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In This Issue Since 1909 PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS TO THE NATION OROP Scheme For Ex-Servicemen 4 (Initially published as FAUJI AKHBAR) Vol. 62 q No 18 25 Bhadrapada - 8 Asvina, 1937 (Saka) 16-30 September 2015 The journal of India’s Armed Forces published every fortnight in thirteen languages including Hindi & English on behalf of Ministry of Defence. It is not necessarily an organ for the expression of the Government’s defence policy. The published items represent the views of respective writers and correspondents. Editor-in-Chief Inauguration of War Hasibur Rahman Operations of 1 Corps 6 9 Editor Editor (Features) Memorial and… Dr Abrar Rahmani Ehsan Khusro Coordination Business Manager Sekhar Babu Madduri Dharam Pal Goswami Our Correspondents DELHI: Dhananjay Mohanty; Capt DK Sharma; Manoj Tuli; Nampibou Marinmai; Wg Cdr Rochelle D’Silva; Col Rohan Anand; Wg Cdr SS Birdi, Ved Pal; ALLAHABAD: Gp Capt BB Pande; BENGALURU: Dr MS Patil; CHANDIGARH: Parvesh Sharma; CHENNAI: T Shanmugam; GANDHINAGAR: Wg Cdr Abhishek Matiman; GUWAHATI: Lt Col Suneet Newton; IMPHAL: Lt Col Ajay Kumar Sharma; JALANDHAR: Naresh Vijay Vig; JAMMU: Lt Col Manish Mehta; JODHPUR: Lt Col Manish Ojha; KOCHI: Cdr Sridhar E Warrier ; KOHIMA: Lt Col E Musavi; KOLKATA: 10 Army Releases Amar Chitra… Gp Capt TK Singha; LUCKNOW: Ms Gargi Malik Sinha; MUMBAI: Cdr Rahul 11 Western Command Hosts… Desert Safari Visits Sinha; Narendra Vispute; NAGPUR: Wg Cdr Samir S Gangakhedkar; PALAM: Gp 14 Delta Force Commemorates… Wagah Border… 12 Capt SK Mehta; PUNE: Mahesh Iyengar; SECUNDERABAD: MA Khan Shakeel; SHILLONG: Gp Capt Amit Mahajan; SRINAGAR: Col NN Joshi; TEZPUR: Lt Col 15 ‘Asal Uttar’ Day Sombith Ghosh; THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Suresh Shreedharan; UDHAMPUR: 20 Golden Jubilee of… Col SD Goswami; VISAKHAPATNAM: Cdr CG Raju. 21 A Growing Friendship Published by: Sitanshu Kar 24 Transfer of Technology Director General (Media & Communication) 26 Inauguration of Renovated… Directorate of Public Relations, South Block, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi-110011 Regulars Follow us on: 16 A Complex and Modern Project 27 Armed Forces Panorama www.facebook.com/DefenceMinIndia https://twitter.com/spokespersonMoD 22 Editorial Office: North Tech Symposium 2015 L-1 Block, Church Road, New Delhi-110001, Telefax : 23094668 Telephone : 23092768 Email : [email protected] E-in-C: ASCON-32078 [email protected] For subscriptions contact : Business Manager, Sainik Samachar, Telephone : 23092768 Subscription Rates: Inland (Ordinary): One Year Rs 100.00, Overseas (Surface Mail): Rs 450.00 Concessional (per year): Rs 20.00 (Applicable for dependants of service personnel & ex-Servicemen.) For all correspondence subscribers must quote their subscription number For more details visit our website: http://sainiksamachar.nic.in On front cover: The Defence Minister arriving at South Block to announce the OROP Scheme for Ex-servicemen alongwith Minister of State for Defence and three Service Chiefs. pic: GD Mehra OROP Scheme For Ex-Servicemen he Government has announced on the issue of OROP. In February under military pension. As stated Tthe One Rank One Pension 2014, the then Government stated above, the previous government scheme for the Ex-Servicemen. This that OROP would be implemented has estimated that OROP would be was announced by the Defence in 2014-15, but did not specify what implemented with a budget provision Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar in OROP would be, how it would be of a mere Rs 500 crore. The reality, New Delhi on September 5, 2015. implemented or how much it would however, is that to implement OROP, The following is the statement of the cost. An estimated Rs 500 crore the estimated cost to the exchequer Defence Minister: provided for OROP in the budget would be Rs 8,000 to 10,000 crore “Government of India respects presented in February 2014 by the at present, and will increase further its Defence Forces and Ex-Servicemen then government was not based in future. for their valour, patriotism and on any thorough analysis. It is The Government held extensive sacrifices. The Government is proud pertinent to mention that the then consultations with experts and Ex- of their devotion to duty and bravery. Minister of State for Defence in Servicemen. The main argument for Our forces, besides vigilantly and 2009 had, in reply to a question, OROP is that the Defence personnel gallantly defending the nation, have informed Parliament that there retire early and thus are not able to displayed exemplary standards of are administrative, technical and get the benefits of serving till normal courage and bravery in natural financial difficulties in implementing retirement age. Despite the huge calamities, law and order situations OROP. It is for these reasons that fiscal burden, given its commitment and other