ONE RANK ONE PENSION GETS CENTRE NOD : ANNOUNCEMENT THIS MONTH

1 RANK 1 PENSION GETS CENTRE NOD : ANNOUNCEMENT THIS MONTH

May 18 2015 : The Times of India (Hyderabad)

The long-awaited one-rank, one-pension (OROP) for over 25 lakh exservicemen is set to be announced this month, with a corpus of about Rs 8,300 crore, after several false starts since the NDA government assumed office one year ago.

As earlier reported by TOI, the ministry of defence (MoD) had earlier cleared the implementation of the OROP mechanism but it was being vetted by the finance ministry. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar told journalists in Goa over the weekend that the finance ministry would clear OROP “in a few days“.

It will be announced once PM Narendra Modi returns from his three-nation visit to coincide with the first anniversary celebrations of the NDA government on May 26. It will come as a big relief to ex-servicemen, who have been agitating for the OROP mechanism for several years now, with many of them even returning their medals to register their protest against what all political parties have promised but never actually delivered.

OROP basically implies payment of a uniform pension to personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement. For instance, two officers who served as colonels for seven years will get the same pension even if they retired a decade apart. A colonel with five years in that rank will obviously get lesser pension based on a graded scale.

The Modi government has defined “military pension“ as a category separate from other kinds of pension since soldiers, sailors and airmen as well as their officers, who retire at a much younger age and serve hardship postings, cannot be equated with other government employees.

Successive governments in the past had contended that granting full OROP was neither financially nor administratively possible since it could lead to a cascading effect with similar demands being made by others like paramilitary personnel. But this time, the government says military pension has been classified as different from other pensions. The majority of soldiers, for instance, retire when they are just 34-35 years old.

(SOURCE-New Delhi:TIMES NEWS NETWORK)

One Rank One Pension Cleared in Principle, PM Modi to Take Final Call: Sources

All India | NDTV.com | Updated: May 17, 2015 18:08 IST

NEW DELHI:  The Centre has in principle cleared the 'One Rank One Pension' scheme for retired armed forces personnel, sources have told NDTV. The Govt  has made a provision for an additional  Rs.8300 crore for this purpose.

Sources say once Prime Minister Narendra Modi is back on May 19 from his three-nation tour, a final round of discussions will take place with him. The official announcement is likely to be made later this month, coinciding with the first anniversary celebrations of the NDA government.

The scheme, which seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel who retire at the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement, has been a long-standing demand of the over 20 lakh ex-servicemen in the country.

The government has already made it clear that One Rank One Pension will be implemented with effect from April 1, 2014

(Source- NDTV)

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PATIENCE OF ESM IS BEING TESTED TO THE UTMOST NOW BY MODI GOVERNMENT

Arvind Vig‎EXSERVICEMEN - FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT

My dear fauji brothers,

1. I just spoke to Maj Gen Satbir Singh, Chairman IESM. Today was the last day of the current Parliament session and it was expected that before Modi Govt. completes 1 year, OROP would be announced. However there has been no announcement till now and the parliament has been adjourned. We are highly disappointed.

2. Our Raksha Mantri had been giving deadlines for the implementation of the OROP. But none of the deadlines has been met. Was he fooling us and buying time?

3. Our dear PM Mr. Modi started his election campaign at Rewari with the promise of One Rank One Pension for soldiers. Why is he silent now? Why is he not telling Jaitley Babu and Manohar Parrikar to implement OROP? Jaitley ji had said," Politicians promise many things before elections."

4. Group A civilians have already been granted One Rank One Pension indirectly by the Govt. through the NFU (Non-functional upgradation) route. Now every civilian of Group A service will get pension of at least Additional Secy (Lt Gen).

5. Even the SC and HC Judges, MPs and MLAs have been granted one rank one pension. Army, Air Force and Navy Chiefs and Commanders (C-in-Cs) have also been granted one rank one pension.

6. It is said that one former bureaucrat Mr. N N Vohra had said," OROP over my dead body." Is Modi so weak that he cannot tame the babus? He launched jan Dhan yojna in no time but OROP, tariq pe tariq.

7. The soldier of the country who faces bullets and sacrifices his life for this nation has been betrayed again. What do we do now? Should we launch nationwide agitation in form of hunger strike?

8. Our patience is being tested to the utmost now. Kindly give your views. Also do not forget to share this post/message and spread it please.

Thanks,
Ex-servicemen unity zindabaad.
Jai Jawaan

CSD issues new guidelines for purchase of grocery & car from June1st 2015

CHANDIGARH: Canteen Stores Depot (CSD) has introduced new guidelines for car purchase for defence personnel as officers are now entitled to buy a car of up to 3,000 cc and the frequency of purchase is limited to once in four years. The new guidelines will be implemented from June 1.

Earlier, the officers could buy a car of up to 2,500 cc and the frequency was once in four years.

Junior commissioned officers (JCOs) having been granted honorary commission are eligible to buy a car up to 2,500 cc and the frequency is once in seven years. Earlier, they could buy a car of only up to 1,500 cc and the frequency was once in seven years.

Other JCOs are eligible for a car of 2,000 cc but the frequency is limited to once in service and once after retirement. Also the first car could be purchased after 10 years of service and the gap between two purchases will be of at least 10 years.

Earlier, JCOs were eligible for a car up to 1,400 cc and the frequency was once in service and once after retirement.

Soldiers are now eligible for a car up to 1,800 cc and the frequency is the same as that for JCOs -- that is once in service and once after retirement -- and also, the first purchase can be made after 10 years of service and the difference between two purchases is to be 10 years. Earlier, they could buy a car of 1,400 cc and the frequency was once in service and once after retirement.DUE TO INFLATION

The limits of purchases have been enhanced across all categories due to inflation. The new rates will be implemented from June 1. Also, the unit-run canteens are being asked to ensure attractive items being sold strictly as on required basis and not in excess quantity. “Strict watch be maintained on sale of items where there is a large difference in the CSD and market rates, such as suitcases, watches, pressure cookers, fans and other attractive toiletry and cosmetic items. The profile of customers be strictly watched for spending beyond means,” said the new guidelines.

NEW MONTHLY LIMIT ENHANCED

For officers and honorary commissioned JCOs, the monthly limit has been enhanced from `7,000 to `11,000, in case of JCOs from `5,000 to `8,000 and those of other ranks from `3,500 to `5,500. The limit on liquor card has been increased to `2,500 across all ranks per month.