In a meeting held with the ex-servicemen who gathered from across the State, lt Col (Retd) GS Rawat has demanded from the Congress-led State Government potent measures for redressing the grievances of the ex-servicemen in the State.
He said that strength of the ex-servicemen should be utilised for carrying relief and rescue operations in the present scenario and should be trained enough to tackle such natural catastrophe, if it strikes again in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of the State in the near future.
The ex-servicemen expressed concern that the State Government has violated the norms while appointing office bearers in the Solider Board office and Sainik Welfare and Resettlement directorate across the State. Scores of ex-servicemen across the State gathered under the banner of Uttarakhand Purva Sainik and Ardh Sainik Sangathan and expressed their concern over the callous approach of the Government for not redressing the grievances of the ex-servicemen. During the meeting, the members alleged that the same officer has been re-appointed on the post of District Sainik Officer in Chamoli, who was found missing from his duties for the last seven months. The members also alleged that the employees have been sacked without any prior notice and also pointed out anomalies.
The agitated ex-servicemen have also decided to hold meeting with the Uttarakhand Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi and apprise him about the problems being faced by the ex-servicemen in the State. According to them, if their problems are not resolved by the State Government in the given time frame then infuriated ex-servicemen willstage protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi and submit memorandum highlighting their demands to President of India and Ministry of Defence.
It was also decided in the meeting that a delegation will shortly meet Uttarakhand Governor and apprise the office bearers of the Association, once the meeting schedule is set with him. The members also alleged that the State Government is not taking steps for redressing the grievances of the ex-servicemen in the State.