Friday, November 7, 2014

EX-SERVICEMEN CHEATED ONCE AGAIN EX-SERVICEMEN DECIDE TO RESUME AGITATION FOR ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

EX-SERVICEMEN CHEATED ONCE AGAIN EX-SERVICEMEN DECIDE TO RESUME AGITATION FOR ONE RANK ONE PENSION (OROP)

05 Nov 2014

Politics of the India is forcing normally well-disciplined and patient ex-servicemen to resume their agitation for OROP. 
OROP is more than 30 year old demand of ex-servicemen. This demand became necessary when rank wise pension of ex-servicemen was discontinued and armed forces of India were clubbed with central Government employees in 1973 and their pensions were reduced to bring at par with central Government employees. Ex-servicemen had been demanding OROP since then. Central Government did not agree to this most genuine demand despite OROP being recommended by Parliamentary Committee on Defence on more than one occasion.
Realizing the neglect by Politicians/bureaucrat combine, Ex-servicemen decided to form a movement to press home their demands. INDIAN EX-SERVICEMEN MOVEMENT (IESM) was formed on 13 Aug 2008 to put across their demands and agitate (much against their precedents and training) for acceptance of their demands. In-fact politicians forced the normally peaceful and silent force to agitate for their genuine demands because of their willful neglect Ex-servicemen.
IESM agitated for their demands, OROP being one of the most important demands. IESM gave memorandums to Government listing four demands. Government did not pay attention to these peaceful memorandums. IESM was then forced to escalate the agitation and deposited 22000 Gallantry medals to the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces the President of India to convey their disappointment with ex-servicemen policies of the Government. Memorandums signed in their own blood were given to President of India, ex-servicemen sat on relay hunger strikes and rallies were organized all over India to press for approval of OROP and other demands. Agitation/Rallies were supported by more than 25000 live members of IESM and lacs of associate members. More than 50 ESM organizations joined hands with IESM and supported the rallies/agitation planned by IESM.

UPA 2 Government finally approved OROP in the budget presented on 17 Feb 14 and allotted Rs 500/ crores for OROP. On 24 Feb 14 then Defence Minister Sh AK Anthony presided over a meeting and ordered MOD and CDA to issue instructions and ensure payment as per the approved definition of OROP given below 
 “OROP implies that uniform pension be paid to the Armed Forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement, and any future enhancement in the rates of pension to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners. This implies bridging the gap between the rate of pension of the current pensioners and the past pensioners, and also future enhancements in the rate of pension, to be automatically passed on to the past pensioners”. 
Despite clear instructions from Defence Minister, MOD did not issue notification for payment of OROP. 
During the election campaign, BJP leaders also promised OROP for ex-servicemen as soon as BJP Government would be formed at center. It is very important to note that BJP PM designate Sh Narendra Modi started his campaign on 15 Sept 13 (Precisely one day after being nominated as PM designate) in an ex-servicemen rally at Rewari. He roared to say that Congress Government has done nothing for ex-servicemen. He further questioned congress government and demanded a white paper on their sincerity for grant of OROP. He had also assured ex-servicemen that had BJP party been in Government, OROP would have been reality by now. Ex-servicemen accepted these promises made by BJP politicians on their face value and voted en-bloc for BJP. 
Finance cum Defence Minister Sh Arun Jaitley, in his first budget on 10 June, put a stamp of approval on OROP (already approved by UPA Govt) for ex-servicemen and allotted further Rs 1000/ crores for OROP, and promised more funds as per requirement. Honorable Prime Minister has confirmed at more than three occasions that OROP for ex-servicemen is his commitment to Armed Forces and ex-servicemen and sufficient funds have been catered for OROP in the budget for 2014-15.
Seven months have passed since approval of OROP and notification of OROP has still not been issued. Ex-servicemen are exasperated and losing confidence in politicians/bureaucrats. OROP is commitment of Prime Minister, approved by two Parliaments and agreed by all political parties of India but it has still not become reality and is still a mirage. Ex-servicemen are where they were! Most disappointing situation, but true!Disappointed with the step motherly treatment meted out to them by the Government, IESM has decided to resume agitations and has planned to deposit more of Gallantry medals to convey their disappointment with Government. 
IESM plans to start relay hunger strike from 3rd December 14 at Jantar Mantar (start of Indo Pak war in 1971). A jatha of ex-servicemen will sit on hunger strike every day till 16 December 14 (surrender of Pakistan army to Indian Army in 1971, glorious day in the history of Indian Armed Forces). A mega rally will be organized on 7th December Sunday at Jantar Mantar. A tranche of medals will be returned to the President of India on 16 Dec. 
IESM REQUESTS ALL EX-SERVICEMEN TO
  1. JOIN AGITATION FOR OROP IN LARGE NUMBERS.
  1. IESM STATE UNITS ARE URGED TO SEND JATHAS OF 15 MEN EVERYDAY FOR SITTING ON RELAY HUNGER STRIKE FROM 3 DEC TO 16 DEC 2014.
  1. ATTEND MEGA RALLY IN LARGE NUMBERS ON 7 DECEMBER 2014 SUNDAY. RALLY WILL START AT 1000H AT JANTAR MANTAR NEW DELHI
  1. RETURN THEIR GALLANTRY MEDALS TO BE DEPOSITED WITH THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA ON 16 DECEMBER FOR SAFE CUSTODY.                                                                                                                          Ex-servicemen are requested to resolve their local problems and join the agitation in VERY LARGE NUMBERS. 
DEAR EX-SERVICEMEN DELHI ELECTIONS ARE DUE SOON AND YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ALL PARTIES. PLEASE USE YOUR VOTE JUDICIOUSLY AND FORCE POLITICAL PARTIES TO LISTEN TO YOUR DEMANDS.
IESM THANKS ALL MEMBERS FOR GRACIOUSLY DONATING FOR FLOODS VICTIMS IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR. FUNDS, RECEIVED AS DONATION, HAVE BEEN DULY PASSED ON TO J & K FLOOD VICTIMS. 
DONATIONS FROM MEMBERS TO SUPPORT AGITATION FOR OROP WILL BE APPRECIATED BY IESM.
ALL ESM ORGANISATIONS ARE REQUESTED TO JOIN THE AGITATION AND UNITE FOR OROP AND SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO GOVERNMENT. 

Regards

Gp Capt VK Gandhi VSM
Gen Sec IESM
L - 48, Sector - 25,
NOIDA. 201301
Tele no 01204313951
Mobile   09810541222

Pls see IESM latest NEWS on http://www.iesm.in

OROP is our right. Dilution in OROP will NOT be accepted.

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