Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid tributes to the Kargil martyrs at the Shaheed Smarak in a program organized at Gandhi Park on Kargil Vijay Diwas (Valour Day). The Chief Minister also honored the families of the Kargil martyrs. On this occasion, the Chief Minister announced that one additional District Sainik Welfare Office would be opened in Dehradun and Pithoragarh. Sainik Dwar and monuments in the state will be looked after by the Sainik Welfare Department and the district administration.
The Chief Minister said that in the Kargil
war, our soldiers protected Mother India
by showing indomitable courage, valor and might. The battle cry of Indian soldiers against the enemy in Kargil is resonating with the same ferocity till today. The Chief Minister said that the whole world recognized the valor of the Indian Army by the manner in which the Indian soldiers chased the infiltrators across the border in the Kargil war in adverse circumstances. The nation will always remember the sacrifice of the brave soldiers to protect the country’s borders in the Kargil war.
75 brave sons from Uttarakhand were martyred in the Kargil war.
The cultural milieu and ideas that have nurtured all of us hold the belief that patriotism is the best of all forms of devotion. The Chief Minister said that his relation with the army is a relation of intimacy. He said that the stories of military heroes heard from his father influenced him a lot since his childhood and instilled in him the feeling of complete dedication towards the nation.
The Chief Minister said that today, due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the army is not only becoming more capable and empowered than before, but its fame and fame is also increasing. While on one hand the government is laying emphasis on the modernization of the army, on the other hand it is also increasing the facilities provided to the soldiers and their families. The Government of India has been working to strengthen the army at every level. The Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to the welfare of ex-servicemen and dependents of martyred soldiers. One member of the family of martyred soldiers is being employed by the government according to his merit. There has been an unprecedented increase in lump sum and annuity given by the Uttarakhand
government to soldiers decorated with state gallantry medals. Paramveer Chakra winner from 30 lakh to 50 lakh, Ashok Chakra from 30 lakh to 50 lakh, Mahavir Chakra from 20 lakh to 35 lakh, Kirti Chakra from 20 lakh to 35 lakh, Vir Chakra and Shaurya Chakra from 15 to 25 lakh and Sena Gallantry Medal from 07 lakh 15 lakh has been approved. The Chief Minister said that ‘Shaurya Sthal’ (Military Dham) with state-of-the-art and various facilities is being constructed in Guniyalgaon of Dehradun in the memory of the martyrs, whose construction work is being done at a fast pace. Housing assistance of Rs 2 lakh is being provided to war widows and war disabled soldiers by the Uttarakhand government. In Uttarakhand, 25 percent exemption in stamp duty has been allowed to serving and ex-servicemen on the purchase of property worth Rs 25 lakh.
Sainik Welfare Minister Ganesh Joshi said that the Indian Army has always displayed exemplary courage and patriotism in upholding the integrity and sovereignty of the nation. It is our first duty to always be ready for the honor and welfare of the sons of the brave soldiers, ex-servicemen and their families, who made the supreme sacrifice to protect the borders of the country and to maintain the sovereignty and integrity of the country. Indian soldiers are the true heroes of our country. They guard our national borders day and night. The Sainik Welfare Minister said that during the Kargil war, the brave warriors of Uttarakhand laid down their lives for the motherland and became immortal forever. In this Kargil war, 75 brave soldiers of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand were martyred. Even though the immortal martyrs who sacrificed everything for the motherland are no longer with us, their memories will remain in our hearts forever. The state government is constantly moving forward for the honor of soldiers in the state and for the welfare of their dependents. He said that 36 Sainik Rest Houses are operational in Uttarakhand and Sainik Rest House Tanakpur is being made modern.
The Sainik Welfare Minister said that the government has made an unprecedented increase in the grant amount payable to the medal holders decorated with gallantry medals and free bus travel has been allowed to them. He said that the state government is giving a grant of 01 lakh for the marriage of daughters of military widows. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, a grand military shrine is being constructed in the state in honor of the soldiers, whose construction work is going on at a fast pace.
MLA Khajandas, Smt. Savita Kapoor, Mayor Sunil Uniyal Gama, Metropolitan President of BJP Mr. Siddharth Aggarwal, Anil Goyal, District Magistrate Dehradun Mrs. Sonika, SSP Dalip Singh Kunwar, Director Soldier Welfare Brigadier Amrit Lal, former military officer Major General Shammi Sabharwal, Major General Devesh Agnihotri, Brig Dinesh Badola ex-servicemen and families of the martyrs were present in the programme.