Col. Manoj Pal
New Delhi: One Rank One Pension (OROP) is selling like hotcake among the soldiers and pensioners and had been a popular topic for around a decade now. The OROP has been important for polity, governance, budget, administration, security and social issues. OROP has been a very dear to the soldiers.
Press Information Bureau in a press release on 23 December 2022, has made a headline specially in the circle of social media posts and WhatsApp groups about revision and payment of arrears of OROP with effect from 01 Jul 2019. On implementation 25.13 lakhs Defence Pensioners will be benefitted and Rs 23,638 crores to be paid as arrears. It will incur an estimated additional annual expenditure for implementation of the revision calculated as Rs 8,450 crore as Dearness Relief (DR). Our readers are informed that to beat the inflation, relief provided to government employees are called Dearness Allowance (DA) and to pensioners, it is called Dearness Relief (DR).
This press release has not come at its own but by the order of Honourable the Supreme Court and after delaying for over 10 months as the revision of OROP was to be implemented and arrears to be paid by 31 Mar 2022. The defence pensioners who include officers, Junior Commissioned Officers, soldiers of Indian Army, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, defence civilian, Cost Guard, DSC and GREF personnel, DAD etc., have been eagerly waiting since 2019 for a notification from the Government about revision as it was due to be revised with effect from 01 Jul 2019. But the so called Pro-Armed Forces Government of BJP led by Prime Minister Modi has not paid any head to the requests from various quarters. The Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement and Other. had to file a case before the Apex Court to get the legitimated rights and dues once again and protest at/through various forum to make it possible.
Taking our readers to flashback, the issue of OROP goes five decades back in 1973, when Indira Gandhi let government terminated the OROP model. After lot of brainstorming, committees, Modi Government passed it in 2014. Prime Minister Modi, on 15 August 2015 while delivering the Independence Day speech at Red Fort Delhi announced its acceptance and implementation from 01 Jul 2014 retrospectively and the policy stated its revision every five year. This announcement and implementation of OROP had influenced the voting pattern of Defence Personnel during state assembly election of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in 2017. The backlash of non-revision of OROP and neglecting aspiration of pensioners and defence personnel is witnessed in Himachal Pradesh Assembly election.
With this backdrop, coming to our headline “Commodity of Convenience”, when it comes to display of valour, courage, sacrifices, never die spirit of soldiers since independence, war with Pakistan, China; Kargil war, operations in Uri, Pathankot, Balakot, Doklam, Galwan, Tawang and never-ending counter insurgency and counter terrorists’ operation and aid to civil authority during fire, earthquake, flood, disaster, medical aid, tsunami, borewell and ropeway rescues etc etc.; the Government have been vehemently claimed the success of the Indian Armed Forces for the political mileage from all quarters on all forums. But, when these same soldiers retire due to disabilities caused during these operations and activities, and on completion of meritorious service; they become burden on the Government and through various back channels using executives, the Government goes into total denial of soldiers’ legitimated rights which they earned it through their blood and sweat.
It goes without saying that whenever there is grant of DA & DR, the media paint it as if the Government has done a favour to the Government Employees. Similarly, when it comes to pay commission to Central Government Employees, Railways and Armed Forces; huge publicity is made. There could be n number of debates and discussion on pay, perks, pension of the Legislatures, Judiciary, executives and other constitutional independent bodies. The MPs, MLAs and MLCs revise their Pay, perks, pension and goodies post retirement/loss of the seats every five years; the bills are passed unopposed in the Parliament and Assemblies. Further, the Central and State Government announce and mention in their election manifestos, the freebies to lure the voters before elections and to fulfil their election promises, make provisions of budget in lacs of crores rupees. There are various welfare schemes which are Central Sector Schemes (CS) and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CCS) which has budget outlay in lacs of crores of rupees and it is accepted and digested easily under the garb of welfare state under the Constitution of India. Comparing such huge spendings, payment towards revision of OROP is paltry.
From the point of view of a soldier, it seems that they are begging before the Government for the services, safeguarding the nation. The courage shown while fighting the Naxals, Ultras in North East, Anti-National Elements and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir, securing the borders at see and facing Chinese PLA in Northern and Eastern Borders along the Himalayas in inclement weather, dangerous terrains, making supreme sacrifices, aiding the government in aid to civil authorities while all civil machinery fails, were highlighted to get political mileage and portray themselves as the biggest supporters and well-wisher of the soldiers.
But… But… But… when it comes to repay and reward the services provided and sacrifices made by the soldiers, the Government compels the soldiers to approach the Honourable High Courts and the Supreme Court. There is long list of issues which include protection of soldiers from fake case of AFSPA, Non-Functional Upgradation (NFU) (Civil Servant and CAPF are already in receipt), Agnipath Scheme etc.; are unaddressed by the present BJP Government and few are lying in the Apex Court to see the light of the day. The President of America John F. Kennedy said “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” Its high time that the BJP Government must not only appreciate and take credit of work of the Indian Armed Forces but to live their expectations and provide them their legitimate rights without dally delaying.
