The frail 80-year-old Ameena, mother of slain soldier Syed Ismailuddin from Hyderabad, has been making the rounds of all the government departments in the state along with her younger son for the past one year. All for their rightful claim to a land of 300 square yards. However, much to her dismay, she is yet to get possession of the land promised by the government.
Ismailuddin, who belonged to the 162 Field Regiment, was a martyr of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. On December 17, 1971, he came under fire from an air strike while he was returning to the command post at Bari. Though he was shifted to a hospital immediately, he succumbed to his injuries on December 18.
Ameena lives in MB lines – quarters of the Nizam, along with her younger son Syed Habeebuddin. Ameena’s husband Syed Qutbuddin served as a soldier in the Nizam’s Army.
In 2005, the state government had issued a Government Order (G.O.Ms No. 92) to allot 300 square yards of plot to defence personnel killed in war or disabled in action under OP-VIJAY, as a welfare measure to the acknowledge the valour of the soldiers. However, Ameena and her son came to know about this welfare scheme only in 2017. Since then they have been approaching all the relevant government departments, including the Chief Minister’s office, but to no avail.
After Ameena and Habeebuddin approached the Sainik Center, the centre had requested the Collector’s office to allot the 300 square yards of land to them either in Hyderabad or Secunderabad. The Collector’s office in return allotted a plot at Ibrahim Bagh in Golconda. However, the land is yet to be handed over to them. The Collector’s office allegedly made a clerical error in the file and wrote a wrong GO number, because of which the file is held up in the Land and Revenue department, lamented Habeebuddin.
Speaking to TNM, Ameena, who has a hearing impairment, appealed to the Chief Minister, “So far the only benefit I am getting after my son’s demise is his pension. I am tired of frequenting government offices in this old age. I am just tired… It would be good if the Chief Minister intervenes and helps us in giving the land we are entitled to.”
“My brother attained martyrdom for the country. Instead of helping us in getting our rightful land, the officials are making me run from pillar to post in each government office. I have visited the Chief Minister’s office, Revenue Department, met with many officials for the past year. But the file has not moved,” Habeebuddin told TNM.
He added, “My mother and I will be thankful if the government expedites the process of allotting the land. This is her last wish.”