Amarinder unveils 21-pt agenda for defence personnel welfare

Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today promised to set up a separate department for ex-servicemen to give due respect and gainful employment to them, as he announced a 21-point agenda for the welfare of defence personnel.
He said the ex-servicemen (ESM) would help ensure better governance in the state by monitoring the money being spent at the village, block and district level, and this would be part of the party's manifesto for the upcoming state assembly elections.
"The party, once it comes to power in the state, will set up a full-fledged department--Guardians of Governance--to give the ex-servicemen their due respect and gainful employment," Singh said, addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters where the Ex-servicemen League, a body fighting for implementation of OROP extended its support to Congress.

He said the department, to be monitored by the chief minister, will have ex-servicemen appointed at village, cluster, tehsil, block, city and district levels, besides in the CM's office to oversee implementation of welfare schemes and programmes for people at grassroots level.
"We will establish this separate cell directly under the control of chief minister. Ex-servicemen will be deployed at different places starting panchayats upwards, where they will monitor the works and public money spent at various levels. This will help improve governance in Punjab," he said.
The PCC chief said the chief minister will personally look into the complaints and welfare of the large number of ESM in Punjab. Complaints of ESM will be addressed on priority basis, as per the party manifesto.

It also reiterates the party's commitment to the correct implementation of OROP as per the Koshiari Committee Report 2013. The party has also expressed its commitment to support the inclusion of pay parity between the defence forces and class A civil services and remove anomalies of the 7th Pay Commission.

Amarinder also promised to provide for reservations in private schools/colleges/universities for the children of ESM. All Ex-Servicemen whether employed by PESCO or otherwise will be treated as skilled labour and paid at the prevailing Collector rates of wages.
The ESM Cell formed under the chief minister will nominate one member to look into the upgrade of Sainik Rest Houses in Punjab, he said.

The party manifesto will take note of plight of Indian prisoners of war in Pakistan jails since 1971 and the Congress government in Punjab will take up the issue with the Centre and enact suitable schemes for welfare of their dependents.
The manifesto will further promise that meritorious ESM will be considered for Rajya Sabha nomination as and when vacancies arise.