OROP – A ball game no one knows whose court the ball is in.
For the past two days there have been many high level meetings in connection with OROP.
ESM’s reps met the NSA at his residence where COAS was also present. This followed the next day with the meetings at HM’s where the above mentioned along with Mr. Ram Madhav of RSS.
The channels went on and on incessantly declaring that OROP will be declared on the eve of 50th anniversary of 1965 war with Pakistan which falls on 28 Aug.
This raised the hopes and blood pressure of veterans in equal proportion. Many saw a narrow silver ray
Of OROP SUN In the eastern horizon which raised hope . But by 10 pm 25 Aug, one channel , NDTV, again scrolled that the” OROP talks with Govt inconclusive. Veterans reject Govt plan” sufficient to shoot up the mercury level in the sphygmomanometer fastened to the arms of veterans.
Hectic discussions went on till late into the night but the hurdle remained where it was. The Govt was unrelenting so were the Ex-Service men on the core issues of definition, base year, date of implementation and annual increase of 3%. Govt wants to implement from 2015 with 2011 as Base year. This was against as agreed and approved by two parliaments and ESM rightly rejected it.
When 1.25 lakh cror can be so easily sanctioned from the platform of public rally what adverse effect a couple of thousand cror saved by way of cutting short the date of implementation of OROP will have on the economic health of the country?
ESM have given an ultimatum which expires today.
To add insult to injury Ors up to the rank of Hav have risen in revolt demanding that they be heard before a decision is announced. Balls come from different courts. God knows whose court the ball is in now!!
Parleys are planned for today, too. Will it be fruitful or wasteful?
Nation watches with fingers crossed

JWO ( R ) Sukumaran

Today, the 62 day of relay hunger strike of veterans for OROP, the agitation attracted unprecedented national attention.

The NDMC and Delhi Police to an unwise decision to evict the agitating ex-service men from the venue of their agitation, Jantar Mantar.  One wonders whose brain child it was. Mercifully, so to say, the decision was reversed by the timely intervention of MHA. Otherwise situation could have gotten out of hand.

There was an optimistic expectation that the PM would announce OROP In his speech on 15 Aug on the lines of the definition agreed and approved by the parliament. But the hope got shattered after the meeting with FM, on 12 Aug, who came with new proposal suggesting 2011 as the year of reckoning. This naturally gave way to the apprehension that dilution in the implementation is in the offing which was unacceptable to IESM. Meanwhile , the letter from former four Chiefs of Staff too drew serious concern among one and all. It said volumes in few words. May it serve as an eye opener for the Govt.

Eagles were eyeing the prey and trying hard to sweep on them. Political parties of all hues are trying their best to take advantage. Sri Manish Tiwari said that OROP was sanctioned by the UPA govt an funds were allocated. How brazen one can be. No wonder such blunders come from a person who can name a person fugitive when no case , no FIR, no legal action initiated against him. Mr. Sidharth Nath Singh of BJP, as usual, repeated the often heard cliché that OROP is a commitment made by PM and will be implemented. And personalities who cared nil for the past 62 days suddenly thought that they should express solidarity with veterans, so Sri Aravind  Kejriwal tweeted that OROP must be approved immediately, as if it was delayed  because he did not tweet till now. To crown it all Sri Rahul Gandhi, who had time to take up the cause of FTII students and lead them to the Hon President of India visited the venue after veterans sat in Dharna for 61 days . He was received with dignity notwithstanding some chanting “GO BACK” but was not allowed to make a political speech.

One really wonders as to why the Defense Minister/any other Govt Reps. Or some one representing PMO has not visited and assuaged the agitated Veterans  so far. Why is the Govt making it a suspense thriller? Surely we are not awaiting release of a Alfred Hitchcok mistery. Please shed the cloak of secrecy and talk to the veterans, they are a patriotic fraternity. Govt will only gain not by taking them in confidence. Don’t divulge, at least assuage their concerns.

The IESM has scrupulously stayed apolitical, in tune with the tradition of Indian Armed Forces .That is the true legacy of our defense Service and will remain so forever.

Lots of hope are pinned on the speech of the PM from the ramparts of Red Fort tomorrow on the occasion of Independence Day.

