A Civil Military Liaison Conference (CMLC) Punjab-2016 was held here at Punjab Bhawan to discuss various issues related to Army and state government. Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal was scheduled to preside over this meeting as per past convention but due to inclement weather his chopper could not take off from Amritsar. Thus, he directed the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Home Mr. Jagpal Singh Sandhu to take this meeting, in which Chief of Staff, Western Command Mr. I.S. Ghuman represented the Army. Taking part in the deliberations, ACS Home assured that the state government would strictly adhere to the policy of giving reservation to the ex-servicemen in all categories and the Defence Services Welfare—the nodal department has been mandated to ensure its strict implementation. Likewise, it was also informed in the meeting that the notification for the enhancement of financial assistance from Rs.2000 to Rs.4500 per month admissible to the World War-II veterans and widows had already been issued following the approval of State Cabinet.
The ACS Home also apprised that the state government would provide land for running Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinics at Non-military stations, where the land was available and in case of those stations where the land was not readily available, the government would facilitate the Army authorities to acquire land for the said purpose.
The ACS Home also asked the Deputy Commissioner, SAS Nagar (Mohali) to ensure that no un-authorized and un-planned construction activity should take place within the notified area affecting the security of Airport and impending movement of vehicles through emergency exists. Meanwhile, Chief of Staff, Western Command Mr. Ghuman assured that all the resources of Army were at the disposal of our countrymen and the nation. In any unforeseen eventuality, the Army personnel were ever ready to serve the nation with utmost devotion, commitment and sincerity. Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included; ACS (Development) Mr. NS Kalsi, ACS Revenue Mr. KBS Sidhu, ACS (Local Government) Mr. Satish Chandra, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. SK Sandhu, DGP Punjab Mr. Suresh Arora, Principal Secretary Housing & Urban Development Mr. Vishwajeet Khanna, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Secretary PWD (B&R) Mr. Jaspal Singh, ADGP (Intelligence) Mr. Gaurav Yadav besides all the Deputy Commissioners of the state.