: Strong resentment is growing among the ex-Servicemen over not filling the vacant posts in the Zilla Sainik Board (ZSB). A group of ex-Servicemen staged demonstration before the ZSB office here, alleging apathetic attitude of the Central and State Government as well as district administration.
“For more than a year, there has been no staff to manage the office of ZSB , which is a lifeline for the ex-Servicemen community. As per the current guidelines, all the affairs, including registration, verification, correction, issue of identity cards to dependents, school fees exemption and scholarship, etc., are to be routed through ZSB. The ZSB should have at least five staffs including an officer. The situation has turned grim now due to dearth of staffs. The ex-Servicemen including their widows and dependents are facing a tough time for various jobs. Although we apprised the Central Government about the staff position and made repeated requests to the State Government to fill the vacancies yet they fell in deaf ears,” said retired Defence personnel Maheswar Behera said.
According to reports, the ZSB at Police line square caters to the needs of three districts including Mayurbhanj, Bhadrak besides Baleswar. The salary component is managed by the Centre and State Government with a 3:1 ratio respectively.
“There are about more than 15,000 ex-Servicemen and their widows and dependents depend on the ZSB at Baleswar. They, especially those who come 200 km from Mayurbhanj district, face acute hardship when they find no staff and at times the office closed. Either they have to abandon their plan or move to Rajya Sainik Board (RSB) at Bhubaneswar to get their job done which is very cumbersome. The ZSB many important responsibilities including performing last rites after the demise of any retired defence personnel. The district administration, after a lot of persuasions, although deputed an officer (OAS cadre ) to manage the office yet she is handicapped due to want of supporting staff and more so she is not regular being occupied in other jobs of the district,” said ex-servicemen Durgapada Bhuyan. He threatened to intensify agitation if the vacancies are not filled in a month.