One Rank One Pension deadlock likely to be resolved today,
jawans could get a better deal: Economic Times
NEW DELHI: Hopes are high for a
resolution to the deadlock over increased pensions for veterans as early as
Thursday but all demands put forward by ex-servicemen may not be met. While
hectic negotiations are on, at least two sticking points still remain,
including the question of arrears worth over Rs 12,000 crore that may have to
be paid if the One Rank One Pension (OROP) demand is met with effect from April
2014.
While several 'solutions' are being
suggested, the bigger sticking point seems to be the annual increment of 3% in
pensions that is being demanded by veterans.
Discussions are likely to go on late
Wednesday night with a possible announcement on Thursday, sources said. It is
also learnt that while contemplating the issue from all angles, including
fiscal prudence, the government may end up being more generous to soldiers than
to officers, who draw higher pensions.
"Soldiers draw much lesser
pensions and their condition on certain cases is pretty bad. The government is
aware that theirs is a more pressing need," sources aware of discussions
on the subject said. There is a danger however of veteran organisations leading
the protest seeing any such move as a way of driving a wedge between retired
soldiers and officers.
Veterans are also not budging from
their demand that OROP has to be implemented with effect from April 2014, as
was announced by the BJP government after it came to power.
On the question of arrears, a
formula has been suggested by veterans in case the government is unable to pay
up due to financial difficulties.
"There is a way out. War widows
and veterans above the age of 80 be given arrears in cash while the rest can be
issued government bonds in case the financial situations demands it. The
government, however, should not go back on its promise of implementing it from
April 2014," sources said.
Read at Economic Times
