Uttarakhand: CM Dhami increases aid, honours Kargil martyrs on Vijay Diwas

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], July 26 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid tribute to the Kargil martyrs at the Shaheed Smarak in a programme organised at Gandhi Park on Kargil Vijay Diwas on Friday.

The Chief Minister also honoured the families of the Kargil martyrs.

The Chief Minister made four announcements on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas.

He announced that the ex-gratia grant amount given to the martyred soldiers in the state will be increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 50 lakh.

The period for applying for government jobs for the families of martyred soldiers will be increased from 2 years to 5 years.

The dependents of the martyrs will now be given appointments to Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ posts in various departments, including the District Magistrate’s offices.

Additionally, contract workers in the Sainik Welfare Department will be granted leave similar to Upanal employees.

“Our brave soldiers showed valour and indomitable courage to protect Mother India in the Kargil War. The way Indian soldiers displayed bravery in the Kargil war and drove the intruders across the border in adverse conditions, the whole world acknowledged the might of the Indian Army. The nation will always remember the sacrifice of the brave soldiers to protect the country’s borders in the Kargil War,” Dhami said.

The Chief Minister emphasised that the victory story of Kargil is incomplete without the heroes of Uttarakhand and that the “brave land” of Uttarakhand will never forget the sacrifice of its 75 sons.

As a soldier’s son, the Chief Minister said he has seen the struggles of a soldier and his family since childhood.

“We won the war and also won diplomacy at the global level. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (the then Prime Minister) made arrangements to perform the last rites of the martyrs with state honours in their native villages,” the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister added that due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the army is not only becoming more capable and strong but also gaining increased fame and glory.

“While on one hand our government is emphasising the modernization of the army, on the other hand it is also increasing the facilities available to soldiers and their families. The Prime Minister is constantly boosting the courage and morale of the soldiers, and this is why today the army responds to bullets with shells.

“Today also, the Prime Minister paid tribute to the martyrs on the occasion of Kargil Vijay Diwas at the Kargil War Memorial, Ladakh. The Chief Minister stated that a provision for reservation in government services will be made for Agniveers in the state, and an Act will be brought for this,” he said.