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Minister allays fishermen's fears

Staff Reporter

Loss of livelihood during testfiring at ADC range

BERHAMPUR: Union Minister of State for Defence M.M. Pallam Raju has promised to look into the matter of loss of livelihood for fishermen of Gopalpur in Ganjam district due to testfiring at the ADC range for about 10 days in a month. During the period fishermen had forbidden fishing at sea near the test range as a security measure. "But civilians of the country should be prepared for making sacrifices for the defence forces who are always ready to sacrifice their lives for our security," said Mr. Raju while speaking to newsmen at the Army Air Defence College, Golabandha, on Tuesday.

Mr. Raju said the Defence Ministry had written to all chief ministers to help sort out the legal problems of defence personnel related to their family matters and property to reduce the suicide rate among defence forces. Mr. Raju, who was on a visit to the ADC and the city, accepted that suicide rate in defence forces was alarming. The Institute of Psychological Research was directed to find out the reasons behind the suicides, he added.

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