OROP: Manohar Parrikar asks ex-servicemen to be patient

"I assure you that whatever has been promised all would be done... but some people need to be patient," Parrikar said addressing a conference here.

Meanwhile, ex- servicemen across the country launched a relay hunger strike from Monday to protest against the delay of the implementation of One Rank One Pension scheme.

According to reports, the ex- army personnel will continue their agitation till the government announces a firm date for the introduction of OROP.

One Rank One Pension scheme has been a demand for over three million ex-servicemen of the Indian Army.

On Sunday, hundreds of retired defence personnel held protests across the country including in the national capital and have sought President Pranab Mukherjee's intervention in the matter.

Implementation of 'One Rank One Pension' was one of the key promises made by the NDA government under PM Narendra Modi before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Defence Minister Parrikar had, last month, said that the OROP "was on its way" but he could not give a clear idea about the date for its implementation.

Veterans have been demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must fulfill his promise made a year back on the same.

In an attempt to mount up pressure on the government, veterans also signed the petition in blood and presented to both the President and the Prime Minister.

The OROP scheme is to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel who retire at the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.

According to reports, over twenty two lakh ex-army personnel’s and over six lakh widow is expected to be benefited from this scheme.

Presently, the pension scheme for the ex-army personnel is based on the Pay Commission recommendations, on the time they had retired. A Major General who retired in 1996 draws less pension than a Lieutenant Colonel who retired after 1996.