OROP: Revised benefits released

The ministry of defence (MoD) on Monday announced that revised pensionary benefits as per the implementation of the one rank one pension (OROP) scheme had been disbursed to 2.21 lakh defence pensioners. The government on Monday said, “The total additional annual financial increase for grant of (OROP) is Rs 7488.70 crore. The total amount on account of arrears to be paid for the period July 1, 2014, to December 31, 2015, is Rs 10,925.11 crore... Due to increase in defence pension budget, the additional liability for current financial year 2015-16 shall be Rs 4,721.34 crore which will increase the current defence pension liability of Rs 60,238 crore to Rs 64,959.34 crore for the year 2015-16.” As much as 85.5 per cent of the OROP expenditure will be for the pensioners who were personnel below officer rank (PBORs).

The MoD on Monday said, “The defence pension disbursing offices (DPDOs) functioning under the controller general of defence accounts (CGDA) in the ministry of defence have released revised pensionary benefits to 2,21,224 defence pensioners drawing service/disability pension. The amount, along with the first instalment of arrears, had been released and credited by the defence ministry to the accounts of these pensioners on March 1, 2016.

In the case of remaining 1,46,335 family pensioners drawing pension from Departmental Pension Drawing Officers (DPDOs), payment along with arrears is expected to be released by March-end. Banks are under process of revision work. These steps are a follow-up to Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare (ESW) of the Ministry of Defence’s notification on November 7, 2015 ordering implementation of OROP scheme for defence pensioners. Out of total annual liability of Rs. 7488.70 crores, PBOR family pensioners shall get Rs. 6,405.59 crores, which works out to 85.5% of total expenditure of OROP.”