The Governor and the Chief Minister were addressing the 73rd meeting of the J&K Rajya Sainik Board, at Raj Bhavan, here today.
The Governor, chairing the meeting, suggested that Ex-Servicemen may be encouraged and enabled to run cooperative transport units in the State as this could contribute to a good number of them getting gainfully engaged. To effectively safeguard and promote the interests of our Ex-Servicemen and their families, the Governor stressed the importance of adequate resources being mobilized.
The Rajya Sainik Board chaired by the Governor, reviewed in detail the progress made in regard to the construction of Sainik Bhawans at Srinagar and Jammu and Sainik Sarais at Rajouri, Kargil and Kupwara. Employment of Ex-Servicemen in the State Police, acquisition of land for Sainik Welfare Housing Colonies etc. also came under review at the meeting.
The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah announced a one time grant of Rs. 20 lakh from the State Government for providing financial assistance to the blind and paraplegic Ex-Servicemen of the State permanently residing in the special institutes run by the Ministry of Defence.
Later, chairing the meeting of the State Managing Committee for Funds, the Governor, who is the Chairman of the Committee, dwelt on the budgetary support being provided by the State Government to the Department of Sainik Welfare, as also the contribution of the Kendriya Sainik Board to the J&K Rajya Sainik Board. He emphasized the need for evolving appropriate strategies to enhance the mobilization and collection of funds at all levels, for enhancing the welfare of Ex-Servicemen and their families.
The meeting among others was attended by the Minister for Youth Services and Sports, R. S. Chib; Minister for Revenue, Raman Bhalla; Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal; Principal Secretary, Home, B. R. Sharma; Army Commander, Northern Command, Lt. Gen. K. T. Parnaik; Chief of Staff HQ, 9, 14, 15 and 16 Corps, Principal Secretary to the Governor, R. K. Goyal; Maj. Gen. Pramod Behl, DG (R), New Delhi; Capt (IN) A. Mehrotra, representative of the Kendriya Sainik Board; Vineet Saini, Deputy Secretary, representative of the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare, Ministry of Defence, New Delhi; Col. Lokesh Kushwaha, Director Resettlement, North Zone, and non-official members, Lt Cdr (Retd) J. P. Kotwal; Lt Col (Retd) Karam Chand; Brig. (Retd) R. S. Jamwal and Hony Capt Bana Singh, PVC.
A detailed power point presentation was made by the Secretary, Rajya Sainik Board, Brig. (Retd) R. S. Langeh on the occasion, detailing the measures taken for the welfare of the Ex-Servicemen, financial status of the Board, construction of Sainik Sarais and the implementation of the various decisions taken in the last meeting of the Board.
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