Ferozepur, July 17, 2017: In a first of its kind scheme by state government in India, former soldiers will be engaged as 'Sentinels of Happiness; under “Guardians of Governance Welfare Schemes” - GoG Welfare Schemes - at village/panchayat level to implement the various social welfare schemes, said Col. (Retd.) Amarbir Singh Chahal, District Social Security Welfare Officer, Ferozepur.
Added here that it is a great idea to productively use ex-servicemen, many of whom retire after 15 years of service, when they are only 35 as a study shows that of every rupee earmarked for social welfare, only 15 paise reached the target group. Former soldiers appointed guardians in all 12,710 villages of Punjab would educated the villages about the various schemes and help the administration but it would not replace, replicate or become a shadow of the administration.
He said, former soldier of any rank can apply for this and he will be nominated in the same village under Guardians of Governance as Sentinel of Happiness as he has to extend his services at the same place.
Those who are interested to join, must be physically and mentally sound and he must have his own smart mobile phone with facility of aneroid and internet. He should send his bio-data within ten days in the office of Pesco, SCO 89-90, Sector 34A, Chandigarh.
Sources said, the ex-soldiers will be given some honorarium to cover their daily expenses.