OROP :: Drafting the OROP Letter.

🎩🔫ARTICLE 9

Series of articles by

Lt Gen BPS Mander (Retd)

OROP :: Drafting the OROP Letter.

SOURCE : FACE BOOK 

🎩🔫ARTICLE 9

Series of articles by

Lt Gen BPS Mander (Retd)

ARTICLE 9 – Drafting the OROP Letter.

Lt Gen BPS Mander (Retd)

🎩🎩We have read some serious stuff on OROP and now it is beginning to
take its toll. So to take your mind off, this is just a little humour,
which you all understand is an international language. This article is
just in jest. Smile if you can while reading it. But if you are not
with the humour, dismiss it – but without cynicism.

🎩🎩Major General Lathbir Singh, a Veteran, and Defence 

Secretary Sohan Kumar are detailed to draft the 

government letter for sanction of

OROP, in the shadowy office of the latter


.🔫Lathbir, looking forward to the issue, ‘should we begin?’

🎩The Secretary who was pre prepared, ‘No General, there is no need. We always take a head start on such issues. We have already drafted it to save you the effort. Please read it.’

🔫Lathbir at a loss to understand, ‘how can you draft it without a discussion; against what was decided at the last meeting. How do you know what is our position on the issue

🎩'Very simple, elementary stuff General; we have given a draft to the Minister to read, and all points have already been included in it.

🔫'But we have not yet given all our points. These were to be discussed today and then included’

🎩'Don’t worry General, the minister has been briefed and we are giving you much more than you had asked for. You don’t have to worry as long as we are sitting here to back you.

🔫Lathbir, visibly agitated but not flustered, ‘how have you given us more?

🎩'See you asked for one rank one pension. We have recommended one rank five pensions. Imagine one rank five pensions.’ And after a pause allowing for the gravity to sink in, ‘the minister had to step in,
otherwise we were wanting to sanction one rank ten pensions.’ Ha ha, he starts to laugh, but is constrained to suppress it, because of the
look on Lathbir’s face.

🔫Lathbir, now bewildered, ‘but we did not ask for any such thing.’

🎩'You may not ask; as government servants it is our duty to look after the defence forces.’

🔫Lathbir, visibly angry, ‘ok tell me what all else have you given us which we did not ask for?’

🎩'Well in fact it is a lot.’

🔫'Let us hear it.’

🎩'Firstly since the proceedings of the Koshyari Committee were not traceable, we have given you all in keeping with the recommendations of the Hoshyari Committee.’

🔫'And who is the ‘hoshyar’ babu who drafted the recommendations?’

🎩'Look General, let us not get personal. Stick to the larger issues.These are national level issues and we will not reach anywhere if we keep passing side remarks.’

🔫'OK so what is the delay?’

🎩'There are some issues we need to resolve before we issue out the final letter.’

🔫'And what are these?’

🎩'First we cannot include those who have taken Pre Mature Retirement, since they have left voluntarily.’

🔫'Why? This is one rank one pension. Whoever is getting pension is entitled to it. They have done minimum pensionable service and are helping to keep the profile of the Army, young. And ours is not a golden handshake like yours. That is meant for those who hold the gold. We hold steel in our hands.’

🎩The Secretary now getting used to the barbs, ‘ok ok, the next issue is that we cannot revise this every year. The data base does not support it.’

🔫Lathbir was now at the end of his tether, ‘tell me aren’t we getting pension now? We are? So which ever agency/ agencies are giving pension; can they not be asked to give out the revised ones. In this era of computers, I am sure you can do it. Isn’t yours being revised every year?’

There was no reply. By now Lathbir had reached his limit of tolerance, and he said,

‘I need to ask a few questions; ‘first why do you keep

changing the goal post in the same game? Even a 

moron can see through it.’ There was stunned silence 

but no answer. Lathbir continued, ‘you want us to play 

football with hockey goalposts?’ And before the 

Secretary could reply he continued, ‘while you play 

hockey with the football goalposts.’ Before they could 

recover, Lathbir had fired the second question, ‘the 

bureaucracy has been non-functional since 

independence; so how come you thought of a Non 

Functional Upgrade, a NFU, so late for yourselves, while 

leaving the others out?’

🎩This was the time that they realised that he was getting aggressive and decided the other approach. ‘General, this is something to be kept under wraps, we have discussed with all concerned, and if I may say, a
gubernatorial post awaits you.’

🔫'You mean a guber- notorious post?’

🎩'Again the snide remarks. I am making you an elitist offer and you are dismissing it summarily.’

🔫'This is defeatist offer. Are you advocating treachery?’

🎩'General, you must see the good side. There is nothing in agitations.These are routine and will peter out after some time.’

🔫'No this one won’t peter out, since there are no Peters and Pauls leading this movement. These are hard boiled, battle hardened veterans who will see it to its logical end.’

🎩'Again you get emotional General.’

🔫'Why don’t you come to Jantar Mantar to see the mood 

for yourself? Of course when you come there, ask the 

same Delhi police who attacked the veterans, to give 

you security. Let’s see if they can protect you? A

few politicians tried coming to Jantar Mantar, but had to 

do a Choo Mantar.’

🎩'You see this is what is wrong with you Faujis. You become offensive at the drop of a hat.’

🔫'Yes because we don’t drop hats easily. Only a mad hat in the forces does that. And when he does, it is not one hat; the minimum is a hat trick. Not understood? Come to Jantar Mantar, we will explain.’

🎩🎩🔫With that was pended the draft of the 

                              OROP, 

which will now be after the Bihar elections.