Police, defence forces to be treated equally on pension issue: Patil

New Delhi, Mar 27 (UNI) Dispelling fears of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawans on the new pension policy hurting their interests, Union Home minister Shivraj Patil today said they would be kept in a separate category like the armed forces.

The police and the para-military forces would receive the same treatment which the armed forces will be getting, he told mediapersons on the sidelines of its Raising Day function.

''In connection with the pension fears, a special category was being created for the armed forces. And whatever facilities will be received by the armed forces would also be given to the SSB personnel.'' The defence personnel, the armed forces and the police would all get the same treatment when the pension thing was finalised, he said.

The Home ministry was aware of the concerns and doubts expressed and raised by them and all efforts are on to iron them out, Mr Patil added.

The question was earlier raised by SSB Director General in his speech at the forces' 43rd Raising Day parade, who while expressing apprenhension of jawans in this concern, asked for redressal of the 'concern' in a sympathetic manner.

Mr Kak said the SSB men felt that they would be at a great disadvantage if the new pension rules of 2004 were applicable to them.

UNI AN VD HT1445