CHANDIGARH: The announcement of Rs 1,000 crore in the Union budget for the implementation of much-awaited one-rank one-pension (OROP) policy has come as a rude shock for the defence fraternity in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, which has termed the amount as "insufficient".
According to veterans, the Union ministry of defence (MoD) had proposed Rs 3,000 crore per year before a 10-member parliamentary panel led by BJP leader and Nainital-Rudrapur MP Bhagat Singh Koshiyari. Even Union finance ministry had recommended Rs 1,300 crore under OROP for 2011-12 financial year and Rs 1,730 crore for 2013-14.
"The allocation of just Rs 1,000 crore for the year by the finance minister is mere eyewash, and not related to OROP. I think the government has been misled by bureaucrats," said Brigadier (retd) K S Kahlon, president of All India Defence Brotherhood (Punjab Chapter). High court advocate Major Navdeep Singh, who has been taking up welfare issues of defence personnel, said that Rs 1,000 crore for one year would not meet the demand of the "accepted' definition of OROP". "I think the very concept of OROP has been misinterpreted by the central government," he said.
Defending the government, war veteran Lt General (retd) P N Hoon, who has been associated with BJP, said Rs 1,000 crore might be insufficient but at least something had been done. "What did the previous governments do so far? Coffers are empty, but with the passage of time the government would increase the amount," he said. There are around 30 lakh ex-servicemen in the country out of which 8 lakh are from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Punjab has around 3 lakh former defence personnel.
According to veterans, the Union ministry of defence (MoD) had proposed Rs 3,000 crore per year before a 10-member parliamentary panel led by BJP leader and Nainital-Rudrapur MP Bhagat Singh Koshiyari. Even Union finance ministry had recommended Rs 1,300 crore under OROP for 2011-12 financial year and Rs 1,730 crore for 2013-14.
"The allocation of just Rs 1,000 crore for the year by the finance minister is mere eyewash, and not related to OROP. I think the government has been misled by bureaucrats," said Brigadier (retd) K S Kahlon, president of All India Defence Brotherhood (Punjab Chapter). High court advocate Major Navdeep Singh, who has been taking up welfare issues of defence personnel, said that Rs 1,000 crore for one year would not meet the demand of the "accepted' definition of OROP". "I think the very concept of OROP has been misinterpreted by the central government," he said.
Source: Times of India
3 comments:
In the light of over all perspective of this year's Union Budget, expecting OROP to be implemented from 1-7-2014 and portraying the collective frustration through various fora from across the nation will be an exercise in futility. Even the authorities at the MOD are at a loss to understand the modalities in its implementation since the allocation bears no nexus with the quantum of funds required as determined by the Parliamentary estimates committee. With many fathers claiming credit for the grant of the long standing demand during election fever - from Raga to Modi, and the allocation of Rs 500 Cr.by P.C. in the interim budget was explained away only as indicative of the desire ! Now with another Rs.1000Cr. added up, the committee of Secretaries will be asked to design some sort of bridging to mollify the ageing veterans at the exit gate, and leaving others to fight their battle for the elusive "Marich" till their own call comes from heaven. In pursuance of the decision, the very meaning of OROP will undergo an organic change, with word smiths in the bureaucracy charged with this "Man slaughter " project busy in finding a new interpretation for the acronym !
Krishnan Bala (400845) GURGAON
Sir,
This shows that u can't believe any politician,whether it is this party or that party.They pray god till they pass the bridge and make fun of him after reaching their destination.
The wait is not over even after MODI govt. in power.
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