Non-Implementation of OROP: An Open Letter to the Prime Minister

An army veteran writes an open letter to the Prime Minister, appealing for immediate implementation of the OROP.

Earnest Appeal to the Prime Minister

• An army veteran writes to the PM, requests him to take charge of the OROP crisis
• Prime Minister accepts that acts of commission and omission have resulted in alienation of armed forces
• Ministry of Finance to make budgetary provisions for the immediate implementation of the OROP
• The PM also directs that the pay of armed forces personnel will be de-linked from that of all other employees of the Central Government
• The Prime Minister wishes to complete pending defence reforms in an early time frame

An Anguished Appeal

Dear Prime Minister,

The continuing delay in the implementation of OROP has forced armed forces veterans to resort to Gandhian methods to highlight their disappointment. I am sure you do not wish to further alienate a committed and disciplined community, including families and children.

The art of leadership lies in taking personal charge and assuming control when a situation appears to be slipping inexorably out of control.

Please consider issuing clear directions for the immediate implementation of OROP through the Cabinet Secretary.

The draft inter-office note (ION) given below is submitted with deep humility for your consideration. It has been formulated in the national interest as God has given me the light to see the national interest.

Yours sincerely,

A Veteran

Draft ION

Cabinet Secretariat

Government of India

New Delhi

The Response

Immediate Implementation of One-Rank-One-Pension (OROP) for Armed Forces Pensioners

The Prime Minister has noted with deep concern that various acts of commission and omission by departments and agencies of the Government of India over several decades have resulted in the progressive alienation of armed forces veterans and their families, who together form the most committed and disciplined community and whose sacrifices in the service of the nation are too innumerable to be counted.

The Prime Minister is extremely disappointed with the inordinate delay in the implementation of OROP for armed forces pensioners despite his desire to fulfill this long-pending pension reform in an early time frame. He is also concerned that further delay may have an adverse effect on the morale of serving armed forces personnel as many of them have relatives among the Veterans.

The Prime Minister directs the following:

(a)  The comprehensive proposal on OROP forwarded by the Raksha Mantri to the CCS on March 17, 2015, will be implemented without further delay on any account whatsoever.

(b)  The date of implementation of OROP will be April 01, 2014, as approved by Parliament.

(c)  For the purpose of calculation of the pension of armed forces pensioners, the salaries obtaining for each rank as on April 01, 2014, will be taken as the basis.

(d)  The definition of OROP formulated by the Koshyari Committee and approved by Parliament, as also by the Supreme Court, will be accepted as final.

(e)  An annual increment of three per cent (03%) will be given to all armed forces pensioners, as requested by the ex-Servicemen associations.

(f)   All subsequent increases in salaries and corresponding increases in Central Government pensions will be passed on to armed forces pensioners automatically.

(g)  The arrears resulting from the implementation of OROP will be paid in cash with the revised pensions in equal monthly installments from September 30, 2015 to March 31, 2016.

(h)  The Ministry of Finance (MoF) will make the budgetary provisions necessary to give effect to the immediate implementation of OROP. Demand for Supplementary Grants will be placed before Parliament as necessary.

(i)   MoF approval for the implementation of OROP will be accorded by September 7, 2015. A copy will be forwarded to the PMO the same day.

(j)   The Government of India letter giving effect to the implementation of OROP will be issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) by September 10, 2015. A copy will be forwarded to the PMO the same day.

The Prime Minister also directs that in view of the challenges faced by the armed forces, the hazards of the terrain in which they serve and the dangers to life and limb, the pay and allowances and pensions of armed forces personnel will be de-linked from those of all other employees of the Central Government.

Soon after the submission of the report of the Seventh Pay Commission and the implementation of its recommendations, as approved by the Government of India, an Armed Forces Pay and Allowances Review Commission will be appointed to undertake a review of the pay, allowances and pensions of armed forces personnel. The Commission will be chaired by the Raksha Mantri. Three former Chiefs of Staff, one each from the army, navy and the air force, will be its members.

The Prime Minister further directs that a National Security Commission will be appointed to undertake a Strategic Defence Review to including the regional and international strategic environment and current and emerging threats and challenges. The Commission will recommend a national security strategy for the short- and medium time frame. The Commission will be chaired by a Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister. The army, navy and air force Chiefs of Staff will be ex-officio members of the Commission.

The Prime Minister wishes to complete pending defence reforms in an early time frame. The MoD will put up a draft Cabinet Note on the issue by September 30, 2015.

The Secretaries concerned will keep the undersigned personally informed on a daily basis regarding the implementation of OROP. The undersigned will hold a meeting at 9.30 AM on September 11, 2015 to determine whether all actions necessary to implement OROP have been completed.

(XYZ………..)

Cabinet Secretary

September 5, 2015

Defence Secretary

Finance Secretary

(Distribution: All departments concerned)

(The author is former Director, Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi.)