NEW DELHI: Defence Minister A.K. Antony has urged the State governments to fill vacant posts in the Rajya Sainik Boards and Zilla Sainik Boards at the earliest. This was to make these organisations more responsive to the problems of serving and retired armed forces personnel.

In a letter to Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors of Union territories, Mr. Antony regretted that despite repeated requests, there had been no progress in most cases. This is Mr. Antony's second letter in a month seeking prompt and proactive response from States and district authorities to the problems of soldiers and their families.

The letters are the latest in a multi-pronged plan to reduce distress deaths in the armed forces. The Government has drawn up plans to recruit more psychiatrists and set up speciality hospitals in the North-East and Jammu and Kashmir to cater to soldiers suffering from stress.

Mr. Antony has also asked the officers to revisit their relationship with the troops and take into account the higher educational qualifications of modern soldiers and their greater exposure to the outside world.

The Sixth Pay Commission's attention would be drawn to the special and difficult service conditions for compensation to armed forces.

There have been about 500 distress deaths in the Defence forces since 2002. The toll last year was one of the highest, with nearly 130 recorded distress deaths.

The Central paramilitary forces too face this problem. Last week, two Central Reserve Police Force jawans committed suicide in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Minister has said that the Rajya Sainik and Zilla Sainik boards do not even have basic facilities in terms of manpower and accommodation.

``I understand that a number of posts continue to remain unfilled for a long time, adversely affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of these institutions. There is, therefore, a prime need to have the full strength of personnel in these institutions and ensure that posts do not remain vacant for long."

Mr. Antony referred to the last Kendriya Sainik Board meeting where his predecessor, Pranab Mukherjee, stressed the need for rejuvenating the boards and removing shortage of staff and infrastructure.

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