Army Chief suggests OROP in final stages

Army Chief Dalbir Singh on Saturday said One Rank, One Pension (OROP), whenever approved, will be implemented with effect from April 1, 2014. He was addressing a rally of ex-servicemen in Jhajjar, Haryana. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar as well as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s statements indicated that OROP had been cleared by MoD and that financial intricacies were being worked out.

“The chief said OROP when implemented would be effective April 1, 2014 irrespective of the date of it being cleared by the government,” an official said. “While addressing the veterans at the rally, Gen Dalbir Singh, Chief of the Army Staff expressed the Army’s solidarity with its retired fraternity and assured the gathering that the government and the Army are sensitive to their needs and would take every step to ensure that ex-servicemen and their families are looked after well,” an army release said.