Will clear hurdles, hike OROP funding: VK Singh

 Hindustan Times  Arainpura (Karnal), October 13, 2014 

Aiming at gaining support of ex-servicemen in the Haryana assembly elections, Union minister and former army chief VK Singh said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would “soon clear bureaucratic hurdles” to implement the ‘one rank-one pension’ (OROP) scheme for the armed forces. Urging the people to “throw stones” at other parties, Singh said the Centre had allotted Rs. 1,000 crore for the implementation of the OROP scheme in the budget. He was addressing a rally in support of the party’s nominee from Gharaunda, Harvinder Kalyan, who had recently joined the saffron party. Once a close aide of late chief minister Bhajan Lal, Kalyan quit the Congress in 2005 and joined the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) floated by Bhajan Lal. Then he joined the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and contested the 2009 elections unsuccessfully as its candidate. 
Meanwhile, Singh, Union minister of state for external affairs, said the Centre would increase the OROP allocation and “may start disbursing dues in installments”. He claimed, “The Congress government did nothing for the ex-servicemen. The BJP upon assuming power paved the way for fulfillment of the long-pending demand. Though the Centre has made up its mind to implement the scheme, files are pending with bureaucrats. I am sure these would be cleared soon.”

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM Chairman IESM

OROP14 08 14 (1)

Department of Personnel & Training abolishes regressive stipulation for reservation of military veterans

ESM Subsequent Re-emp on Civil Side

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NEWS COVERAGE OF KARGIL DIWAS

A FUNCTION WAS HELD IN TEJASWI MOTORS COMPLEX AT KOTHAPET

This association arranged a function at Tejaswi Motors Complex on 26.7.2014 at 1700 hrs. Several Widows of Kargil Victims were honoured at the function. Financial help also was extended to these War Widows by the Association.

KARGIL VIJAY DIVAS : LATE MAJ.PADMAPANI ACHARYA MVS STATUE AT B N REDDY NAGAR GARLANDED BY THIS ASSOCIATION

Wg Cdr Jagannadha Acharya  father of Maj.Padmapani Acharya was
also present(extreme left)

KARGIL VIJAY DIWAS IS BEING CELEBRATED BY OUR ASSOCIATION ON 26th JULY 2014

ON THE OCCASION ON 15th  KARGIL  VIJAY DIWAS THIS ASSOCIATION IS CONDUCTING THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS ON 26 JULY 2014.

1. AT 10.30 AM THE ASSOCIATION WILL GARLAND THE STATUE OF LATE.       MAJ.PADMAPANI ACHARYA MVC AT VANASTHALIPURAM.

2. A PROGRAM WILL BE A FUNCTION AT TEJASWI MOTORS COMPLEX, BESIDE RYTHU BAZAR, KOTHAPET, HYDERABAD. SRI KARNE PRABHAKAR, MLC TRS, COL.(Retd) ASHOK KUMAR, DIRECTOR SAINIK WELFARE,  AND SRI. SREENESH KUMAR SAINIK WELFARE OFFICER, RANGA REDDY DISTRICT WILL ATTEND THE FUNCTION.

ALL THE MEMBERS ALONG WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND ALL THE CITIZENS ARE REQUESTED TO ATTEND THE ABOVE FUNCTIONS AND MAKE IT A GRAND SUCCESS.

P.VIGNESHWAR RAJU
GENERAL SECRETARY 

IESM LETTER TO DEFENCE MINISTER ON IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

19 Jul 2014

ShArunJaitley
Hon’bleRakshaMantri
Ministry of Defence
South Block, New Delhi-110011

Sub: IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

Dear ShArunJaitley,

We are grateful for granting us the meeting with you on 16 July 2014  with regard to issue of Implementation letter for OROP.

Sir,

 your contention that the gap between the calculations made by the Service HQs and the officials of MoD namely CGDA, PCDA, Secy DESW is very large, due to which there was delay in issuing the Govt Letter; is a serious cause of concern for the Defence Fraternity. 

Since, there is only ONE Definition of OROP as approved by the Parliament and therefore, there has to be only ONE calculation, irrespective of small or large gap.

                     It is simple Mathematics

  As pleaded by us, there cannot be two calculations.

  These gaps have been designed to find a way to deny full benefit of OROP to Ex-Servicemen. 

A point to be noted here is that had OROP been granted 25 years back there would not have been any gap now. 

Sir, we are not after money and not asking for back dated payment, it is the principle of seniority in Armed Forces which we cherish. 

As per this principle, a senior rank person should not draw pension/ pay less than rank lower than him. It is a simple principle we need to maintain hence we cannot afford any violation with OROP principle.

