'Annual revision not feasible'

The fortnight-long negotiations between the government and representatives of ex-servicemen to sort out the modalities of the one rank, one pension (OROP) scheme have reached a stalemate over the issue of annual revision in pension, with the government saying that it is not feasible and the veterans firm that the demand is non-negotiable.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Monday that an annual review was not feasible and would set a wrong precedent. He said the “only difficulty” was the “arithmetical translation”.

“We would like to safeguard the interest of those soldiers who retire at age of 35 or 38 and society must protect them ... and therefore, some higher pension on a special formulation is understandable but then it can’t be revised every year,” he said while talking to the media.

Reacting to this, veterans said this was the “approved definition” and the issue was non-negotiable. Major-General (Retd) Satbir Singh, chairman of the Indian Ex-servicemen Movement, said: “We are not demanding an increment

per se . If there is any change in pension as on July 1 every year, that should be passed on to past pensioners,” he told The Hindu . The matter is now being dealt with directly by the Prime Minister’s Office with the Finance and Defence Ministry officials out of the decision-making.

While salary is increased by about three per cent annually, pension is revised every decade, which means that a person who retires just before the implementation of a Pay Commission’s recommendations would be disadvantaged as he falls under the previous pay structure. The veterans sought an annual increment in pension as well, which the government had initially refused. However, after discussions, it agreed to a review every five years which the veterans have turned down.

A former senior official in the Defence Ministry said the annual revision was going to be extremely difficult to “monitor and implement”. “It is going to be a costly and difficult job and it will have wider ramifications which is why I think the government is worried about,” the official said.

As indefinite continues, advocate and former BJP leader Ram Jethmalani visited the protesting veterans at Jantar Mantar and expressed solidarity with their struggle. “I am ashamed to say that Modi has completely frustrated my dream off him,” Mr. Jethmalani said.

Stating that politicians unfortunately have “let down the entire nation” Mr. Jethmalani blamed Mr. Jaitley for hindering the process.