New Delhi, July 13 (IANS) The government has accepted the one-rank-one-pension (OROP) demand for armed forces officers and personnel below officer rank (PBOR) and will also set up a separate pay panel for the military, parliament was informed Monday.
However, from Defence Minister A.K. Antony reply during question hour in the Lok Sabha, it is evident that the OROP demand has not been accepted in its entirety.

“The decision is now nearer to the goal of one-rank-one-pension demand of nearly 1.5 million personnel,” Antony said, adding: “The financial implication would be Rs.2,144 crore,” the minister added.

The demand had been considered by a high-level committee headed by Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrashekhar, to which the issue had been referred after armed forces personnel began returning their gallantry and distinguished service awards to protest the government’s inaction.

“After considering all aspects of the issue, the committee made several recommendations to substantially improve pension benefits of PBORs and commissioned officers, which have been accepted by the government,” the minister added.

“The committee has recommended inclusion of classification allowance for PBORs from January 1, 2006 and removal of linkage of full pensions with 33 years from the same date,” Antony pointed out.

On the demand for a separate pay commission for the armed forces, the minister said: “It has been agreed (to), and as and when necessary, it will be set up in the future.

The government has also accepted the committee’s recommendations on raising the compensation for those disabled or injured in war, Antony added.