One Rank, One Pension{OROP} : Rights Vs Fights

WHY DO THE POLITICIANS AND THE BUREAUCRATS DESPISE THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES SO MUCH??

Dear People Of India,

As you know OROP (One Rank One Pension) has been announced though with some warts which need rectification and after getting the war heroes and war widows, many in their eighties, on the streets, a sad spectacle. As there has been a lot of disinformation and lack of awareness, you need to know some facts. These have gone unnoticed.

1 We are Indian Army Soldiers. Countries like the US and UK and most other advanced democracies, with Armies that are facing conflict, venerate the men and women who serve in the Armed Forces. The UK parliament has even passed a law called Armed Forces Covenant . An Armed Forces Covenant is the expression of the moral obligation that the government and the nation owe to the armed forces community. The covenant acknowledges that members of the armed forces sacrifice some freedoms and often face dangerous situations. It recognises that families play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of the armed forces. It is only in India where our men and women have to go through the humiliation of a comparison with a discredited bureaucracy. 
 In the United States, 15 presidents have served in the Army/Army Reserve , 9 in the State Militias, 6 in the Navy/Naval Reserve, with 2 presidents having serving in the Continental Army. In addition, eight presidents served during World War II, while seven served in the military during the American Civil War. That was the kind of military service they did before becoming the President and Commander in Chief of the US of America. No wonder they respect their Armed Forces and their Veterans. 

 2 Your Armed Forces  cannot be compared with the IAS,  IPS, BSF, CRPF, ITBP,  CISF , NSG,  Railway Protection Force, Rapid Deployment Force or the State Armed Police Forces.
 A Nation can have only one Military. 
The renowned sociologist Morris Janowitz had famously said: “The intimate social solidarity of the military profession is both envied and resented by civilians.” A bureaucrat is in no way comparable to a man or woman who serves in the Armed Forces. Nowhere is this comparison even attempted, not in the United States, the United Kingdom or even China. It’s laughable and making that comparison is ludicrous. Neither can the Armed Forces be compared or equated to other police forces of a Country.

3   WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO YOU AND TO NO ONE ELSE BECAUSE :
        (a)  WE  HAVE PLEDGED TO PROTECT YOU, AND WE LIKE TO KEEP OUR WORD !
        (b). WE  ARE SURE THAT YOU LOVE US AND WE KNOW THAT YOU BELIEVE THAT THE INDIAN MILITARY IS THE LAST BASTION OF HOPE WHEN THE GOVT MACHINERY, IAS,  IPS, BSF, CRPF, ITBP,  CISF , NSG,  RPFHAVE FAILED ----- AND WHEN FINALLY THE ARMED FORCES FAIL ; INDIA WILL BE LOST.       
PLEASE KNOW THESE FACTS.
4  THE GOVT, FINANCE MINISTRY AND THE IAS/IPS LOBBY IS DENYING YOUR SOLDIERS OROP UNDER THE PLEA OF FINANCIAL SCARCITY . THE FOLLOWING WILL TELL YOU THEIR SCARCITY : 
        (a)  OROP ALREADY EXISTS FOR 100% OF THE BUREAUCRATS, JUDICIARY AND  ALL THE PARLIAMENTARIANS.
        (b).  OUR PENSION WAS BROUGHT DOWN  FROM 70% to 50 %WHILE THEIRS WAS RAISED  FROM 30% TO 50% IN THE 3rd CPC . 
        (c).  IN THE 6th CPC THEY DOLED OUT NFU - A SYSTEM BY WHICH ALL IAS, IPS OFFICERS & GROUP A SERVICES  (LESS ARMED FORCES)  WOULD RETIRE AT THE HIGHEST PAY SCALE -THEREBY GIVING THEM HIGHEST PENSION PLUS OROP. THEY LEFT FORCES OUT OF IT.
        (d).  THE IAS ,IPS  and the CENTRAL SERVICES  also gave themselves ACP -  ASSURED CAREER PROGRESSION - BUT AGAIN LEFT FORCES OUT OF IT . BY DOING THIS , THEY BROUGHT US DOWN SEVERELY AND HAVE MADE THE FORCES LEAST LUCRATIVE AND LEAST HONORABLE JOB. Without doubt the aim was to downgrade the Armed Forces of India. OUR ENEMIES ARE HAPPY AND WATCHING THIS GREAT DRAMA WITH GLEE ! Do you know that till date  a DIG was was between a Lt Col and a Col . Now a Col has been equated with Non-Functional Selection Grade (NFSG). The rank of a DIG  is now officially equal to a Brigadier. Both are now on a Grade Pay of Rs 8900. Because of the machinations of the Govt and the Central Services to run down the Military.
         (e)   THEY CAN  "DONATE"  $ 1 MILLION TO MONGOLIA, DONATE 1.25 LAC CRORE TO A STATE VOTE BANK, LET SCAMS OF LACS OF CRORE IN GOVT , IPL AND BCCI, give bailouts of hundreds of LAKHS to AIR INDIA but feel poor when it comes toRs. 8,300 crores for the ArmedForces personnel who  are" FORCED " TO RETIRE YOUNG SO THAT THE NATION CAN SLEEP EASY. 
     
