After ex-servicemen, railwaymen demand One Rank One Pension

After ex-servicemen, railway employees too have raised the demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP), saying that they should not be ignored as like the defence personnel they also have dedicated their services to the nation.

After ex-servicemen, railway employees too have raised the demand for One Rank One Pension (OROP), saying that they should not be ignored as like the defence personnel they also have dedicated their services to the nation.

Indian-railway-workers-check-the-railway-tracks-prior-to-the-trial-run-of-a-high-speed-train-between-New-Delhi-and-Agra-is-flagged-off-at-New-Delhi-railway-station-AFP-Photo

The issue of OROP for railway employees was discussed in the Seventh Pay Commission and we will raise the issue again, Shiv Gopal Mishra, general secretary of All-India Railwaymen's Federation told PTI on Saturday.

Currently there are 13.26 lakh employees working in the Railways.

"Railwaymen are performing dedicated service for the nation. Railway is the lifeline of the country. Employees are working round the clock across the country," Mishra said.

He, however, said servicemen in defence forces should get OROP but the same principle should also be applicable to Railways.

"Our brothers in defence should get it as soon as possible. But at the same time we should also not be ignored," AIRF leader said.

Expressing disappointment over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Red Fort speech, Mishra said "PM should have offered something concrete on the OROP issue. Though there were expectations for an announcement on the issue, nothing happened."

PM, in his Independence day speech, said in-principle the government has accepted the demand for OROP but it is a long pending issues, and discussions are underway and in the last stages.

Read| No OROP deadline in Modi's I-Day speech, ex-servicemen angry