OROP Resolution & Future
By
Brigadier Vijay Raheja,
Veteran
Introduction
Post publication of certain tables
in an article on One Rank One Pension (OROP) in a recent edition of India
Today, have gone through the source, which has been in circulation in the form
of a Draft Government of India Letter (DGL); for over a year. The fact that
such a letter exists makes it amply clear that same came into being after due
deliberations between Ministry of Defence and stake holders, ie Service Headquarters and representatives of
Ex-Servicemen.
Perusal of DGL brings to fore the
intricate detailing and clear mindset aimed at resolving anomalies.
Present Imbroglio and Solutions
It is not my aim to reinvent the
wheel and as such have no intention of starting with definition of OROP on
which it is assumed that there is total clarity. Let me therefore come straight
to cause(s) that have led to the predicament and then on to painstaking efforts
on part of Ministry of Defence and Service Headquarters to resolve matters.
It is concomitant effect of
‘bunching’; a concept followed by successive pay commissions that creates a
divide in serving personnel, when people in same rank, having different number
years of service are given a fixed starting salary. With subsequent promotions
and years of service differential largely gets ironed out since every rank has
a top of the scale – however few anomalies do arise. Typical example would be a
person retiring on last day of the month, before increment due month as against his colleague,
who has same number of years of service retiring a month later, but with an
increment – such cases would be far and few. Coming to pensioners the fixation
is at the lowest end of the rank band, irrespective of years of service and
hence the need of OROP and periodic review. A stage will come, as and when top of
scale is reached for each rank there would be no change in pensions and
therefore the misnomer of a 3% increase each year needs to be dispelled.
Periodic review would be required to resolve anomalies, that may arise, with marginal financial
impact.
Adequate safe guards have been
inbuilt in DGL to ensure equitable treatment to one and all. Some noteworthy
measures are enumerated.
To begin with calculation of service
rendered for officers who have been promoted from ranks has been brought on an
even keel; being different earlier for pre 1986 and pre 1967 commissioned
officers. It is now total service from date of enrollment till date of
retirement; thereby ensuring same pension to all retirees with number of
years of service criteria.
Next it has been ensured that All
Honorary Nb Sub, Modified Career Progression Scheme (MACP) Nb Sub and equivalents are granted pension of Nb Sub. Similarly
any change/improvement in Hony Lt/Capt and equivalent shall be applicable to
regular commissioned officers in ranks of Lt and Capt and equivalent ranks, if
it is more beneficial.
As a consequence of introduction of time bound
ranks (i.e. up to the rank of Colonel and equivalent), it is proposed that for past
pensioners who retired before 16 Dec 2004 i.e. before time period for
promotions was reduced, years of service will only be relevant and table for
higher rank be taken into consideration to determine pension of such retirees.
Finally,
a safety clause, to protect
existing pensioners, has been
included; wherein any changes in policy
regarding pay or promotion which affect pay/pension of future pensioners, shall
also be passed on to the past pensioners.
Future
Hopefully, anomalous situation
created due to bunching, as suggested by earlier Pay Commission Panels will
change. Needless to say that painstaking efforts must have been put in by
Service Headquarters to project what is best; as also point out anomalies
created over the years to Seventh Pay Commission Panel. In addition, Panel Members
have not only travelled over the country and interacted with veterans, but have
visited far and remote areas to see working conditions of our troops. Add to
this, as someone in the 7th CPC is reported to have said, “Aborted Pensions of defence personnel as
against Fully Matured Pensions of Civilians” am sure things are bound to
change for the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen.
a rationale concept for a rationale mind let the so called esteemed head of the ESM representative understand this simple logic and put a end to bhulbhulaiya game....
ReplyDeleteSafety clauses have been adequately factored in dgls.officials of mod, cgda and desw overlook those while transforming these into govt orders ( it happened in past) and result in anomalies,court cases.......etc.Looking at the way ,these bureaucrats are acting at negotiations/ talks , we can infer that anomalies are designed by them in govt ordes.
ReplyDeletePlease add in ibid comment - Govt/cabinet resolutions and consequent actions of bureaucrats in publication of Govt orders where in ,they implant reducers and anomalies.
ReplyDeleteAt 4 CPC recommendations and cabinet resolutions as published in gazette of India ; and those inconsistencies SAI 1987 leading to rank pay saga of 28 years struggle is testimony for the dirt tricks played by bureaucracy .These anomolous issues do not surface when their pay and pensions are concerned.See - NFFU ,3 increments , various allces ,promotions.... of civil services.
It is not known what the current status of that "DGL" is. It was a subject of a blog post on this very blog. I had voiced my apprehension that such complete resolutions of old issues were, perhaps a bit too much to hope for.
ReplyDeleteMy skepticism has been further reinforced by observations on this blog to the effect that any attempt to, for instance, resolve the issue of older retirees in time-bound ranks would result in OROP being turned on its head.
However the principle in the matter is hard to ignore. As I had stated previously as well, that manner of parity for older retirees with time bound ranks should also apply to pensions paid under the non OROP arrangement, tables for which (wef 01 Jan 2006) have still not been issued for armed forces by PCDA following the recent Government order necessitated by a judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
But, in the context of the "3% increment" and "bunching issues" as stated in this blog post, perhaps a solution to the current OROP hold-up lies in a little simpler approach of merely reviewing actual pensions in July of each year and effecting adjustments if required and only to the specific rank and years of service category to which applicable. https://goo.gl/BdnZW8