1 week ago
Gujarat Paramilitary Veterans Allege Discrimination Over Liquor Quotas
Some retired paramilitary personnel in Gujarat say they are not receiving the subsidised liquor they are allowed to buy.
They say BSF veterans can still receive supplies, while retirees from other forces cannot.
Their welfare alliance plans to ask Home Minister Amit Shah to help.
BSF officials deny that the system unfairly targets other forces.
They say strict rules are needed to stop liquor being sold illegally.
Gujarat has rules limiting the movement and possession of liquor.
A digital system lets serving and retired personnel book their supplies through an app.
The amount allowed each month depends on a person’s rank.
Retired CRPF, ITBP, CISF and SSB personnel in Gujarat allege they have been denied authorised liquor quotas for several years.
The Alliance of All Ex-Paramilitary Forces Welfare Associations plans to seek Union home minister Amit Shah’s intervention.
The alliance says BSF veterans continue receiving subsidised supplies while other central-force retirees do not.
BSF sources deny discrimination and say restrictions are intended to prevent canteen liquor from entering Gujarat’s black market.
The Centralised Liquor Management System uses an app for bookings, with monthly entitlements reportedly ranging from three to 14 bottles depending on rank.
- Who
- Retired personnel from the CRPF, ITBP, CISF and SSB, the BSF, and the Alliance of All Ex-Paramilitary Forces Welfare Associations.
- What
- Veterans allege that they are being denied their authorised subsidised liquor quotas while BSF personnel continue receiving theirs.
- Where
- Gujarat, a dry state.
- When
- The affected retirees say the denial has continued for the past couple of years; the CLMS was introduced before the reported dispute.
- Why
- The veterans allege discriminatory implementation of the Centralised Liquor Management System, while BSF sources say restrictions are intended to prevent black-market leakage and distribution problems.
Veterans’ Allegations
BSF’s Explanation
Unequal access
Veterans’ Allegations
The veterans’ alliance says CRPF, ITBP, CISF and SSB retirees have been denied their authorised quotas while BSF personnel continue to receive subsidised liquor.
BSF’s Explanation
BSF sources deny the allegations of discrimination.
Reason for restrictions
Veterans’ Allegations
The alliance attributes the problem to grossly unequal implementation of the CLMS in Gujarat and says the practical system does not provide the access promised by the rules.
BSF’s Explanation
A BSF official says restrictions on out-of-force retirees help prevent canteen-allocated liquor from leaking into the local black market and address distribution anomalies.
Collection rules
Veterans’ Allegations
The alliance says CAPF veterans are supposed to be able to collect quotas from nearby CAPF canteens, but that this is difficult to implement in Gujarat.
BSF’s Explanation
BSF sources say Gujarat canteens enforce strict procedures, including breaking bottle seals and signing on bottles after pickup in some cantonments.
Key facts
- Affected forces
- CRPF, ITBP, CISF and SSB retirees
- Alleged exception
- BSF personnel and veterans
- State
- Gujarat
- System
- Centralised Liquor Management System (CLMS)
- Monthly entitlement
- Reportedly 3 to 14 bottles depending on rank
- Booking method
- Bookings are made through the CLMS portal or app using an online PIN
- Planned action
- The veterans’ alliance intends to send a memorandum to Union home minister Amit Shah
Quotes
Ranbir Singh
General secretary of the Alliance of All Ex-Paramilitary Forces Welfare Associations
“This gross discrimination in the implementation of the Centralised Liquor Management System (CLMS) has left retired (central paramilitary) personnel, except those of the BSF, without their authorised liquor quotas. We shall soon take up the matter with Union home minister Amit Shah’s office if our grievances are not addressed.”
telegraphindia.com
“Canteens in Gujarat enforce strict rules. For instance, certain cantonment canteens require jawans and veterans to break the seal and sign on the bottles after the pickup.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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