Mamata Banerjee favours ex-servicemen, gallantry awardees

Mamata Banerjee’s “nothing” budget had something for the armed forces to cheer about.

She announced railway jobs for 16,000 ex-servicemen by March, concessions to physically-challenged armed forces personnel and Kirti and Shaurya Chakra-awardees to travel on Rajdhani and Shatabdi express trains, besides a card-pass facility for parents of unmarried posthumous Param Vir and Ashok Chakra award-winners.

Chakra series awardees were till now entitled to free train travel any number of times from anywhere to anywhere but not on Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains. Now, the facility extends to all trains.

Former air chief FH Major said, “I am a Shaurya Chakra-winner and I have a pass which does not include Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains. The senior lot doesn’t get to travel so much on trains as it travels by air, but it is a good development for the junior majority.

The decision to absorb ex-servicemen is also a very good one, as it will provide a second innings to them in a government job.”

Former naval chief VS Shekhawat said, “Government agencies already have a quota for ex-servicemen, but the jobs are never advertised or filled. We will have to wait and see if this is just an announcement or it will be seriously implemented. The inclusion of Kirti and Shaurya Chakra-winners for concession is minor and we need to see what its utility is.”

Former army chief NC Vij said, “The concessions should be extended to all gallantry award-winners, not to Kirti and Shaurya Chakra-winners alone.”