The proposal to absorb retiring soldiers into the para-military is not new, and had been suggested by the 6th Pay Commission earlier.
The BJP led National Democratic Alliance government is working on a plan to absorb retiring soldiers into the para-military and police, top Government officials told NDTV.
This will allow soldiers to work till the age of 60, negating the need for enhanced pension under One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme. The rationale given by ex-servicemen demanding OROP is that nearly 80 per cent of the soldiers retire before 60 years.
The Government announced OROP last Saturday. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said the estimated cost to exchequer was about Rs 20,000 crore.
Every year about 20,000 odd soldiers and officers retire from each of the three services, Army, Air Force and Navy. Nearly 70 to 80 per cent of them do not complete their full term, choosing to go back home before attaining the age of 60.
The proposal to absorb retiring soldiers into the para-military is not new, and had been suggested by the 6th Pay Commission earlier. The logic was that para- military would benefit by recruiting trained and disciplined men. The UPA Government accepted recommendation but didn't implement it, partly because the para- military forces were not keen, and the lack of political will.
Para-military forces like the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Indo Tibetan Border Police, and Central Industrial Security Force, alone have a shortfall of about 50,000 men. Apart from them, forces like the CRPF and BSF also have to raise new battalions to meet their responsibilities.