Planning to set up separate wing for veterans in military hospitals, says Army Chief

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“The welfare of veterans, ex-servicemen is among our key concerns, especially in three areas of medical facilities, canteens and education. First and foremost, all veterans and ex-servicemen should be accorded respect, and then we should ensure that they are given all facilities,” said the Army Chief.

To improve the medical facilities, he said the current Veteran Cell was not sufficient to address the concerns of a large number of ex-servicemen, and therefore, the AG office in the Army Headquarters would form a veterans’ directorate to look into their issues.

Asserting that there was a need to ensure that the ECHS services be improved, General Singh said that a study was being done by the AG office to identify areas which required improvement. These areas included timely clearance of bills pending for empanelled hospitals, regional ECHS automation and delay in availing medicines from ECHS.

The Army Chief said that veterans from other areas could also seek accommodation in Ashray. “It is a pilot project, and we plan to build such homes in other Commands as well,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Khattar emphasised that over 10 per cent of the total strength of the Indian Army was constituted by natives of Haryana, and the government was determined to make efforts to increase the number in the future.

“Haryana constitutes only 1.37 per cent of the geographical area of the country, with only 2 per cent population of the nation living here, but we have 10 per cent representation in the Indian Army. Former Army Chief General (retd) V K Singh and the present Army Chief, both are from Haryana,” said Khattar.

The CM said that the government was working to ensure that the construction of another Sainik School should start in the state, and he had written a letter to the Defence Minister about this. He highlighted the government’s decisions regarding the One Rank One Pension (OROP), and the increase in ex-gratia grant to the soldiers and their families.

Established with an aim of providing housing facilities to the senior veterans on a ‘pay and stay’ basis, the senior veterans’ home has 60 dwelling units, out of which over 30 have already been booked. Those who have booked the units include 21 officers and seven JCOs.