Collect gallantry medals for returning them to government
Around 1,000 retired defence personnel on Sunday staged a protest here demanding “equal pension for each rank” and collected their gallantry medals for returning them to the government.
Ex-servicemen from all the three defence forces held the protest at Jantar Mantar.
They would also submit a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, one of the organisers said.
The main demand is that irrespective of the date on which a soldier retires, he or she should get the same pension.
“It is a shame for the country that soldiers have to return their gallantry awards and meritorious medals and come to the streets for redressing their grievances,” they said.
Comments:
Recently Armed Forces Tribunal, Chandigarh has given the judgement that One Rank One Pension to be implemented. I do not think that this judgement can be challenged as it is Tribunal set up by the Governemnt of India. For this judgement the Government lawyer present, it seems, informed that the matter is under Governemnt consideration. Such reply does not speak good of Govt acts and its representative in court of law. When the nation expects the soldiers to act immediately in any calamity, is it not fair on the part of Govt. to implement it immediately? So let our PM,DM & FM look into the matter and respect the judgement.
Retired soldiers of India have created history. Never in the history of the world (not to my knowledge) that retired soldiers had returned their gallantry awards and submitted memorendum to the president and prime minister by singning with their own blood to seek justice. They have done this to seek justice against Govt's decision towards ONE RANK ONE PENSION. OROP is a long pending issue. It is the legitimate rights of soldiers to demand OROP. Soldiers should not be compared with civilians. Their service condition, promotion, separation and retirement are totally different from that of civil service . Parliament standing committee had earlier strongly recommended OROP and now Armd Force Tribunal Chandigarh has directed Govt to sanction OROP. Now Govt should set aside cabinet secretary Mr Chandrasekhar'ss recommendation and take cabinet decision on the subject. People of India will not forgive the Govt if retired soldiers agitation goes out of control.
I think the chapter of OROP has been already closed by the Ministry of Finance and nothing fruitful is going to materialize by extending this fight as most of the PBOR have happily accepted whatever nominal improvement in their pension is declared by the Government. I feel that it's better to take whatever is released after a long protests as the poor PBOR pensioner have to save their time to earn a little more to add to their meagre income from pension. Since the officers are highly paid during their service and after retirement, they can go for the OROP for all. Officers should do it for their jawans as natural leaders.
Reg OROP (One Rank One Pension) there are a few persons in the govt to misguide the political leadership. But now it is for political leadership to understand the gravity of the situation. Almost all the political parties and the courts telling the govt to sanction OROP. Why are the defence ministry and PM just listening the Cabinet Secretary whose decisions have already landed the UPA in trouble?
To keep young the army, a jawan is being retired from army compulsorily by the govt.when he has compelling responsibilities on his shoulders.Nation forgets his sacrifices which he made by keeping himself away from his near and dear. He does not have any social element in his life.He cannot take part in crucial social events while serving due to which he has been isolated from the society.He has to perform duties round the clock. There is no holiday,weekly off for him. Whatever is declared It is only on papers. Everyone praises his sacrifice but does not ready to help him out. After retirement at young age he has to settle and adjust in new environment himself with a less income which he receives as pension every month.Everyone is not so lucky to get a good job in civil.Hence, it the duty of the nation to lookafter him properly. Only One Rank and One Pension is the way to help him out in meeting his social obligations and responsibilities.