difficult circumstances. the present government took some to the welfare of Ex-Servicemen, the The issue of “One Rank One time to fulfil its promise. Government has taken a decision to Pension” (OROP) has been pending Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi implement the OROP. for nearly four decades. It is a matter has, on various occasions, reiterated In simple terms, OROP implies of deep anguish that the various the Government’s commitment to that uniform pension be paid to the governments remained ambivalent implement OROP for Ex-Servicemen Armed Forces personnel retiring in The Defence Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar arriving at South Block to announce the One Rank One Pension scheme for the Ex-Servicemen in New Delhi on September 5, 2015. Also seen in the picture are (from left) DG (M&C) Defence Mr Sitanshu Kar, Minister of State for Defence Mr Rao Inderjit Singh, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan, Chief of the Army Staff General Dalbir Singh and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. 4 Sainik Samachar September 16-30, 2015 The Defence Minister Mr Manohar Parrikar announcing the One Rank One Pension scheme for the Ex-Servicemen at South Block, New Delhi on September 5, 2015. Also seen in the picture are (from left) Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan, Minister of State for Defence Mr Rao Inderjit Singh, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, Chief of the Army Staff General Dalbir Singh and Defence Secretary Mr G Mohan Kumar. the same rank with the same length arrears in one instalment. accepted the estimate of Rs 235 of service, regardless of their date To begin with, OROP would be crore as additional financial burden of retirement. Future enhancements fixed on the basis of calendar year to implement OROP. The present in the rates of pension would be 2013. government has accepted OROP in automatically passed on to the past Pension will be re-fixed for all true spirit without being constrained pensioners. This implies bridging pensioners retiring in the same rank by these inaccurate estimates. the gap between the rate of pension and with the same length of service OROP is a complex issue. A of current and past pensioners at as the average of minimum and thorough examination of interests periodic intervals. maximum pension in 2013. Those of retirees of different periods and Under this definition, it has drawing pensions above the average different ranks is needed. The inter- been decided that the gap between will be protected. service issues of the three Forces rate of pension of current pensioners Personnel who voluntarily retire also require consideration. This and past pensioners will be bridged will not be covered under the OROP is not an administrative matter every 5 years. scheme. alone. Therefore, it has also been Under the OROP Scheme: In future, the pension would be decided that a One Member Judicial The benefit will be given with re-fixed every 5 years. Committee would be constituted which will give its report in six months. effect from July 1, 2014. The present It is estimated that the government assumed office on May expenditure on arrears alone Prime Minister Mr Modi 26, 2014 and therefore, it has been would be ten to twelve thousand has fulfilled his commitment and decided to make the scheme effective crores of rupees. Apart from the approved OROP for Armed Forces from a date immediately after. fact that the previous government personnel. Ministry of Defence will Arrears will be paid in four had provided for only Rs 500 crore soon issue detailed Government half-yearly instalments. All widows, in the budget, it is noteworthy Order.” including war widows, will be paid that the Koshiyari Committee had - N Ao September 16-30, 2015 Sainik Samachar 5 GOLDEN JUBILEE OF 1965 WAR Operations of 1 Corps o ease Pakistan’s pressure on Operations of 6 and 26 Division Chhamb, India opened the T At 2300 hrs on the night of second front by offensives in Lahore September 7, 6 Mountain Division Sector by 11 Corps (September and 26 Infantry Division crossed the 6,1965) and in Sialkot-Shakargarh IB into Pakistan. Sector by 1 Corps (September 7/8,1965). Threat to/ loss of Lahore 6 Mountain Division assigned and Sialkot would have delivered the task of capturing Charwa to 99 a severe counterpunch and made Mountain brigade. 2/5 Gorkha Rifles Pakistan’s position in Chhamb (Frontier Force) and 4 Rajputana untenable. Though, variation in the Rifles gave an excellent account in timings of these two Corps offensives battle and captured their intermediate permitted the enemy to launch a objectives by 0300 hrs on September thrust in Khem Karan, it did allow us 8. The village of Charwah was cleared to cripple enemy’s 1 Armoured Division and lay to rest of sporadic pockets of resistance over next two days. the myth of invincibility of the Patton tank. Capture of Maharajke was entrusted to 69 Mountain Brigade.