Will resolve ex-servicemen’s grievances: Kodagu DC

Madikeri: Kodagu deputy commissioner SJ Somashekar on Tuesday listened to the grievances and demands of ex-servicemen and assured them that their grievances would be resolved.Major general BA Kariappa (retd), district president of Ex-Servicemen Association, said that ex-servicemen have served in high-altitude areas like Jammu and Kashmir, such ex-servicemen should be provided with minimum basic facilities. The need to extend housing facilities, sanction land and provide land documents, establish community halls and involve ex-servicemen in govt functions was highlighted.Several other ex-servicemen spoke about the need to provide basic facilities and the need to resolve long-pending land dispute cases of ex-servicemen.Somashekar said that all the issues would be resolved. He assured them that land would be provided to ex-servicemen on a priority basis, including for the establishment of a community hall, hospital and canteen for the association. "Land will be reserved for the construction of ex-servicemen's community halls in Madikeri and Ponnampet," he assured. He also confirmed that ex-servicemen would be invited to the anniversary programmes of FMKM Cariappa and General KS Thimayya."In order to hear the grievances of ex-servicemen and their dependents, tahsildars will be directed to hold ex-servicemen adalats once every two months," he confirmed. He said that the issue of granting RTC to ex-servicemen who have occupied ‘paisari' govt lands would be examined and assured that he would request the govt to relax the rules regarding providing land to ex-servicemen. He said discussions would be held with the parties concerned to reserve land for ex-servicemen during the construction of houses under the govt schemes in the district.