Don’t return your medals : Appeal to the Veterans by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament
PRESS STATEMENT
“Don’t return your medals; Engage withOne Man Judicial Committee and Government to sort out contentious issues”
November 10, 2015
Appeal to the Veterans by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament
The notification by Government of One Rank, One Pension (OROP) on November 07, 2015 is a culmination of 40 years of wait by the Veterans and Widows. The decision marked OROP the biggest and most significant welfare measure for veterans in Post-Independent India by any Government.
Some veterans and veteran organizations have expressed their dissatisfaction about this notification and I learn with apprehension of their decision to surrender their medals to express their protest. I request them not to do so.
I do accept and agree that there are certain issues in OROP that remain contentious. But I urge veterans to understand how far we have come and instead of agitating continue to engage with government including with One-man judicial committee on the issue going forward.
The political leadership of PM Modi is without doubt one of the most pro-forces and pro-veteran governments in history of India and this is something that needs to be built on as further ways to improve the cause of our Armed forces, Veterans and families.
As someone who led this issue with the Government and Parliament since 2006 and fighting for the welfare of veterans, I appeal to veterans to not to agitate but engage with government. I continue to stand by my commitment to the OROP cause and to addressing all issues affecting the veterans, our armed forces personnel and their families.
Source: http://rajeev.in/
Your MOD Letter has lot of anomalies including the Navy sailors retiring period. AS PER GOVERNMENT,( IN NAVY, MINIMUM SERVICE FOR SAILORS (JAWANS IN NAVY) are 15 YEARS ONLY FOR FIRST ENGAGEMENT BUT YOUR MOD ORDER SAYS THEY ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR OROP, AS PER YOUR ORDER TO PAY ONLY JAWAN SERVED ABOVE 17 OR 19 YEARS ….. NAVY SHOULD TAKE UP THIS REASONABLE ISSUE WITH MOD TO MAKE CORRECTION. SEE BELOW QUOTE OF MOD LETTER …….
” Sepoy in Army and equivalent rank in Navy & Air Force retire after 17/19 years of engagement/service and officers retire before attaining the age of 60 years i.e. the normal age of retirement in the Government. Considering these exceptional service conditions and in the interest of ever vigilant Defence Forces, the pensionary benefits of Ex-Servicemen have accordingly, over time, been fixed. “