Former paramilitary personnel end OROP protest, to return in February

Terming the attitude of the government on their demands for One Rank One Pension (OROP) and other benefits as ‘high-handed’, ex-paramilitary personnel ended their three-day stir and have decided to stage a march to Parliament and protest outside the CGO complex in the first week of February.

“No one from the home ministry turned up to listen to our grievances. If our demands are not met in the next three months, we will come back again to Jantar Mantar to march to Parliament and gherao director generals of all paramilitary forces which have their headquarters in the CGO complex,” said PS Nair, the national general secretary of the All India Central Paramilitary Forces Ex-servicemen Welfare Association.

The association had organised a three-day protest at Jantar Mantar to press for their demands which include OROP, exemption from contributory pension scheme, framing of separate service and pension rules for them, giving them exservicemen status with all consequential benefits and extend CSD canteen facility.

Nair said he tried to meet the Union home secretary during their dharna but was not given an appointment.

“But we were to meet director general of Central Industrial Force (CISF) Surender Singh who heads the Welfare and Rehabilitation Board (WARB) for all central armed police forces. We have told him about our demands,” said Nair.

The WARB works as the principal advisory body to the home ministry for welfare programs for retired paramilitary personnel and relatives of deceased personnel.