Have met armed forces chiefs on pay commission concerns, addressing issues: Manohar Parrikar

VISHAKHAPATNAM: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has promised to address concerns raised by the three armed forces chiefs on recent pay recommendations, saying that the issue is being addressed with the relevant authorities even as he took on the UPA government for not fulfilling the one rank one pension ( OROP) demand of veterans.

Parrikar, who was approached by the three chiefs last month on concerns that the seventh pay commission recommendations give a raw deal to the armed forces, also shared that revised pensions after the implementation of the OROP scheme have been disbursed.

“I have interacted with the three service chiefs (on issues on the pay commission) and we have asked all concerned to analyse the recommendations vis a vis the concerns raised. The concerns will be addressed,” the minister said, speaking for the first time on the issue that has caused strong resentment within the forces.

On OROP, the minister said that the BJP government has fulfilled its pre election promise to the 'best of our understanding of the issue'. He also took a shot at the UPA government, saying that its allocation for the scheme was not adequate for implementation.

“OROP was an issue that was fulfilled for 45 years. A Rs 500 crore assurance was given (by UPA). Final tables released will cost Rs 7483 cr per years. Therefore the amount which has finally been given is almost 15 times of what was kept by the UPA government,” the minister said.

On protests still on by a certain section of veterans who feel the OROP announcements have not been fully met, Parrikar said that the one man commission appointed by the ministry would address remaining issues.

“The retired community is huge and a common formula cannot solve all their problems. If there are any issues, these can be raised and sent to the one man commission and we can come out with a solution,” the defence minister said.