       
5  It is not just Modi's promise but a four decade old promise, AN APPROVED PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE (KOSHIARY ) REPORT, A FAVOURABLE SC JUDGMENT (Maj Gen Vains ) and a promise by all Govts.

6  YOU CANNOT REMAIN INSULATED  AND SEE VETERANS AND WIDOWS IGNORED AND THE STATUS AND PARITY OF THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES vis-a- vis  OTHER GOVT SERVANTS DISTORTED. AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 1947 !!

7  GOD FORBID IF ONE OF YOUR OWN SON or DAUGHTER or RELATIVE IS IN THE FORCES ~~ WOULD YOU STILL FEEL THE SAME ?? WILL YOU SEND YOUR NEXT GENERATION TO THE ARMED FORCES NOW ??
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8  WE ARE BARRED FROM STRIKES , PROTESTS, UNIONS ETC -FOR REASONS OF DISCIPLINE , BUT REST OF THE COUNTRY CAN GET WHAT THEY WANT ANY TIME BY RESORTING TO RIOTING, RAIL-ROKO etc !

9 HAVE WE EVER FAILED YOU IN PEACE,  WAR OR TERRORISM, RIOTS, FLOODS, EARTHQUAKE ??   JUST  LAST WEEK, EVEN THE SMALL SCALE  RIOTS IN GUJARAT COULD NOT BE CONTROLLED BY THE POLICE OR THE PARA MIL FORCES ( !! ) AND THE ARMY DID THE JOB !! 


CAN THIS  NATION SURVIVE WITHOUT ITS ARMED FORCES  ?? 

REMEMBER SALARY MAKES US DO OUR JOB BUT ITS HONOR AND RECOGNITION THAT IMPELS US TO EMBRACE DEATH WILLINGLY WHILE EXECUTING OUR JOB.THE POLITICIANS AND BUREAUCRATS HAVE DISHONOURED US.

One Rank One Pension(OROP) Mystery Resolved

FOR ALL THOSE WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND OROP – HERE IS HOW THE IAS STOPPED THE OROP THAT WAS IN VOGUE FOR THE ARMED FORCES FOR 26 YEARS (FROM 1947 TO 1973) AND REDUCED THE PENSION OF MILITARY PERSONS FROM 70% OF PAY TO 30% - SOMETHING THAT THE MODI GOVERNMENT PROMISED TO RECTIFY BUT IS NOW WANTING TO TRADE THE LOWEST POSSIBLE UNDER PRETEXT OF “JATIL SAMASYA” SO THAT THE MAFIA AND THE BABUS CAN EXTRACT THEIR POUND OF FLESH. HERE ARE THE EXTRACTS OF THE 2011 KOSHIYARI COMMITTEE AND THE LINK TO THE PDF OF THE FULL REPORT WHICH WAS ACCEPTED BY GOI BESIDES OROP FOR ARMED FORCES HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY TWO PARLIAMENTS. CAN THE MODI GOVERNMENT RESTORE WHAT IS DUE TO MILITARY VETERANS WITHOUT RESORTING TO BANIAGIRI AND WITHOUT MORE LATHI CHARGES – THAT THE FIRST LATHI CHARGE ON MILITARY VETERANS IN INDEPENDENT INDIA HAD THE STAMP OF APPROVAL OF THE PMO IF NOT THE PM WAS OBVIOUS – SENDING A SCAPEGOAT POLICE OFFICER TO APOLOGIZE CANNOT ABSOLVE THEIR COMPLICITY IN ORCHESTRATING SUCH NATIONAL SHAME. WHAT NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED IS THAT TRADE CANNOT SUBSTITUTE DEFENCE AND SO CAN’T TRADERS SUBSTITUE SOLDIERS !

