Archives-News
Up to 1973, the Ex servicemen at the lower level (Jawans and non commissioned officers) were getting pension at the rate of 70% of their pay. Then it was reduced to 50%. The agitation or One Rank One Pension (OROP) started then. For the last 40 years, the agitation was going on. It became a political issue during the last election to Lok Sabha. Both the BJP and the Congress wanted to take political advantage..... After many ups and downs the Government has come out with a proposal, not fully satisfactory to the war veterans. Anyway 234.5 lakh Ex Servicemen and 6 lakh war widows will get some benefits.
A Report appeared in Hindu Newspaper
".........Fulfilling one of its major election promises in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections of the BJP, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday announced the implementation of the long delayed One Rank One Pension (OROP) for ex-servicemen.
The avowed aim of this announcement, to end the strike by veterans demanding OROP was however hanging in fire with protesting veterans rejecting the “unilateral” announcement as it “dilutes” several core issues from the accepted definition. In an effort to get the veterans on board, Mr. Parrikar met representatives of ex-servicemen later in the day and some understanding has been reached.
“Despite the huge fiscal burden, given its commitment to the welfare of ex-servicemen, the government has taken a decision to implement the OROP,” Mr. Parrikar while announcing the plan, and said the ministry of defence would soon issue a detailed government order.
| Government's Offer | What veterans want |
| Effective from July 1, 2014 | April 1, 2014 |
| OROP will be average of minimum and maximum pension scale in 2013 | Base for pension should be maximum of the pension scale in 2013 |
| Revision every 5 years | One or two years |
| One-member judicial commission to submit report in six months | Five-member team under Defense Minister to submit report in one month |
Com. R L Kapoor reports from New Delhi:
"Today I went to Sanchar Bhavan to enquire about status of 78.2% case. It is understood that the Finance Wing of DoT is still collecting the required data (as demanded by Department of Expenditure) from the CCAs.
Yesterday, Com. G Natarajan, our GS spoke to Member (Finance) Mrs. Annie Moraes about 78.2% case.
Member (F) informed GS that the DoT is on the job of preparing the DATA required by Department of Expenditure. She assured that it would be sent to DOE at the earliest possible.
The 50th anniversary of 1965 war has been observed by government. At INDIA GATE, tributes were paid to the AmarJawans who laid their lives for the nation in the war. But the war veterans are sitting on hunger strike few yards away, at Jantar Mantar. Ministers do not look at Jantar Mantar. They do not go by that road. Before last Lok Sabha elections the present Prime Minister and other leaders gave promise that OROP would be implemented. They have forgotten their own promises. Before bowing out the UPA government also declared that OROP would be implemented. But they failed to do it when they were in power. Now, their leaders are in opposition. Hence they go to Jantar Mantar. The same political drama will be enacted again and again....
With every passing day, the issue of OROP - one rank, one pension for retired armed forces personnel - is likely to become more unsolvable. When so many of them are sitting on strike at Jantar Mantar and getting increasingly emotional about it, it is simply not possible for government to wave an account book in front of them and expect a reasonable compromise. Emotions cannot be tackled by an accountant's rationality beyond a point.
That this issue has been ruined by politicians promising OROP when they are not in power or as an election sop when they are about to lose power is obvious. Narendra Modi promised it before the 2014 elections, and so did the UPA before bowing out. Two finance ministers, P Chidambaram and Arun Jaitley, also promised OROP in vague terms in their budgets.
However, the real issue is emotional for ex-servicemen. They love their ranks, and two people who retired with similar ranks do not like being treated differently. They are also emotional because politicians made open-ended promises to honour their wishes without calculating the costs. They thus feel cheated repeatedly. The ordinary citizen will also back them out of emotion - for no Indian is ungrateful to men in the army who put their lives on the line to defend the country.
When it is about pensioners, the decision is delayed. But, there was no delay in announcing sops for Bihar because election is coming.....
The road in front of Trivandrum Railway Station and Bus stand.
The workers and the people of Kerala in general responded to the call given by 10 trade unions.
Shops are closed. Auto-rikshaws, taxis, transport buses (KSRTC and private) all are off the road.
The Labour Bureau of India has released the Consumer Price Index for July 2015.
It is 263 Points.
If the Index remains at the same 263 level for August 2015, then, it is sure that the IDA rate from October will be increased at least by 5%.
Exact position can be told only on 30th September evening.
This is only a presumption with calculation of two months.
