New Delhi: Defence personnel retiring at early age of 35-38 years should get higher pension but the same principle cannot be applied to those superannuating at 60-62 years, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday pitching for reasonable and rational approach to one-rank-one-pension issue.
“There is a consensus in the country that we should have special concern for armymen who make sacrifices for the country and retire at young age of 35-38 years. There are many who retire at 60-62 years are like any other government official superannuating.
“These soldiers retiring at early age should get special advantage and the others may also get the benefit…,” he asked.
The government he said is committed to the principle of OROP. Prime Minister has said it will be implemented.
On similar demand by para-military forces, Jaitley said there is a difference that they do not retire at early age.
Close to 22 lakh retired servicemen and over six lakh war widows stand to be the immediate beneficiaries of the OROP scheme, which envisages a uniform pension for the defence personnel who retire in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.
Currently, the pension for retired personnel is based on the Pay Commission recommendations of the time when he or she retired. So, a Major General who retired in 1996 draws less pension than a Lieutenant Colonel who retired after 1996.
–PTI