OROP may get a shot in the arm in the Parliament

Shot in the arm likely for ex-soldiers
Ritu Sharma- Express News Service
15 Dec 2011 09:08:36 AM IST
NEW DELHI: In a move that can bring joy to nearly 2.5 million retired soldiers, the Parliament Committee on Petitions is likely to favour their demand for ‘one rank-one pension.’
The report, likely to be tabled in the Parliament next week, will be a vindication of the stand taken by the soldiers who have been running from pillar to post fighting for their rights.
Thousands of ex-servicemen and war veterans returned their gallantry medals protesting the decision of the Ministry of Defence not to grant ‘one rank-one pension.’ Soldiers have been demanding equal pension for personnel retiring from the same rank irrespective of their date of retirement. Persons retiring before the pay commission cut-off date get less pension than those retiring after the date.
According to sources, the long-pending demand has found support as the Committee on Petitions has been considering the petition submitted by MP Rajeev Chandrashekhar and 24 others in October 2010.
“The committee conducted a detailed hearing on the matter by inviting citizen groups, ex-servicemen and government representatives to depose and express their views on the issue. The committee completed the hearing and the report will be presented during the winter session of Parliament,” sources added.
The petitioners in their argument had said that the demand of the ex-servicemen may be considered on the lines of the pension for MPs, which is `20,000 for the all first-time members.
While the report of the Parliamentary panel is not legally binding on the government, it will definitely lend weight to their demands.
Shot in the arm likely for ex-soldiers