Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Sept 27: An annual Ex-Servicemen rally was organized by J&K Ex-Services League here, today which was attended by more than 250 ex-servicemen and veer naries of the district. The rally was held in consultation with the District Administration.
President of J&K Ex-Services League, Maj Gen (retd) Goverdhan Singh Jamwal with general secretary Col. (retd) Rajinder Singh and Col (retd) K S Samyal, besides the officials of the District League, Sainik Welfare Officer, Kathua and his staff also participated. Among many issues raised by the ex-servicemen a few were highlighted by them.
They further conveyed their resentment on the delay in establishing Sainik Colony in Kashmir, land for Fauji Colonies in Jammu, revival of Sainik Vanaspati Cooperative and stressed the urgency in fulfilling their long outstanding promises. They also requested to revise the annuities like Paramvir Chakra etc.
On the issue of Arms License it was brought out that weapons with the soldiers are a guarantee of security not only to the ex-servicemen but to the whole village particularly in J&K State. It was therefore strongly felt that ex-servicemen license policy in the State must be reviewed and every facility must be provided to the ex-servicemen to own a weapon. Ex-Serviceman is a pensioner and knows how to handle and take care of his weapon and will never misuse it. This point needs to be submitted to the Governor for his consideration and also projected in the RSB, the speakers said.
The ex-servicemen also brought out that while they were charged no fees for possessing weapons as per rules later on however they were charged nominal license fee which has now been raised to Rs. 500 per year. This is exorbitant and must be rationalized for which Government of India Home and Defense Ministry will be approached through Sainik Welfare Department. Even air guns have been brought under license which will even discourage the sportsmen in the country and should be exempted from the license to promote sports activity.
Ex-servicemen raised their specific problems which were discussed threadbare. Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal assured them for taking up with the Defence, State and other concerned authorities like the demand for mobile canteens in different areas, providing Zila Sainik Boards in each district and extending ECHS facilities to difficult areas where substantial number of Ex-Servicemen reside like Kishtwar, Poonch and Kupwara district. For the health care they requested for some arrangements with the local army units like the old battalion MI Rooms, if the ECHS detachments cannot be provided. Risaldar Major Anchal Singh requested for Kendriya Vidyalaya at Bilawar being a remote tehsil.
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