OROP II

 FUNCTIONING IN GOVT OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, DEPARTMENT OF EX-SERVICEMEN WELFARE - AT A GLANCE

When the disbursal of arrears of pension to widows and gallantry award winners is to be completed by 30 Apr 2023, as per the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, our Ministry of Defence (MoD) Ex-Servicemen Welfare (ESW) issues the authority letter on 28 Apr 2023 to the Service Chiefs to disburse arrears by the timelines laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.

Some of you are very uncharitable to our officers and subordinates working in MoD (ESW). You have to understand that in the Govt of India, you have to follow laid down procedures to carry out any task. Any minor deviation from the procedures invites severe disciplinary action.

Let me explain how the letter has been issued to the three service chiefs to disburse the arrears in the succeeding paragraphs.

1.     The Attorney General or Solicitor General who received the directions of Hon'ble Supreme Court on disbursal of arrears of OROP- II will send it to MoD (ESW).

2.     MoD (ESW) sends it to Min of Def for arranging funds for disbursal of arrears.

3.     MoD asks its Financial Advisor to demand funds from the Ministry of Finance (Revenue).

4.     Ministry of Finance (Revenue) will take its own time to arrange funds and place them at the disposal of the MoD, which, in turn, informs the MoD (ESW).

5.     The draft letter will be made by their Desk Officer. The Desk Officer sends the file to the Under Secretary. The Under Secretary sends it to the Deputy Secretary duly approving the recommendation of the Desk Officer. The Deputy Secretary sends the file approving the recommendation of the Under Secretary to the Joint Secretary. The Joint Secretary approves the recommendation of the Deputy Secretary to Secretary (ESW). He sends it to the Additional Secretary MoD who forwards it to the Secretary. The Secretary (ESW) takes it to Hon'ble Raksha Mantri who is busy in electioneering in Karnataka. Once he comes back to Delhi, the Hon’ble Minister on file writes “issue letter on disbursal of OROP arrears.” The file goes down from the Secretary (ESW) to the Additional Secretary to the Joint Secy (ESW) to the Dy Secy and finally to the Under Secretary to the Desk officer.

Now the draft letter is made by the Desk Officer. He sends it to the Under Secretary. the Under Secretary sends it to the Deputy Secretary. the Deputy Secretary sends the file to the Joint Secretary. the Joint Secretary sends it to the Additional Secretary and on to the Secretary. The Secretary says “Approved”.

The file comes back from Secretary to Additional Secretary to the Joint Secretary. The Joint Secretary says “See the directions of the Secretary on Disbursal of Arrears on the draft letter. Take immediate action”. The Deputy Secretary writes “ See the instruction of Joint Secretary. Take immediate action” and sends it to Under Secretary. Under Secretary writes on file “ See the directions of the Deputy Secretary. Take immediate Action”. Finally, the Desk Officer instructs all three Service Chiefs to implement.

Service Chiefs says “ We do not disburse arrears to Ex-Servicemen” and sends the file back to Desk Officer.

The Desk officer seeks permission from the Secretary to issue a letter to banks. The Secretary finally gives his approval, “Send the letter to the banks.” The file comes back with the instructions of the Secretary through the chain to the Desk officer.

The Desk officer sends the file to the CPPCs of banks. The CPPCs of Banks reply to the Desk officer that “ We need instructions from PCDA (Pensions) Prayagraj.”

The desk officer seeks permission from the Secretary, Min of Def (ESW) to send the letter to PCDA (Pensions). The file is approved by the Secretary, Min of Def (ESW) with instructions “ Send the letter to PCDA (Pensions) Prayagraj”. The Desk officer issues a letter to PCDA (Pensions) Prayagaj.

PCDA (Pensions) Prayagraj tells the Desk officer “ We need instructions from CGDA”.

The Desk officer sends the file right up to the Secretary, Min of Def (ESW) who says “ Approved. Send the file to CGDA.”. The desk officer issues the letter to CGDA.

CGDA tells the Desk officer “ We need instructions from the Financial Advisor of Defence Services”. The desk officer moves the file to Secretary Min of Def (ESW) seeking his permission to send the file to FADS.

The file comes back from Secretary “ Send the file to FADS”.

The Desk officer sends the file to FADS.

FADS issues the letter to CGDA. CGDA issues the letter to PCDA (Pensions) Prayagraj.

You all think govt employees do not work. See how much effort has been put in by everyone to issue a simple letter to disburse arrears of OROP- II.

Finally, the letter is issued to the banks that have to disburse the pensions. At times orders are given on the telephone to cut down time.

So do not blame banks if they have not disbursed your arrears. Govt of India loves the rules and regulations laid down by the British though the British changed their method of government functioning decades ago.