Hostel opens for wards of defence personnel

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 18

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat today said they would soon open hostels for the wards of martyrs and serving and retired defence personnel in Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland and other difficult geographical terrains. 

He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Garhwal Rifles Regiment War Memorial Boys and Girls Hostel at Danda Lakhond here. He expressed gratitude to the Uttarakhand Government, regimental officers, jawans and others, who, he said,  had contributed generously towards the construction of the facility.

Chief Minister Trivendra Rawat said children residing in far-flung areas could now avail the hostel facility and complete their higher education. He said another such hostel would come up in Haldwani. General Rawat said the state government had increased the grant provided to Sainik School, Gorakhal, from Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore. 

The Vice-Chief of the Army Staff, Lt Gen Sarath Chand, who is also Colonel of the Regiment Garhwal Rifles & Scouts, recalled how he conceptualised the hostel plan in Dehradun seven years ago.

He said although he would be retiring shortly, he would continue to be connected to Uttarakhand through this hostel. 

He said an assistance of Rs 10 lakh was provided by the Garhwal Rifles Regimental Centre, Lansdowne, while each battalion of the Garhwal Rifles contributed Rs 3 lakh each. 

Maj Gen BC Khanduri  (retd), BJP MP from Pauri Garhwal, was also present during the inauguration ceremony. 

BJP MLA from Mussoorie Ganesh Joshi and a large number of ex-servicemen were present.