54 defence personnel of 1971 war still missing

New Delhi, Aug 29 (UNI) About 54 defence personnel went missing in the 1971 war with Pakistan but that country consistently denied custody of such prisoners, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

In a written reply to a question of Mr Surendra Lath, Defence Minister A K Antony said External Affairs Ministry had taken up the issue resulting in a visit by 14 relatives of the missing personnel of India to 10 jails in Pakistan between June one to June 14, 2007 but could not find any missing personnel of the 1971 war.

He said the norm for the government concerning a missing person was that if he were not to be found in seven years, his family would be given liberal awards including pension, gratuity and education allowance for children.

To a question concerning the rising suicides and premature retirements in Indian Army, the minister listed out the number of steps taken to help the personnel when they were on duty and unburden them of the family problems.

He said the number of suicides in the Army was 70 while 371 people sought premature retirement in 2007. The number of suicides in 2006 was 120 and 435 people sought retirement ahead of their superannuation. The government had taken series of measures to stop suicides, fratricides in the Army and had initiated steps for better man management and prompt attendance of grievances at unit level.

Some junior commissioned officers of the Army Medical Corps were trained and deployed as psychological counsellors in Northern and Eastern Commands. Leave policy had been liberalised permitting splitting of annual and casual leave and the personnel would now be able to go to their home towns thrice a year.

The Chief Ministers were requested to make their administration more responsive to the problems of serving soldiers and their family members and establish a toll free help line. Under the Married Accomodation Project, houses were built in different stations to improve availability of family accommodations.

UNI