PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami made various announcements for the welfare of service and ex-servicemen, and their families while attending the Shaheed Samman Samaroh at Lansdowne in Pauri district on Sunday.
Dhami announcement that the soldiers’ rest house in Kotdwar will be renovated and provided with modern facilities for servicemen and their families. He further announced that retired soldiers and Veer Naris will be appointed in the Soldier Welfare and Rehabilitation directorate and district soldier welfare and rehabilitation offices in addition to establishment of common service centres to provide free services.
The CM also announced financial assistance for renovation of the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre museum in Lansdowne, upgradation of the primary health centre in Jaiharikhal, naming of the government inter college at Kartiya after martyr Kamal Singh Rawat, the Dobariyasar high school after Anuj Singh Negi, the Barua-Chinbo road after martyr Keshavanand Dhyani, the primary health centre after martyr Harish Joshi and the naming of the Jaiharikhal-Gumkhal road after martyr Khushal Singh Negi. Further, the restriction on receiving grants from other sources will be discontinued and all World War II veterans and widows will be provided financial assistance, Dhami announced.
The CM also lit a lamp and paid floral tributes to copper pots filled with soil from the courtyards of the homes of martyrs in various districts. The soil will be brought to the Sainya Dham being constructed in Dehradun.
Addressing the gathering, Dhami said that the Sainya Dham in Dehradun is not a mere brick and cement structure but a symbol of immortal souls. Bringing the soil from the courtyards of homes of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation, to Sainya Dham is a true tribute to the braves who made the ultimate sacrifice for the motherland, he said. The Shaheed Samman Yatra held from September 25 to October 4 was also to pay respect to the tears of the families of the martyrs. The Sainya Dham being constructed will inspire patriotism in the coming generations. This is a tribute to the braves who sacrificed their present to secure the future of the nation, Dhami said.
Speaking about measures taken by the government, he said that the ex-gratia payment to families of martyrs has been increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh while Param Vir Chakra awardees will now receive Rs 1.5 crore. Further, Rs 10,000 financial assistance is also being provided for the last rites of martyrs. Soldiers are also provided a 25 per cent discount in stamp duty on purchase of land. The CM said that 28 family members of martyrs had so far been appointed to government jobs while 13 such cases are under process. He also spoke about the measures taken and planned by the Central government for the welfare of the serving and retired soldiers.
Soldier Welfare minister Ganesh Joshi, Bharatiya Janata Party State president and Rajya Sabha member Mahendra Bhatt and Lansdowne MLA Dilip Singh Rawat also expressed their views on the occasion. Colonel of the regiment, lieutenant general DS Rana and other serving and retired servicemen were also present in the programme.