Sir, in case X and Y Groups are to be granted OROP as per their respective Groups, the funds required will be 4500 – 5000 Crores, as per calculations correctly carried out by the Service HQs.  And in case all Defence Employees are to be granted ‘X’ Group rates of pensions, then the amount required would be 6500-7000 Crores as per the calculation made by PCDA.

The funds required for the two options are not too large for the Nation to pay justified pensions to the Retired Soldiers, who have given their life and comforts of life for national security.

The CGDA/PCDA/DESW should not be allowed to dilute the definition of OROP or coin their own definition or understanding of OROP. Their calculations, based on datum line 01.01.2006 pensions rates, are totally against the  approved definition which requires the OROP to be calculated based on the rates of pensions as on 01.04.2014, the date from which OROP has been sanctioned and future enhancements are to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This was duly discussed in the meting chaired by you on 12^thJune 2014. 

The M1 and M2 Models by CGDA, PCDA, and DESW were out-rightly rejected.

Sir, ex-servicemen are fighting for a principle, any dilution of definition of OROP will not be acceptable to the Ex-Servicemen. It has to be full OROP as per the definition already approved by the Parliament.

In view of the foregoing, please expedite issue of Govt Letter for the implementation of OROP as per the DGL prepared by the Service HQs.

With regards,

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Chairman IESM
Mob: +919312404269,                               0124-4110570
Email ID: satbirsm@gmail.com

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ShriRaoInderjit Singh                                RakshaRajyaMantri C-1/14 Lodi Garden        New Delhi - 110 003	For immediate action to issue the Implementation letters of OROP please.
General Bikram Singh,                                               PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM,  ADC             Chief of the Army Staff &Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee                                        Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Army)     South Block, New Delhi-110011	May we request you to jointly pursue the matter with the Govt for issue of Implementation letter as suggested above at the earliest please.
Admiral RK Dhowan, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC,                                Chief of the Naval Staff                            Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Navy)    South Block, New Delhi-110011	-do-
Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha PVSM, AVSM, VM, ADC                                     Chief of the Air Staff                                       Indian Air Force                                                  VayuBhawan, New Delhi 110011 (SOURCE- BC VASUNDHARS BLOG)	-do-

UPDATE ON OROP

orop progress Meeting of IESM Delegation with Finance Minister ShArunJaitley on 16 July 14 Dear Veterans IESM delegation met with FM ShArunJaitley on 16 July 14. Following members were part of the delegation. 1 Maj Gen Satbir Singh Chairman IESM 2 Lt Gen SK Bahiri 3 GpCapt VK Gandhi Gen Sec IESM 4 Wg Cdr CK Sharma Treasurer IESM 5 Col HandaDiwave 6 Hony Lt K PandeyMem GB IESM Gen Sabir Singh impressed upon FM that ex-servicemen thank the Govt for granting OROP, however despite a lapse of five months since approval of OROP on 17 Feb 14, Government order for implementation is still not issued. We request that the implementation order may please be issued soon. Moreover Rs 1,500 crore allotted for OROP is not adequate for full OROP and more funds may please be released for OROP. FM replied that the DGL is under active consideration of Govt and it will be issued once consultations are completed. He hinted that funds required for OROP is much more than expected. The issue was discussed for good 15 min but FM did not give any commitment about time frame for issue of implementation order. He opined that it seems he would need to order a meeting between Armed Forces HQs and Govtdeptts (DESW, CGDA) to iron out the differences. It was suggested that IESM should also be consulted and permitted to give its views but FM remained noncommittal on this. End result is that FM did not give any commitment and time frame of approval of DGL put up by Armed Forces HQs. He also did not give assurance of involving IESM and ex-servicemen in the discussion of DGL. IESM is of the opinion that veterans will need to tighten their belts for another long battle with the Govtfor OROP, your Izzat and status. IESM will continue to discuss the issue with all authorities for release of implementation letter for full OROP. IESM will not accept any dilution in definition of OROP as approved by Parliament. It seems DESW and CGDA have succeeded in delaying implementation of OROP for veterans but have had no objections for approving bureaucrats treatment abroad along with an escort on Govt expenses. What a pity this is how India takes care of soldiers and veterans. .

Meeting of IESM Delegation with Finance Minister ShArunJaitley on 16 July 14

Dear Veterans

IESM delegation met with FM ShArunJaitley  on 16 July 14. Following members were part of the delegation.

1              Maj Gen Satbir Singh                 Chairman IESM

2              Lt Gen SK Bahiri

3              GpCapt VK Gandhi                     Gen Sec IESM

4              Wg Cdr CK Sharma                     Treasurer IESM

5              Col Handa                                     Diwave

6              Hony Lt K Pandey                       Mem GB IESM

Gen Sabir Singh impressed upon FM that ex-servicemen thank the Govt for granting OROP, however despite a lapse of five months since approval of OROP on 17 Feb 14, Government order for implementation is still not issued. We request that the implementation order may please be issued soon. Moreover Rs 1,500 crore allotted for OROP is not adequate for full OROP and more funds may please be released for OROP.

