Celebrating a Decade of One Rank, One Pension: Major Event Scheduled in Delhi
New Delhi: A grand celebration is set to take place next month to mark the tenth anniversary of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme, a pivotal initiative for armed forces veterans in India. The event will occur at the Manekshaw Centre in Delhi Cantonment on November 7-8, 2024, and is expected to draw a significant number of ex-servicemen from all three branches of the Armed Forces.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is anticipated to attend the celebration on November 7, highlighting the importance of OROP, which has greatly impacted the retirement lives of veterans across the country. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has extended invitations to representatives from the veteran community, including Directors of Rajya Sainik Boards (RSBs) and state-level veterans from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The first day will feature a gathering of veterans, symbolizing a unified pride in the achievements of the OROP scheme. On November 8, a director’s conclave will address critical issues facing former servicemen, including the transition from paper ESM identity cards to PVC cards and the establishment of state-level former servicemen corporations.
Further discussions will focus on improving services within the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) and the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), aimed at enhancing support for the ex-servicemen community.
The OROP policy ensures that all military personnel who retire at the same rank and with the same length of service receive equal pension payments, irrespective of their retirement date. This long-standing demand was finally sanctioned by the Modi government after coming to power, benefiting approximately 2.6 million retired armed forces personnel and 60,000 widows.
As the celebrations approach, the emphasis will be on recognizing the contributions of veterans and reinforcing the government’s commitment to their welfare.
