Aizawl: Ex-servicemen, under the aegis of the Mizoram Ex-Service League, staged a rally here on Tuesday protesting against the creation of the director-general post of Mizoram home guard exclusively for Mizoram Police Service (MPS) officer.

Wives and relatives of the ex-servicemen also joined the rally, which started from Chanmari point and concluded at Vanapa Hall.

The protesters also demanded 10 per cent job reservation in group C and 20 per cent in group D posts, a hike in the monthly stipend of World War II veterans and exemption from property tax under the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) for all ex-servicemen.

League president Col John Zama said they blame the state government for passing an ordinance that legalises the creation of DG post under homeguards exclusively for MPS officer. He said the agitation was launched owing to the apathy of the government to pay heed to the plight of ex-servicemen.

He said the League leaders had met chief minister Lal Thanhawla several times and submitted representations to all MLAs over their plight but to no avail.

The protesters also blamed home minister R. Lalzirliana for lack of concern towards welfare of ex-servicemen.

According to Col Zama, the Mizoram homeguards was started by 10 retired army personnel in 1964 when Mizoram was part of Assam.

Under the homeguards department, ex-servicemen had reservation for officer and junior commissioned officer (JCO) posts, among others, and it was usually headed by an ex-servicemen and otherwise by an IAS officer.

He alleged that as the homeguards grew stronger, Mizoram police officer got "jealous" and wanted to lead the department.

He said the state government in August 2014 decided to create the director-general's post in violation of the Mizoram Home Guards Act, 1985, which, he alleged, was an insult to the League and the Mizoram Home Guards Service Association.

Col Zama alleged the state government had failed to implement 10 per cent job reservation in group C and 20 per cent in group D posts for ex-servicemen, according to central guidelines.

He also demanded that ex-servicemen should be exempted from property tax according to the Centre's directive.

According to League leaders, there are 1,070 regular employees, 72 war veterans and 491 widows under the homeguards department.

They said the war veterans receive a monthly stipend of Rs 1,200 while widows receive Rs 1,000.

According to the 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations, they said the Centre has directed all state governments to raise the monthly stipend from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000.