Ex-servicemen, pressing for ‘One Rank One Pension’ (OROP) scheme for nearly four decades, won a partial victory with the Narendra Modi government announcing that it would implement it, but the veterans rejected the decision and decided to continue their agitation.
Here are top 6 points you must know:
1. OROP, that implies uniform pension for armed forces personnel retiring in the same rank with a same length of service, would be implemented from July 1, 2014 on the basis of calender year 2013.
2. The pension would be revised every five years and defence personnel who take voluntary retirement will not be covered.
3. Government will pay arrears, estimated to cost between Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 12,000 crore, in four half-yearly installments.
4. According to government, cost to implement OROP would be Rs 8,000 crore to 10,000 crore and it will increase further.
5. Close to 26 lakh retired servicemen and over six lakh war widows stand to be immediate beneficiaries of the scheme.
6. The benefits of ‘One Rank One Pension’ will be applicable in case of ex-servicemen whose premature retirement was valid and legal.