Wednesday 21 October 2015

Retired BSF personnel seek OROP, ex-servicemen status

HT Correspondent, Amritsar 
Border Security Force (Photo Credits: OFFICIAL WEBSITE )
 
A delegation of retired Border Security Force (BSF) personnel of Amritsar district have demanded that the One Rank One Pension (OROP) facility be extended to retired personnel of force guarding the border on the lines of the retired defence personnel.
 
They have also demanded that they should be given the status of ex-servicemen as was promised by the central government in 1972.
 
In a memorandum submitted to the Amritsar deputy commissioner, the BSF delegation pointed out that in 1968, Parliament passed the BSF Act in which the border guarding force was mentioned as an “Armed Force”. This Act led to the formation of the BSF and since then it has been doing duty on the borders of the country and is often referred to as the “first line of defence”.
 
In support of their demand, the memorandum pointed out that like the armed forces, the BSF too was governed by the Administrative Tribunal Act 1985.
 
“We regret that despite being recognised as an “Armed Force” like the army or navy or air force and doing duty on the borders of the country, we have not been extended the same benefits as have been given to retired defence personnel. Neither have we been given the ex-servicemen status, nor have we been brought under the ambit of the OROP,” the memorandum stated.
 
While justifying their demand for OROP, the memorandum said the nature of the duties of a BSF officer or jawan were in no way ‘inferior’ to those of army personnel. “Since its inception, the BSF has kept a tight vigil along the borders of the country and will continue to do so,” the memorandum added.
 
Hindustan Times ] Updated: Oct 15, 2015 20:17 IST
 
 

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