Vijay Diwas : CM announces free bus travel for gallantry award recipients & Veer Naris
Saturday, 17 December 2022 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs on the occasion of Vijay Diwas in different parts of the State on Friday. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami placed a floral wreath at martyrs memorial at Gandhi Park to offer his tributes.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM announced that the recipients of gallantry awards of Veerta Chakra category and Veer Naris (widows) would now be allowed free travel in the buses of Uttarakhand roadways. He added that the construction of memorials and gates for the martyrs would now be done by the soldier welfare department. Till now the culture department used to do this work. Terming the day as a historic one, the CM said that on this day in the year 1971 more than 93,000 soldiers of Pakistan surrendered before the Indian army. This war was an example of the unflinching commitment and sacrifice of the brave soldiers of the country. He said that apart from being Devbhoomi, Uttarakhand is the land of valour and sacrifice.
In the Indo- Pak war of 1971, 255 soldiers belonging to the State laid down their lives and 74 soldiers were honoured with different gallantry awards by an indebted nation. He said that the work on a magnificent Sainya Dham’ which the Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to as the fifth Dham of Uttarakhand, has started. CM averred that every possible facility is being provided to the army under the leadership of PM and our soldiers today are equipped with the latest arms and world class equipment. Dhami said that having taken birth in a family of armed force personnel he has seen the struggle and pain of such families. He said that the State government is designing special schemes for the families of the defence personnel so that the soldier can fight for the country without having any concern for his family in his mind. He said that the State government has increased the grant given to the defence personnel and their dependents and decided to give jobs to them on priority. The government is also trying to increase the number of rest houses for soldiers.
The Sainik Kalyan minister Ganesh Joshi said that our soldiers are sitting on their posts with a determination to meet any eventuality. He said that the State government is committed to soldier welfare and added that the long standing demand of One Rank One Pension (OROP) was accepted and implemented by PM Modi. He informed that the gate of the upcoming Sainya Dham would be named after first Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat. Cabinet minister Premchand Agarwal, Dehradun Mayor Sunil Uniyal Gama, MLA Khahan Das, Savita Kapoor, director soldier welfare Brigadier (Rtd) Amritlal and others were present on the occasion.
Former personnel of the armed forces and Veer Naris were also honoured on the occasion.
