Thursday, 27 July 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN

The chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited martyrs’ memorial at Gandhi Park on the occasion of Kargil victory day on Wednesday and offered rich tributes to the martyrs. On the occasion, the CM declared that one additional office of district Soldier Welfare will be opened in Dehradun and Pithoragarh districts. He said that the maintenance and upkeep of the Sainik Dwars and memorials will be done by the Soldier welfare department and district administration.

 Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that our soldiers exhibited exemplary courage, valour and bravery in the Kargil War to save the honour of India. He said that the country will always remember its brave sons who sacrificed their lives to protect the boundaries of the country. The CM said that 75 personnel from Uttarakhand got martyred in the Kargil war. He said that the cultural setup and ideology which nurtures us believes that patriotism is at top of all kinds of services.

Striking a personal chord, the CM said that his father used to tell him the stories of military heroes and they have always inspired him. Dhami said that the Indian army is getting strengthened and is becoming more powerful under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On one hand the Government is focussing on modernisation of the army and on the other it is increasing the facilities provided to the armed forces personnel and their families. He said that the State government is committed for the welfare of the ex servicemen and families of martyrs.

Dhami said that one family member of martyrs in the State is being provided with a government job. The government has also affected an increase in the grant for the award winning soldiers. The government has given orders to increase the grant to recipients of Paramvir Chakra and Ashok Chakras from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 50 lakhs, Mahavir Chakra recipients from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 35 Lakh and so on. The CM said that a magnificent Sainnya Dham is coming up in Guniyal Gaon in Dehradun. The State government is providing Rs two lakh to the war widows and the soldiers who lost appendages in the action.

 The soldier welfare minister Ganesh Joshi said that the Indian army has always shown exemplary bravery and patriotism to safeguard the integrity of the country. He said that 75 soldiers of Uttarakhand sacrificed their lives for the nation during Kargil war. Joshi said that an increase in the grant of decorated soldiers has been done and facility of free travel in the buses of Uttarakhand roadways is given to them. The State government is providing a help of Rs one lakh on the marriage of daughters of widows of soldiers.

 The Rajpur MLA Khajan Das, MLA Cant Savita Kapoor, Mayor of Municipal Corporation of Dehradun, Sunil Uniyal Gama, district magistrate of Dehradun Sonika, SSP Dehradun DS Kunwar, director soldier welfare Brigadier (Retd), Amrit Lal, ex servicemen, Veer Naris and others attended the programme.