Proud of being a soldier’s son: CM

Stating that he was proud of being a soldier’s son, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat reiterated that the State Government is committed to the welfare of soldiers and ex- servicemen in Uttarakhand. He assured that nodal officers will be posted in each district for resolving problems of soldiers apart from which their house tax payment will also be simplified. The Chief Minister said this while speaking at a Veerta Samman programme held in Haldwani on Sunday. On the occasion, Rawat felicitated 182 recipients of army bravery medals and widows of martyrs from the Kumaon region.

Addressing the gathering, Rawat said that the rest houses for soldiers will be built in all development block headquarters with the cooperation of MLAs. He announced construction of hostel in Haldwani for children from army families of the Kumaon region and construction of a Sainik Jan-Milan Kendra on the vacant land near the martyrs memorial at Bindukhatta. Announcing that the Government model inter college at Patlot will be named after martyr Bahadur Singh Matiyali, he directed the Nainital District Magistrate Deependra Kumar Chaudhri to do the needful for this. Further, the Chief Minister announced that the Government inter college at Betalghat will be named after martyr Khem Chandra Daurbi. A nodal officer will be appointed in each district to redress issues of soldiers and their house tax payment will also be simplified, assured Rawat. He also directed departmental officials concerned to conduct a survey for the Kosi-Bhujan potable water scheme for the soldiers of Kumaon regiment in Ranikhet. A proposal for the scheme should be submitted to the State administration so that necessary funds can be arranged soon, he said. Referring to the Government’s works, he said that through the Uttarakhand Purv Sainik Kalyan Nigam Limited (UPNL) ex-servicemen and their dependents are being facilitated with work in Government departments. The Government is also providing computer training and skill development courses for the dependents of soldiers. The state has also constituted a martyr welfare fund with Rs 2.70 crore for the welfare of soldiers. Reiterating the State Government’s stance against corruption, the Chief Minister said that action had been taken against 18 persons accused in the national highway 74 scam so far. Along with this, the jobs of 20 persons who had secured appointment as teachers using forged documents in the education department have also been terminated. Regarding infrastructural works, he said that the State Government had so far released Rs 720 crore to the Public Works Department for works on the road network in the State.