Set up mechanism to monitor jawans' problems: Antony asks CMs

New Delhi, Dec 20 (UNI) Concerned over the deaths of soldiers due to mental tension, Defence Minister A K Antony has requested the state governments to put in place a mechanism to monitor redressal of grievances of service personnel and their families.

''Earlier when the commanding officers used to write to the district administration about the problems of serving soldiers, there used to be prompt response. However, lately this is being taken as a routine manner,'' Mr Antony said in his letter to the chief ministers, and asked them to give top priority in addressing the problems of the jawans deployed in far-flung places or counter insurgency operations.

''Instructions should be given to the district collectors, superintendents of police and other officials both at district and state level to be more pro-active and give prompt response to the grievances and problems of the defence personnel and their families,'' he stated.

A mechanism, he said, should be put in place wherein the collector at the district level and a nominated senior officer at the state level periodically review redressal of such grievances.

''If required by the state governments, the Services may also send their representatives for attending such review meetings,'' he suggested.

Pointing to the difficult environment the soldiers worked in, the Minister said the Armed Forces personnel were posted on hard duties at far-flung places in inhospitable terrains for defending the nation and in counter insurgency operations.

Most of the soldiers, he said, came from rural areas and got limited opportunity of visiting their hometown or village.

''During this short leave period they have to attend to a number of domestic problems which include issues relating to property disputes, land, or unsocial and inimical elements.

''Most of the time they are not able to sort out the problems because of limited time available and the lack of adequate response from the authorities. This, at times, leads to frustration in the minds of the soldiers which gets accentuated with the hard service conditions and difficult environment in which they are working.

Ultimately this affects the morale of the entire force, which you would agree, we can ill afford,'' he added.

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