Panel: Treat martyred Agniveers on par with soldiers for pension

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, February 8

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence today recommended that families of Agniveers who die in the line duty should be provided the same benefits given to the families of regular soldiers.

The present rules do not have the provision of pension for the family of the Agniveer dying in the line of duty. In case a regular soldier gets martyred, his family — wife or parents — gets pension for life.

The proposal was submitted by the committee, headed by BJP MP Jual Oram, in the report, “A review of functioning of zila sainik boards in the country”.

The report also stated that “there is no assured employment or skill development programme exclusively designed for Agniveers, except for some percentage of reservation of jobs in Central Armed Police Forces”.

The committee said the Agniveers, who have to leave service after a certain number of years, should be informed personally about the vacancies. It should be ensured that they fill in forms to appear for the required physical and written tests. On schemes for ex-servicemen, the committee said there was a lack of uniformity in the states regarding ex gratia monetary benefits and compensation to families of soldiers killed in action. The Defence Minister has written to the states on the enhancement of ex gratia benefits. On the reimbursement of medical expenses to veterans, the committee said that due to pending bills with the ECHS, hospitals refuse to entertain soldiers and their families. The committee desired that all pending bills of hospitals should be clearedand the hospitals denying treatment be blacklisted.

“The benefits of centrally sponsored schemes invariably do not reach the retired soldiers and their families,” the report said, adding that there was a need to have a mechanism for better coordination between the agencies working for the welfare of the retired soldiers and widows.

The committee also wanted to know whether the District Magistrates actually attend the meeting of zila sainik boards.

Parl report says…

On re-employment of Agniveers

• There are no assured jobs or skill development programme designed for Agniveers. They should be informed personally about the vacancies

On uniformity in ex gratia relief

• Steps must be initiated to sensitise states to bring uniformity in granting ex gratia funds for families of soldiers

On pending bills with ECHS

• All pending bills of hospitals with ECHS should be cleared at the earliest. The MoD must blacklist the hospitals denying treatment to veterans