Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 2: J&K Ex-Services League (JKESL) discussed a variety of issues concerning retired Army veterans during its annual general meeting held here today under its president, Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal.
Dr Ram Vishwakarma, Director, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) and RS Jasrotia, Chief Conservator of Forests (Retd) were special invitees on the occasion.
District presidents of JKESL, Capt Sagar Singh (Kathua), Capt Yudhvir Singh (Jammu), Sub Maj Sardar Singh (Samba), Nk Dalbir Singh (Udhampur) and others presented their points forcefully concerning ECHS, Canteen facilities, renewal of Arms licenses and holding of Army rallies including recruitment rallies in their districts.
While they suggested that Army should train them in handling the weapons in the disturbed areas so that the Ex-Servicemen can protect themselves and the civil population, they also demanded to exempt them from Arms license fee which is now levied @ Rs 500 per year per weapon.
Lt Col Kulwant Singh Sambyal exhorted the veterans to take up pension problems of the widows/veterans with full documents. Col Kulbir Singh Jamwal, Officer in Charge, Housing Colonies, briefed in detail the exact position for which the League has approached the Government and also the Judiciary to expedite the Court cases where the allotment of land is held up.
Brig Manmohan Harjai assured all help from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Hospital, Kakrial Katra. He also explained that he met the MD ECHS for expediting the empanelment of the hospital for ECHS. Director Sainik Welfare, Brig Harcharan Singh emphasized on taking up the issue with Sainik Welfare Officers.
Addressing the ex-servicemen, Director IIIM Jammu encouraged them for cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants. He invited them to take full advantage of the new schemes of IIIM.
In his address, RS Jasrotia underlined the problem of water scarcity in Jammu Shivaliks and suggested for repair/renovation and rehabilitation of existing ponds to utilize the same to promote cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants.
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