six…at this point we cannot withdraw the agitation based on these details”.