Welfare of ex-servicemen takes a backseat

Hindustan Times
Delhi, May 15, 2009

Noida Live

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Welfare of ex-servicemen takes a backseat
IN UTTAR Pradesh, about 75 per cent posts of the Zila Sainik Adhikari have been lying vacant for the last five years. Hence there are no jobs for ex-servicemen. As a result no welfare activities could be carried out in the state for them.
This was stated by Col (retd) Prakash Bhatt of Noida Veterans Forum, at a meeting organised at Arun Vihar Community Centre last Sunday.
Noida Veterans Forum is a newly formed body of retired Army officers working for the betterment of the ex-servicemen.
It is also in the process of setting up a helpline for veterans,war-widows and their dependents in distress.
Addressing the gathering of exservicemen, Bhatt held the Directorate General of Recruitment (DGR) responsible for having failed to do its job.
“Only 10 per cent of the retiring personnel could be trained by the DGR in 2005,while only 30 per cent could be given jobs,” he remarked.
“Creation of Army,Air Force and Navy placement cells substantiate the fact that DGR has been ineffective. But since all of these are not working in synergy, much is left to be desired,” he added.
Col Bhatt also spoke about the discriminatory rules that exist for Noida ECHS beneficiaries,wherein a Noida resident is not entitled for treatment at a hos pital in Delhi.
He also stressed that annuity for gallantry award winners should be made uniform in all states.
Allaying the fears of the retired soldiers, Brig (retd) K.P.Singh Deo, former Defence Minister,who is also the secretary, Ex-servicemen Department, All India Congress Committee, stated that the Central government has approved the formation of a separate pay commission for defence services. Besides an ex-servicemen commission will also be formed.
Agreeing that the state of most Sainik Boards is appalling, Deo said that the ex-servicemen commission is being formed precisely to improve the condition of Sainik Boards at central, state and district level.
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