CM announces annual grant for veterans’ body

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, November 29

Chief Minister Harish Rawat today announced an annual grant to the Uttarakhand Ex-Services League (UESL) to meet its expenses. He assured ex-servicemen of the state that no stone would be left unturned to address their grievances.

Rawat stated this at a conclave of UESL held at its office here today.

He said a tour to the higher areas of Garhwal and Kumaon would be organised by State Soldiers’ Welfare Board to apprise retired defence personnel about the state’s schemes for them. He applauded the efforts of the UESL to address the grievances of retired defence personnel.

The Chief Minister said a couple of plans were in the pipeline to improve social and economic status of retired defence personnel of the state. It was indeed a matter of pride that a large number of youth were serving in the Indian defence forces and an equal number of retired personnel were living across the state.

Brig (retd) RS Rawat, president of the UESL, while speaking on the occasion, said retired Army officers and personnel below officers’ rank would volunteer to apprise villagers about the beneficiary schemes being run by Union and state governments during the tour, slated to commence next month.

An itinerary of the tour would soon be submitted to the State Soldiers Welfare Board. He lamented the lack of awareness among villagers about beneficiary schemes.

Brig Rawat told the gathering that UESL members had resolved pension anomalies of about 15 retired defence personnel by taking the matter to different departments. Members of UESL voluntarily visited Gwaldham, Dewal, Ghesh, Peepalkoti, Rudraprayag, Guptkashi, Uttarkashi, Roorkee, Kotdwar etc to apprise the retired defence personnel about beneficiary schemes, he added.

The UESL members addressed grievances of war widows, relatives of martyrs, and retired defence personnel in the conclave.

A large number of retired defence personnel from across the state, including Lt Gen GS Negi, Brig KG Behl, Brig Vijay Kumar, Col Satish Chander Sharma and Col US Thakur, attended the conclave.