CWG 2010, OROP and responses

Dear Maj (Dr) TC Rao,
On the outset let me compliment you for your continued efforts to ameliorate the difficulties of the ESM's. Rehabilitation of the retired people who get superannuated when they are neither that young to pick up the threads of an altogether new vocation nor old enough to idle at home on pensions -is of paramount importance. You would have seen that whereas virtually all Cols & below have to take up a job post retirement, on the civil side there is no such need.

Since you know the problem & have a voice in political hierarchy- why not put in effort along with others to resolve issue of OROP- which is not only emotive but also just. The divide of 01 Jan 2006 has created not one but many a pension for one rank.Earlier they had fixed an entire generation of officers lower by 20% during the Fourth CPC as came out in Maj Dhanapalan's case. And now every one from Lt Col to Maj Gen has been put at the bottom of the PB-4 which is illogical, unreasonable & absurd. Promises made by political stalwarts from both sides have been negated.

Air Cmde Raghubir Singh (Retd)

Earlier I had written similarly to Capt Davar

Dear Capt Praveen Davar,
1.Thanks for your e-mail. While lot of good things have happened in our country due to some pragmatic decisions taken by successive Govts over the last two decades or so – yet lot needs to be done. In the UPA-2 Hon'ble Kapil Sibal has virtually heralded renaissance in our education system-which has been my arena since my retirement more than 13 yrs back. We need similar dynamism in our even more critical Ministry of Defence. You will appreciate that our Armed Forces are the only bulwark against internal disintegration as well as external threats -now growing at menacing pace. Be it Kargils or natural disasters or even the 26/11's, the Services have always stood by the Nation. The ex-servicemen & the serving soldiers have perennial emotional bonding through regimental & squadron ties. The ex-servicemen looking from the sidelines do not feel happy when for example the Service Chiefs are denigrated through inspired & conspired editorials in the media or the men in uniform get pushed down the protocol ladder by one-up-man-ship.

2. Regarding OROP, once the Chairperson of the UPA had committed to it- the Govt should have conceded it gracefully instead of making all efforts to deny it by going in round about manner. Passing off some thing else as OROP especially in the present information age is counter productive. There seems to be forces working at cross purposes who have taken on themselves to deny the legitimate dues to those who have been giving so much for so little to so many of us. For example fixing an entire generation of officers during the 4th CPC as brought out in Major Dhanapalan's case etc shows the mindset which needs to be changed. Though I am no expert – OROP to me means same pension for same rank irrespective of the post & pre 2006 dividing line at least. Yes there could be harmonizing for total length or qualifying years of service if needed.

3. Eminent persons like you who have had the privilege to serve in the Armed Forces & now occupy important positions in the Party in Power can work towards rebuilding the trust with the ex-servicemen- who mostly remain apolitical. OROP has become an emotive issue & misinformation in this regard would serve no purpose.You may like to interact with Lt Gen Raj Kadiyan & Maj Gen Satbir Singh who have been espousing the cause of ex-servicemen & are in a better position to apprise you about the expectations which are not much. I would much appreciate if all MP's & party functionaries with services background come forward and take up the cause of Services including modernization, making service conditions attractive enough to attract the brightest of our young men to the profession of soldiering once again & looking after the veterans who gave their yester -years for our better tomorrows.

Regards
Air Cmde Raghubir Singh (Retd)


Dear Veteran’s,
1. On 08 Dec 09, the under signed met Shri Suresh Kalmadi, Hon’ble Member of Parliament and Chairman Indian Olympic Association and Organising Committee of Common Wealth Games(CWG) in his office.
2. A suitable presentation on the availability of Ex-servicemen (All ranks in Delhi & NCR) and their rehabilitation with the CWG was given by me.The Chairman himself being an Ex-servicemen appreciated the idea & showed keen interest in involving Ex-Servicemen in smooth conduct of Common Wealth Games. He briefed Mr NP Singh, Joint Director General (Admin and Work Force) and asked him to further interact with me. After having discussed the requirement, Mr NP Singh confirmed that the Officers can be accommodated at the appointments keeping in mind their management skills & administrative experience. The details of appointments, rank structure, Pay & Allces and No of vacancies are given as under :-

Rank/ Appointment/ Salary/ Approx Vacancies
Col/ Director/ Rs 60,000- PM/ Approx 10
Lt Col/ Maj/ Project Offrs/ Rs 45,000- PM/ Approx 20.
Capt/ Asst Project Offrs/ Rs 35,000- PM/ Approx 30.

3. Suitability will be assessed by Board of Officers of CWG and subsequently, who ever is selected, will be appointed. The duration of employment would be till Oct 2010.
4. I have also requested them to agree to appoint Ex-servicemen of Army Physical Training Corps (APTC) for the various events as supplement force. Ex-servicemen, who have represented Services/Comd level can also apply as there is huge requirement of trained Ex-servicemen for conduct of games.
5. They also agreed to take maximum Drivers to drive Cars @ Rs 15,000/- Per Month, the duration of their employment would be for four months. Yet it would be a proud assignment for all of us.
6. Ex-Servicemen/Students /Keen sports persons can be placed as volunteers during games. They can have an easy access to witness the games as also avail some special facilities designed for volunteers (Two sets of uniform, food coupons, free passes for Metro, DTC & other transport to be made available by CWG.
7. We would like to show the presence of Ex-servicemen during these games, to prove our loyalty to the nation and project high image, integrity and sincerity to the public. Since this is an international event, we should help our Government to make Common Wealth Game a success.
8. You are requested to give wide publicity to the above information and mail us the name of interested candidates for their suitable placement for Common Wealth Games.
9. I am available 24X7 for welfare of ex-servicemen. My telephone No 9811441189/0124-4557000(100 Lines) and E mail ID - cmd@skylarkworld.com

Jai Hind,
Maj (Dr) TC Rao
Chairman Ex-Servicemen Congress, Delhi & NCR