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`Ex-servicemen pioneers in homestays'

Staff Reporter

LAUDING THE VETERANS: Major General Harwant Krishnan, Director General (Resettlement) of the Defence Ministry, speaking at a seminar on the role of ex-servicemen in promoting tourism through homestays. - Photo: Vipinchandran

KOCHI: Ex-servicemen in Kerala are pioneers in the field of Service veterans starting tourist homestays, Major General Harwant Krishnan, Director General (Resettlement), Ministry of Defence, has said.

He was addressing mediapersons on the sidelines of a seminar organised by the Ex-Servicemen Tourism Development Organisation (EXTO) on `The role of ex-servicemen in development of tourism in Kerala through homestays,' held here on Thursday.

One hundred and two veterans have thrown open their houses in the State as homestays.

"Tourists look forward to stay in comfortable, reliable and safe places to stay. There is no safer home than an ex-serviceman's."

Major Gen. Krishnan said that a similar scheme would soon be launched in States in the north to keep ex-servicemen engaged. "Ninety per cent of their welfare is complete if veterans are able to get a good job."

He added that non-officers in the Defence forces would be given training in management, to arm them with skills required to fruitfully engage themselves in different sectors after retirement. Already officers were being given management training and this helped them obtain good jobs in different sectors, post-retirement.

He said that the Services offered around 250 trades - from carpentry to rocket technology. Veterans could engage in ventures related to the specialities of each State.

Speaking of the plight of ailing soldiers who fought wars in the pre-Independence era, he said that some of them do not get pension. "We have been taking up their cause with State Governments. Kerala gives them Rs.400 a month."

Brigadier (retd.) K. John Kuruvilla welcomed the gathering. Lt. General (retd.) S.K. Pillai presided.Cmde. Ranjan Seth; Kanakamma, Regional Joint Director of Kerala Tourism, and Col. K. B. R. Pillai spoke.

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