REDRESSAL CAMP: Grievances of freedom fighters heard

Amit Rishi

Amritsar, October 25, 2012: The district administration organised a grievance redressal camp for freedom fighters and their kin here today. The camp was a part of the statewide drive, the motive of which was to know the problems faced by freedom fighters and their family members and to provide immediate solution for them.

The camp was addressed by Sarvesh Kaushal, Principal Secretary, Freedom fighters Department, Punjab.

V. K. Janjua, Secretary, State Freedom Fighters Department and Additional Deputy Commissioner Supreet Singh Gulati were also present on the occasion alongwith the district level team of officers.

Apart from listening to their problems, Kaushal also sought suggestions from freedom fighters that how the state government could work for their welfare.

He revealed that the district Amritsar had maximum number of freedom fighters and their kin and their well-being was the responsibility of the state government.

Enumerating the facilities being extended to freedom fighters and their kin, Kaushal said that besides giving other benefits like reservation in medical and technical education to the children and grandchildren of freedom fighters, the state government had also been giving Rs 5,000 monthly pension to the freedom fighters and it was also now mulling to increase their pension. He informed that earlier, similar camps were also organised at Patiala, Jalandhar and Ludhiana.

The kin of freedom fighters primarily raised the issues pertaining to hike in pension, exemption from toll tax, construction of memorials, demand survey pertaining need for plots/employment for successors of freedom fighters, establishment of freedom fighter welfare board in Punjab, 5% reservation in jobs and preferential loans for self employment.

The Jallianwala Bagh Shaeed Memorial Society vociferously took up the issue of denial of pensionary benefits to successors of martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh massacre and were assured that there case would be pursued on war footing.