IESM: Chairman's Desk

Date: Saturday, 6 June, 2009, 10:24 PM
Dear Colleagues,
There is cause for apprehension that the government might not want to give OROP. Instead they may offer some kind of increase with a view to reducing the gap between the old and new pensioners. Such a step would be most unfair to those ESM who have been long struggling for equity and justice through total parity. It is fervently hoped that no veteran either individually or part of an ESM organisation would recommend, support or accept anything that falls short of OROP. It is reasonable to assume that the government is fully cognisant of what OROP implies. They have even computed its cost, as widely reported in the media. No one could have worked out its financial outlay without understanding OROP.
Best regards,
Lt Gen (Emeritus) Raj Kadyan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM
Chairman IESM

Readers Responses to OROP
Dear Maj General Radha Krishnan,
I endorse your views. However, I wish to add the following :-
1. The hurry may not be due to any pre-planned trap; it is a compulsion for the Govt to act fast because of the recent verdict of the Supreme Court in Maj Gens Case, which gives it the time till end of July. It is a landmark judgement endorsing OROP or APIP. Wonder if the Govt has involved service HQ/veterans to properly guide and work out a suitable formula.
2. Whatever formula/ method the Govt works out to implement 1 above will find/ force its applicability to all other ranks. This perhaps is the logic for hurry to kill two birds with one stone.
3. Your paper is in the right direction of APIP; it will, however, not be palatable to the bureaucracy, which will go all out to oppose it tooth and nail to force the Govt to reject it. Notwithstanding, it will be a readily available prescription and will set in motion a thinking process, which may see reason. Non-acceptance will help us to use the handle that the Govt is not keen to take proper care of the veterans.
4. Since the Cabinet Secy's committee may already be looking for a solution (may be half-way in the process), the Paper's availability with the RM at an early date may be of great help; accordingly, you may consider sending it sooner. Its late arrival on the scene may not serve the required purpose for the simple reason that it is never easy to reverse a decision already arrived at.
Regards,
Air Commodore Pannu (Retd)

From: Rakesh Prasad Chaturvedi
Sent: Saturday, June 06, 2009 7:02 AM
Subject: Your Paper on OROP
Dear General (Maj Gen RN Radhakrishnan),
I am writing to compliment you on the extremely well written and strongly argued paper on OROP. Thanks Sir. I have also seen your mail on your intent to forward it 'in your personal capacity' to the RM. My personal perception identically is that this needs to be done ASAP. With the 'committee' scheduled to present their findings by end month (read 20 or thereabouts), I feel this needs to be done by 15th. It is therefore incumbent on us to quickly put our act together institutionally, and have this out be next weekend/ mid week. I recommend this knowledge MUST be shared with not only the GOI (MOD) but also Rahul, Advani, Left and some other sympathetic leaders. The more we disseminate our thinking, the better. Well, media intervention may not be a bad idea. In any case you have indicated you are putting it on net for everyone to see. So, if all are not on board to reach a consensus, let the bus depart on time rather than wait for all seats to get full.
Thanks again Sir.
With Warm Regards,
Col RP Chaturvedi (Retd)