Speaking at a programme where Jammu and Kashmir N N Vohra was honoured with 'Sant Namdeo National Award', Pawar said the rural areas of then militancy-hit Punjab faced a shortage of healthcare professionals and skilled mechanic to repair trucks and tractors.
The Defence Ministry had to deploy a number of mechanic from the armed forces to repair tractors and help farmers and medicos from the Armed Forces Corps, the NCP leader said.
He added that soliders in plain clothes were also deployed in villages of Punjab during that time. "This helped win people's trust," Pawar said.
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