Punjab Congress president Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday announced a 21-point agenda for the welfare of the defence personnel in the state.Establishment of an ESM Cell and a separate department for ex-servicemen as Guardians of Governance (GoG) are among the key initiatives announced by Captain Amarinder as part of the agenda, which is included in the party’s manifesto for the Assembly elections.The agenda reiterates the party’s commitment to the correct implementation of OROP as per the Koshiari Committee Report 2013. The party has has also expressed its commitment to support the inclusion of pay parity between the defence forces and class A civil services and remove anomalies of the 7th Pay Commission.The party, once it comes to power in the state, will set up a full-fledged department – Guardians of Governance – to give the ex-servicemen their due respect and gainful employment, Captain Amarinder told mediapersons at a press conference to announce nationwide support by ex-servicemen to the Congress.The department, which will be monitored by the chief minister, will have ex-servicemen appointed at village, cluster, tehsil, block, city and district levels, as well as in the chief minister’s office to oversee implementation of welfare schemes and programmes for the people at the grassroots.
The ESM Cell will also be established directly under the control of the chief minister, who will personally look into the complains and welfare of the large number of ESM in Punjab. Complaints of ESM will be addressed on priority basis, as per the manifesto agenda.All properties of ex-servicemen and serving soldiers will be brought under the same provision as the NRIs, and dual pension, including old-age pension especially for widows, will be permitted as per Central Government Order of 2013. Further, the Congress Government will provide for reservations in private Schools/Colleges/Universities for the children of ESM. All Ex-Servicemen whether employed by PESCO or otherwise will be treated as skilled labour and paid at the prevailing Collector rates of wages.Opening of more Sainik Schools and institutes for army recruitment training, clearance of backlog of vacancies with 13% reservation in jobs for ESM, annual increase in gallantry awards and emoluments, clearance of pending payments to youth who joined defence forces through the NDA ,and honouring of gallantry award winners and ESM at state functions are among the other initiatives promised in the agenda.
The ESM Cell formed under the chief minister will nominate one member to look into the up-gradation of Sainik Rest Houses in Punjab. Recognition will be provided to the WW-II veterans who are not paid any pension and are dependent on their children. Also, levy of tax at CSD canteen will be brought at par with that in the neighbouring states. NCC shall be made compulsory in all institutes (government or private) and ex-servicemen will be employed as instructors to streamline the youth into a disciplined force.The manifesto also takes note of the plight of the Indian prisoners of war in Pakistan jails since 1971 and the Congress government in Punjab will take up the issue with GOI and enact suitable schemes for the welfare of their dependents.The manifesto further promises that meritorious ESM will be considered for Rajya Sabha nomination as and when vacancies arise. The Congress government, it adds, will establish a Commission to inquire into the best practices for ESM welfare employment and medical as prevalent in UK, USA and other progressive nations.