After the one-rank-one-pension stir by veterans of the Army, retired personnel of various paramilitary forces on Monday began a three-day dharna at Jantar Mantar in the capital demanding one rank one
After the one-rank-one-pension stir by veterans of the Army, retired personnel of various paramilitary forces on Monday began a three-day dharna at Jantar Mantar in the capital demanding one rank one pension (OROP) benefits and other privileges under the ex-servicemen category. An association of former officials of forces like the Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force and Sashastra Seema Bal sat on a dharna to press their demands which they said should be conceded as they are undertaking similar rigours and hardships as the defence forces.
All-India Central Paramilitary Forces and Ex-servicemen Welfare Association president R.B. Pathak said the agitation by the paramilitary veterans will “intensify” in the coming days and they will hold a big rally next year, which may include a hungerstrike, if there is no positive communication from the government. “The dharna is to request and inform the government that its ex-paramilitary personnel are suffering. We have representatives of various states assembled here and they will continue the agitation till November 4,” said national general secretary of the association P.S. Nair.
He said the major demands to the government are the granting of OROP to the paramilitary veterans like the military personnel, exemption of serving troops from contributory pension scheme and extending full benefits to these forces under the ex-servicemen category. Close to 300 of these veterans assembled at the protest site, very close to where a similar agitation is being held by the ex-servicemen of the Armed Forces for the prompt implementation of the OROP for them.
The association of the paramilitary forces have sent a memorandum to the government and after having failed to get a reply, they decided to launch their stir.
They said their “fight for right” agitation has a 10-point charter which includes a demand for change in the common identity name from Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to Central Paramilitary Forces (CPMFs).
It may be recalled that the government has recently said it will soon come out with a notification for OROP implementation for the veterans of the armed forces.
