M A I N   N E W S

Now, retired Army jawans can join paramilitary forces
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 15
Jawans who retire from the armed forces will have the option of joining paramilitary forces such as the CRPF and BSF among others. The Ministry of Home Affairs has agreed to fill 10 per cent of Group ‘B’ posts - up to the level of inspector - in the Central paramilitary forces from ex-servicemen, Defence Minister AK Antony informed the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Defence today.

Antony told the MPs about opportunities for jawans who retire in their 30s. The move to absorb them in paramilitary forces will allow optimum use of their talent and skills besides reducing the pension bill of the government.

It will be like a lateral entry into the paramilitary forces. For long, it has been the opinion of the government that jawans retiring from the forces can be easily used there.

Antony said that efforts were now being made to persuade public sector undertakings and the private sector to tap this reservoir of talented and disciplined ex-servicemen.

The MPs also wanted to know the status of ‘one rank, one pension’. Other suggestions were that the government should take urgent steps to build a suitable national memorial for martyrs in the national capital and inclusion of MPs in the zila sainik board meetings.

Antony said the issue of setting up of a war memorial in the capital was a long pending one and hoped that the issue may be settled in the near future.

Referring to the issue of ‘one rank, one pension’, Antony said the issue was not a ‘closed chapter’, but it has to be approached in a phased manner.

Antony assured the MPs that the government was taking measures for the all-round welfare of ex-servicemen. He said the health of ex-servicemen and their dependents was a prime concern with the government.

Giving details of the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) which has been operating since April 2003, Antony said that presently, the scheme caters to 38 lakh beneficiaries including 12 lakh ex-servicemen and over 26 lakh dependents. During 2010-11, a total of 89 lakh patients attended the polyclinics.