Ex-servicemen to return as paramilitary personnel?

Much like the one-rank, one-pension (OROP) demand, different political parties and successive governments have often promised the lateral induction of military personnel into central paramilitary forces .

By TNN | Updated: Jun 28, 2011, 08.37 AM IST

NEW DELHI: Much like the one-rank, one-pension (OROP) demand, different political parties and successive governments have often promised the lateral induction of military personnel into central paramilitary forces but not much progress has been made till now.

In the backdrop of over 50,000 officers and jawans retiring every year at a relatively young age, defence minister A K Antony on Monday said the government was "seriously" looking at the option of providing employment to ex-servicemen in central paramilitary forces.

"One suggestion is to find more opportunities for ex-servicemen in paramilitary forces. The government will discuss this issue seriously... already some discussions are going on," Antony said on the sidelines of the Kendriya Sainik Board meeting.

Holding that the nation could not afford to "waste this vast reservoir of disciplined workforce", Antony also urged state governments to "open up more avenues" for ex-servicemen. "You must devise ways and means to open up more fields of economic activity where the rich and practical experience of ex-servicemen can best be utilized," he said.

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