OROP - The Saga of our Fight for Justice
Dear Veterans,
The Secretary General of IESM has sent a mail about the disillusionment of the Veterans pertaining to the budget and inadequate allocation funds to meet our demand of OROP. He has also informed that further course of action will be intimated. Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi has also sent a mail captioned ' Scandalous but True', pertaining to the degradation of the pay scales of the Armed Forces.
It seems our fight so far has not seen the end of the tunnel. I trust we need not have to start our struggle all over again. However, below is a the write up on the origin of this saga, which was originally published on 14 June 2011. Though the name of only IESM has been mentioned, let us not forget that there were many more ESM organisations, like IESL (Maj Gen RNRK), AIEWA (Lt Col Inderjit Singh), RDOA, AFVOA Chennai, Military Veterans (Col SS Rajan) War Wounded (Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi), Lt Gen SK Bahri and from Navy and Air Force, who all stood for the common cause. The above mentioned names are not exhaustive. Many more were there.This time also we can depend upon them to pay heed to the call of IESM.
The article below is just a glimpse of our progress towards OROP. It is a repeat with some modifications.
OROP- THE SAGA OF OUR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
After Independence and the installation of a democratic National Government, consideration of loyalty and devotion to duty were cast aside over the monetary considerations. As a result, the grants, pensions and other concessions for those killed in action or wounded in war fell somiserably low that it almost amounted to Soldiers' families being thrown out on the streets. The Soldiers did not realise the impact till the J & K operations were over in 1949.
Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh, in his Book, ' The Liberation of Bangladesh' narrates the following incident. I quote,
" Lt Col (later Maj Gen) Rawind Singh Grewal, who had received a machine gun burst straight in his stomach and leg in J & K operations, was hospitalised for a period longer than stipulated for the retention of acting rank and was brought down to his substantive rank of Captain after 28 days. This officer is said to have walked up to Cariappa, the then Chief, and pointing to his scars, said: "Sir, do you think I got these wounds for the benefit of my health? The reward for risking my life for the sake of my country has been loss of rank and pay. Trust me to fight for you again. Goodbye, Sir."
Cariappa and other successive Chiefs were well aware of the problems of maintaining the morale of the fighting men under such circumstances. But nothing substantial could be achieved against the callous attitude of money conscious Politicians & the hide-bound bureaucracy. The 1950s saw the period of our National Policy of trimming the Armed Forces, under the Nehru Doctrine. The year 1962 awakened the Nation to reality. But, after the Chinese debacle, no Chief could have strongly demanded for the Pay Hike. The opportunity rose after our performance in 1965, War against Pakistan. But, the initiative ended with a few State Govts distributing some grants & awards to the soldiers belonging to their States. After this operation, the AHQ carried out a study and found out that in Sino Indian Conflict 1962 and Indo Pak conflict 1965, the Indian soldier was successively taking fewer risks under fire. The old Soldier was fading out and with him the sense of loyalty and duty. The new Soldier was brought up on the fast changing value of Rupees. He being the sole bread winner of his family, naturally and justifiably his domestic responsibility weighed more on him.
The Secretary General of IESM has sent a mail about the disillusionment of the Veterans pertaining to the budget and inadequate allocation funds to meet our demand of OROP. He has also informed that further course of action will be intimated. Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi has also sent a mail captioned ' Scandalous but True', pertaining to the degradation of the pay scales of the Armed Forces.
It seems our fight so far has not seen the end of the tunnel. I trust we need not have to start our struggle all over again. However, below is a the write up on the origin of this saga, which was originally published on 14 June 2011. Though the name of only IESM has been mentioned, let us not forget that there were many more ESM organisations, like IESL (Maj Gen RNRK), AIEWA (Lt Col Inderjit Singh), RDOA, AFVOA Chennai, Military Veterans (Col SS Rajan) War Wounded (Lt Gen Vijay Oberoi), Lt Gen SK Bahri and from Navy and Air Force, who all stood for the common cause. The above mentioned names are not exhaustive. Many more were there.This time also we can depend upon them to pay heed to the call of IESM.
The article below is just a glimpse of our progress towards OROP. It is a repeat with some modifications.
OROP- THE SAGA OF OUR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE
After Independence and the installation of a democratic National Government, consideration of loyalty and devotion to duty were cast aside over the monetary considerations. As a result, the grants, pensions and other concessions for those killed in action or wounded in war fell somiserably low that it almost amounted to Soldiers' families being thrown out on the streets. The Soldiers did not realise the impact till the J & K operations were over in 1949.
Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh, in his Book, ' The Liberation of Bangladesh' narrates the following incident. I quote,
" Lt Col (later Maj Gen) Rawind Singh Grewal, who had received a machine gun burst straight in his stomach and leg in J & K operations, was hospitalised for a period longer than stipulated for the retention of acting rank and was brought down to his substantive rank of Captain after 28 days. This officer is said to have walked up to Cariappa, the then Chief, and pointing to his scars, said: "Sir, do you think I got these wounds for the benefit of my health? The reward for risking my life for the sake of my country has been loss of rank and pay. Trust me to fight for you again. Goodbye, Sir."
Cariappa and other successive Chiefs were well aware of the problems of maintaining the morale of the fighting men under such circumstances. But nothing substantial could be achieved against the callous attitude of money conscious Politicians & the hide-bound bureaucracy. The 1950s saw the period of our National Policy of trimming the Armed Forces, under the Nehru Doctrine. The year 1962 awakened the Nation to reality. But, after the Chinese debacle, no Chief could have strongly demanded for the Pay Hike. The opportunity rose after our performance in 1965, War against Pakistan. But, the initiative ended with a few State Govts distributing some grants & awards to the soldiers belonging to their States. After this operation, the AHQ carried out a study and found out that in Sino Indian Conflict 1962 and Indo Pak conflict 1965, the Indian soldier was successively taking fewer risks under fire. The old Soldier was fading out and with him the sense of loyalty and duty. The new Soldier was brought up on the fast changing value of Rupees. He being the sole bread winner of his family, naturally and justifiably his domestic responsibility weighed more on him.
The reason was not
far to seek. Take the case of Gunner Arumugam from the Artillery. After
the end of his colour Service of seven years in 1961, he was sent home,
without pension. He was recalled to active Service in 1962, since he had
a reserve liability of eight years. After the Chinese war, in 1963 he
was again sent home. He was recalled to active service again, in 1965,
fought the Indo Pak War. He was finally discharged in 1966, without
pension since he did not complete 15 years of continuous service to earn
the minimum pension. The Nation had utilised the Services of a Jawan,
in the most economic way, without an iota of shame. After braving the
enemy bullets in two wars, the Jawan was sent home, literally, to beg on
the streets.
Leave the Politicians and Bureaucrats alone. What did our own establishment, consisting of Officers who were commissioned under the oath of Chetwode do ? It was a pity that the Senior Officers in those days, (not any different from the present day), chose to put the blame on the Government and the regulations made by it. Not a single case was taken up with the Government to revisit the Pension regulations for the Army, in view of extra ordinary circumstances of Jawans like Gunner Arumugam or Lt Col GS Grewal and scores of others. They could have been granted pension or retention of their acting ranks as special cases. Even the Courts of Law would have up held their cases for justice. But, our own hierarchy found it fit to keep silent.
Leave the Politicians and Bureaucrats alone. What did our own establishment, consisting of Officers who were commissioned under the oath of Chetwode do ? It was a pity that the Senior Officers in those days, (not any different from the present day), chose to put the blame on the Government and the regulations made by it. Not a single case was taken up with the Government to revisit the Pension regulations for the Army, in view of extra ordinary circumstances of Jawans like Gunner Arumugam or Lt Col GS Grewal and scores of others. They could have been granted pension or retention of their acting ranks as special cases. Even the Courts of Law would have up held their cases for justice. But, our own hierarchy found it fit to keep silent.
Since Sam Manekshaw,
in 1971, stood his ground and refused to launch his Offensive against
East Pakistan in March 1971 itself, he had sufficient time to address
the problems of the soldiers' sagging morale. His aim was to ensure that
every soldier went to battle, fully assured that the Nation would look
after the welfare of his family, even if he lost his life, or wounded or
missing or taken as PW, during the war.
With his initiative
and clout over the then Prime Minister, a slew of benefits were
announced, some of which had far reaching effect. Special consideration
for the War widows, who were encouraged to start new lives by remarrying
without the loss of pension benefits, 75 % of the basic pay sanctioned
to them as Pension, liberalised disability pensions etc., ensured that
the Soldiers went into 1971 War with a better frame of mind and morale.
It was unfortunate that the proverb "God and Soldiers are remembered
only during calamities" proved right once again.
The Third CPC,
belied the expectation of the Armed Forces. That also after its glorious
victory in 1971. Unfortunately, Sam was no more in the Chair. Not that
it would have made any difference against the
bureaucratic zeal of gaining the parity in Pay & Pension with the Armed Forces. The major blame for this debacle should be shared by the Officers of the Armed Forces, who were blissfully ignorant of what was happening to their own Rank & File. Those were the days when every Officer was told that the CDA(O) would look after all their pay & allowances problems. Hardly any discussion, even as a matter of education, was held about the CPCs & their misdemeanor.
bureaucratic zeal of gaining the parity in Pay & Pension with the Armed Forces. The major blame for this debacle should be shared by the Officers of the Armed Forces, who were blissfully ignorant of what was happening to their own Rank & File. Those were the days when every Officer was told that the CDA(O) would look after all their pay & allowances problems. Hardly any discussion, even as a matter of education, was held about the CPCs & their misdemeanor.
