War heroes lament apathy

JALANDHAR, March 14: The 54 war decorated from Punjab, widows and next of kin assembled here today and expressed deep anguish at the lack...

JALANDHAR, March 14: The 54 war decorated from Punjab, widows and next of kin assembled here today and expressed deep anguish at the lackadaisical attitude of the Centre and state governments towards them. The distinguished soldiers, many of whom won gallantry awards in the 1971 war with Pakistan, welcomed the recent initiation of dialogue and favoured friendly ties between the two countries.

However, they rued the fact that governments had been turning a blind eye towards their problems and going back on their promises.

Five Maha Vir Chakra MVC awardees from Punjab including Brig. K.S. Chandpuri who became a national hero with his exploits in the Laungewala battle, many Vir Chakra VrC awardees, some widows and next of kin of medal winners were among those present at today8217;s function organised by 8220;The War Decorated India8221;. The organisation, formed in 1990, is a conglomeration of gallantry award winners and has 530 members throughout the country. The war decorated renewed their demand for equating them with freedom fighters, contending that they, with their families, had to suffer much more than the freedom fighters, as they plunged in the battlefield without caring for their lives to defend the country8217;s honour.

Capt Reet M.P. Singh, secretary general of the association, said monetary benefits were one aspect, but the war decorated or ex-servicemen primarily desired respect from the society, which in many cases was lacking. Brig A.S. Brar, Vir Chakra awardee narrated the incident when he, alongwith five other chakra winners returned their paltry gallantry allowance to Punjab Chief Minister, P.S. Badal last year, as quot;paying such meagre amounts for our gallantry is humiliating.8221;

They also announced to pursue the cases of gallantry awardees for grant of land as announced by the Punjab government. Brig N.S. Sandhu, MVC, accused the state government on going back on its promise of giving 5 acres, 10 acres and 15 acres land to the VC, MVC and PVC awardees from Punjab. Many agitated awardees rejected the government8217;s contention that land was hardly available in the state for such award. They also rejected the government8217;s offer of Rs 10,000 per acre in lieu of land, saying it was peanuts compared to market prices. The association also criticised Punjab government for not allotting plots and flats at reasonable prices to the war decorated, saying the condition of producing an 8220;affidavit8221; was a great deterrent to the ex-servicemen to claim such concessions. Maj Gen I.S. Lehal, PVSM, said the war decorated had taken up the matter of providing quality arms and free bus facilities to them in Punjab. He said the association was also fighting with the Centre for grant of lifetime rail passes,increase in gallantry allowance of MVCs and VrC winners and creation of special category in the allotment of telephones.