New,old Army pensioners pay parity set to narrow

The biggest relief,which is likely to substantially improve the conditions of the Army pensioners,will be bringing parity in the scales for pre-1997 PBOR (Personnel Below Officers’ Rank) and those post-1997. The cut of date between the two categories is October 10,1997. Both will be equivalent scales.

Defence Minster A K Antony in his letter of July 27 has informed Dhumal that the demand,which he had raised with the ministry,was considered at various levels by committees and commissioners but has not been found feasible.

“The committee set up under the chairmanship of the cabinet secretary also went into the demand and other related issues of the pensioners,but it did not recommend it. However,the committee made seven recommendations aimed at narrowing down the gap between different categories of previous and new pensioners,” Antony wrote.

The defence minister informed that all the seven recommendations which the committee made have been accepted by the Centre. The Army pensioners will be in a position to get substantial improvements on getting the benefits.

Antony’s letter mentions that the committee has created a separate pay scale of Rs 67,000-79,000 to significantly address the issue of disparity in the pensions of pre- and post-January1,2006 at the level of the Lt Generals and equivalents,also in other two services.

For PBOR, all pre-January 1,2006 pensioners will get revised pay structure corresponding to maximum of the pre-Sixth Pay Commission pay scales as per fitment table of each rank with enhanced weightages awarded by the Group of Ministers (GOM).

The rate of allowances will be enhanced on notional basis with effect from January 1,2006 for the purpose of calculation of the pension.

There will be linkage of full pension with 33 years of qualifying service with effect from January 1,2006 instead of September 1,2008 in case of commissioned officers.

The committee has also recommended benefit of broad banding of percentage disability and war injury pensions for pre-January 1996.