Mann ki Baat: Manthan necessary in democracy, says PM Modi

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Underscoring his government’s resolve to implement the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme for ex-servicemen, the Prime Minister asked the defence community to “have faith” in him and give him some time to sort out the complexities of the issue. “Is it not true that this question has been pending for 40 years? Is it not true that all the previous governments talked about it, but actually did nothing? I assure you…I have promised ex-servicemen that my government will implement One Rank, One Pension,” Modi said during his 25-minute programme.

Stating that various government departments were working on OROP, the PM said the issue was not as “simple” as he thought it to be. “It is complicated and problems have got added to it during the past 40 years… I have tasked everybody in the government to find a way in which this can be made simpler and unanimous,” he added.

“Pal pal ki khabrein media mein dena zaroori nahin hota hai. (There cannot be a running commentary on this). I assure you that this government will find a solution to the One Rank, One Pension issue,” the PM said.

READ: Mann Ki Baat: PM Modi assures ‘One rank One Pension’ issue will be resolved soon

Slamming those “playing politics” on the matter, the PM told the ex-servicemen that those people “had played with them for (the past) 40 years”.

“I don’t agree to that path. And I don’t want to take a step that would further complicate problems… Those who want to rake up the issue, do politics over it, let them do,” he said. “You have been patient for 40 years. Give me some time..give me an opportunity to work, and we will sort this out together,” the PM added.

A long-standing demand of over two million ex-servicemen in the country, One Rank One Pension would ensure a uniform pension for defence personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.

Stating that he “feels for the poor”, the PM also talked about the response about three recently launched social security schemes — PM Insurance Scheme, the Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Scheme — among the masses. He said that within 20 days of their launch, 8.52 crore people had enrolled for these schemes.

“These schemes are a very important step for social security. These will ensure that the poor are not dependent on anybody and are empowered,” Modi said, adding he wants to “create an army from among the poor to fight poverty and defeat it” so that the burden of poverty is removed.