Shimla
• Chief Minister assures to take-up matter with PM
The issue of ending the Agniveer recruitment scheme was strongly raised by ex-servicemen at a meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Ex-Servicemen Welfare Board, chaired by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, here on Tuesday.
The ex-servicemen urged the Chief Minister to take up this matter with the Government of India, expressing concern over the long-term employment prospects and welfare of young people recruited under the Agniveer scheme.
Ex-serviceman from Kullu, Shiv Dayal Singh said the scheme did not provide adequate job security for the youth as the Agniveers were being released from service after four years and also were not getting the facility of pension and other benefits available to regular servicemen.
Responding to the concerns, the Chief Minister said he would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue and convey the sentiments of Himachal Pradesh’s ex-servicemen. He said that Himachal Pradesh had been particularly affected by the Agniveer scheme, with its impact also being felt in the economies of Kangra, Bilaspur, Una and Hamirpur districts. He reiterated his support for regular recruitment into the Armed Forces and expressed concern over the reduction in Army recruitment quotas, which had caused disappointment among the state’s youth.
Referring to Himachal Pradesh’s proud military tradition and the four Param Vir Chakras awarded to its soldiers, Sh. Sukhu said the Agniveer scheme was unfair to the youth of the state and to the country’s brave servicemen.
He said that state government was giving priority to generate employment avenues for the youth and 1,300 posts of the police constable had already been filled, while another 1,000 posts would be filled in due course.
Sh. Sukhu said that the rural economy was the backbone of the hilly state like Himachal Pradesh, with more than 80 percent of the state’s population living in rural areas. The state government was taking several measures to strengthen rural livelihoods. The government has introduced a minimum support price for naturally farmed agricultural produce besides substantially increasing milk procurement prices. He encouraged ex-servicemen to participate in strengthening the rural economy and consider adopting natural farming. He assured that the state government remained committed to the welfare and interests of ex-servicemen.
Sainik Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil said Himachal Pradesh was a state with a strong military tradition and described ex-servicemen as one of the state’s valuable assets. He said Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had consistently demonstrated his commitment to the welfare of former servicemen and that several significant measures had been taken in this regard. Ensuring that ex-servicemen receive the benefits of government schemes in a simple, transparent and accessible manner, he said their welfare always remained a key priority of the state government.
The meeting also discussed in detail various issues raised by the Board members. The Chief Minister directed the concerned officials to take appropriate action and issued necessary instructions.
Chairman, HP Ex-Servicemen Welfare Corporation Col. Manish Kumar, Chief Secretary K.K. Pant, Secretary Ashish Singhmar, administrative secretaries, heads of the departments and members of the Board were present in the meeting.