Stop press:

The press conference by Defense Minister today at 1530 hrs shattered all hopes till now nurtured. He said that there are” technical difficulties” but will implement the promise given  by the Govt. There is nothing new in the statement . Just repeating what he has been saying always

So ,OROP remains a mirage

 Jwo (retd) Sukumaran Nair RV

ESM have been on relay HS over a month. Today the rally at Bengaluru is succesfully conducted; yet I think the agitaion is not getting as much co-operation expected of ESM.Perhaps the sense of discipline inculcated in them during service period is preventing their active involvement. But it is time to show solidarity. I understand many ESM are in their 70s and 80+ and they cannot be asked to undergo physical strain for longer period of time.I feel that we adopt different modes of agitation. One suggestion is that in order to make it a pan Indian activity we may consider a Human Chain of ESM to East To West and North to South on a particular day at a fixed time lasting for 15 minutes, activists and sympathisers also may join hands. The human chain should block the national highways for a minimum period of 15 minutes so that all vehicular movements come to a stand still.This is a suggestion for consideration of AFVAI office bearers. It is time to intensify the agitation and ensure maximum participation of ESM. The suggestio with proper motivation, in my opinion , will surely ensure involvement of max number of ESM ; because the physical strain to the seniors will be minimal and so that they would willingly involve themselves.
JWO (retd) Sukumaran RV 

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EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE: Expected Date for Submission of 7th Pay Commission Report and its important recommendations

EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE: Expected Date for Submission of 7th Pay Commission Report and its important recommenda



l                                                     The Great Betrayal

Those warriors who guarded the borders vigilantly have been
forgoing food since a month.

Nobody cared a hoot even when a 90 year old fragile widow sat in
hunger strike in JM.

Often heard phrases like "Have faith OROP will be
implemented" "prime minister has assured orop will be
implemented" "in a few weeks" "Expect good news on OROP
soon" etc have been repeated in channel shows. One spokesman even said
(surely a slip of tongue) that OROP will be implemented during the tenure of
this Govt. But none gives a date when it would be.

We have 545 MPs in the lok Sabha out of which 440 are billionaires
rest millionaires; yet they want 100% increase in their salary and substantial
increase in other perks and allowances in addition to enjoying subsidized food
in LOk Sabha canteen. But the subject of parity in pension among current and
past pensioners is anathema to one and all.

Do these MPs know what is the amount of pension that veteran gets.
Here is one illustration. Take a good look honorable MPs.including
PM<FM<RM.

Pension of a JCO,( Class II Service Officer) who retired in 1971
originally was Rs.112/- which now after 6CPC is Rs.6470/- What would now be the
age of that veteran who was 34 in 1971 and does anyone realize that in the
twilight of his life how he would manage his livelihood  with this
princely amount!!!? The hell with OROP for veterans I want my pound of flesh,
come what may I AM AN MP.I WILL GET IT.

Disgraceful Deceit ; need to say anything more?

Govt is turning a blind eye to this just demand with out realizing
the connotation of impact it likely to have among the disciplined section of
the society.

By and large our Ex-service men community have been apolitical and
hope it remains so always .

Political parties are trying to fish in the troubled waters and
the powers that be are pretending to be blissfully unaware of this or willfully
brazening it out. The community is still loyal to the party who promised that
OROP will be implemented; please do not make them your enemy 

Veterans are now a volcano ready to erupt; please prevent the
catastrophe ; if not the the destiny of the nation might change.

Enough of the placating phrases, time now is to act and ACT
SWIFTLY. The matter has gone out of the hand of RM and the FM is untrustworthy.
The only solution has to come from the PM 

PM sir, your vociferous silence is giving jitters to the veterans.
Please come out of Moun Vrat and give us a solution.

When the RM said on 9th july that "good news on OROP
soon" we thought that your arrival back in India will have a beneficial
effect of veterans.We thought that you would visit JM, embrace the veterans and
announce then and there that OROP will be implemented on August 1 , 2015 with retrospective
effect. Nay, it was not to be so, you chose to continue your silence.

