Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, July 4: An ex-servicemen rally was organized by the Army and Zila Sainik Board authorities at Surankote today.
The rally was attended by nearly 300 ex-servicemen and nearly 50 ‘Veer Naris’. General Officer Commanding, Romeo Force inaugurated the rally in presence of many officers and other officials from Zila Sainik Welfare Board. He assured them all possible assistance from the Army and explained them the importance of Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme. On this occasion, several women whose husbands have sacrificed their lives for the cause of nation, were honoured by the GOC.
Deputy Commissioner Poonch Sajjad Ahmed Khan and SP Shamsheer Hussain were also present on the occasion and assured the gathering of full support in solving the problems being faced by the ex-servicemen and `Veer Naris’.
Maj (Retd) Prem Singh, Zila Sainik Welfare Board Officer, Poonch apprised the ex-servicemen about the welfare schemes introduced by the Central and State Government and various other welfare activities being undertaken by the District Board. Information kiosks were established by various departments of the Government to assist the ex-servicemen in gaining information on their resettlement in civilian set up. These included help desks on banking services, loans for higher education, small scale enterprises, crop diversification, cultivation of high yielding special varieties of crops/ vegetables and fish farming.