Efforts on to open CSD Depot at Una soon: Chief Minister

Efforts on to open CSD Depot at Una soon: Chief Minister

            Vijyender Sharma

SHIMLA---    Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said that efforts were underway to set up CSD Depot at Una at the earliest and the land had already been transferred in the name of Sainik Welfare Department. This would go a long way in facilitating the ex-servicemen of the State
            Virbhadra Singh, who was presiding over the meeting of Sainik Welfare Board here, said the State Government was committedly working for the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families and besides implementing various welfare schemes other facilities were also being provided to facilitate them. The State Government was providing 15 percent reservation in government jobs to ex-servicemen to ensure their rehabilitation and financial assistance had also been enhanced under various schemes.
            He said the amount of War Jagir had been enhanced from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 5000 per annum from 1st April, 2013 besides revising financial assistance to the 2nd World War veterans from Rs. 2000 to Rs. 3000 per month. The State had also enhanced the annuity to the awardees of Sena, Nau Sena, Vayu Sena medal and gallantry award winners from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 5000 per annum. Further, the annuity to the awardees of Sarvottam Yudh Sena Medals, Uttam Yudh Seva Medals, Yudh Seva medals and Vashishth Seva medals had also been increased from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 4000 per annum from April, 2014.
            He said the government was providing financial assistance of Rs. 15,000 for marriage of daughters of war widows. The government was also giving ex-gratia from Chief Minister's Sainik Welfare Fund in various cases the rate of which had been enhanced from 25 May, 2015.
            The Chief Minister said free travel facility was also being provided in HRTC buses within the State to the gallantry award winners and war widows of the State.
            He said 24 Rest Houses had been constructed in the State to facilitate the serving soldiers and ex-servicemen. A war memorial was being set up at Dharamshala at a cost of Rs. five lakh.
            In order to strengthen the Sainik Welfare Department to efficiently implement welfare schemes, the vacant posts were being filled up on priority, said the Chief Minister. He informed the post of Director, Sainik Welfare, besides six posts of Deputy Directors had been filled up. The State Government had given employment on  577 posts  to ex-servicemen in various departments between January, 2013 to December, 2014.  He said approval had also been accorded to fill up 38 posts in various categories in the department.
             
             
            No. 824/2015-Pub   -2-
            Sainik Welfare Department Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil said the soldiers of the State were serving in different wings of defence forces and they had brought laurels to the State by their commendable services both in war and peace. He said the State had 109624 ex-servicemen, 847 gallantry award winners, 169 distinguished award winners and 873 beneficiaries of War Jagir.
            He said Rs. two crore had been provided for maintenance of Sainik Rest Houses and the work on few had already been completed. He said government would consider to open more rest houses in the State as per the requirement of the ex-servicemen.
             Various issues raised by the official and non official members of Sainik Welfare Board were discussed during the meeting.
            Secretary, Sainik Welfare Shri Mohan Chauhan conducted the proceedings  of the meeting.
            Additional Chief Secretaries Shri Ajay Mittal, Shri Vineet Chaudhary, Shri Tarun Shridhar, Shri Narender Chauhan, Shri P.C. Dhiman, Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Shri SKBS Negi and Smt. Manisha Nanda, Secretary, Language, Art and Culture Smt. Anuradha Thakur, Secretary, Rural Development, Shri Onkar Sharma,  Deputy Commissioner Una Shri Abhishek Jain, Director, Sainik Welfare Brig. Suresh Verma, Director, Information and Public Relations Dr. M.P. Sood and other senior officers, officials and non official members of Sainik Welfare Board were present in the meeting.