OROP: Retd paramilitary officials to hold stir from tomorrow

They say their demands have been in the waiting for the last decade or so

After military veterans, retired paramilitary officials will now hold a 'dharna' here tomorrow demanding One Rank One Pension (OROP) benefits and other privileges under the ex-servicemen category.

An association of former officials of forces like CRPF, BSF, ITBP, CISF and SSB will hold the sit-in at Jantar Mantar for implementation of their demands which they say have been in the waiting for the last decade or so.

"Our major demands to the government are the granting of OROP to paramilitary veterans like military personnel, exemption of serving troops from contributory pension scheme and extending full benefits to these forces under the ex-servicemen category.

"The 'dharna' and protest will begin on November 2 at 10 AM at Jantar Mantar," national general secretary of the All India Central Paramilitary Forces and Ex-servicemen Welfare Association P S Nair said.

He said the association has already sent a memorandum to the government in this regard and failing to get any reply they have decided to begin the protest here.

"The country cannot sleep peacefully even for a day without the paramilitary forces. There is no proper rehabilitation ensured for these forces.We need the support of the government and public in bettering the lives of these men and women who are on job 24x7 in hard working conditions," Nair said, adding the defence and paramilitary forces should be kept on equal footing while granting service benefits.

The association claims to have support of a maximum number of state chapters in this regard and has met senior government leadership in this context earlier.

The agitators have also demanded that benefits of health care and canteen facilities should be extended to the families of both the serving and retired personnel.

"The agitation beginning tomorrow will be held for three-four days and if the government does not listen to us we will begin a large action from March next year," Nair said.

There are about nine lakh personnel serving in these forces working under the Union Home Ministry while there are an equal number of retired personnel and their families in the country.