LIC for over 8 lakh para-military personnel: Patil

Gandhidham, Gujarat, Feb 4 (UNI) Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today said the Central Government was considering to give life Insurance cover to over 8 lakh para-military force personnel, including industrial forces, posted all over the country.

Addressing the Border Security Force (BSF) jawans at the Sainik Sammelan held here, Mr Patil said his Ministry was in dialogue with the Finance and Defence Ministries to provide the life insurance cover to the para-military force jawans posted at various places along the 17,000 km long national borders or at strategical points or at vital establishments within the country.

He said his Ministry had also proposed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambarm to extend all benefits of the Defence Forces to the para-military personnel too.

These benefits included pension, ration, leave and others, he said and added that the response of both Mr Singh and Mr Chidambaram was ''very positive''.

In another bonus announcement, the Home Minister said the government was planning with the help of several leading banks to provide housing loans to the jawans, the repayment of which would be made from their salary to the respective bank branches irrespective of their posting or transfer.

He said the Home Ministry was also planning to set up housing colonies (accommodation) with better living facilities nearer to the posting of the jawans to avoid their social and psychological problems.

The Home Minister said he had also proposed to the Centre to provide better facilities and latest equipment to the para-military forces to strengthen their efficiency and ability.

Mr Patil assured the jawans that the Government would consider to continue the old pension scheme for them, as majority of them were not happy with introduction of the new pension scheme, which they thought was less beneficial to them.

The demand for giving hardship allowance to the para-military force posted in difficult terrains of Kutch and Rajasthan borders and other territories along various borders would be considered by the Government, he added.

UNI