Our Expectation of OROP by Maj Gen RN Radha Krishnan

From: Radha Krishnan RN

Our Expectation of OROP

Date: Wednesday, 24 June, 2009, 7:24 PM

Dear Veterans,

Discussions on OROP seem to have diminished. IESL has consulted a few senior veterans -quite a few if I may add - and have concluded on what ought to be presented to the Government. But I do not understand the reason in not declaring their recommendations. Since I was also a party in the consultation I have a fair idea. I can only say it is a reasonably good proposal but yet not good enough from purely my point of view.

IESM has had a round of discussions with the Defence Minister and seems to be pleased with their interpretation of his vocal and body language. Yet will it be OROP, we will have to wait and see.

Col Inderjit Singh who has been at OROP since 1982 has declared in his recent mail:
“We have struggled for it for the past almost 30 years. No diluting of this concept will be acceptable. In the past 30 years we have always got everything through the Govt of the Ruling Party only.”
‘What he intends to do’, we will have to wait and see.

Let us speculate.. The Government has made up its mind. They have no intentions to consult any. We may propose or may not, they will dispose in any case. They are cornered by the Sep 2008 judgment. Hence the pension of ESM is likely to be based on the notional pay fixed in accordance with the fitment table of SAI 1 & 2/S/2008. This is in spirit of the ruling, but not in the spirit of OROP.

The pay of the serving personnel shall increase with annual increments and therefore the pension when they retire will be more than the ESM of the same rank and same service. In order that the demand OROP is honored, the government has to grant the ESM also annual increment of 3% on their basic pension less the MSP content till the maximum pension is not reached.

Will the Government do so, we will have to wait and see. United, I doubt, if we are ever going to fight for our rights. We may do perhaps in distant days. Meanwhile let me hope that the events of the country shapes up the thinking of the political leadership to recognize the importance of the soldier’s will..

Message attached as word document also

Regards RN Radhakrishnan (Retd Major General)