FM replied that the DGL is under active consideration of Govt and it will be issued once consultations are completed. He hinted that funds required for OROP is much more than expected. 

The issue was discussed for good 15 min but FM did not give any commitment about time frame for issue of implementation order. He opined that it seems he would need to order a meeting between Armed Forces HQs and Govtdeptts (DESW, CGDA) to iron out the differences. It was suggested that IESM should also be consulted and permitted to give its views but FM remained noncommittal on this.

End result is that FM did not give any commitment and time frame of approval of DGL put up by Armed Forces HQs. He also did not give assurance of involving IESM and ex-servicemen in the discussion of DGL.

IESM is of the opinion that veterans will need to tighten their  belts for another long battle with the Govt for OROP, your Izzat and status.

IESM will continue to discuss the issue with all authorities for release of implementation letter for full OROP. IESM will not accept any dilution in definition of OROP as approved by Parliament.

It seems DESW and CGDA  have succeeded in delaying implementation of OROP for veterans but have had no objections for approving bureaucrats treatment abroad along with an escort on Govt expenses.  What a pity this is how India takes care of soldiers and veterans. .

Posted by ESMA at 1:47 AM 

'Rs 1000 crore outlay for OROP insufficient'

CHANDIGARH: The announcement of Rs 1,000 crore in the Union budget for the implementation of much-awaited one-rank one-pension (OROP) policy has come as a rude shock for the defence fraternity in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, which has termed the amount as "insufficient".

According to veterans, the Union ministry of defence (MoD) had proposed Rs 3,000 crore per year before a 10-member parliamentary panel led by BJP leader and Nainital-Rudrapur MP Bhagat Singh Koshiyari. Even Union finance ministry had recommended Rs 1,300 crore under OROP for 2011-12 financial year and Rs 1,730 crore for 2013-14.

"The allocation of just Rs 1,000 crore for the year by the finance minister is mere eyewash, and not related to OROP. I think the government has been misled by bureaucrats," said Brigadier (retd) K S Kahlon, president of All India Defence Brotherhood (Punjab Chapter). High court advocate Major Navdeep Singh, who has been taking up welfare issues of defence personnel, said that Rs 1,000 crore for one year would not meet the demand of the "accepted' definition of OROP". "I think the very concept of OROP has been misinterpreted by the central government," he said.

Defending the government, war veteran Lt General (retd) P N Hoon, who has been associated with BJP, said Rs 1,000 crore might be insufficient but at least something had been done. "What did the previous governments do so far? Coffers are empty, but with the passage of time the government would increase the amount," he said. There are around 30 lakh ex-servicemen in the country out of which 8 lakh are from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. Punjab has around 3 lakh former defence personnel.

Source: Times of India

ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING & ELECTIONS ON 6.7.2014

THERE WILL BE A ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING ON 6.7.2014 AT 10.00 A.M. AT TEJASWI MOTORS BESIDE RYTHU BAZAR, KOTHAPET. THERE WILL BE ALSO  ELECTIONS TO NEW BODY. ALL THE MEMBERS ARE REQUESTED TO ATTEND THE SAME. LUNCH FOLLOWS. 

sri ep reddyy has invited allthe members of this association for his son's wedding on 15.6.2014 at 7 pm in subham function hall nagole hyd. all the members are requested to attend. wedding card has been given to association.

Sub: IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

Dear Veterans

Letter to RM, PM, BJP President, RRM and three Chiefs regarding Implementation of OROP dated 13 Jun 2014 is enclosed herewith for your information and widest circulation please.

With regards,

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Chairman IESM
Mob: +919312404269, 0124-4110570
Email ID: satbirsm@gmail.com

.................................

13 Jun 2014

Sh Arun Jaitley, Hon’ble Raksha Mantri
Ministry of Defence South Block, New Delhi-110011

Sub: IMPLEMENTATION OF ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

Dear Sh Arun Jaitley,

At the outset, I would like to thank you for yesterday’s fruitful meeting, and would also request you for personal perusal of this letter, at your level.

BJP in its Manifesto had assured the Defence fraternity that OROP will be implemented. PM, Mr. Narendra Modi during his election Rallies had announced that BJP will implement the OROP in letter and spirit. In a Rally near Ludhiana (Jagraon), he had assured the Defence Veterans that actual OROP will be implemented. You are aware that defence personnel across the Country had supported the BJP since it was the only Political Party which had assured that their demands and requirements will be accepted in case it came to power and these were included in its Manifesto. It was heartening to hear President in his address to both houses of Parliament also mentioning that OROP will be implemented soon as gratitude to the soldiers for their sacrifices to the Nation.

