Set up sub-office of Sainik Board in Nurpur, say ex-servicemen

Rajiv Mahajan

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Nurpur, December 29

Thousands of ex-servicemen living in Nurpur, Jawali, Fatehpur and Indora sub-divisions have been awaiting a sub-office of the Sainik Welfare Board (SWB) in Nurpur for the past over three years.

Virbhadra Singh government had announced a permanent sub-office in Nurpur in 2016, but no steps were taken to give shape to the project.

Resentment is brewing among ex-servicemen and their families over the government’s failure to set up the office in Nurpur.

As per information, the Himachal Pradesh SWB has its headquarters in Hamirpur and zonal office in Dharamsala. Those residing in lower Kangra have to travel 60 to 100 km to reach the zonal office of the Sainik Welfare Board for their pension and record-related problems.

Col NS Pathania (retd), president of the Ex-servicemen League, Nurpur, said instead of opening a

sub-office of the board here, the previous state government had deputed a retired subedar as the Soldier Welfare Officer (SWO) in Nurpur, who was attached to the zonal office of the board in Dharamsala.

This temporary arrangement was a mockery. Pathania said no schedule of camping of the Soldier Welfare Officer was available to the ex-servicemen or their families, who visited the office in Nurpur for queries or pension-related jobs. He urged Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to set up the sub-office in Nurpur.