The issue over one-rank-one-pension (OROP) scheme may not be resolved in the near future as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday said the “methodology of calculation” was still being worked out in consultation with the Defence Ministry.
Asserting the government’s commitment towards implementing the OROP, Jaitley said the Finance Ministry was in dialogue with the Defence Ministry on the methodology of calculation, hinting at no immediate resolution of the complicated issue.
About a month ago, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar hinted at the OROP announcement at the first anniversary of the NDA government at a public rally. He had also acknowledged the complexities involved since the decision will have to be in accordance with two rulings from the Armed Forces Tribunal and Supreme Court.
Nearly 25 lakh families would be benefited by OROP scheme. When in the opposition, the BJP supported its implementation to the hilt, but the Congress-led UPA government cited financial constraints in realising the scheme.
As the NDA claims the methodology for OROP calculation was under the works, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is set to meet the ex-servicemen on Saturday to discuss the contentious issue.
For a long time, defence forces and ex-servicemen associations have demanded that uniform pension should be paid to the military 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 be automatically passed on to the past pensioners.