EXTRACTS OF OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
KOSHYARI COMMITTEE , AS RECORDED IN ITS REPORT ON GRANT OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP), SUBMITTED TO THE PARLIAMENT ON 19 DECEMBER 2011

http://164.100.47.5/…/En…/Committee%20on%20Petitions/142.pdf

The Koshyari Committee on One Rank One Pension
1. The Koshyari Committee was constituted by the Rajya Sabha in March 2011 to go into the genuineness of the demand for grant of ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP). The Koshyari Committee after having studied the requirement in detail, strongly recommended grant of OROP to Ex-Servicemen; and, in Para 3 of its Report submitted to the Parliament on 19 Dec 2011, it has unambiguously defined One Rank One Pension (OROP) as:

One Rank One Pension.
One Rank One Pension (OROP) implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces Personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement; and, any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.
This implies bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners, and also future enhancements in the rate of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.
In armed forces, equality in service has two components, namely, rank and length of service. The importance of rank is inherent in armed forces as it has been granted by the President of India and signifies command, control and responsibility in consonance with ethos of service. These ranks are even allowed to be retained by the individual concerned after his/her retirement.
Hence, two armed forces personnel in the same rank and equal length of service should get same pension, irrespective of date of retirement; and, any future enhancement in rates of pension be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.

FINDINGS.
2. Findings.
Para 10.2 &10.3 of the Report
The Committee observes that One Rank One Pension was in vogue till 1973 when the Third Central Pay Commission took an ex-parte decision against the One Rank One Pension formula. If this formula was working satisfactorily for more than 26 years after the country's Independence what was the harm in continuing this formula? The same procedure could very well be followed even though this demand is accepted by the Government.
The Ministries of Defence (Dept. of Ex-Servicemen Welfare) and Finance (Dept. of Expenditure)] in their submissions have attempted to draw a rosy
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picture about the pension being given to the Armed Forces personnel according to length of service. If this is beneficial to them then why are the Ex-Servicemen consistently demanding for One Rank One Pension Formula? Why they are agitated? They serve the nation with utmost devotion and selflessness but their demands are consistently being ignored, not by the heads of Armed Forces, but by the Bureaucrats. It’s a typical example of Bureaucratic apathy.
To continue this apathy, the Ministries apprised the Committee that if OROP is to be implemented for the armed forces personnel, similar demands may be raised from the civilian Government employees. To this argument, the Committee finds that it is a baseless apprehension of the Government as soldiering is a different profession and they retire by rank while civilian Government employee retired by age.
The terms and conditions of armed forces are tougher and harsher than the civilian Government employee. There are restrictions of fundamental rights to the armed forces. Risk to life of a soldier is always higher as they work under severe strain and sense of insecurity with undefined and unlimited working hours. Transfers and dislocation alongwith bleak career prospects are other disadvantages attached with the Armed Forces. Their family life is also non-comparable with that of civilian Government employee.
The Armed Forces are also subjected to Court Martial system for the sake of military discipline. In view of aforesaid uniqueness of Armed Forces it can not be equated with a civilian Government employee.

Para 10.4 of the Report.
The Committee is distressed to note that the Defence personnel of our country have returned their service medals to the President of India in view of theGovernments' apathetic attitude towards their demand of grant of OROP.

OBSERVATIONS.
3. Observations.
Para 9 (i) of the Report.
The Armed Forces of the Union are 'rank based structure' organisations. The Ex-Servicemen are associated with their rank even after their retirement and death. There is strong bondage between Serving and Ex-Servicemen community, as in most cases the siblings of Ex-Servicemen join the Defence services as a matter of honour and pride. Their mindset, attitude, commitment and dedication to the Nation do not change even after their retirement.
Till 1950, Armed Forces were enjoying an edge over their civilian counterparts in respect of pay and pension. The pension for armed forces was almost 90 percent of their last pay drawn, which was gradually reduced to 50 percent of their last pay drawn; whereas, the pension of civilian employees was enhanced from 33 percent to 50 percent of their last pay drawn in due course.
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Para 9 (ii) of the Report.
Pay and pension of Armed Forces personnel was governed by separate Pay Commission which was substituted with Common Pay Commission for both Civilian and Defence personnel w.e.f. Third Pay Commission.

Para 9 (iii) of the Report.
Armed forces have to retire early as a matter of policy of Government which
causes loss of earnings to them because the benefits given by successive Pay Commissions which could have accrued to them if they were made to retire at the normal retirement age of sixty. They are made to retire at a point of time when they have maximum liability of their family on them; nearly eighty five percent of armed forces retire at the age of 38; ten percent retirements take place at the age of 46; and remaining 5 percent retirements happen at the age of 56 to 58;

Para 9 (iv) of the Report.
The demand for One Rank One Pension has its basis in the past precedence as well as truncated service career of the Armed Forces which causes loss of earning to them. Furthermore, armed forces personnel are deployed in toughest terrain and roughest weather including Siachin Glacier during their service career.

