Quote
“The issue over one rank one pension (OROP) scheme may not be resolved in the
near future as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said the ‘methodology of
calculation’ was still being worked out in consultation with the Defence
Ministry.” Asserting the government’s commitment towards implementing OROP,
Jaitley said the Finance Ministry was in dialogue with the Defence Ministry on
the methodology of calculation, hinting at no immediate resolution of the
complicated issue” Unquote
[Source:
Deccan Herald, Bangalore edition, Page 13, Saturday, 23 May 2015.]
Just going back 21 months ...
The
much reviled UPA Govt constituted a Cabinet Secretary (the same gentleman who
is functioning in the same post in the present Govt) Committee vide orders
dated 9th July 2012 and amended on 12th July 2012 to
examine anomalies in pay, pension and allowances related to the Defence Forces.
The Committee submitted its report in late August 2012.
PCDA
(P) in the reviled UPA regime issued the Minimum Guaranteed Pensions for
retired officers vide Circular No. 500 (13 pages of which 6 pages were
tables), and Improvement of Pensions for JCOs &
ORs vide Circular No. 501 (49 pages of which 42 pages were tables), both on 17th January 2013 and the effective date was
24th September 2012, i.e the date when the Govt approved the
modified enhanced pensions, as has been argued in different cases in the Courts.
The effective date has since been directed to be 1st January 2006
(CA 8875 of 2011 refers) by the Supreme Court.
The
calculations, to prove a point that if needed bureaucrats can move with alacrity, were completed in under 4 (FOUR) months
and detailed tables were provided in the said circulars, after due approval of
the Ministry of Finance.
But Today.....
So,
if the PCDA (P), the DESW of MoD, the Deptt of Expenditure of MoF could compile
complicated sets of calculation and tabulation and implement them, then are the
same Departments suddenly deprived of expertise on methodology, tabulations,
calculations et al that the NDA Govt is delaying implementation of OROP on the
pretext of what the Finance Minister has been quoted as stating?
It gives the inescapable impression that the
“tareek per tareek” by the Honourable Defence Minister was just to keep ESM,
widows and NoK dangling by pretending that the matter is so complicated and so
difficult to resolve.
So
much for the promise of the Honourable Prime Minister, the Honourable Finance-cum-Defence Minister and the now
Honourable Defence Minister to 25 lakh ex-servicemen, widows and NoK of
deceased ESM!
Or
is there something more to the OROP issue than meets the eye? If there is a shortage of funds as evidenced by Nil amount set aside for OROP in the Revised Estimates for year 2014-15? Please see accompanying article where a humongous amount has been given as exemptions to corporates! And is a 8% increase over what the UPA gave in year 2013-14!
May
be we will get know first hand from the Honourable Prime Minister on 26th
May 2015!
* * * * *
P.P.S:
Concessions to corporates at Rs 62,398 crore in FY'15: Arun Jaitley
(Arun Jaitley said the…)
NEW DELHI: Tax exemptions and incentives to corporates have resulted
in a revenue impact of Rs 62,398.6 crore to the exchequer in 2014-15, 8
per cent higher than the previous fiscal, Parliament was informed today.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the details of revenue impact on central taxes due to various concessions and exemptions have been detailed in the Budget document for 2015-16.
In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the details of revenue impact on central taxes due to various concessions and exemptions have been detailed in the Budget document for 2015-16.
The revenue impact figures in respect of corporate tax payers for 2014-15 fiscal has been estimated at Rs 62,398.6 crore," he said.
Jaitley said an assessee can claim deduction under various sections of the Income Tax. "Tax incentives or exemptions under central taxes have been provided to promote exports, balanced regional development, creation of infrastructure facilities, generation of employment, rural development, scientific research and development, cooperative sector and also to encourage savings by individuals and donations for charity to achieve the policy objectives of the government," he said.
In reply to another question, Jaitley said the Budget 2015-16 proposes to reduce corporate tax rate from 30 per cent to 25 per cent over the next four years. The reduction, he said, would be accompanied by rationalisation and removal of various kinds of tax exemptions and incentives for corporate taxpayers.
Sir, OROP will get implemented, if at all, when some level of sincerity, sense of honour and/or political necessity become part of the ongoing process.
ReplyDeleteThe real concern is how the other important issues, Rank Pay "phase 3" for instance, have now been pushed into the background. Those are the issues on which armed forces veterans have some degree of control as the judiciary has oversight.
But, judging from some statements, from RDOA and their legal team, indicating rather pro establishment sentiment and excessive confidence in political structures, there is a need to review whether a more hard headed realism needs to prevail in resolving those matters.
for solution of defence veterans problems and demands political will and open mind set is required.AT PRESENT BOTH R MISSING.listening to the SHOCKING DM interview on IBN 7 it is clear that nothing is going to materialise in near future.YESTERDAY TIMES NOW DEBATE ON OROP AT 19.00 HRS DEBACLE WAS SHOCKING AND INSULTING TO ALL DEFENCE VETERANS.
ReplyDeleteFRIENDS ARE V 2 GULLIBLE A COMMUNITY!!!!!!!!!
My take on this issue is that the FM & his ministry are the stumbling blocks.The RM seem to be a sincere man & has completed his work of calculating the OROP.The final figure may not have been palatable to the finance babus & they may want it to be brought down by a certain factor
ReplyDeletePM has to take the final call & what ever happen s FM is in for a drubbing
The way the Times no debate was called before the Gens could air their opinion,show the BJP is not ready for the political fall out of OROP non implementation & had pulled strings to get the program halted
Rank pay seem to have gone into hibernation & RDOA silence is a little surprising indeed
@Venkatesh VT : "..The RM seem to be a sincere man & has completed his work of calculating the OROP.."
DeleteWhere is the need for us to give certificates of merit? They are all sincere in following whatever strategic vision the Government has worked out.
I don't think they need any medals for sincerity from anyone, leave alone veterans who, for reasons known and unknown, keep trying to analyse the workings of minds at the political and bureaucratic levels with fairly small profit, as the record shows.
RDOA have come out with just one brief update on these matters recently. You have a point about their silence as also the nature of their views on OROP, as pointed out by @sunlit.
14 Jul 15 is the complete hearing on Contempt Petition No. 328 of 2013.
ReplyDelete