It is with this assurance in mind, I had the privilege to attend the meeting yesterday ie. on 12th June 2014 Chaired by you, where in, the services Headquarters had briefed on the implementation OROP. The Draft Govt Letter (DGL) prepared by the Service HQs is in line with the accepted definition of OROP and is as per executive orders given by the then Defence Minister Mr. AK Antony during his meeting on 26th Feb 2014. The minutes of the meeting alongwith the executive orders are enclosed for your perusal.

I wish to bring to your notice a fews issues which came up for discussion during the meeting yesterday:-

· The definition of OROP accepted by the Govt and given out by the then RM on 26 Feb 2014 is the same as accepted by the Petition Committee of Rajya Sabha on OROP Chaired by the Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari which presented its report on 19 Dec 2011 to the Rajya Sabha.

· Based on the above definition, Koshyari Committee after due deliberations with the Secretary Finance and secretary expenditure had worked out the requirement of funds of Rs 3000 Crores in 2011. With 10 percent of inflation every year, it works out to Rs 4000 Crores in 2014. This amount is nothing for the Nation to meet the long pending demand of defence fraternity. OROP has been assured to them by none other than Sh Raj Nath Singh ji President BJP and Sh Narendra Modi Prime Minister India. OROP and welfare of ex-serviceman is a main essence of BJP manifesto. Government has promised that all promises made in manifesto will be honoured asap.

· The then Govt had earmarked Rs 500 Crores as initial indicated amount and had mentioned in the order of 26 Feb 2014 that additional fund as required will be made available.

· It was accepted even by the last Govt that disability and family pensioners will be included in the grant of OROP.

· The Model I and Model 2 by the PCDA/CGDA/DESW must be outrightly rejected since these had never ever come under any discussion on OROP. These, to our mind had been brought in as red herring by elements of lower bureaucracy of the DESW and the Defence Accounts Department in conjunction with the UPA Govt to delay the grant of OROP as per the accepted definition. It may be emphasized here by us again that the definition as announced on the floor of the house and also accepted in writing by way of a Govt of India letter, cannot be held mortgage to the thought processes or personal opinions of bodies of accountants.

· The model presented by the Defence Services HQ is in line with the accepted definition of OROP and fully meets its requirement. Acceptance of any other model will not be OROP as per the accepted definition.

· All the objections raised by the PCDA/CGDA/DESW had been effectively contested by the Service HQs and need to be ignored.

· Rates of pensions are enhanced every year since the basic pays of serving soldiers are enhanced at the rate of three percent every year. In order, to implement the OROP, there is need to adopt a simple workable dynamic model to enhance the pensions every year. If this is not implemented, juniors will start drawing more pension that their seniors. In that event, protection clause will need to be applied which will be difficult to implement and will cause delays.

· Rank pay case as per the SC judgement when implemented would need to be incorporated in OROP.

· Requirement of Rs 9100 Crores required for OROP as stated by CGDA does not seem to be in sync, as no details had been given by the CGDA to the service HQs. We would like to bring to your knowledge that it is very easy for accountants to play with numbers on noting sheets and file notings in order to twist the entire amount and make it seem prohibitory thereby trying to negatively influence the political executive. It is also not understood as to how is the figure provided by even the Expenditure Secretary before a Parliamentary Committee is being now twisted in an attempt to breakaway from the accepted definition of OROP.

· The Govt is committed to implement the OROP as per the accepted definition whatever be the requirement of funds.
In view of the above, the following recommendations are made:-.

1. The Draft Govt Letter (DGL) prepared by the Services HQ for the implementation of OROP as per the accepted definition as already announced in the Parliament and as already issued in writing by the Govt, be sanctioned and implementation letter issued at the earliest.

2. The amount required to implement the OROP as per the above DGL be made available.

3. Disability and family pensions be duly incorporated in the OROP.

4. Rank Pay case Judgement of SC when implemented be incorporated in the OROP.

5. Any further decision or meeting on the issue may not be taken merely on the inputs of Defence Accounts Department or the DESW and may only be taken after due consultation with all stake-holders so that unilateral points of view can be effectively countered whenever required.

With regards,

Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Chairman IESM
Mob: +919312404269, 0124-4110570
Email ID: satbirsm@gmail.com

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Sh Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) New Delhi – 110 001

For information please

Sh Rajnath Singh President, BJP Home Minister Govt of India North Block,New Delhi

For information and action please.

Shri Rao Inderjit Singh
Raksha Rajya Mantri
C-1/14 Lodi Garden
New Delhi - 110 003

For information and action please.

General Bikram Singh,
PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM, ADC
Chief of the Army Staff &
Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee
Integrated HQs of Armed Forces (Army)
South Block, New Delhi-110011

May we request you to jointly pursue the matter with the Govt for issue of Implementation letter as suggested above at the earliest please.