Sir, it is not late even now, we beseech, please do something and
help us clear off the course of planned aggravated agitations which will
 surely project a poor image of the country in the world arena/

JWO (retd) Sukumaran RV

 tions

The Great Betrayal

Those warriors who guarded the borders vigilantly have been forgoing food since a month.
Nobody cared a hoot even when a 90 year old fragile widow sat in hunger strike in JM.
Often heard phrases like "Have faith OROP will be implemented" "prime minister has assured orop will be implemented" "in a few weeks" "Expect good news on OROP soon" etc have been repeated in channel shows. One spokesman even said (surely a slip of tongue) that OROP will be implemented during the tenure of this Govt. But none gives a date when it would be.
We have 545 MPs in the lok Sabha out of which 440 are billionaires rest millionaires; yet they want 100% increase in their salary and substantial increase in other perks and allowances in addition to enjoying subsidized food in LOk Sabha canteen. But the subject of parity in pension among current and past pensioners is anathema to one and all.

Do these MPs know what is the amount of pension that veteran gets. Here is one illustration. Take a good look honorable MPs.including PM<FM<RM.
Pension of a JCO,( Class II Service Officer) who retired in 1971 originally was Rs.112/- which now after 6CPC is Rs.6470/- What would now be the age of that veteran who was 34 in 1971 and does anyone realize that in the twilight of his life how he would manage his livelihood  with this princely amount!!!? The hell with OROP for veterans I want my pound of flesh, come what may I AM AN MP.I WILL GET IT.
Disgraceful Deceit ; need to say anything more?
Govt is turning a blind eye to this just demand with out realizing the connotation of impact it likely to have among the disciplined section of the society.
By and large our Ex-service men community have been apolitical and hope it remains so always .
Political parties are trying to fish in the troubled waters and the powers that be are pretending to be blissfully unaware of this or willfully brazening it out. The community is still loyal to the party who promised that OROP will be implemented; please do not make them your enemy
Veterans are now a volcano ready to erupt; please prevent the catastrophe ; if not the the destiny of the nation might change.
Enough of the placating phrases, time now is to act and ACT SWIFTLY. The matter has gone out of the hand of RM and the FM is untrustworthy. The only solution has to come from the PM
PM sir, your vociferous silence is giving jitters to the veterans. Please come out of Moun Vrat and give us a solution.
When the RM said on 9th july that "good news on OROP soon" we thought that your arrival back in India will have a beneficial effect of veterans.We thought that you would visit JM, embrace the veterans and announce then and there that OROP will be implemented on August 1 , 2015 with retrospective effect. Nay, it was not to be so, you chose to continue your silence.
Sir, it is not late even now, we beseech, please do something and help us clear off the course of planned aggravated agitations which will  surely project a poor image of the country in the world arena/

JWO (retd) Sukumaran RV

VETERANS ON RELAY HUNGER STRIKE - NATION MUST HANG ITS HEAD IN SHAME

Veterans on relay hunger strike – Nation must hang its head in shame.

The Hon.RM said that the soldier does not command as much respect in time of peace as much he commands during the time of war. True, but I will go a little further that the Soldier is deified while the nation goes to war; but, gets reduced to the state of wiped toilet paper, which you don’t look  at twice, when in peace.

This is exactly what we are witnessing presently. Those who guarded the boundaries, be it air, sea or land even at the risk of their life are  now lamentably reduced to the status of beggars making them to  forsake even food. SHAME , on the rulers of this nation, Bharath ie India.

Even the veteran’s relay hunger strike does not get enough  space in the electronic or print media. Perhaps the event got eclipsed due to “SUSWARAJE” Tsunami. Whether the event deserved such mega coverage is a point for debate.

Personally speaking, I feel it was a political ploy with some agenda cleverly concealed. Whatever it may be the result of that politically manipulated earth quake literally destroyed the importance of veteran’s war for their right.

Only one electronic media gave space for OROP where in Mr. Karan Thappar conducted a discussion on the subject involving Mr. Prasad, FRMR Def. Secy.,Gen S Roy Choudhary,Frmr Chief of Army staff, Lt.Gen. Raj Kadiyan and Mr. Jay Narayan Vyas, spokes person of BJP.

Three  panelists mentioned first totally agreed that the matter is now out of the realm of definition, modalities of payment and search for source of funding and the decision to implement has been  taken and the lone decision now the tme of implementation. The political person, as usual sung the same old song “OROP” will be implemented but refused to give a firm date for it.

