Parrikar assures OROP implementation before Diwali

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday assured that the much awaited One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme would be implemented before Diwali.

"As you know it will happen before Diwali," Parrikar told reporters here when asked about the OROP.

Meanwhile, the ex-servicemen today announced that they would intensify their demand for early implementation of OROP scheme as per the "approved and accepted" definition.

The veterans also announced that they would return their medals, and would observe a 'black Diwali' on October 11. The veterans are also gearing up to restart their 'fast unto death' at Jantar Mantar beginning next week.

Veterans have listed seven deviations in the announcement, including annual equalisation, 2013-2014 financial year as the base year for calculating pension, taking the highest pension scale of 2013 as the base for calculation and not the average as announced by the government, not to link OROP with the seventh pay commission and accept that OROP once implemented is forever and in perpetuity.

OROP is expected to benefit 2.6 million veterans and over six lakh war widows for parity in pension based on rank and length of service irrespective of the date of retirement.