Notification on OROP likely before Diwali

New Delhi: The government might come out with the official notification on One Rank One Pension (OROP) before Deepavali, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Friday.

Asked when the much-awaited OROP notification would be issued, Parrikar said, “It would be issued before Diwali.” He spoke to reporters on the sidelines of a government function.

The assurance comes within hours of the veterans stepping up their protests against the NDA government for not implementing the OROP despite making repeated commitments.

The retired soldiers have threatened to return their medals from Monday onwards.Parrikar’s comments have given rise to the speculations if the notification would finally be published on Monday (November 9), which is the last working day before Deepavali (Nov 11).

The NDA government had, on September 5, announced implementation of the OROP scheme for the veterans but the veterans refused to suspend their protests in the absence of an official notification. The government cited the Model Code of Conduct for the Bihar polls as the reason behind the delay.

According to the government announcement, the OROP benefit would be effective from July 1, 2014; the base year for pension calculation would be 2013 and pension revision would happen in every five years.

The arrears would be paid in four half-yearly instalments over the next two years whereas all widows, including the war widows, would be paid their dues at one go.A section of the ex-servicemen, however, are unhappy with the government formulation.