OROP - Modi's gift to Veterans

It was like any other afternoon in most part of the world but not in India.  Hope was meeting realization, dreams were fulfilling in North Block, Delhi. A large number of people from age 32 to 96 years were rejoicing in streets for one single reason. People who gave blood and sweat in order to ensure sovereignty of nation. Many of them are in their last phase of life and many are uncertain of their future but they all have one thing in common; they were guards of peace and safety they are VETERANS. Soldiers who believed to be patient and disciplined ran out of patience since last two months but they were still soldiers with a code of discipline. They loose their patience due to long time waiting for their right. A period in which nation saw ten different person as Prime Minister; single ruling party to coalition governments but none of them give heed to their demands but finally hope and dreams realised on 5 Sep 2015. Dream of One Rank One Pension was fulfilled.

Year 1973 when civilians and defence pensions were clubbed under one pay commission by Indira Gandhi led government since then protest continue within the system by military in sporadic manner and veterans were also supporting it but to no avail.

In 2008 after sixth pay commission veterans taken to street for the street for the first time and current crisis was born. In 2012 UPA government made it’s stand clear by stating OROP as impossible. In September 2013 then BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi promised OROP in Rewari Rally after 1 year of formation of government . During June 2015, veterans start their relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in an organized manner and in Aug it converted to fast untill death.

Now as OROP has been announced veterans are not fully satisfied as they allege many of issues and demands were not fulfilled but a large portion of it in compromise mode and decided to celebrate what they achieved after so long wait and negotiation.

Detail order on OROP is yet to arrive by everyone in service and veterans. Hope it doesn’t have hidden surprise or shock for anyone.

Various Organization like UFSEM, IESM, are behind the implementation of OROP and also still waiting for the right calculation of OROP even after declaration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.