I would urge all concerned to carefully analyze the words of former chief.

Mr. Thappar also brought out the lurking danger in the thinking of Finance Ministry which would adversely affect personnel below officers rand. He said that if FM Version of definition is accepted the AAM AADMI OF DEFENCE FORCES i.e PBOR will be at a disadvantage.

The discussion also brought out our nagging suspicion that the issue may be referred to VII CPC. He referred to an article  in a newspaper to substantiate his doubt.

We have been apprehensive of this turn of event since long. The silly reasons of proper definition, modalities, complicated calculations etc now indicate this mindset of the Govt.

My only appeal is ‘PLEASE DO NOT TAKE US FOR A RIDE’ Enough is enough. We have had enough and dot not test the patience any more

JWO(retd) Sukumaran Nair R.V

OROP – who is playing politics?

As per News channel reports, On 6^th June 2015, Lt.Gen. Raj Kadiyan,  Maj.Gen.  Satbir singh and others met the RM with a view to finding a solution to the OROP implementation. As expected, no solution could be churned out from the meeting. Details of the meeting are yet to be published. However,  the channel scrolling that the proposed Rally on June 14 at JantarMantar followed by Hunger Strike on 15  June  confirmed  that the talks once again failed.

While veterans are forced to fight for their honor and social status , OROP has become the long playing reality show where every political actor is vying with each other to win best comedian award.

Politicians of all colors appear on TV screen and make bizarre claims about their contribution in making OROP a reality and some actors blame how the other denied OROP.

Spokesperson of Congress Mr. Tom Vadakkan  tom tommed that UPA 2 sanctioned and cleared all hurdles on the path of implementation of OROP by allocating Rs.500 crores as early as Feb 2014 with the firm resolve to actually implement the same from April 1, 2014. Ha ha ha what a joke!!!!! Please wait..More hilarious performances re to follow.

Samajvadi spokesman , Mr. Saurav Bhatia,  whose party’s contribution towards this issue tried his best to get political  milage by blaming BJP and not uttering even a word about the then ruling party, congress.  His advice to BJP is that they must take time to read their own election manifesto. Hypocracy, thy name is political opportunism. This reminds me of an anecdote involving  satirist poet of Malayalam language with no parallel Kunjan Nambiar who in the assembling of sychophants on the occasion ofwhile  inaugural of a light house by the king said “ DEEPA STAMBHAM MAHAACHARYAM; ENIKKUM KITTANAM PANAM’ which translated would mean  :LIGHT HOUSE IS AGREAT WONDER; I TOO MUST GET REWARD”

Then came the epitomical performance of Vice President of Congress party, the one and the only savior of “Poova Sainiks” Rahul Gandhijee whose jibe “Ex-servicemen agitate and the PM is doing Yoga” His heart bleeds and tears got dried because his pet project of OROP is not implemented by  BJP. Mr Junior Gandhi the crocodiles of Sunderbans in WB are committing mass suicide because they are left with no more tears to shed as you have stolen entire quantity from them for the sake of showing solidarity with veterans. Before blaming anyone can  you introspect for a second and retrieve  from memory the pronouncement made by former FM and present Hon. President of India in budget session of parliament? Which was the year Rahuljee? What about the statement by the then RM Sri AK antony?

How was Sri Chidambaram going to implement OROP with Rs.500 Crores?

Do you remember your own election speech in UP when you said that OROP has been implemented and veterans have stated enjoying the benefit of the scheme. Also  your mother Smt Soniajee echoed the same version in her election speech just a day after yours? And yet you blame the PM?

I am not justifying the delay nor condoning the negligence on the part of the Government  which includes the PM and all those who are involved.

The present Govt cannot go back on its promise given to the veterans on various occasions and as late as PM’s Man ki Baath speech.

The moot question that remains unanswered . What prevents the Govt from giving a definite date of implementation? Who are those who act as hurdles in the spokes ? Veterans want an answer for this.

 No nation in the world  would treats its veterans  so contemptuously  as is being done in our country.

Please remember that a country who treats its veterans who guarded the nation at the risk of  their life is not worth existing.

Our appeal to the PM is “Please do not make us behave like labor unions” We want to lead our life as most disciplined citizens but with honor.

JWO (retd) Sukumaran RV