Dattatreya seeks sops for ex-servicemen

Hyderabad: Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya urged the State government to concentrate on the welfare of ex-servicemen in Telangana.Participating as the chief guest at the ‘Jai Jawan Tiranga Utsav’ organised at Indira Priyadarshini Auditorium, Public Gardens, Nampally, here on Sunday on the occasion of 70th Independence Day celebrations, Dattatreya asked the government to extend benefits like land, house plots, loans and self-employment schemes to them.

He also asked the State government to issue title deed to Charulatha Padmapani Acharya, wife of Kargil war hero Padmapani Acharya.Even though a plot was allotted to her in Trimulgherry in Secunderabad during his previous tenure as the Secunderabad MP, the family of late Padmapani Acharya was in financial crisis to construct a house at the site.

He also urged the State government to issue free bus passes to the widows of martyrs, free pass at toll gates, housing sites to some 900 ex-servicemen in 46 acres in Jawaharnagar in Ranga Reddy District. The Union Minister also assured that he would take up these issues with the Telangana Chief Minister while seeking cooperation of Home Minister Naini Narsimha Reddy, who was present on the dais.

Speaking on the occasion, the Home Minister recalled the sacrifices of the veer jawans on the borders braving bad weather and fighting for safety and security of the country.

Retd Air Vice-Marshal P Prakash Rao presided over the function. Major General Pachori, Southern Commandant, Major General A B Gorthi AVSM-VSM Seva Medal, Sujatha Gupta, CEO, Secunderabad Cantonment Board, Major K Prabhakar Reddy and other dignitaries were present. On the occasion, former and serving Defence officials and war widows were felicitated.