New Delhi: The Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena on Tuesday approved the proposal of setting up four Zila Sainik Boards in Delhi. The move is aimed at the welfare of about 77,000 Ex-Servicemen (ESM), widows of ESM and their families.

According to media reports, the Central government will bear 60 per cent of the budget while the rest will be borne by the Delhi government. 11 members will be appointed at each Zila Sainik Board, which will run with a budget of Rs. 4 crores.

The proposal for setting up Zila Sainik Boards in national capital was sent by the Delhi government in May this year.

The board will provide welfare, employment, education, rehabilitation and other beneficial schemes to serving/retired soldiers of the armed forces and to the families of the soldiers killed in action.

According to the state government, the Zila Sainik Board will also be responsible for monitoring the welfare of retired soldiers’ families and assisting them in representing their cases with local administration or defense authorities, resolving employment and other issues, assisting in resolving pension issues and land disputes, and providing assistance in family care, medical, and court-related matters.

“The problems that retired soldiers have faced in recent years have steadily increased. Some of these have been linked to systemic socioeconomic changes, the breakdown of joint families, stiff competition in the job market, an increase in the cost of living, and the provision of medicines and educational facilities,” a statement by the Delhi government said.