Governor for maximising welfare of ex-servicemen

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, April 17

Governor and president of the J&K Rajya Sainik Board NN Vohra today observed that the state government must take every required step to ensure the welfare of nearly 7.8 lakh serving and retired servicemen and their families.

Presiding over the 77th meeting of the J&K Rajya Sainik Board at Raj Bhawan here today, the Governor lauded the dedication and the high commitment with which the armed forces were serving the country despite facing adverse challenges and physical discomforts.

Observing that the vast majority of service personnel retire below 40 years of age, the Governor stressed the need to fully utilise the young force of ex-servicemen who possess skills and expertise in varied fields, for productive activities in the state.

For engaging ex-servicemen in the civil sector, the Governor urged the adoption of a broad based and flexible approach which may vary from organisation to organisation.

Vohra, meanwhile, stressed the need to suitably strengthen the capacities of the Board to ensure that various benefits and grants which were provided by the Central and state governments to ex-servicemen in J&K were delivered to the beneficiaries without delay or inconvenience.

He also said the deficiencies in staff and infrastructure must be made up on priority. While reviewing the various welfare activities carried out by the Rajya Sainik Board, the Governor emphasised the need for evolving appropriate objective-specific approaches for maximising the welfare of ex-servicemen and their families in the state.

The Governor directed that the state Home Department must timely settle all pending issues of the Sainik Welfare Department.

He also reviewed the to-date status of construction of the Sainik Bhawans at Rajouri, Kupwara and Srinagar, which were nearing completion and also took stock of the land acquisition proceedings for Sainik Bhawans at Kargil and Baramulla.

The Governor advised Brig (Retd) RS Langeh, secretary, Rajya Sainik Board, to take early steps for starting service selection board (SSB) coaching at Leh, on the pattern of other existing coaching centres, for the facilitation of youth desirous of joining the armed forces.

The Board, meanwhile, approved that the relief being provided to the militia veterans and their widows and relief being provided to World War-II veterans and their widows by the state government should be enhanced.

The Rajya Sainik Board also approved the re-designation of the Zila Sainik Welfare Officer as the Additional Director. Later, the Governor chaired the 62nd meeting of the State Managing Committee for Funds.