Andhra Pradesh

Disparity in sops to Army men admitted

HYDERABAD: Union Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju admitted that there were several disparities in the treatment being given to award-winning servicemen by various State governments.

While States like Punjab were giving incentives to the tune of Rs. 25 lakh to award-winning defence personnel, the amount was around Rs. 1 to Rs. 2 lakh in States like Andhra Pradesh. The treatment, according to him, was dependent on the ethos of the respective States and probably, the fact that less number of people were opting for armed forces from the State.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, Mr. Pallam Raju said the Centre had written to the State governments to avoid such disparities. “There are specific guidelines for the welfare and resettlement of ex-servicemen. But we cannot enforce any rules for award winners,” he said. The Minister earlier visited the Department of Sainik Welfare to review its functioning and find ways to strengthen it. Stating that 60,000 personnel were retiring from the Armed forces every year, he said the department was exploring options to tap the huge opportunities offered by the private sector.

The private sector was preferring ex-servicemen owing to their discipline while steps were being taken for absorption of ex-servicemen laterally into Central police organisations and para military forces. The Minister exhorted ex-servicemen to take up self-employment ventures and said the Andhra Pradesh Government, was willing to extend the 3 per cent interest scheme to them.

He said measures had been initiated to strengthen the Sainik schools whose performance had deteriorated of late. The Ministry was prepared to sanction Sainik schools provided the infrastructural requirements were put in place.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu