Move for special fund8217; criticised

CHANDIGARH, June 7: The statement of Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal regarding the formation of a special fund for the killed jawans and the willingness to donate Rs 1 lakh for such a fund has been strongly denounced by the members of the All India Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association.

Members of the association say the jawans and their families would not want to live on such donations but expect their lawful rights in society. quot;Already there are many welfare schemes for soldiers which were framed in 1962, 1965 and 1971, and these merely remained on paper as nothing was done by the successive governments,quot; stated a press release.

Bhim Sen Sehgal, chairman of the association alleged, quot;All the government controlled Sainik Welfare Bodies and the Director General, Resettlement, have failed in their duties due to the corruption in these organisations.quot;

All India Ex-Servicemen Welfare Association members stressed the need to frame a national policy to rehabilitate and resettle the families of the jawans who had been killed or disabled by providing them suitable jobs in the central and state governments without any obstacles.