Integrated, synergistic approach to coastal security: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said coastal and maritime security had assumed great importance after the Mumbai terror strikes and the government was committed to an integrated approach in meeting the challenge.

"Coastal and maritime security has assumed great importance after the terrorist strike in Mumbai. The UPA government is committed to strengthening the coastal security surveillance mechanism," a report card of UPA-II's first year in office released by Singh here said.

"An integrated and synergistic approach has been adopted by involving the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Intelligence, Custom, State Marine Police, and other central and state agencies in meeting this challenge," the 68-page Report to the People said.

Singh also said the UPA government was continuing with its focus on modernisation of armed forces and ensuring defence preparedness of the country.

The report card said the raising of two mountain divisions to safeguard the North-Eastern borders and setting up of the second Officers Training Academy (OTA) at Gaya in Bihar were approved.

The modernisation of Rashtriya Rifles was also approved to improve the counter insurgency grid in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Another area being accorded high priority is the development of roads and infrastructure in the high altitude areas," it added.

The report said the government has decided to induct the Indo-Russian joint collaboration 'BrahMos' supersonic cruise missile system, with precision strike capability against land targets. The missile's Block II version was successfully tested last year, after initial failures.

Akash surface-to-air missile system capable of multi-target handling, was also being inducted.

To improve the living conditions of the troops, 48,470 family dwelling units were constructed under the Married Accommodation Project (MAP).

Planning and construction of additional 79,397 houses was in progress, the report said.

It said the government was constantly striving to provide suitable employment for ex-servicemen as also to impart necessary training to prepare them to take on new assignments and jobs. "This has enabled more than 50,000 ex-servicemen to obtain employment during 2009-10," it added.

The health coverage to retired personnel were widened by empanelling more civil hospitals and diagnostic centres. Disabled veterans were now entitled to get prosthetic aid from an additional 49 Central Government Health Scheme centres apart from artificial limb centre at Pune.

The government, it said, accepted a high-powered committee's recommendation to improve welfare and it benefited 12 lakh personnel and an Armed Forces Tribunal was established to provide an appellate forum to aggrieved personnel.