(a) the number of ex-servicemen in the country as on date, State-wise;
(b) the details of rehabilitation schemes for ex-servicemen being implemented at present;
(c) whether the Government proposes to launch any new scheme for the rehabilitation of ex-servicemen;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether any housing scheme is being launched for them; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF DEFENCE (SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)
(a) to (f): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 266 FOR 11.8.2005
State-wise number of ex-servicemen in the country is given in the Annexure.
The following schemes for the welfare, rehabilitation and resettlement of ex-servicemen are being implemented:-
I. Re-employment:
(i) Reservations in jobs: The Central and State Governments are providing a number of concessions to ex-servicemen for their re-employment in Central/State Government posts. These include reservation of posts/relaxation in age and educational qualifications, exemption from payment of application/examination fees, priority employment to disabled ex-servicemen. The Central Government has reserved 10% of vacancies in Group C posts and 20% in Group D posts for ex-servicemen. Central Public Sector Undertakings and Nationalised Banks provide 14.5% reservation in Group C and 24.5% in Group D posts available with them. 10% posts of Assistant Commandants in Central Para Military Forces are also reserved for ex-servicemen. 100% posts are reserved for ex-servicemen in Defence Security Corps. In addition, many State Governments are providing reservation to ex-servicemen in the State Government jobs.
(ii) Security Agencies:- The Directorate General of Resettlement (DGR) registers/sponsors security agencies for providing security guards to various Public Sector Undertakings and industries in private sector. The Scheme, besides offering employment opportunities to ex-servicemen, also provides self- employment to retired defence officers.
II. Self-employment:
(i) Loan Assistance Schemes:- Government has formulated several schemes for encouraging and giving financial support by way of loans to ex-servicemen entrepreneurs intending to set up small and medium industries. Important self employment schemes are Self Employment for Ex-Servicemen II (SEMFEX-II), National Equity Fund (NEF) Scheme and SEMFEX-III.
(ii) Ex-Servicemen Coal Transportation Scheme:
Directorate General Resettlement (DGR) sponsors Ex-Servicemen Coal Transport Companies for the execution of loading and transportation of coal in various coal subsidiaries of Coal India Limited. The unemployed retired officers registered with DGR are selected to form ex-servicemen Coal Transport Companies and are sponsored to respective coal subsidiaries for five years, extendable by another four years.
(iii) Coal Tipper Scheme:
The widows of defence personnel who died while in service due to causes attributable to military service can be sponsored by DGR for attaching one tipper truck in their name with an Ex-Servicemen Coal Transport Company. The eligible widows have to deposit Rs.85,000/- with any one of the nominated companies towards margin money, loan processing, insurance, road tax etc. for the tipper to be acquired. The coal transport company is responsible for processing, running and maintenance costs of the tipper. The widow is paid Rs.3,000/- per month for five years and thereafter, the initial deposit amount of Rs.85,000/- is repaid to the widow.
(iv) Allotment of Oil Product Agencies Under Defence Category:
Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has reserved eight percent of the Oil Product Agencies, i.e. LPG dealership, petrol pumps, kerosene distributorship etc in the marketing plan for widows and dependents of those who died in war/peace with death attributable to military service and disabled soldiers with disability of 20 percent and above attributable to military service.
(v) Management of CNG Stations in National Capital Region:
The scheme for management of CNG stations belonging to Indraprastha Gas Ltd was launched as a pilot project in July 2001. The scheme has been extended to retired officers.
(vi) Allotment of Army Surplus Vehicles:
Ex-Servicemen/widows of Defence personnel who died while in service are eligible to apply for allotment of Army surplus/phased out vehicles. Ex-servicemen can apply to Zila/Rajya Sainik Boards for registration and onward transmission to Army Headquarters for allotment on the basis of depot wise seniority maintained by them.
(vii) Allotment of Mother Dairy Milk and Fruit & Vegetable Shops in and around Delhi:
Junior Commissioned Officers/Other Ranks are allotted Mother Dairy Milk Shops and Fruit & Vegetable shops in National Capital Region.
III. TRAINING:
Training for both ex-servicemen and retiring service personnel is one of the major tasks involved in the rehabilitation and resettlement. The emphasis of the programmes run by DGR has been on organising employment/self-employment oriented training so as to provide viable options to such trainees for commencing second career after retirement. These training programmes include courses on management, technology, imparting of technical skills, and knowledge about agro based industry etc.
No new scheme is being launched presently.
There is no exclusive housing scheme for ex-servicemen either in vogue or under consideration of the Government. However, Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO), a society registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 builds dwelling units on no-profit no-loss basis for the serving/retired army personnel and their widows through self-financing scheme.
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN THE STATEMENT GIVEN IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 266 FOR 11.8.2005
State-wise population of ex-servicemen in the country as on 30-06-2005
Sl. No. Name of State Population
1. Punjab 255952
2. Uttar Pradesh 227245
3. Haryana 203673
4. Maharashtra 160587
5. Rajasthan 132312 6. Tamil Nadu 116483
7 Uttaranchal 116306
8. Kerala 146259
9. Himachal Pradesh 92871 10. Andhra Pradesh 68028 11. J&K 62222 12. Karnataka 58798 13. Bihar 62056 14. West Bengal 53240 15. Delhi 34343 16. Madhya Pradesh 34260 17. Assam 26755 18. Orissa 23593 19. Gujarat 18660 20. Jharkhand 16711 21. Chandigarh 7700 22. Mizoram 4424 23. Manipur 5435 24. Chhatisgarh 4103 25. Nagaland 2374 26. Meghalaya 2079 27. Tripura 2001 28. Goa 1877 29. Pondicherry 1431 30. Sikkim 1153 31. A & Nicobar Islands 597 32. Arunachal Pradesh 284
Total 1943812