Maj AK Dahanaplan
has given a graphic description of his encounter with Gen Sunderji,
regarding the Rank Pay issue. He had proved that the Rank Pay was
sanctioned not as an additional emolument but by reducing the basic pay,
which was against the Govt order. He was not taken seriously, till he
fought his case in the Kerala High Court and won. In fact he is the
pioneer who opened the eyes of the Veterans of the legal remedy
available to them. But, it had taken more than two decades for the other
Veteran Officers to get the benefit and the consequent arrears. The
fact of the matter is that, even a Court judgement may not be
implemented by the MOD and the Finance Ministry who prefer to stall the
process by repeated appeals.
The Sixth Pay Commission, though did not fulfill the aspirations of the ESM, has become a land mark in our fight for justice.
Below is a relevant
extract of the Memorandum, submitted by the IESM, to the Committee of
the Rajya Saba. (An excellently drafted piece and our compliments to the
team headed by Lt Gen Raj Kadyan and backed by Maj Gen Satbir Singh,
Col RP Chaturvedi and Hony Capt K Pandey). I quote :-
" Civilianisation of Military Pensions"
" Civilianisation of Military Pensions"
As long as the
Armed Forces remained out of the purview of the National Central Pay
Commissions (CPC), the existing structure continued. Military pensions
continued to be higher than that of the other Central Government
employees. The government however decided to bring the Defence Forces
under the purview of CPCs starting from the 3rd CPC. That the conditions
of service and the terms of reference for the Defence Forces were very
much different was ignored. Ironically, it happened in 1973, just after
the country had won a major war that led to the creation of Bangladesh.
The 3rd CPC rerecorded that pension should be treated as a standby in
times of adversity. The financial weightages done away with and was
replaced by an arbitrary weightage of years of service to compensate for
the truncated career of defence forces employees. The fact that most
JCOs and below left after initial engagement / colour service without
pension was not addressed.
(It was left to Shri Jagjivan Ram to later extend the service to 15 years and make it pensionable.) The impact of this move on the shortages of recruitment was immediately felt. The 3rd CPC in order to civilianise the Military pensions, related pension to last pay drawn (LPD) as a percentage rather than relating to rank as heretofore had been done. The cadre and pay structure wherein defence personnel moved much more slowly to reach higher ranks/pay scales was totally overlooked. This resulted in Military pensions falling way behind their civilian counterparts, not withstanding the weightage in years given for truncated career.
(It was left to Shri Jagjivan Ram to later extend the service to 15 years and make it pensionable.) The impact of this move on the shortages of recruitment was immediately felt. The 3rd CPC in order to civilianise the Military pensions, related pension to last pay drawn (LPD) as a percentage rather than relating to rank as heretofore had been done. The cadre and pay structure wherein defence personnel moved much more slowly to reach higher ranks/pay scales was totally overlooked. This resulted in Military pensions falling way behind their civilian counterparts, not withstanding the weightage in years given for truncated career.
The Defence Forces
were palpably upset. Therefore, the government appointed a committee
under KP Singh Deo, MOS (Defence) to look into the ‘Non Effective
Benefits of ESM Pensioners’. The Committee recommended that service
pensions /retiring pensions should revert to being rank-based. In
fact it went one step ahead; Service pensions should not only be
rank-based but all vintages of pensioners should receive the same
quantum of pension. A new term was thus coined namely One Rank One
Pension (OROP). The government announced in the Lok Sabha that it had
accepted 26 of the Committee’s recommendations barring one, namely on
OROP which it was examining for implementation.
KP Singh Deo
Committee’s view was that Military pensions as these existed prior to
3rd CPC should be restored. Since Rank played a very important role in
the military, reflected its ethos and is allowed to be retained as per
our Constitution ever after retirement, pensions had to be
rank-based. Every substantive officer, JCO and others should receive the
pension of the rank held on retirement irrespective of their vintage
and date of retirement. Besides, the pensions also had to be
periodically enhanced and updated. "
After the previous Govt announced the OROP with an initial budget provision of 500 corers, it is expected that the present Govt, which had included OROP in their election manifesto, would embark on its speedy implementation. The present meetings with the concerned offices of the Govt, as reported by Maj Gen Satbir Singh, has given us hope. The last few steps to the summit will always be difficult. But, we will reach it.
Col (Retd) TN Raman
E5/230, AWHO Parameswaran Vihar,
67, Arcot Road, Saligramam,
Chennai 600093
Ph: 044-42013210
Mob: 0- 9840033326
67, Arcot Road, Saligramam,
Chennai 600093
Ph: 044-42013210
Mob: 0- 9840033326
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