Retired paramilitary forces personnel began their three-day protest here today to demand “one rank, one pension” (OROP) and service conditions similar to the defence forces.
The protest is being spearheaded by the All-India Central Paramilitary Forces (AICPMF) Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association, which represents the five paramilitary forces—Central Reserve Police Force, Border Security Force (BSF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Industrial Security Force and Assam Rifles.
“We are at the border throughout the year and we die in combat. We should also be granted ex-servicemen status, which will ensure that we get facilities from the states,” said PS Nair, national general secretary, AICPMF Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association.
These personnel are also demanding that paramilitary forces be given the “retirement pension”, which was 50 per cent of the last pay drawn. Currently the paramilitary forces are receiving the New Pension Scheme, which is applicable to those appointed on or after January 1, 2004. Under the scheme, officials have to contribute 10 per cent of their salary and the government will also make an equal contribution.
The paramilitary forces are only given CGHS facilities. “These facilities are inaccessible to the personnel who are staying at a state’s remote districts as they are only located at the capital,” explained P Sourabhan, association secretary.
GS Virk, retired ITBP Deputy Inspector General, said the paramilitary forces should also be given CSD facilities as the goods sold at the Central Police Canteen were not cheap like the ones sold in the CSD.
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