2 OROP camps? Diversity in unity!

By Kanika Rangray

When at Jantar Mantar, the prominent thing one sees is the OROP protest going on—a united approach by ex-servicemen of the country to gain their "rights." What might escape the eye or may stay ignored is the presence of two separate camps for the same OROP protest.

The camp making news is the one which is led by Maj Gen (Retd) Satbir Singh. The less-known camp is of those who claim that they have been sidelined by their fellow colleagues in the pension dilemma.

Ex-serviceman Naik Avtar Singh said: "They have in a way sidelined us. Our pension amount is less. Why so, when we fought on same borders? This has led to a separate camp."

Saabka Sainik Sangarash Committee (TarnTaran), as the separate and smaller camp names self, has claimed that there is a consistent human rights violation of the widows of soldiers.

According to them "the pension of the widows of officers has been increased again and again, but the pensions of the soldiers' widows remain the same."

If the increase in the pensions was kept equally proportionate then accordingly the pension of the officer's widow will be Rs. 15758.40/ month and the pension of the soldier's widow would be Rs. 9380/month.

There is also a difference between the disability pension given to a soldier and an officer—it is not given on the basis of disability but on the basis of rank.

Consequently, the apathy and disagreements has brought the fracture between two camps to fore.