DA will increase.Some people will be happy.That is not the solution.
The price of many commodities is rising.
Purchasing power of workers and pensioners is decreasing day by day.
Government has totally failed to control price rise.
Everything is left to the market forces.
Recent crisis in China will adversely affect Indian economy too.
Hard days are ahead.
CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS FIRM ON STRIKE ON 2-9-2015
All the Central Trade Unions, barring BMS, have decided yesterday to go ahead the proposed general strike on 2nd September 2015. BMS has backed out after the talk with inrter-ministerial committee.
Government has come out with some offers to avoid the proposed general strike on 2-9-2015.
One offer is that the Ceilings for grant of bonus can be raised.
At present the eligibility ceiling is Rs 7000 per month. It may be raised Rs 21000.
The calculation ceiling for grant of bonus is Rs. 3500 now. It may be raised to Rs 7000.
Most of the central Trade Unions are not satisfied with the offer.
But, as we all know, it will not have any impact on BSNL staff
as Bonus is not being granted in BSNL for the last seven years.
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, on 26-8-2015 gave its approval for the extension of the term of the 7th Central Pay Commission by four months up to 31.12.2015.
The 7th Central Pay Commission was constituted by the Central Government on 28.2.2014. According to the Resolution dated 28.2.2014, by which the Commission was constituted, it is to make its recommendations within 18 months of the date of its constitution that is by 27th August, 2015.
In view of its volume of work and intensive stake-holders’ consultations, the 7th Central Pay Commission had made a request to the Government for a four month extension up to 31.12.2015.
Another myth is fallen. The propaganda was that
"China deviated from the communist path of economic progress and hence it has become a world economic power".
Now, that myth is fallen. The Chinese Sensex has crashed.
There is a serious crisis.
It has affected not only China but also India, Europe, US etc.etc.
Sensex watchers are shocked.....
In China too, the government found Pension Fund as the soft target to be attacked first
to overcome a financial crisis.
China has decided to divert 54,700 CRORE Dolor from pension fund and invest in share market to overcome the economic crisis.
In future, India can tell that it follows Chinese example....
Our Finance Ministry people are bewildered.....!
Our Pension Fund also is in danger......!!!!
PENSION FUND IS THE SOFT TARGET.
THE FIRST ATTACK WILL BE ON PENSION FUND.....
Com. Tapas Kumar Mitra informs from Kolkata that Com. G C Bhowal (Former National President of NFTE) expired on 21st August 2015.
We convey our heartfelt condolence on the demise of Com. Bhowal who spent his life for the Telecom workers in general and Telegraphmen in particular.
Calicut SSA branch in Kerala celebrated AIBSNLPWA Foundation Day in a different way.
Our members led by Smt. Annie Preman, (Dist Secretary) V.M.N.Iyer, T.V.Krishnan, V V Savithri, Asokan, Suseela, Kamalakshy and P.N.Moosad visited Poor homes and old age homes.
At1030, Visited Poor home society (settlement colony of former leprosy patients) at Chevayur and gave Onam kits containing grocery, chips etc to the 30 inmates.
At 1130 Visited Home of Love, Kottooli an old age home run by missionaries and donated Rs 5000/- for one day food.
COM. K S JAT, ALL iNDIA ORG. SECRETARY ADDRESSING THE MEETING AT JABALPUR
Some of the BSNL pensioners participated in the Foundation Day Celebration at Jamshedpur
Jharkhand circle Unit celebrated the Foundation Day of AIBSNLPWA
with enthusiasm.
On the occasion, a Directory of BSNL pensioners in the Circle was released.
A view of the audience attended the Ernakulam district Conference
COM. P S RAMANKUTTY SPEAKS.
[COMRADES SASIDHARAN (PRESIDENT), COM. AUGUSTIN (DS), COM. C G DANIEL AND COM. R N PADA NAIR (CS) ARE IN THE PICTURE.]
20th August !
We have completed six years of our activities.
We have established our presence all over India.
We are the biggest organization of BSNL Retirees in the country.
We have covered a long distance during this short period.
AIBSNLPWA IS THE ONLY PENSIONERS' ORGANIZATION FROM INDIA WHICH IS AFFILIATED WITH TRADE UNION INTERNATIONAL -P&R (WFTU).
WE SHALL ACHIEVE 78.2% AT ANY COST.
WE SHALL GET PENSION REVISION, COME WHAT MAY....
MARCH AHEAD COMRADES..