Punjab Minister against quota system in Army recruitment

Chandigarh, Nov 28 (UNI) Punjab Defence Services Welfare Minister Capt Kanwaljit Singh today called on Union Defence Minister A K Antony in New Delhi and urged him to do away the quota system on Army recruitment from Punjab.

The recruitment system should be based only on merit as the Punjabi youth were more meritorious and have good physique as compared to candidates from other states, he stated.

During the meeting Capt Singh raised number of issues related to serving and ex-servicemen including one rank-one pension. He told the Union Minister that the two per cent quota system was a hindrance in fare recruitment into the forces.

He also urged the minister to shift the training centre of the Sikh Regiment located in Jharkhand to Punjab, as the regiment has majority of its members from the state. He said its shifting would benefit a lot to the soldiers from Punjab and offered every possible help from Punjab government. the centre of training was earlier shifted from Meerut to Jharkhand in 1976.

Capt Singh also took up the issue of anomalies in the recommendation of Sixth Pay Commission for forces. He also emphasised the need to ensure more result oriented training for the appropriate rehabilitation of retired soldiers.

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