Agitating ex-servicemen react after the announcement of the implementation of One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme by the government, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Saturday. (Press Trust of India photo)
Birju Singh, 70, is busy discussing with his friends the announcement made by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on
One Rank One Pension. They are all ex-servicemen, residents of Bapoda village in Haryana. It also happens to be the home to former army chief General VK Singh.
Mr Birju Singh, who retired as a subedar in 1989, lost his left leg in a mine explosion during the 1971 war. He gets a monthly pension of over Rs 20,000, but says that's not commensurate with what a retired subedar gets nowadays.
"I lost my leg during the 1971 war, but still continued serving till 1989. But post-retirement, I could not do much with the money I was earning. I have a small plot of land here, which I was farming. I do feel now that OROP has been accepted, I will get at least Rs 15,000 more, what the subedar in current scenario gets," Mr Birju Singh said.
Bapoda village in Bhiwani has a total population of 12,000 people. At least 4,000 men here are associated with the army. Among the 1,800 ex-servicemen, are men from Mr Kiranpal Singh's family. For three generations, several men from his immediate and extended family were in the army. But none of his three sons have joined, or even tried for the armed forces.
"Part of the reason is that since state-wise reservations came about, the number of army men in Haryana has gone down. But also, now young boys here want to join private jobs. Part of the reason was also low pension and pay. Why would they be motivated to take such risks for that?" says Mr Singh.
Despite most ex-servicemen considering this a positive development, there are some angry voices as well. Retired subedar Rajbir Singh has served 24 years in the army. At the time of joining, he was on contract for 15 years, and was promoted later. He feels apprehensive, on whether he will benefit from this scheme post voluntary retirement.
"People take voluntary retirement for several personal reasons. I have fought in Arunachal and Nagaland, and was also involved in operation Blue Star. Shouldn't I also be considered for this benefit after that?" he said.