Veterans raise welfare concerns
Bhubaneswar: All Odisha Veteran Soldiers Association convened a meeting on Sunday to highlight some of the pressing concerns faced by ex-servicemen, including limited employment opportunities.
The association members also raised concerns over recent security threats against veterans, the need for an ex-servicemen corporation, and the long-proposed war martyr memorial in Kalinga Nagar, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar.
In a statement, the association said that as nations worldwide face military conflicts and citizens celebrate Operation Sindoor with parades and victory assemblies, a concerning disparity in the treatment of soldiers has come to light in Odisha.
The association members stated that historical govt resolutions from 1963 guaranteed five acres of 'Jawan Reserved Land' to soldiers serving in war zones. However, this provision was revoked in 2014, with authorities citing land scarcity.
"Recent RTI disclosures challenge this justification, revealing that approximately 3,00,000 acres were previously earmarked for veteran allocation in 2012," said Parameswar Swain, chairman of the All Odisha Veteran Soldiers Association.
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The association said reports from Ranpur tehsil in Nayagarh district indicate that jawan lease land has been redistributed to influential individuals and stone quarry operators. Simultaneously, govt land is being allocated to Bangladeshi refugees, whose numbers have increased significantly.
According to the association, official records show that three districts—Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, and Gajapati—currently house 74,113 refugees, with Nabarangpur alone witnessing a dramatic rise from 6,355 in 1986 to 46,848 today.
"This situation demands immediate attention. We cannot ignore the welfare of those who served our nation while extending benefits to others," said Swain, adding that the govt's current stance raises significant questions about veteran welfare amid shifting demographic priorities.
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