Veterans seek equality in OROP scheme

Bhubaneswar: Hundreds of army veterans from different parts of the state gathered here on Sunday to stage a protest demanding equality in implementation of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme, disability and widow pensions, among others.
The ex-servicemen, under the banner of United Forum of Veterans Association, Odisha, organised a rally from Lower PMG to Raj Bhavan here and submitted a memorandum to the ministry of defence.Army officers claim that since a jawan retires after rendering 17 years of service, the OROP scheme was not applicable for them.The case is not the same for officers since they serve till 60 years,” said Sitesh Panda, president of the association.
He said officers need to understand that if a jawan joins the Army at 18 and retires at 35, he or she will be burdened with family responsibilities. “It will become difficult for the jawan to lead a good life,” Panda said.
The association also demanded equality in disability pension. “If an officer becomes disabled, he or she gets Rs 75,000 as pension but in case of a jawan, it is only Rs 9,000. In case of war injuries, an officer get Rs 2.52 lakh but a jawan only Rs 18,000,” association’s secretary Pratap Mishra said.