ROP scheme: Anna joins protest, says 'mere assurance is not enough'

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Sunday said that he would do anything to ensure that the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme is implemented and added that mere assurance on the government's part is not enough.

Hazare, who today joined the protest over non-implementation of the OROP scheme at the Jantar Mantar here, however, urged the protestors not to indulge in any kind of violence.

"I have come here so that both you and me do everything possible for the (implementation of) One Rank One Pension scheme. But my only request is that please do not indulge in any kind of violence," he said.

Hazare also cornered the government on the issue, saying mere assurance is not enough.

"The widows and mothers get a pension of Rs. 3500-4500. How can they run a family during inflation with this small amount? How can they educate their children?" he asked

"Many promises were made, but none of them were fulfilled; we still have two months left, we will travel across the nation and wake up people and officers," added.

The One Rank, One Pension scheme has been a long-standing demand of ex-servicemen. It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel, who retire at the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.