One Rank One Pension

The issue of One Rank, One pension (OROP) is demand of the retired
veterans of our armed forces for reinstatement same pension, for same
rank and for the same length of service, irrespective of the date of
retirement. This would give financial stability to retired personnel who
have given their prime years of youth for the service of nation often
inperilous and hazardous conditions.
Contrary to the more prevalent notion it is not a new demand as the
OROP was very much part of the services terms and conditions in the
past before it was done away with in 1970s.
Technically speaking an OROP rule means that retired soldiers of the
same rank and length of service will receive the same pension,
regardless of when they retire. As of now, the date of retirement
determines the amount of pension. With each Pay Commission coming
up with its recommendations every 10 years, the military veterans who
retire early, receive less pension as compared to those who retired later
with the same rank and length of service.
Implementation of OROP will benefit those ex-servicemen who retired
before 2006. As of now those pensioners who retired before 2006 draw
less pension than their counterparts and even their juniors. The scheme
will benefit all three services -- air force, navy and army.

ANKUR BHARADWAJ

ankurcivilservice.wordpress.com

The points in favour of reinstating OROP

A main argument in favour of OROP is that unlike many other services
Jawans and officers of Armed forces retire early. The average age of
retirement is about 40 years, whereas a civilian can continue in service
till the age of 60. So the salary, based on which the pension is decided is
very less when compared to those who retire at the age of 60.
Again due to short timeframe of the service the savings of these
personnel are also very low and thus they are financially handicapped.
OROP will be beneficial in this situation as it will boost their financial
stability.
Though there are several provisions for absorbing the retired personnel
in civilian areas yet almost 60% of the Jawans are not absorbed due to
lack of quality education. Most of them are either 10th or 12th pass and
finding jobs in areas other than private security forces is tough for them.
Here too the rising unemployment means that younger people work for
far less salary than retired personnel. So only supervisor rank posts are
suitable for them which further limits the job opportunities.
Again unlike other services the Armed forces work in very tedious
working atmosphere which quickly drains their energy. By a time a
retired armed force personnel reach the age of 50 his ability to work is
reduced drastically. Though they have a well toned body but lack of
army discipline and quality nutrition drains them quickly. So they need
better care at advanced age where injuries sustained during their career
start to resurface. OROP will ensure that they are able to take care of
their body in a suitable way.

ANKUR BHARADWAJ

ankurcivilservice.wordpress.com

The defence veterans argue that the salary that is paid to them is not in
the tune of risks they take. This they says is the reason why less number
of youth want to join Army today. Adequate pay and satisfactory
retirement benefits are thus necessary to keep defence
forces motivated and for defence career to remain attractive for the
Indian youth.
Another argument is that the rank and promotion of defence personnel
is not in line with civil personnel. In other words, defence personnel feel
that they are short-changed in the larger government system.

Points against OROP

One of the biggest reasons why the Central government discontinued
the OROP in 1973 was that it is very expensive and puts a huge financial
burden on the government. Also this is not a onetime affair and cost will
keep on increasing as one pay commission succeeds
another.
The legal argument states that the person who retired 50 years ago
cannot be paid the same pension as someone who retired now.
Also according to OROP, the veteran who served as colonel for 5 years
will get the same money as someone who served in the same post for 2
year. This is the most important legal challenge before OROP.

ANKUR BHARADWAJ

ankurcivilservice.wordpress.com

Implementation of OROP for the armed force personnel can open a

Pandoras Box where other personnel starting with the paramilitary
forces and police personnel - will also start demanding to put them
within the folds of the OROP. Though their service terms are not same as
of the Armed forces still acceptance of OROP may give them an excuse to
raise demands. Given the perilous condition of our national security the
government may find their demands hard to ignore.
Besides arguing that police officers who have retired in 2006 are
drawing less pension than junior officers who retired after 2006, the
police are of the view that since they are the ones who battle terrorists,
insurgents and naxalites, their threat perception is higher. They also
have a high casualty rate as more than 3,000 police personnel died in
2014 alone while in contrast, 201 soldiers and officers of the armed
forces were killed between 2012 and 2015.
Their contention is that OROP for police personnel will serve the
dependents and disabled personnel in a better way.
Opponents of the OROP suggest that armed force personnel are already
provided separate military service pay, field area allowance, counter
insurgency allowance, high altitude/uncongenial climate allowance,
Siachen Glacier allowance, flying pay, parachute pay, special forces pay,
etc. In addition, defence personnel get various benefits that are not
accorded to their civilian counterparts, such as dedicated army
hospitals, army schools, army colleges, subsidised food and beverages,
etc. Also, defence personnels children have a quota or are given
preferential treatment in admission to various institutions. Thus, the
first
argument that armed forces personnel are not paid adequately is really
not tenable and giving them added benefit of OROP is thus not justified.

ANKUR BHARADWAJ

ankurcivilservice.wordpress.com

Additionally the argument that OROP is a just cause because everyone at

the same rank should get the same pension is also not entirely true. Over
the last few decades, we have witnessed the time to rank has changed
substantially. For instance, in the 1980s, the timescale of service
required to attain the rank of a full colonel or to pick up a colonelequivalent rank was over 20 years, which has, in recent times, reduced
to 15 years. Therefore, the relationship between rank and years of
service itself has changed over the last few decades.
In addition, the rank and promotion of armed forces is largely decided
internally and outsiders including the government of India - cannot be
blamed for discrepancies. It is almost for certain that the government is
not responsible for financial compensation for any discrepancies for
which it is not held responsible.

The recent agreement on OROP

However despite the ongoing debate about the feasibility of OROP, the
NDA government has bowed down before the agitation of the veterans
the Government announced in the first week of September 2015 that it
has decided to reinstate the OROP.

Who may be eligible for OROP now?

As per the agreed upon definition of OROP it "implies that uniform
pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank
with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement.
Future enhancements in the rates of pension would be automatically
passed on to the past pensioners. This implies bridging the gap between
the rate of pension of current and past pensioners at periodic intervals".

ANKUR BHARADWAJ

ankurcivilservice.wordpress.com

The major announcement made this time under the "OROP Scheme" is as
follows :1. The benefit will be given with effect from 1st July, 2014. The veterans
were demanding that
it be done w.e.f. April 2014 but given the significant outcomes of OROP
this is a minor irritant.
2. Arrears from April 2014 onwards - will be paid in four half-yearly
installments.
3. A key issue regarding widows, including war widows, was also solve
and they will also be eligible for OROP and additionally their arrears will
be cleared in one installment.
4. To begin with, OROP would be fixed on the basis of calendar year
2013. Pension will be refixed for all pensioners retiring in the same rank
and with the same length of service as the average of minimum and
maximum pension in 2013. Those drawing pensions above the average
will be protected.

ANKUR BHARADWAJ

ankurcivilservice.wordpress.com