Initiatives needed to ensure welfare of armed forces, says Governor

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 7

In the annual Armed Forces Flag Day ceremony held at Raj Bhawan here today, Governor NN Vohra stressed the need for well-planned initiatives to ensure the welfare of the soldiers, airmen and sailors in recognition of their enormous sacrifices for safeguarding the honour, glory and safety of the motherland.

He observed that it was our moral responsibility to take special care of the families of our martyrs. The Governor made a contribution towards the Flag Day Fund.

The Governor reiterated his concern for the widows who were not receiving pension and urged Director, Sainik Welfare Board, Brig Harcharan Singh (retd) to prepare district-wise data of such widows. He also asked RK Goyal, Principal Secretary, Home, to explore ways and means for providing suitable support to such widows.

Vohra observed that the Rajya Sainik Board with suitable support from the state Home Department and the Northern Command Headquarters should initiate activities to provide opportunities to schoolchildren so that they were made aware about the role of the defence forces.

This could be done, inter alia, by organising tours to various defence establishments, screening documentaries on the Armed Forces and organising interaction of students with the decorated soldiers such as Honorary Captain Bana Singh, PVC, in the educational institutions, he added.

While interacting with retired Army personnel, the Governor emphasised the importance of mobilising much larger fund collection and observed that this day was an important occasion for the entire nation to demonstrate its gratitude towards the ex-servicemen and their families.

PK Tripathi, Principal Secretary to the Governor, RK Goyal, Principal Secretary, Home, Col JDS Kotwal (retd), Zila Sainik Welfare Officer, Col Prabhu Singh (retd), Honorary Captain Bana Singh, PVC, and Havildar Rashid Ahmad (retd), Sena Medal, were present on the occasion.