OROP protests return, ex-paramilitary personnel to hold march to Parliament

An association of former paramilitary personnel will launch an indefinite sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar and hold a march to Parliament on Tuesday to press for One Rank One Pension (OROP) and other benefits as announced by the government to ex-servicemen recently.

“We have decided to sit on indefinite dharna on Jantar Mantar from today onwards. We will also hold a protest march to Parliament later in the day,” PS Nair, secretary general of of the All India Central Paramilitary Forces Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association, said.

Ex-paramilitary personnel had organised a three-day protest at Jantar Mantar in November last year to press for more than half a dozen demands.

Nair said besides the demand for OROP, they want framing of separate service and pension rules, extention CSD canteen facility, restoration of stopped pension of BSF personnel resigned under BSF rule-19, grant of 50% pension to pre-2006 pensioners as per the Supreme Court judgment instead of pro-rata pension, formation of statutory paramilitary welfare board, extension of organised service status and exemption from new contributory pension system for serving personnel as well.

Nair also said the seventh pay commission also equated the paramilitary personnel with civilian employees.

“If they are civilian employees, then do they have right to form union and go on strike to press their demands as well?” asked Nair.

Nair said during their last protest no official from the Union home ministry came to meet them. They have been trying to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Rajnath Singh ever since the NDA came to power but they have not been granted appointment so far.

There are around 11 paramilitary forces in the country and the number of ex-paramilitary personnel could be around eight to nine lakh.