Patna: Col (retd) Dev Anand Lohamaror, national president of the Ex‑Servicemen Association, on Tuesday urged the Bihar government to introduce a comprehensive welfare framework for ex‑servicemen and war widows (Veer Naris) modelled on measures already in place in other states, The Times of India reported.
What Lohamaror asked the state government to do
- Establish a dedicated Sainik Commission in Bihar to address grievances of serving and retired defence personnel, ex‑servicemen and Veer Naris.
- Put in place a time‑bound mechanism to resolve grievances on priority.
- Frame a clear policy and legal safeguards to ensure war widows receive entitled benefits and assistance.
- Provide compassionate employment for eligible family members of deceased defence personnel.
Lohamaror told reporters in Patna that ex‑servicemen and their families had made significant sacrifices in the service of the nation and therefore deserved recognition, respect and support from the state government. He argued a dedicated commission would create an institutional platform to handle complaints and improve coordination among departments concerned.
Context and state‑level mechanisms
The appeal to mirror Rajasthan's measures reflects a wider pattern where states have set up separate machinery or policies for veterans and war widows to supplement central schemes. According to the account given to reporters, Lohamaror asked Bihar to adopt a comprehensive scheme that covers serving personnel, retired soldiers and bereaved families so grievances are resolved without unnecessary delays.
The Times of India report quoted Lohamaror emphasising:
“Effective implementation of welfare policies and clear legal safeguards are essential to ensure that ex‑servicemen and war widows get the dignity, security and assistance they deserve.”
He also sought legal protections and a policy framework to secure the interests of Veer Naris and to prioritise their access to entitled benefits.
Implications for veterans and administration
A state‑level Sainik Commission, if created, would provide a formal nodal body to collate cases, coordinate between ministries and departments, and monitor implementation of welfare measures for veterans and their dependants. Lohamaror’s call for time‑bound redressal reflects long‑standing complaints from ex‑servicemen’s organisations about delays and fragmentation in benefit delivery.
The request for compassionate employment for eligible family members aligns with longstanding demands from veteran groups seeking employment support where families have lost a breadwinner to service‑related deaths.
The Times of India reported the remarks on Tuesday from the ex‑servicemen association’s national president; the Bihar government did not provide a response in the report.
| Proposal | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Dedicated Sainik Commission | Institutional grievance redressal and inter‑departmental coordination |
| Time‑bound mechanism | Faster resolution of benefits and complaints |
| Legal safeguards for Veer Naris | Ensure entitlement and protection of rights |
| Compassionate employment | Support eligible family members of deceased defence personnel |
All elements in this article are taken from the report by The Times of India cited above and attributed where appropriate.
