New Delhi: Appealing to ex-servicemen not to
take the extreme step of returning their gallantry awards,
government Wednesday said it has started implementing
recommendations of the high level panel on One-Rank
One-Pension.
However, Defence Minister A K Antony said in the Rajya
Sabha that implementing the award in one go was difficult.
"In one stretch, we will not be able to implement it but we
are near that goal... it is a long process," he said.
He said the government has implemented all recommendations
of the committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary which went
into the demands for One-Rank One-Pension.
This would have a financial implication of Rs 2,200 crore
and would help 12 lakh ex-servicemen, he said.
He was responding to the issue raised by Leader of the
Opposition Arun Jaitley who said it was a "sad spectacle" to
see that some ex-servicemen have decided to surrender their
gallantry medals to register their protest.
While asking the government to look into their demands,
Jaitley appealed to the ex-servicemen not to take the extreme
step.
Ex-servicemen have been demanding equal pension for
personnel retiring from the same rank irrespective of their
date of retirement. Persons retiring before the pay commission
cut-off date get lesser pension than those retiring after that
date.
PTI
