THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The Ex-Border Security Force Personnel Welfare Association will stage a sit-in outside the Secretariat on Wednesday protesting against the State Government’s reluctance to treat retired BSF personnel on par with personnel who have retired from the Army, Navy and Air Force. Retired BSF personnel and their dependents will participate in the sit-in, association president Padmanabhan T V said.
The Centre had issued a notification designating personnel who have retired from Central forces like BSF, CRPF, SSB, CISF and ITBP as ‘Ex-CAPF personnel’ and asked the states to treat them on par with ex-servicemen. However, the Kerala Government has not done this yet. The association described the State Government decision as ‘’discriminatory.’’
The BSF personnel protects the borders of the country and serves in extremely difficult terrains separated from their kin. Yet, they are meted out step-motherly treatment by the government, the association said.
‘’Goa implemented the decision on May 30, 2013, Dadra Nagar Haveli on July 6, 2013, and the Uttarakhand Government on February 8, 2014. Despite repeated requests the Kerala Government has not implemented it,’’ Padmanabhan said.
The association also wants the government to exempt ex-BSF personnel from house tax and to institute reservation in professional courses for dependents. The association also demanded the government to issue orders for supplying items from BSF canteens at CSD rates.
K Muraleedharan MLA will inaugurate the sit-in at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.