Beijing has vowed to protect the interests of 57 million army veterans with the launch of an online petition platform jointly run by the new Ministry of Veterans Affairs and the State Council’s Public Complaints and Proposals Administration.
The People’s Daily reported that the platform would provide a simple and direct way for veterans, laid-off soldiers, plus families of martyrs to voice their thoughts and concerns.
The system went online on Saturday through the Ministry of Veterans Affairs website, with a pledge to respond to or resolve cases and complaints within 60 days.
Before lodging a complaint or reporting a case, a veteran is required to register with his real name, identity card number and contact details for verification.
Most of the complaints from disgruntled ex-soldiers are about employment disputes, social welfare, insurance transfers and the reimbursement of medical expenses.
The sight of military veterans gathering outside government buildings in siege-like rallies with petitions listing complaints has been common in China in recent years.
Service centers have opened in Beijing and other cities with regional theater commands since last month to provide policy counseling to veterans.
The Ministry of Veterans Affairs, which was set up in April, provides policies and regulations for demobilized military personnel to “honor the dedication and spirit of veterans, and take care of their retirement, reemployment and vocational training,” according to Xinhua.
Read more: Veterans Affairs Ministry set up to calm disgruntled laid-off soldiers