OROP scheme: Tenure of panel extends by six months delaying implementation

New Delhi: The tenure of the committee formed on implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme has been extended by six months upto the middle of December this year. The government recently amended the gazette notification issued last year under which the committee headed by former Chief Justice of Patna High Court Justice (Retd) L Narasimha Reddy was scheduled to submit its report by 14 June. [caption id=“attachment_2845638” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of people protesting against OROP. PTI[/caption] With the extension, the implementation of OROP may take more time as the panel can submit its report by 14 December, official sources said. The government had announced implementation of OROP on 7 November, 2015 to benefit over 25 lakh ex-servicemen and war widows. The OROP mandates payment of uniform pension to the armed forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement, which implies that bridging the gap between the rate of pension of current and past pensioners at periodic intervals. The other Terms of Reference of the Committee will continue which include measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise in the implementation of the OROP as notified by the government. The panel is also looking into the measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise out of inter-services issues of the three forces due to implementation of OROP besides implications on service matters. The Committee is examining all other matter referred to it by the central government on implementation of the OROP or related issues. In making its recommendations, the Committee shall take into account the financial impact of its ecommendations, as per its Terms of Reference. The panel, if necessary, may give interim reports to the government on any of the matters related to its terms of reference.