Haryana govt to set up separate department for Sainik welfare

Haryana Government will set up a separate department of Sainik welfare to provide services to Ex-Servicemen (ESM) of the State in a more efficient and effective manner.
A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of the State Cabinet held under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here today, an official spokesman said.
The Department of Sainik Welfare, with an independent Administrative Secretary, will be staffed mostly by ex-servicemen who are in a better position to understand the difficulties and needs of ex-servicemen, war widows and dependents and they will deliver State and Central Government services to them in a more responsive and sympathetic manner, he said.

At present, the Haryana Rajya Sainik Board (RSB) provides services to ex-servicemen and war widows.
The new department will ensure that the benefits under various schemes of both the State and Central Governments are processed, sanctioned and released to the ESM, war widows and their relatives within a stipulated time period and ensure speedy redressal of grievances, he said.
Besides, it will also ensure release of ex-gratia funds and provide jobs to dependents.

The Department will also monitor and ensure utilization of ESM reservation quota in government jobs by checking roster of all departments besides ensuring that the reservation in educational institutions for wards of ESM is implemented, he said.

The Department will ensure that widows and next of kin of the martyrs and disabled soldiers get their due financial assistance from the State Government that is ex-gratia and cash in lieu of plot and disseminate information to general public regarding the armed forces and take measures to enhance interest in Armed Forces, he said.
The other mandate of the department included receiving the mortal remains of the soldiers who attain martyrdom during various operations, organizing their funeral in liaison with army authorities and provide succour to the family, to help next of kin to get entitled benefits, organize the construction of War Memorials and honour the martyrs by re-naming the government institutions in their name and help the civil administration during natural calamities, he said.

The existing Zila Sainik Boards (ZSB) will be renamed as District Sainik Welfare Offices (DSWO) and the Zila Sainik Welfare Officers will now be called as Additional Director Sainik Welfare-cum-Zila Sainik Welfare Officers.
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With only 1.3 per cent of geographical area and one per cent of the population of the country, Haryana contributes about 10 per cent of the total strength of Armed Forces.
It has over 2.82 lakh ex-servicemen, 1,232 War Widows, 83,250 widows and serving personnel.
Apart from this, there are 1802 World War II Veterans and 5139 World War II Widows.
State Government annually spends about Rs 66 crore for the welfare of the serving soldiers, ex-servicemen and their dependents, he said.

With a view to improve connectivity between Faridabad and Greater Noida, the Haryana Cabinet approved the proposal of the Public Works (Building and Roads) Department for construction of two-lane road connecting Faridabad-Jassana- Chirsi-Manjhawali-Sheikpur in Haryana and Atta Gujran to Greater Noida Expressway in Uttar Pradesh including four-lane bridge over River Yamuna.
With the completion of the project, there will be a reduction of 40 km distance between Faridabad and Greater Noida, the spokesman said.
The connectivity of this project road starts from Faridabad bypass near Sector 18 and ends at Yamuna Expressway.
The existing length of project highway is 23.750 km.

The Cabinet approved the policy decision to give an offer to the doctors, who have retired from Haryana Civil Medical Service (HCMS) and are below 65 years of age to get re-employed on the principle of last pay drawn minus pension for discharging only clinical duties in a hospital of their choice.
Only those doctors, who are below 65 years of age and have at least one year remaining to attain 65 years on the date of filing application will be eligible for re-employment, if they so desire.
Those doctors, who are still in service, their retirement age would be increased from 58 years at present to 65 years for performing only clinical duties.

On attaining the age of 58 years, they will cease to hold administrative posts of Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Chief Medical Officer, Director, Additional Director General, Director General or any other equivalent post.
During the extended period beyond 58 years, they will be assigned only clinical duties at a hospital of their choice.