UPNL committed to welfare of ex-servicemen: TPS Rawat

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 2

Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Kalyan Nigam Limited (UPNL) is committed to the welfare of ex-servicemen and their wards, said Lt Gen TPS Rawat, former Soldiers’ Welfare Minister. Many beneficiary schemes had been launched for the welfare of ex-servicemen since the UPNL was formed. He expressed these views at a function to celebrate the 14th raising day of the UPNL held here yesterday.

Rawat said, “The UPNL is committed and dedicated towards the noble cause of welfare of ex-servicemen and their wards.” He added the UPNL was set up on March 1, 2004, as a limited company and later it was made a nigam on January 31, 2007, under the Companies Act, 1956.

He said the state government was pressured to sanction funds for the staff and the office for the UPNL. Lt Gen OP Kaushik (retd), a member of the UPNL board of director, said the Soldiers Welfare Board, Ex-servicemen Association and the UPNL should work together for the welfare of ex-servicemen of the state.

Brig PPS Pahwa (retd), Managing Director, UPNL, said the nigam had contributed Rs 1 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund during the Kedarnath tragedy in 2013. He added Rs 5 crore was donated for the construction of a school at Rudraprayag.

Brig Pahwa said more than 23,000 ex-servicemen and their wards had been employed through the UPNL in different government and public sector undertaking companies. “It is a matter of pride for everyone that the UPNL pays Rs 23 crore as service tax every year,” he added.

He said the vision of the UPNL was clear to encompass the use of well-trained, highly disciplined and motivated personnel to work for the development of the state. The UPNL acts as a contractor to place most suitable trained persons on the right job in the right company.

Sub Area Commander Major Gen Balraj Mehta, Soldiers Welfare Director KB Chand, Brig KG Behl (retd), Uttarakhand Sub Area Ex-servicemen Cell Helpline Director Lt Col RC Lall (retd) and many more retired defence personnel were present.