Law soon on defence personnel's properties
Tribune News Service

JALANDHAR, Dec 18 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, announced here today that the state government would soon enact a law to get the land and other properties of defence personnel and ex-servicemen vacated from illegal possession.

Addressing a state level rally of ex-servicemen here today, the Chief Minister said that the proposed legislation would be on the pattern of the law made for non-resident Indians (NRIs) under which the possession of property belonging to ex-servicemen would be ensured after summary trial. The proceedings could be completed in a period of five to six months. The war widows who could not get the possession of land allotted to them due to one reason or the other would be given compensation in cash equal to the value of such property.

Lauding the role of defence personnel in protecting the boundaries of the country, the Chief Minister said that Punjab has always been in the forefront and its soldiers made supreme sacrifices for thwarting external aggression from foreign powers. The jawans belonging to Punjab had played a significant role during the India-China and India-Pakistan wars and fighting the enemy forces. The country, especially, Punjab, can never forget the supreme sacrifice by warriors and their families. The Chief Minister lamented that the successive central and state governments did not take adequate steps for rehabilitation of ex-servicemen and the families of soldiers who sacrificed their lives. A red carpet welcome should be given to the person who retires from the armed forces and arrives to his native place for settlement. He appealed to the people to fully recognise the hardship and sacrifices of defence personnel and give them due regard and respect in public life.

Mr Badal said that the Punjab Government was committed to give a suitable piece of land for opening a law college for the defence personnel. He also offered financial assistance for opening training schools at the district level wherever Army land was available. Such a step would help in giving training to defence personnel in different vocations so that they could rehabilitate themselves after retirement from regular service.

The backlog for ex-servicemen in different departments would be completed for the vacancies reserved for them. The excise duty of the cantonment lying in state government accounts would be refunded.

The state government had already taken various steps for the welfare and uplift of ex-servicemen and rehabilitation of Army deserters of 1984. The maintenance grant had also been enhanced from Rs 500 per month to 1500 in case of deserters and Rs 2,500 per month to widows.

Mr Badal exhorted all ex-servicemen to work towards making the state more prosperous by going to the rural areas and opening self-employment schemes.

Lt-Gen Kamal Davar, GOC, Vajra Corps, speaking on the occasion said that Punjab's contribution to the integrity of India was unparalleled and the state provided a very large number of soldiers to the country. He lauded the contribution of the ex-servicemen to the state and the country. He said the forum of such rallies and continuous interaction through the DGR, the armed forces were doing their best to look after the welfare of ex-servicemen. He hoped that the government would accept the long-standing demand of "one rank one pension" of ex-servicemen, Gen Davar stated that the government must make use of the very large reserve of disciplined, honest and hard-working ex-servicemen.

Mr Janmeja Singh, Sekhon, Minister of Social Welfare, and Brig Sant Singh, MVC Bar, were among those who spoke on the occasion. Several educative schemes by banks, industries, agriculture, and fisheries etc. were displayed for the benefit of ex-servicemen at the rally.