The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on June 8 announced five bullet proof ambulances for the border areas in Jammu region.

Assuring to expedite the work for construction of individual and community bunkers proposed in border areas, Mr Singh said, “five bullet proof ambulances for border areas shall also be provided on the demand of border residents to evacuate injured persons at the time of cross border firing.”

Addressing border residents at series of interactive sessions here in bordering R S Pura village, the Home Minister said, ''the Centre is committed to provide every possible relief to the people living along the border areas.'' “We are abreast with your problems, you are facing tremendous hardships,” he said and hailed border residents while acknowledging their problems as recurring.

He also rolled out string of relief and employment initiatives for border residents. Assuring more welfare programmes, the Home Minister said government knows there is much to be done to solve the problems of border residents. Rolling out the employment initiatives, the Home Minister announced two Border Battalions especially for exclusive recruitment of border area population.
Announcing relief for shelling victims, the Home Minister said the Centre has decided to pay Rs 5 lakh to the next of the kin of those killed in the cross border firing.

He further announced enhancement of compensation for loss of each milch animal in border shelling from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000. He also announced that the fixed depositing of the ex-gratia will be done away and the Rs 5 lakh compensation will be deposited directly into the bank account of the beneficiaries.

The Border residents also submitted a memorandum to the Home Minister demanding permanent rehabilitation at safer places, one job to for every border household and assured income for every family, enhancement of compensations, ambulances, compensation for land affected due to fencing, age relaxation in government jobs for border youth, reservation in jobs and many alike issues.