Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Ex-Services League (JKESL) held its annual general meeting (AGM) today at League Office Ambphalla, Jammu.
All the district and tehsil presidents, besides veteran members from and around Jammu region attended the meeting. The JKESL having 31000 members met for the last time before the bifurcation of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir State founded by the Great Dogra Ruler Maharaja Gulab Singh with the help of Gen Zorawar Singh and others.
The League welcomed the Abrogation of the Articles 370 and 35-A, but had reservations in respect of the bifurcation into two Union Territories. They were rather sad that such a big State called the ‘Crown of India’ has been reduced to two Union Territories.
Members were profusely nostalgic about the wars they had fought to save the integrity of this State including Kargil War and finally countering the ongoing terrorism which has cost them heavily, although giving them the highest number of Gallantry Awards as compared to the other states of the Country.
JKESL president, Major General Goverdhan Singh Jamwal and the members expressed hope that the status of their Union Territory will be upgraded to full-fledged state as part of the Indian Union like other States and the soldiers, ex-servicemen and their families will be compensated for what they have suffered for the last 72 years.
The members highlighted their major demands including completion of the housing colonies at Jammu and Samba and a new Sainik Colony at Srinagar, 15 percent job reservation in the State Government jobs for soldiers retiring young at 36-37 years of age, revision of annuity to the War Heroes at par with neighbouring states like Punjab, Haryana, HP and Rajasthan, pension to war widows and handicapped war wounded, revival of Sainik Co-operative Vanaspati Industry of ESM and hassel free issuance/renewal of gun licenses for ESM. The JKESL members hoped that all the discriminations with Jawans and ESMs in J&K will be mitigated at the earliest.
Brig Raj Singh, Director, Lakshya Defence Academy informed the House that out of 2506 total trained for belt forces 2171 at 86 % has passed and joined the forces including 190 Officers.
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