Health and Sainik Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil said that the youth of the state were playing a crucial role in the country's Armed Forces and the government was committed to providing every possible support to our war veterans, disabled soldiers, ex-servicemen (ESM), their families and also the serving soldiers.
He made the statement while chairing a meeting with the officers of Sainik Welfare Department and Himachal Pradesh Ex-servicemen Corporation, here today. Special emphasis was on providing employment opportunities to the ESM and their family members, stressed the Minister, adding that construction, maintenance and beautification of war memorials and Sainik rest houses was also the government's priority.
The Minister praised the policies, programmes and development activities being undertaken by the department and the corporation for the welfare, rehabilitation and to financially aid the war veterans, soldiers, the ESM and their families. While reviewing the works of the Sainik Welfare Department, the Minister said that it was a matter of pride that in a small hilly state of Himachal Pradesh, there were 1,191 gallantry/distinguished award winners and the governments has allotted 250 lakh in the current fiscal for their welfare under Gallantry Award Winners scheme.
The Sainik Welfare Minister stated that the present state government has enhanced the rates of ex-gratia grant by 1.5 times and has removed income limit ceiling for eligibility of old age pension. The government has allotted 671.40 lakh on old age pensions of First and Second World War veterans, non-pensioner the ESM and widows.
A sum of 15 lakh has been allotted for beneficiaries of War Jagir scheme. Similarly, crores were being spent under ex-gratia, assistance to various organizations and special funds for Rehabilitation and reemployment of the ESM, he added. While reviewing the activities and initiatives of the corporation, Dr. Shandil stated that a total of 4,005 ex-servicemen have been employed in 139 projects of state or central government institutions.
Of these, 2,075 ESM have been employed within the state and 1930 ESM outside the state. In the last two years, 115 trucks of ESM have been attached with the cement factories. He said that the corporation was providing loans at subsidised interest rates to support self-employment initiatives.
The wards of the ESM could avail free coaching for SSB and NEET/JEE as the fee of the institutes is being borne by the corporation. Secretary Sainik Welfare Rakesh Kanwar and officers of the department and the corporation were present at the occasion.