SCPC: OROP Nowhere in Sight

OROP Nowhere in Sight, Call to all ESM to Unite and intensify Movement to Get Justice
Dear Friends,
1. The Govt has not accepted our most justified demand of OROP. Much publicised enhancement of pension of PBOR under the cover of grant of OROP to them is nowhere near the concept of OROP. As per the media news, pre 2006 Sepoy will get pension of Rs 5500 per month where as post 2006 retiree will get Rs 6860 per month with 50 percent weightage. The difference will further increase when the weightage will be increased to 70 percent for the post 2006 retirees, the demand already projected by the Chiefs. This is nowhere near the OROP which is “that all pre 2006 retirees must get the same pension as their Post 2006 counterparts and continue to get the same in perpetuity.

2. By not even considering the above concept for officers, the Govt has tried to create wedge between officers and PBORs which will have far reaching adverse consequences for the profession of arms. Again, to enhance pensions of Lt Gen to actually help the additional secretaries is also against the ethos of Defence profession. Any benefit granted must either cover all ranks or start from the lowest to top and not top down.

3. As per the present dispensation, the pre 2006 Major Generals will draw less pension than the post 2006 retiree Lt Col, Col, Brig and Major Generals which is clearly violative of article 14 of the constitution. Same way Brig, Cols, Maj, Capt and PBORs will get less than their juniors.

4. Why the Govt is not considering our genuine demands? The reasons being given that by granting OROP to officers will generate similar demand from other services is absurdly untenable. Our profession is different and its degree of difficulty is the highest. It seems that the bureaucrat’s wrongly placed understanding of civilian control of Defence Forces and misplaced fear of Defence Forces take over of the country are the two hidden reasons for degrading, downgrading the status, respect and emoluments of Defence Forces.

5. In a seminar held at Delhi on police reforms recently, Director IDSA Mr N.S. Sisodia an IAS Officer said that if Defence Forces are given more powers, they will seize power like Pakistan and Bangladesh. Such statements by bureaucrats of the status of Director IDSA are highly objectionable and to say the least are totally unfair to the most patriotic Defence Forces who have very strongly held the flag of democracy flying high in our country. The relevant part of the written script of the Director IDSA is as under:
“Heavy reliance on armed forces weakens civilian authority. Their frequent use enhances their power and influence in the polity. This enhanced power can become a threat to democracy as we have seen in the cases of Pakistan, Bangladesh and other countries which have suffered military coups. The extent of democratic control is inversely proportionate to the democratic governments dependence on the armed forces.”

6. It is now clear that we are not being given our due justice. We therefore will need to unite and intensify our struggle to get the due justice. OROP is our justified right and we must get it. We need to follow multi- dimensional action plans to get our demands met. The following actions have been planed:
We will restart depositing our medals to the President at least once a month. The next date for depositing of medals will be 09 Sep 2009 at 3 PM. All state, district, city Conveners are requested to collect medals from their respective areas and send at IESM office address ie 543, Sector 23, Gurgaon- 122017, Haryana, India. All Sate functionaries are requested to attain the target of minimum of one thousand medals deposit per month. We are planning to restart our functioning from Jantar Mantar. The details will be communicated shortly. Long marches from Kanyakumari to Delhi and from other selected locations are also being planned. Col Rajan has volunteered to lead the march from Kanyakumari to Delhi and incorporate ESM from all the Southern States. When Col Rajan’s columns are about 500 Km from Delhi, Columns consisting of ESM, their family members and their supporters from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Uttrkhand, J&K, UP, Rajasthan and MP will start. All these columns will concentrate in Delhi by 15 Dec 2009. The next phase of the Movement will then commence on 16 Dec 2009 to coincide with the Vijay Divas Day.

Legal Option is also being exercised. We have already engaged a very competent lawyer for the purpose who has started preparing the case.

Writing of Articles, media coverage, organizing seminars, meetings, conferences will be stepped up throughout the country.

All out efforts to meet all MPs will be made to project our case in the Parliament and to the Govt.

The people of the country particularly the youth will be educated about the facts of our case and their support solicited to project our case to the Govt.

All efforts will be made to Unite all ESM organizations and ESM PAN India. Extensive Membership drive will be carried out.

All the above events will be carried out peacefully and within the norms of discipline.

7. There is no other way but to put in united efforts to get justice. Once again we appeal to all ESM organizations and ESM to join the IESM to intensify the movement.
“NISCHE KAR APNI JEET KAROON”
With Kind Regards,
Jai Hind
Yours Sincerely,
Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh, SM
Vice Chairman Indian ESM Movement