Stir to be intensified with Anna Hajare
Nagpur.
The issue of OROP (one rank one pension) has been lingering over a long period of time and the ex-servicemen have been fighting for it, but the result seems to be in the offing. The dejected ex-servicemen opened their heart while talking to the media persons during a press conference held on Aug 20 at Tilak Patrakar Bhavan here in the city.
The members of Indian Ex-servicemen’s League unanimously lambasted the BJP government for dillydallying the issue, despite making lip-service statements of assurance on it. They felt that they were now gradually losing hope from Modi-government, which has failed to realize how ex-servicemen are constrained in terms of inadequate amount of existing pensionary benefits they are now receiving.
The League condemned the act of lathi-charge on ex-servicemen at Jantar Mantar, where they were protesting against the government for their rights. The League questioned why the OROP was being denied to ex-service men when equal pension formula was admissible to the officers of IAS and IPS cadres. The ex-service men have now decided to launch their stir with Anna Hajare at Satara on Aug 23, against the government.
While speaking to Nagpur Today, Former Petty Officer (Naval) Abhay Ghate said that the Government has been deferring the decision on a very vital issue of One Rank One Pension. He claimed that the retired defence personnel from all the three
wings Services —Army, Navy and Air Force, should have a uniform pension.
He said that while on active duty, every defence incumbent performs vital role in defending the country. Therefore the salary-structure of personnel of equivalent ranks in all the three wings should be on par. This will in-turn ensure an equal pension. To
add to that, the ex-servicemen have been demanding an equal pension immaterial of the year of their retirement (whether it is before 2006 or thereafter, as on 2015). They feel that the disparity in the pension received by the defence personnel, for example, one who retires after 2010 is significantly more than those who retired before 2010.
Those who were present during press conference included ex-Naval Petty Officer Abhay Ghate, ex-Naval Commander Milind Hastak, ex-Lieutenant Colonel G S Jolly, ex-Air Force Sergeants Gopal Wankhede and Vilas Dhavne.
