OROP : Political Price Of OROP

SOURCE  :

http://vpatrika.com/OROP-Short-Changing-Armed-Forces-91149.html

                Political Price Of OROP

Fear of Bihar Polls forced PM Modi to announce a mutilated OROP

The movement exposed how political parties hoodwink Armed forces

Many of them are ready to come to Bihar to campaign against BJP, though, not ready to join any other party

One Rank, One Pension that is OROP, existed in India till 1973, (veterans were given OROP since 1947 for the next 26 years.). Then the 3rd Central Pay Commission arbitrarily reduced the pension of military veterans from 70% of pay to 50%, discontinued OROP and automatic yearly revision of pension without any justification.

Old demand to restore OROP, picked up and result is in front of us. It threatened present ruling party in coming Bihar Poll and it was forced to announce some mutilated OROP!

Yet, this movement exposed how ruling class and its parties harp on and use the sacrifice of Armed forces to further its narrow minded and aggressive nationalism and how it uses general peoples' sentiments attached with Armed Forces to hoodwink the Indian Masses but act with disdain when it  comes to meeting their demands

OROP brought a large section of retired personnel, especially Jawans, PBOR (Person Below Officer Rank, which also includes Havaldars and JCOs) as well on road to protest denial of OROP at Jantar Mantar and elsewhere! These personnel by nature are docile to the authorities (Except in war), as has been grilled among them to be disciplined and obedient! In fact, it will not be outrageous to say, majority of them, 

specially the higher officer class, are sycophants!

This quality becomes inherent into them, as promotion in a strict pyramid structure, demands such quality and even “officially” inculcates into them in name of loyalty, which is recorded into their ACRs every year or less than that, if the recording officer changes!

This brings ambition into their better halves and some level of sycophancy in them also, very clearly visible in the official parties!

I heard many talks by these personnel, including jawans from all services, who were eager to convey their feelings to the rest at Jantar Mantar. Most of them had voted BJP, as there is(Or was) a general feeling that this party and RSS was for the country and as such pro Armed Forces,

but now felt betrayed and talked against BJP.

By any chance they were not favouring Congress or even AAP, which they said are for the “Bureaucrats” as opposed to the Armed Forces and some even mentioned the “Ruling class”!

Many of them are ready to come to Bihar to campaign against BJP, though, not ready to join any other party!!

Unity among Jawans & Officers (Who are forced to retire at younger age, compared to their civilian partners) was unique in this protest, as both saw opportunity, for a substantial rise in their pension and regular revision, to enable them to live a respectable and decent life, in a world where inflation and unemployment is natural!

Incidentally, Jawans are scared of officers in all 4 services (4th one is Coast Guard) and even loath them, which is visible more distinctly in recent times! I noticed an incident, where blood was needed to an officers’ wife, and same was circulated in nearby units, but not a single jawan offered himself, while in another case, blood was needed for a jawan, dozens of them volunteered!

This was sensed by BJP and quickly, they erected another tent, just diagonally opposite to the present group demanding OROP, and on banner they wrote “Jawan, Havaldar, JCO”, demanded equal pay to that of officers and OROP! They claim, their sacrifices are more than that of officers and deserve better compensation! On the day, when Defence Minister announced OROP on 05 Sep, 2015, they were the ones, who distributed sweets and announced end of movement but continued, when they saw other group led by General Satbir Singh continuing movement for the implementation of all clauses!

Government’s OROP excluded those who had taken Pre Mature Retirement (They called it VRS, without any scheme) after 15/20 years of service due various reasons(An estimate says they are 40% of total retired personnel, that is, veterans)!

Though, later, PM Modi announced, that those who were “forced” to retire prematurely, will also get OROP! His assurance lacked clarity, yet was welcomed by both factions but now they want it in writing! It further said, next review will be after 5 years that meant, till 5 years, One Rank One Pension will go for toss!! There are many other anomalies in promises and declaration!

Whatever the logic for OROP, denied by the politicians, based on the recommendations of bureaucrats, was accepted by the previous government and now promulgated(Yet to come in writing) by the present one, has only intensified the discontent of veterans and even in serving officers and Jawans, as they are sympathetic to their retired brothers and see their own future!

Further delay is dangerous but same time, if one visits Jantar Mantar, and hears them, one realises how offended are these personnel, helpless as well and many of them will like to join politics, not part of any existing political party, but create a new one but they know, they will not be successful due lack of number and cohesiveness!  They lack any revolutionary binding ideology!

A people’s party, working for a people’s democracy, must understand the sensitiveness of this commotion; veterans are not a spent force but capable of starting a new fire among the serving ones. Most of them belong to peasants’ family and middle class of rural and urban India! They are politically naïve and lack any class consciousness, as trained and desired by the ruling class but have latent force!

This issue must be handled carefully and keep the military (A necessary evil, but useful for the ruling class and nation in present time, as most disciplined and potent force) under control! We have bad examples in our neighbour and one does hear of desirability of Military Rule, which is not at all desirable from any angle!

K.K Singh

K.K Singh may be contacted at kk16085@india.com