Shimla,July 05, 2008:In order to fulfill the promises made in the Election Manifesto, the State Government has constituted a new department named as Sainik Welfare Department which would monitor welfare activities related to the serving and ex-servicemen besides employment generation in government, public and private sector including 70 percent employment to Himachalis in the private sector. This was revealed by Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister here today.
Chief Minister said that the state government was committed to implement every promise it had made to the people of Himachal Pradesh as per party’s Election Manifesto, which on coming to power, had been adopted as the Policy Document of the State Government with the directions to every department to implement the same in letter and spirit. He said that the state government had started implementation of the Election Manifesto immediately after coming to power in the state and a lot many of them had been fulfilled in a short span of six month rule in the state. He said that every section of the society had been benefitted in one way or the other and efforts were afoot to deliver people best of the services and benefits under different schemes being implemented.
Prof. Dhumal said that the state government was concerned about the welfare of the serving and ex-servicemen who had rendered yeoman service for the nation and brought laurels to the nation and state. He said that the party had promised the ex-servicemen of establishing a separate department to oversee their welfare and rehabilitation in public and private sectors. He said that in fulfillment of the promise the state government had established the department of Sainik Welfare, which would be under his direct control. He said that the department would consist of a special monitoring cell to closely monitor the relief and rehabilitation of the ex-servicemen.
Chief Minister said that employment and self-employment would be an important activity to be monitored by the department. He said that other vital responsibility being bestowed upon the department would be to monitor the 70 percent employment to Himachalis in the industries and hydro electric projects. He added that other issues concerning ex-servicemen and serving soldiers related to post retirement employment, self employment, honours and awards to decorated soldiers, initiation and implementation of need based welfare schemes for the ex-servicemen, widows of the ex-servicemen, war widows, their wards, speedy and effective redressal of their grievances would be accorded top priority.
Prof. Dhumal said that Himachal Pradesh was the land of warriors and it was proud to have 98,361 ex-servicemen, 24,581 widows of ex-servicemen, 1,068 war widows ‘Veer Naaris’, 1,20,300 serving soldiers and their families in the state who had contributed to the national cause significantly during war and peace. He said that it were Himachali soldiers who fought on the national fronts in adverse climatic conditions and saved the nation from foreign intruders. He said that wards of the martyrs of the Kargil operation were provided various financial and other benefits as a token of tribute to the great sons of the soil.
Chief Minister said that the newly created department would be responsible to maintain liaison with the armed forces and get issues related to the state resolved at the appropriate level, maintain the record and recommend honors and distinctions to the exceptionally outstanding serving and ex-sevicemen, give boost to the sainik welfare activities, monitor war jagirs, administer special fund for reconstruction and rehabilitation of ex-servicemen, defence and security relief fund, and soldier’s amenity fund beside observing the Flag Day, select candidates from the state for admission to Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun. He said that the new department would be carrying all above activities under his control which would be monitored closely and benefits ensured to all the eligible ex-servicemen, serving soldiers and their wards.
Prof. Dhumal said that welfare of the ex-servicemen was on the top agenda of the state government and all out efforts would be made to deliver them maximum relief under different relief and rehabilitation programmes to help them lead a respectable life in the society. He assured the families of the serving and ex-servicemen that their interests would be protected to the best possible.