While the ex-servicemen await an explanation from government on the "voluntary retirement" issue, sources in the government have suggested that no promise to look into the issue has been made by the Narendra Modi government.
According to sources, the government is stern on the announcement that those retiring early due to disability would remain the beneficiary of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, while those retiring for benefits won't avail the scheme. The sense within the government is that such soldiers stand to not lose anything while the government loses trained personnel.
Sources further claimed that most of the ex-servicemen unions were happy with the announcement made by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday. "We expect all protestors to celebrate this as no government has done it before," they said, adding that any anomalies would be taken care of by the one-man judicial commission within six months.
Earlier, ex-servicemen following a meeting with Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that they were assured of a clarification on the controversial voluntary retirement clause.
According to the OROP scheme, announced by the Defence Minister on Saturday, personnel who voluntarily retire would not be covered under the scheme.
This was rejected by the veterans, who pointed that there's no voluntary retirement from defence forces but premature retirement, adding that they want the personnel opting for it under OROP.
The veterans have said that they will wait for the clarification from the government before calling off protests.
Apart from this, there are other sticking points that remain. For instance, while the government has said that the pension would be revised every five years, the veterans have reiterated their demand for an annual revision. The veterans said that at the maximum they can agree to revision every two years, not more.
Government's OROP scheme and stand of veterans:
1. Government: The benefit of OROP will be given with effect from July 1, 2014, said Parrikar. To begin with, OROP would be fixed on the basis of calendar year 2013.
Veterans: Accept it.
2. Government: Arrears will be paid in four half-yearly installments. All widows, including war widows, will be paid arrears in one instalment.
Veterans: They want clarity on its modalities.
3. Pension will be re-fixed for all pensioners retiring in the same rank and with the same length of service as the average of minimum and maximum pension in 2013. Those drawing pensions above the average will be protected.
Veterans: Reject it and want it at the maximum level.
4. Government: Personnel who voluntarily retire will not be covered under the OROP scheme.
Veterans: Reject it. They point out that there is no voluntary retirement from defence forces but premature retirement and want the personnel opting for it under OROP.
5. Government: In future, the pension would be re-fixed every 5 years.
Veterans: Reject it and want it to happen every year or at the most once in two years.
6. Government: One-member Judicial Committee would be constituted which will give its report in six months.
Veterans: Reject this offer. Want a 5-member committee with three retired defence personnel, one serving and one from the judiciary. The timeframe should be one month.
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