Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP Rajya Sabha Petitions GOI for One Rank One Pension

Excerpts from the speech by Mr. Rajeev Chandrasekhar on the Union Budget, March 10, 2011
Lastly, the issue of One Rank, One Pension for our Veterans. I feel disappointed that as a nation that we are seeing a need to have this discussed in Parliament at all. These proud men and their families have served our nation selflessly, with a certain belief that the nation and their people will look after them, when it comes to their turn to be looked after. At a time, when there are visible signs of crony capitalism and hundreds of thousands of crores of largesse and benefits being given to vested interests, how can we look into the eyes of these veterans and deny them their legitimate demand quoting budgetary constraints. Let not a few hundred crores come in the way of our duty to these men and their families.
Read more: Four Point Strategy to tackle Corruption in Government caused by Declining Governance
Disabled Soldier Pension
Take action against Defence Ministry for misleading Court about a disabled soldier. Rajeev writes to Defence Minister, A.K.Antony - March 22, 2011- click here to read the letter
One Rank One Pension- Why Delay?
Petition to GOI for One Rank One Pension by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP, Rajya Sabha
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Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MP, Rajya Sabha- click here to read his blogs/ tweets/ Letters/ Messages
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Pranab give go ahead to 'one rank one pension' demand

OROP for PBORs Approved by Finance Minister
One Rank One Pension for Ex-Servicemen
Posted: Monday , Jul 06, 2009 at 1429 hrs IST, Indian Express
New Delhi: The Govt has decided to substantially improve the pension of defence pensioners below officer rank. Meeting a long-pending demand of over a crore defence veterans and 12 lakh serving jawans, the government substantially increased the pension of ex-servicemen.

The new, revised pension would be implemented beginning this month, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Lok Sabha while presenting the Budget for 2009-10. In essence, the government has accepted the recommendation of the high-level committee headed by Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar that was set up in April to look into the defence pensioners' demands.

"Based on the recommendation of the committee headed by Cabinet Secretary on 'One Rank-One Pension' (OROP), the government has decided to substantially improve the pension of pre-January one, 2006 defence pensioners below officer rank and bring pre-October 10, 1997 pensioners on par with post- October 10, 1997 pensioners," Mukherjee said.

The pre-January one, 2006 pensioners were affected following the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations last October, while the pre- and post-October 10, 1997 pensioners were impacted by the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations. The Finance Minister also noted that the decision to increase the pensions for defence personnel would cost the exchequer over Rs 2,100 crore annually.

Mukherjee said the government had also decided to liberalise certain pension benefits being extended to war-wounded and other disabled pensioners. Ex-servicemen organisations have been demanding OROP for several years now, as they felt that there was a disparity in the amount to personnel holding the same rank and service record, but retiring at different point of time.

Following the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations in March last year, the veteran outfits have been holding protests and rallies across the country to forcefully urge the government to concede their demand.
Pranab give go ahead to 'one rank one pension' demand

SCPC: Calculation of salary as per 14 Aug Revised Pay Panel Report

Many of you want to know the formula for calculating new pay. The exact amount of gross pay as on 1st october 2008 will be as follows:

A=basic on 1-1-2006.
B=1.86*A adding 86% DA in A. NOW B will be the pay in the appropriate band.
C=B + G where G is the GRADE pay against pay-band of your Rank.
D=1.03*C after 3% increment, basic on 1-7-2006
E=D*1.0p if p% DA is added
F=E*1.0p again p% DA released on 1-1-2007
H=F*1.03 increment on 1-7-2007 inflation neutralised!!
J=H*1.0p DA on 1-7-2007
K=J*1.0p DA on 1-1-2008
L=1.03*K increment added on 1-7-2008
M=L*1.0p latest DA on 1-7-2008
Now add HRA, Edu, MSP etc allowances applicable to you in M = that will give your GROSS PAY.
Pensioners: The formula earlier given by Brig CS Kamboj (Retd) and published in this blog is still valid. Pension as on 01 Jan 2006 X 1.385= Pension as on 01 Jan 2008.

Adopt a humane approach towards the requirements of ESM

The Defence Minister, Shri A. K. Antony lighting the lamp to inaugurate the Controllers' Conference-2008 of the Controller General of Defence Accounts, in New Delhi on February 04, 2008. The Minister of State for Defence, Shri M.M. Pallam Raju is also seen.

New Delhi, Feb. 4: Defence Minister A K Antony today ruled out the deployment of the Army for containing Naxal violence across the country.

"I am totally opposed to the Army being moved against Naxal elements. The Army cannot be used against everything and should be called in only as a last resort", the Minister said while replying to questions on a sidelines of a Defence Financial Controllers' conference here on Monday.

"Taking on the Naxalites is the role of the police forces, and whenever the need arises, para-military forces can be deployed," he added.

On recurring mishaps involving naval warships and submarines, Antony said: " The naval authorities had been asked to take necessary precautions to ensure that accidents do not happen as weapon platform comes at a premium price tag".

He described the death of sailors on INS Jalashwa as "tragic and sad".

"Though preliminary reports suggest that the deaths occurred due to gas leaks", the Minister said investigations were on to unravel the cause of the mishap.

Asked about the reasons behind the recent spate of accidents involving naval warships sinking of INS Prahar off the Goa coast and recent collision between the kilo class submarine and a merchant ship off Mumbai coast, the Defence Minister said these were all being probed.

Turning to cross-border infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir, he said there was not much variation in the situation on the borders.

"The situation by and large is peaceful and well under control," he said.

On suicides and fratricides in the armed forces, the minister said: "There have been some visible improvements, though one should not expect miracles to happen in a short time. Our counselling efforts and other moves seems to be having an effect."

Earlier while addressing the conference, the Defence Minister called upon officials of his ministry to adopt a humane approach towards the requirements of ex-servicemen and acknowledge the sacrifices made by soldiers while in active service.

Antony said the mechanics of financial management and prudence should not be allowed to overshadow the human side of the ministry's and armed forces work.

"Government attaches great importance to the welfare of ex-servicemen. The creation of an Ex-servicemen’s Welfare Department in the Ministry of Defence headed by its own Secretary is an indication of the significance being attached to this area. I would like to call upon the Defence Accounts Department, which plays an important role in the management of pay and allowances and pensionary benefits, to approach the requirements of our ex-servicemen with all sensitivity and seriousness," he said.

He also asked financial managers to upgrade their procedures and techniques by drawing upon the best practises followed the world over in the fields of audit, project management, logistics and budgeting.

The latest delegation and enhancement of financial powers is expected to result in 46 percent of the overall revenue procurement and 35 percent of capital procurement budget being spent under the delegated powers by the Services Headquarters.

In this context, Anthony asked the financial managers and the Services ‘to sit together and work out practical solutions’ so that budgetary allocations are fully utilised conforming to established procedures and the principles of financial prudence.

Antony said defence expenditure has grown considerably over the years, and today, it constitutes the largest single head of expenditure in the budget after interest payments.

The share of capital allocations in the defence budget has increased significantly from around 25 percent in 2000-01 to over 40 percent today.

The three-day conference will be deliberating upon a number of critical issues relating to defence expenditure.

Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju, Defence Secretary Vijay Singh, Financial Advisor (Defence Services) Neil Kamal Narang and Controller General of Defence Accounts H K Pannu were the others who addressed participants on the first day of the three-day conference. (ANI)

Credit: Do not forget the Soldiers after retirement