Para 11.2 of the Report.
The Committee is not convinced with the version of the Ministry of Finance that the grant of OROP to the Defence personnel would eventually generate similar requests from the civilian work force of the country under the Central Government and the State Governments.
The Committee would not like this argument or apprehension to stand in the way of the legitimate and fair demand of the Defence personnel.
The Committee feels so because of the quite different terms and conditions of service of the two different categories of employments. The terms and conditions of armed forces are tougher and harsher than the civilian Government employee.
Risk to life of a soldier is always higher as they work under severe strain and sense of insecurity with undefined and unlimited working hours.
There are restrictions of fundamental rights to the armed forces.
Transfers and dislocation alongwith bleak career prospects are other disadvantages attached with the armed forces.
Their family life is also noncomparable with that of civilian Government employee.
The Armed Forces are also subjected to Court Martial system for the sake of military discipline.
In view of aforesaid uniqueness of Armed Forces it can not be equated with a civilian Government employee.

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On the issue of returning of service medals by the Defence personnel of our country to the President of India in view of the Governments' apathetic attitude towards their demand of grant of OROP, the Committee is of the view that our Defence personnel should not feel alienated to this extent again and they are not forced to surrender their hard earned service medals in this manner to exhibit their discontent with the government policies.

Para 11.3of the Report.
There is another dimension of the issue under consideration, i.e., the necessity and justification for bringing about the change through the Third Central Pay Commission. Nothing has been brought before the Committee which could explain or justify the circumstances in which the Defence personnel were
applied the same criteria as applicable to the country’s civilian work force under the Central Government for the purpose of determining their pay, allowances, pension, family pension, etc. It is quite obvious that the terms and conditions of service, more particularly their span of service, i.e., the age at which they enter service and the age at which they become due to retire, vary drastically from the civilian work force. There is no doubt that the span of service of the armed forces is much-much less as compared to the civilians. The defence personnel in the PBOR category retire when they are around 35-40 years of age. Even the officers retire when they are around 55 years of age. That is the time when they have lot of family and social responsibility to discharge for which they need a sound financial support. This is certainly not the case with the civilian work force where the age of retirement is 60 uniformly. Further, under the rules governing pension/ family pension of the civilians, the longer a person serves, the more pay he gets and consequently he becomes entitled for higher pension / family pension. This being so, our Defence personnel are bound to remain at a disadvantageous position since the period for which they serve is definitely much less. On top of this, the fact that they retire at a younger age aggravates their hardship.

Para 11.4 of the Report
In the above situation, the Committee feels that the decision of the Government to bring our Defence personnel on the pattern of the civilians with regard to their pay, pension, etc. (from Third Central Pay Commission onwards) is not a considered decision which has caused hardship to the Defence personnel and has given birth to their demand for OROP. The Committee understands that before the Third Central Pay Commission, the Defence personnel were getting their pay/pension on the basis of a separate criteria, unconnected with the criteria devised for the civilian work force. That criteria acknowledged and covered the concept of OROP which has been given up after the Third Central Pay Commission.

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Para 11.5 of the Report.
The Committee is not convinced with the hurdles projected by the Ministry of Defence (Dept of Ex-Servicemen Welfare) in implementing of OROP for Defence personnel. They have categorized the hurdles into administrative, legal and financial.
The financial aspect has already been dealt with by the Committee. So far as the administrative angle is concerned, the Committee is given to understand that all the existing pensioners/ family pensioners are still drawing their pension/family pension based upon the lawfully determined pension / family pension. In that case, revision of their pension / family pension, prospectively, as a one time measure should not pose any administrative hurdle.
So far as the legal aspect is concerned, the Committee is not convinced by the argument put forth against the implementation of OROP because the pension / family pension is based upon the service rendered by personnel while in service and comparison of services rendered during two sets of periods does not seem to be of much relevance. If seen from a strict angle, in each set of periods, the army officer performed the duties attached to his post and it may not be proper to infer that the officers who served at a later period performed more compared to the officers of earlier period. On the contrary, facts tilt towards treating past pensioners/family pensioners at par with the more recent ones.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE KOSHYARI COMMITTEE

4. Recommendations
Para 11.6 of the Report.
Government should implement OROP in the Defence forces across the board at the earliest; and,
Further that for future, the pay, allowances, pension, family pension, etc. in respect of the Defence personnel should be determined by a separate Pay Commission so that their peculiar terms and conditions of service, the nature of duties they are required to perform, etc., which are quite different from the civilian work force, are duly taken into account while taking decision on the same.
(Point to note: Here the word ‘separate pay commission’ means a Pay Commission exclusively for the Defence Services; and not combined with Pay Commission meant for the Civilian Govt servants.