One Rank One Pension (OROP) means the same pension for same rank, for same length of service. It is a scheme, implemented by the Government of India for the benefit of retirees of the Armed Forces which has been a persistent demand of them. And now, it has finally been implemented to ensure that the same amount of pension is paid to those who retired at the same rank and had the same length of service, whether they retired many years before their counterparts who have retired today. However, there have been many debates, discussions and criticism about the retrospective implementation of this scheme, that led to delays in implementation.
What is One Rank One Pension?
One Rank and One Pension (OROP) is a government scheme that ensures that retired soldiers of the Indian armed forces receive the same pension and benefits after retirement as their counterparts receive for the same period of service. In simple words, a retired military officer who retired 20 years ago receives the same pension as compared to his counterpart who retired today, serving the armed forces for same period of time. The main objective of introducing OROP is to remove disparities in the pensions of ex-servicemen and ensure that armed forces personnel receive their deserved pensions. The scheme was first recommended by the Koshyari committee in December 2011, and since then, the demand for OROP has been a long-standing issue for the armed forces community. Despite the government's assurance to implement OROP, it took more than 40 years to finally implement the scheme. Its implementation has been a huge step towards addressing the long-standing issue of pension disparity among retired military personnel. The scheme is a relief to lakhs of retirees of armed forces and their families, who have been fighting for their fair pension for decades.
History of OROP
The demand for the one rank one pension has been a long-standing one by the Indian Armed Forces veterans. The concept can be traced back to 1973 when the Congress party terminated it through an ex parte administrative order and started following the report of the third pay commission. By which the pension of civilian government personnel increased by 20 percent, whereas the pension of soldiers decreased by 20 percent. After this, the rank-pay system was introduced in 1986 by the Rajiv Gandhi government. This rank-pay system reduced the basic pay of officers compared to the basic pay of civilian and police officers, which started undermining the military ranks and making them junior to police. Then in 2008, the sixth pay commission scrapped the rank pay system, and Manmohan Singh's United Progressive Alliance (UPA) launched grade pay and pay bands, which further exaggerated the issues and asymmetries caused by the rank pay system. Then, in 2011, the UPA government set up a ten-member committee to address this OROP issue, led by MP Bhagat Singh Koshyari. This committee submitted its report after eight months in December 2011 and strongly recommended implementing OROP. But despite the committee's recommendation, the UPA government was slow to reach out to veterans and implement OROP. Then in September 2015, the BJP government announced that it would implement the OROP. A notification was released by the government, which stated that the financial benefit under the new orders is to be paid from July 1, 2014.
The implementation of OROP has been a huge and important step in the history of the Indian Armed Forces, and it has provided a sense of justice and satisfaction to the retired soldiers who had been demanding it for years.
Why was OROP introduced?
To address this issue, the government introduced One Rank One Pension (OROP) in 2015. The main objective of OROP was to ensure that all retired personnel, who had served for the same duration and held the same rank got the same amount of pension, irrespective of the time of their retirement. This would not only remove the disparity between the pension amounts but also help boost the morale of the personnel in the armed forces.
OROP is a significant reform that has been welcomed by the armed forces personnel, as it addresses one of their long-standing demands. The implementation of OROP has not only provided financial stability to retired personnel but has also strengthened the trust between the armed forces and the government.
Benefits of One Rank One Pension
The implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) comes with several benefits for the retired members of the armed forces.
It ensures that all retirees, who have provided their services for the same period of time and at the same rank, receive the same amount of pension, irrespective of their retirement date. This means that the pension amount will be the same for a person who retired in 1980 and another who retired in 2022 with the same rank and duration of service.
It provides the retirees with a sense of financial security, as they will know the exact amount they will receive as a pension. This will enable them to plan their finances better and lead a comfortable life post-retirement.
The implementation of OROP will boost the morale of the serving members of the armed forces. They will know that their retired counterparts are being treated fairly. They are receiving the benefits that they deserve. It builds a sense of confidence among the serving personnel that they will also be treated fairly at the time of their retirement.
Overall, the implementation of One Rank One Pension is a welcome step that will ensure that the retired soldiers are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve and their sacrifices for the nation are recognized.
Implementation of OROP
The implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) in India has been a continuing issue for several years. OROP was introduced to provide equal pension benefits to retired personnel of armed forces who served at the same rank for the same duration of, irrespective of their date of retirement.
The Indian government announced the implementation of OROP in 2015, after many protests and agitations by ex-servicemen. However, this process has faced many hindrances along the way of its implementation.
Initially, the government had announced that OROP would be implemented in July 2014, but after meetings with various stakeholders, the government decided to implement OROP with 2013 as the base year without retrospective effect. This meant that all retirees who retired before 2013 would not be eligible for OROP benefits.
The ex-servicemen protested against this decision, demanding that the base year be changed to 2014 with the retrospective effect, so that all retired military personnel could benefit from OROP. The government eventually agreed to this demand and announced that the base year for OROP would be 2014 and that all arrears would be paid in four installments.
The government also set up a one-member judicial committee to look into the various issues related to OROP, including its definition, its financial implications, and the methodology for its implementation. The committee submitted its report in 2016, and almost all of its recommendations were accepted by the government.
Despite the government's efforts, the implementation of OROP has been marred by delays and protests. Many ex-servicemen have complained that they have not received their arrears, while others have criticized the government for not implementing OROP in an efficient and a timely manner. After then, in March 2022, the Supreme Court directed the government to clear all the arrears by July 2022. The Supreme Court also extended this deadline two times because of the delay caused by the government and directed the government to pay all the dues by February 28, 2024, in three equal installments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, One Rank One Pension (OROP) is a highly debated and contested topic in India. It is a long-standing demand of the Indian armed forces veterans and their families for the government to ensure pension parity between those who retired before and after the 6th Pay Commission.
The implementation of OROP would significantly benefit retired soldiers, as they would receive higher pensions and financial security in their post-retirement lives. However, the cost of implementing OROP is a financial burden on the government. It is also a complex issue, as it involves a large number of retired soldiers and their families. There are different opinions and perspectives on the matter.
Against all odds, the government has shown its commitment to implementing OROP, and significant progress has been made in recent years.
Overall, whether OROP is worth it or not depends on one's perspective. For retired soldiers and their families, it is a matter of justice and equality, as they have been fighting for it for several years. For the government, it is a complex issue that involves balancing financial considerations with the needs and demands of retired soldiers. Whatever the outcome, it is clear that OROP is an important issue for the country, and it will continue to be debated and discussed for many years to come.
What are your views about One Rank One Pension will it solve the issue of Retired armed forces personnel pension or not? Tell us in comment box.
